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Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2482, making Arizona the 44th jurisdiction to become a member of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact.
Phoenix – The Arizona Department of Insurance today announced that, beginning January 1, 2014, insurance carriers in the state will no longer be permitted to issue plans that do not comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “In Arizona, we’ve been working with our insurance carriers on the best way to mitigate the impact on consumers by giving them the option to early renew their existing policies,” Insurance Director Germaine Marks said.
Phoenix - On October 7, 2013, Frederick Farris pled guilty to Attempted Fraud Schemes and Artifices which is a class 3 felony. He was sentenced to 6.5 years in the Arizona State Prison.
PHOENIX - On July 20, 2013, Richard Sparta, who is owner of APEX Carpet Cleaning, was hired to give an estimate on mold damage to a policy holder's Mesa, AZ, residence. The allegations are that Sparta brought a Persian rug into the residence explaining to the policy holder they would have it damaged and the insurance company would pay her thousands of dollars.
PHOENIX - On August 7, 2013, Gabriel Christopher Morris was arrested in Tucson, AZ, by agents of the Department of Insurance Fraud Unit and the Tucson Police Department. Morris allegedly took the identity of a Tucson resident and opened up credit card accounts and had financed $23,416.92 for a 2008 Dodge Durango using the victim’s identity. He also obtained an insurance policy through GEICO Insurance and was in the process of making a second accident claim when it was discovered he was using the victim’s stolen identity.
PHOENIX - On September 16, 2013, the Arizona State Grand Jury charged Hugo Alejandro Mejia-Regalado with several felonies involving Fraud Schemes, Insurance Fraud, Forgeries, Theft and Aggravated Identity Theft. The case involved separate investigations conducted by State Farm Insurance and the Arizona Department of Insurance Investigations Division.
Phoenix ― The Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI) responded to 9,013 consumer complaints and inquiries in 2011 and provided assistance in settling insurance company disputes and obtaining $7,467,542 in claim settlements and refunds for Arizona consumers.
Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI) Director, Christina Urias, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kurt Regner as Assistant Director of ADOI’s Financial Affairs Division. “Mr. Regner replaces the recently retired Steven P. Ferguson and has been an outstanding supervisor in the ADOI Financial Affairs Division since 1988,” Urias said. He has served as the ADOI’s Chief Financial Analyst since 2001, managing ADOI’s crucial financial solvency oversight program and monitoring the fiscal health of insurance companies doing business in Arizona. Regner’s significant responsibilities are integral to maintaining ADOI’s accreditation in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Accreditation Program. Among his many accomplishments, Regner is a significant participant on the NAIC Financial Analysis Handbook Working Group and the NAIC Reinsurance Task Force.
An investigation by the Arizona Department of Insurance lead to the arrest and felony conviction of Michael Swedo who plead guilty to Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices for submitting fraudulent claims to insurance companies and stealing the identity of an individual to set up a false business to conduct his scam. Today, Swedo was sentenced to serve 5 years in prison, pay a $5,000 fine and $83,356 in restitution to 16 different insurance companies.
InHouse Home Warranty, Inc. (“InHouse”) was a service company that sold home warranties through real estate agents, on-line and by phone. Its owner is Brock Kuchynka (“Kuchynka”) and its office was located at 9035 E. Pima Center Parkway, Suite 9, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. On February 25, 2009, the Arizona Department of Insurance (“Department”) issued an Order Summarily Suspending the service company permit of InHouse prohibiting it from issuing new home warranties and renewing existing contracts. In addition, InHouse did not renew its Service Contract permit on December 31, 2009 so it was unauthorized, not just suspended, after that date.
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Warning - Phishing Scam
We are aware of a phishing scam targeting insurance professionals claiming that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners received a complaint that the professional submitted a falsified claim. This fraudulent email displays the NAIC and CIPR logos, can originate from what appears to be an naic.org or gmail.com email account, and instructs the recipient to click on a link to download the complaint notification.
Certain antivirus products will detect this as a malicious email. If you receive a similar email and have any concerns, contact the NAIC Service Desk at (816) 783-8500 or [email protected].
