ORDERS:
CONSENT ORDER AND ) ORDER OF DISMISSAL
1. On July 9, 2001, Philip S. Porter, Consumer Advocate for the State
of South Carolina (the Consumer Advocate) requested the South Carolina
Department of Insurance (the Department) to initiate a public hearing on
the filing of Horace Mann Insurance Company (the Company) requesting an
approval of an overall increase of +12.1% in its homeowners property and
casualty insurance premium rates.
2. On July 23, 2001, the Department filed with the Administrative Law
Judge Division an Agency Transmittal Form requesting a public hearing.
3. The Administrative Law Judge Division assigned this matter to the
Honorable C. Dukes Scott under the Docket No. 01-ALJ-09-0314-CC. A hearing
on the matter has not yet been set.
4. Meanwhile, the Consumer Advocate retained a consulting actuary and
requested additional information from the Company concerning primarily
two issues. First, the Consumer Advocate requested additional actuarial
information justifying the level of increase requested. Second, he expressed
concerns in connection with introduction of credit scoring as a factor
in determination of premiums to be charged to a consumer.
5. Having reviewed and discussed with the Company the requested actuarial
information, the Consumer Advocate now believes that the requested level
of an overall rate increase is actuarially justified.
6. Based on the foregoing, the Consumer Advocate now withdraws his original
request for a hearing in this matter.
7. The Consumer Advocate's decision to withdraw his request for hearing
on the Company's application is by no means understood as an endorsement
by the Consumer Advocate of the credit scoring program as a whole or any
part thereof.
8. There are no unresolved issues remaining; therefore, all parties
agree to the dismissal of this matter.
NOW, THEREFORE, the above referenced matter is dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
______________________________
C. DUKES SCOTT
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
October 2, 2001
Columbia, South Carolina
WE CONSENT:
_____________________________ ______________________________
Sara Dillavou, CPCU, FLMI T. Douglas Concannon, Esquire
Senior Regulatory Analyst Associate General Counsel
Horace Mann Insurance Company South Carolina Department
One Horace Mann Plaza of Insurance
Springfield, IL 62715-0001 P.O. Box 100105
Columbia, SC 29202-6160
_____________________________
Hana Pokorna-Williamson, Esquire
Staff Attorney
South Carolina Department of
Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 5757
Columbia, SC 29250-5757 |
