Texas Department of Insurance Working for You
Regulating the Insurance Industry | Helping Consumers | TDI Telephone Guide: General Information and Assistance | Administration | Filings Intake | Financial Program | Inspections | Licensing | Life and Health Insurance | Property and Casualty | Title | State Fire Marshal's Office | Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) | DWC Field Offices | Other Helpful Numbers | For More Information or Assistance
(August 2011)
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) protects insurance consumers by:
- regulating the industry fairly and diligently
- promoting a stable and competitive market
- providing information that makes a difference
This publication provides an overview of our services and includes a helpful telephone guide. For additional information or answers to general insurance questions, call our toll-free Consumer Help Line or visit our website
1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
www.tdi.texas.gov
Regulating the Insurance Industry
Licensing
Texas law requires most insurance companies and insurance-related businesses to be licensed before selling their products or services. TDI licenses:
- insurance companies and agents
- third-party administrators
- health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- premium finance companies
- continuing care retirement communities
- insurance adjusters
- public insurance adjusters.
Compliance and Enforcement
TDI also issues rules and regulations for the state’s insurance industry, enforces Texas insurance laws, investigates misconduct, and takes enforcement action against companies and agents.
TDI may fine or penalize agents and companies that delay claims payments, misrepresent policies, fail to provide required discounts to policyholders, or engage in other unfair and unlawful practices.
Financial Regulation
To ensure that insurance companies have money to pay claims and expenses, TDI looks at companies’ financial conditions and enforces solvency standards.
TDI also publishes company profiles that show a company’s complaint record and other useful information, including the company's history and enforcement actions taken against the company. For a company profile, call our Consumer Help Line or use the Check Companies feature on our website.
Insurance Fraud
TDI investigates insurance fraud. Types of fraud include selling insurance without a license, filing illegal claims, and misrepresenting insurance policies and coverages for financial gain.
TDI refers cases for civil prosecution to the Texas Attorney General’s Office and for criminal prosecution to local district attorneys and United States attorneys. To report suspected insurance fraud, call our 24-hour Fraud Hot Line
1-888-327-8818
463-6700 in Austin
Advertising
TDI reviews insurance advertising and marketing materials to ensure that they’re complaint with laws and rules, to detect possible fraud, and to guard against misrepresentation. Insurance companies and agents engaging in unfair trade practices or deceptive advertising can receive warnings, fines, license revocations, and other penalties. In some cases, TDI may require companies to give consumers premium refunds.
Technical Analysis
TDI collects and analyzes statistical data, reviews property and casualty rate filings, and reports on rates and markets to assist policy makers and help consumers make insurance-related decisions. The section also supports agency efforts to detect problem insurance companies.
Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)
TDI regulates the state’s system to compensate employees for work-related injuries and illnesses. The division:
- licenses workers’ compensation insurance companies and networks
- approves companies that want to self-insure
- enforces workers’ compensation laws and rules
- promotes worker health and safety
- provides access to medical care for injured workers
- administers a dispute resolution system for disputes involving workers’ compensation benefits
- provides services to facilitate an injured worker’s return to work.
Helping Consumers
Consumer Help Line
TDI operates a toll-free Consumer Help Line to assist callers with insurance questions and concerns Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time. The help line often extends its hours to help consumers with insurance issues following catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, flooding, or when an insurance company goes out of business.
1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
Complaint Assistance
TDI helps consumers recover millions of dollars in refunds and additional claim payments each year. If you have a complaint against an insurance company or agent, first notify your company. If your problem remains unresolved, you may file your complaint with TDI several ways:
- on our website at www.tdi.texas.gov
- by e-mail at ConsumerProtection@tdi.texas.gov
- by fax at 512-475-1771
- by mail at
Texas Department of Insurance
Consumer Protection (111-1A)
P.O. Box 149091
Austin, TX 78714-9091
Workers’ Compensation Medical & Income Benefit Dispute Resolution
DWC resolves disputes involving medical and income benefits paid to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. If you have a dispute involving workers’ compensation benefits, call the Injured Worker Hot Line
1-800-252-7031
933-1899 in Austin
Public Education and Publications
TDI gives presentations on a variety of insurance topics and trains volunteers to help older Texans with their insurance concerns. We offer a variety of free publications and rate guides to help you better understand insurance and to help you shop for the insurance you need. Visit our website to view our publications online or call our Publications Order Line to have publications mailed to you.
1-800-599-SHOP (7467)
305-7211 in Austin
Disaster Response Teams
TDI sends response teams to damaged areas after natural disasters. These teams provide information about insurance, help people file claims, monitor the responsiveness of insurance companies, and assist with consumer complaints.
State Fire Marshal’s Office
TDI helps protect lives and property against fire-related hazards. The State Fire Marshal’s Office
- conducts arson investigations
- conducts fire safety inspections
- collects data from fire departments and publishes a summary useful for development of laws, standards, and prevention programs
- enforces fire extinguisher, sprinkler, and alarm laws
- licenses and regulates fireworks
- educates children and consumers on fire prevention and safety.
To report suspected arson, call our Arson Hot Line
1-877-4Fire-45 (434-7345)
TDI Telephone Guide
General Information and Assistance
| TDI main number | 1-800-578-4677 512-463-6169 in Austin |
| Job Line | 1-800-952-7099 463-6170 in Austin |
| Consumer Help Line | 1-800-252-3439 463-6515 in Austin |
| Fraud Hot Line (to report suspected insurance fraud) | 1-888-327-8818 |
| Publications Order Line | 1-800-599-SHOP (7467) 305-7211 in Austin |
| Speakers Bureau | 512-475-1944 |
| Open Records | 512-463-6390 |
Administration
| Commissioner | 512-463-6464 |
| General Counsel | 512-305-7351 |
| Public Affairs | 512-463-6410 |
| Legal | 512-475-1821 |
| Government Relations | 512-463-6123 |
| Public Information Office | 512-463-6425 |
| Purchasing & Contract Administration | 512-475-1782 |
| Human Resources | 512-463-6165 |
Filings Intake
| Life/Health and HMO Filings | 512-322-4245 |
| Property and Casualty Filings | 512-305-7423 |
Financial
| Actuarial | 512-322-5067 |
| Market Conduct | 512-322-5033 |
| Registration (surplus Lines, foreign RRGs, purchasing groups) | 512-322-3535 |
| Financial Analysis | 512-322-5012 |
| Financial Examinations | 512-322-5038 |
| Liquidation Oversight | 512-322-5093 |
Inspections
| Commercial Property Oversight | 512-322-2259 |
| Engineering | 512-322-2212 |
| Loss Control | 512-322-3435 |
| Windstorm | 1-800-248-6032 322-2203 in Austin |
| Fire Safety | 512-305-7920 |
| Amusement Rides | 512-322-3437 |
Licensing
| Agents Licensing Help Line | 512-322-3503 |
| Licensing Division | 512-463-8917 |
| Admitted Companies and HMOs | 512-322-4370 |
| Company Licensing & Registration Division | 512-322-3507 |
| State Fire Marshal | 512-305-7927 |
Life, Accident, and Health Insurance
| Accident and Health Insurance | 512-322-3409 |
| Life, Annuity, and Credit Life Insurance | 512-322-3406 |
| Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), IROs/Utilization Review (UR) Agents | 512-322-4266 |
| Health and WC Network Certification & QA Division | 512-322-4266 |
| Healthy Texas | 512-322-4336 |
Property and Casualty Insurance
| Commercial (auto, property, liability) | 512-305-6711 |
| Personal Lines (auto and homeowners) | 512-322-2266 |
| TexasSure Vehicle Insurance Verification | 512-490-1060 |
Title
| Title Insurance | 512-322-3482 |
| Title Examinations |
512-322-5027 |
State Fire Marshal's Office
| Fire/Arson Investigations | 512-305-7900 |
| Fire Prevention Education and Outreach | 512-305-7237 |
| Arson Hot Line (to report suspected arson) | 1-877-4FIRE45 (434-7345) |
Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC)
| Injured Employee Hot Line | 1-800-252-7031 933-1899 in Austin |
| Main Office | 1-800-372-7713 804-4000 in Austin |
| Medical Fee Dispute Resolution | 512-804-4812 |
| Legal and Compliance (to report violations of laws or rules) | 512-804-4700 |
| Safety Violations Hotline (to report employer health and safety violations) | 1-800-452-9595 |
| Occupational Safety and Health Consultation (OSHCON) Program | 1-800-687-7080 |
| Classification and Premium Calculation | 512-322-3495 |
| Workers' Compensation Health Care Networks | 512-322-4266 |
| Workers’ Compensation Research Group | 512-322-3426 |
DWC Field Offices
| Central Office | 512-804-4000 |
| Abilene | 325-695-4992 |
| Amarillo | 806-351-1222 |
| Austin | 512-933-1899 |
| Beaumont | 409-899-5589 |
| Bryan/College Station | 979-268-6766 |
| Corpus Christi | 361-883-2551 |
| Dallas | 214-350-9299 |
| Denton | 940-380-1400 |
| El Paso | 915-834-7000 |
| Fort Worth | 817-446-4488 |
| Houston-East | 713-924-2200 |
| Houston-West | 281-260-3035 |
| Laredo | 956-718-2040 |
| Lubbock | 806-744-4569 |
| Lufkin | 936-639-6425 |
| Midland/Odessa | 432-699-1281 |
| Missouri City | 281-403-7050 |
| San Angelo | 325-657-0404 |
| San Antonio | 210-593-0070 |
| Tyler | 903-534-6250 |
| Victoria | 361-576-9612 |
| Waco | 254-755-7011 |
| Weslaco | 956-447-4416 |
| Wichita Falls | 940-767-2691 |
Other Helpful Numbers
| CHIP/Children's Medicaid | 1-800-647-6558 www.chipmedicaid.org |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) www.fema.gov |
| Medicaid Hot Line (Texas Health and Human Services Commission) | 1-800-252-8263 www.hhsc.state.tx.us |
| Medicare | 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) www.medicare.gov |
| Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) | 512-322-4143 www.opic.state.tx.us |
| Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) | 1-866-393-6432 www.oiec.state.tx.us |
| Office of the Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Hot Line | 1-800-621-0508 463-2185 in Austin www.oag.state.tx.us |
| State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) | 512-475-4993 www.soah.state.tx.us |
| Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA) | 1-866-321-9154 444-4441 in Austin www.taipa.org |
| Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) | 1-800-788-8247 899-4900 in Austin www.twia.org |
| Texas FAIR Plan Association | 1-800-979-6440 505-2200 in Austin www.texasfairplan.org |
| Texas Commission on Fire Protection | 512-936-3838 www.tcfp.state.tx.us |
| Texas Department of State Health Services Licensing and Complaint Line (complaints against hospitals) | 1-888-973-0022 www.dshs.state.tx.us |
| Texas Department of Aging and Disability Service's Consumer Rights and Services Hotline (nursing homes, assisted living, care for people with mental retardation) | 1-800-458-9858 www.dads.state.tx.us |
| Texas Health Insurance Pool | 1-888-398-3927 www.txhealthpool.org |
| Texas Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association | 1-800-982-6362 476-5101 in Austin www.txlifega.org |
| Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association Customer Service Line | 1-800-856-0928 345-9335 in Austin www.tpciga.org |
| Texas State Board of Medical Examiners Complaint Line (complaints against physicians, physician assistants, and acupuncturists) | 1-800-201-9353 www.tmb.state.tx.us |
| Texas Title Insurance Guaranty Association | 512-474-1587 |
For More Information or Assistance
For answers to general insurance questions or for information on filing an insurance-related complaint, call the Consumer Help Line between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central time, Monday-Friday, or visit our website
1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
www.tdi.state.tx.us
You can also visit HelpInsure.com to help you shop for automobile, homeowners, condo, and renters insurance, and TexasHealthOptions.com to learn more about health care coverage and your options.
For printed copies of consumer publications, call the 24-hour Publications Order Line
1-800-599-SHOP (7467)
305-7211 in Austin
Help us prevent insurance fraud. To report suspected fraud, call our toll-free Fraud Hot Line
1-888-327-8818
To report suspected arson or suspicious activity involving fires, call the State Fire Marshal’s 24-hour Arson Hot Line
1-877-4FIRE45 (434-7345)
The information in this publication is current as of the revision date. Changes in laws and agency administrative rules made after the revision date may affect the content. View current information on our website. TDI distributes this publication for educational purposes only. This publication is not an endorsement by TDI of any service, product, or company.
For more information contact:
