May 7, 2025
Insurance companies must meet deadlines to respond to Texas claims
Are insurance companies allowed to take forever to respond to your insurance claim?
Not in Texas.
State law gives your company 15 business days to tell you it’s received your claim.
Your insurance company will determine if your policy covers the damage you had. An adjuster might inspect or look at photos of the damage. Also, the company might ask you for more information before deciding to accept your claim.
Your company has 15 business days after getting what it needs from you to decide if it will pay. The company can extend this deadline by 45 days if they tell you why they need more time. If the company rejects your claim, it must say why in writing.
The Texas Department of Insurance may be able to help if you have a problem with your company, agent, or adjuster. We can make sure companies are following the law and paying you according to your policy. Learn about filing a complaint here.
Have questions? Call TDI’s Help Line at 800-252-3439. It’s open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.
Learn more
- Steps to getting your home or car insurance claim paid
- How to file your insurance claim
- Working with an insurance adjuster
April 23, 2025
Insurance tips for new graduates
If you’re graduating and moving into your own house or apartment, there’s a lot to consider. Here’s what you need to know about insurance.
Protect your stuff: Renters insurance pays for your clothes, furniture, electronics, and other belongings if they’re stolen or damaged by a fire or other cause. Most renters policies also pay for your belongings if they’re stolen from your car.
Shop for auto insurance: If you need your own auto insurance, compare rates and policies. Then ask several companies for quotes. Also ask if you qualify for any discounts.
Finding health insurance: If you have a job that offers health insurance, that’s great. Be sure to ask if your doctors are in its network to avoid a big bill. Also look at the plan’s website to find hospitals and urgent care centers near you for when you need a doctor after hours.
Learn more
- Renters insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost?
- 10 steps to find the right auto insurance
- Need health insurance? How to find a new health plan now.
April 21, 2025
TDI rate reviews save Texans millions on home and auto premiums
In Texas, the insurance industry is driven by market forces including demand for coverage, the cost of paying claims, and competition among the more than 322 companies selling home and auto insurance. Each insurance company determines the rates it charges its policyholders.
While the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) does not set insurance rates, every year, our actuarial staff review thousands of rate filings made by insurance companies.
In 2024, TDI’s actuarial staff reviewed 2,343 rate filings. 132 filings were rejected for technical reasons, and another 174 were withdrawn by the companies.
An insurance company might withdraw a rate filing if they:
- Need more time to respond to TDI’s questions about the filing.
- Are forced to withdraw a filing because it doesn’t follow state law.
- Decide to make a new filing at a different rate.
Of the rate filings reviewed, TDI determined that 2,037 complied with Texas law. TDI staff had questions or asked companies to provide more information on 77% of filings.
This is where most of TDI’s regulatory work on rates happens—requiring insurance companies to provide more information on incomplete or insufficient filings.
This review process saves consumers on average more than $29.2 million a year.
Learn more
- How are your auto and homeowners insurance costs calculated?
- Ways to save money on home insurance
- Lower your car insurance rates: Tips for saving money
September 24, 2024
TDI tracks insurance companies’ finances to make sure they can pay claims
When you file an insurance claim, you’re counting on your insurance company having enough money to pay that claim.
TDI’s Financial Regulation Division works to make sure that happens for consumers.
Part of what TDI does as the state's insurance regulator is monitoring the financial health of insurance companies. This includes tracking how much insurance companies collect in premiums and spend on claims and other expenses.
TDI requires auto, home, health and all other insurance companies to provide these details in quarterly and annual reports. The agency's financial analysts then comb through those details.
"We go into financial statements, assets, liabilities, income, cash flow, and copious amounts of notes," said Jamie Walker, who leads the division.
TDI monitors about 500 Texas-based companies. Another 3,000 companies that sell insurance in Texas are monitored by their home states.
TDI makes sure companies comply with state laws and fulfill the terms of their policies.
Every five years, TDI's examiners conduct detailed financial exams of each Texas-based company. They talk to company executives and personnel, including actuaries, about their business practices, financial reporting, and new risks on the horizon.
Insurance companies manage risk to make sure they can pay current and future claims. A homeowners insurance company, for example, might only sell a certain number of policies in each area of the state so that if a weather event happens, they have a manageable amount of exposure.
Walker said: "We look at how the company is assessing risk and then determine if they have the financial capacity for unexpected losses, whether that be a major natural event or a significant and extended downturn in the investment market.”
This results in the Financial Regulation Division making sure insurance companies have enough assets to pay their claims and treat consumers as required by state laws and rules.
Learn more
How are your auto and homeowners insurance costs calculated?
June 17, 2024
RV, pool, or boat? Insurance for your summer survival tools
Texans typically use the heat index instead of the calendar to mark the arrival of summer. Whether you wait for a 100-degree day or the official summer solstice, summer is here. Stay cool, Texas. We’ve got ideas to beat the heat and make sure your investment is insured.
Hit the road: If you’re taking your vacation on the road this year, watch our video to understand how insurance works for your home on wheels.
Hit the pool: Thinking about adding a pool or outdoor kitchen to your home? Yes, please! It’s a big investment, so talk to your insurance agent or company about getting the right coverage.
Hit the lake: With thousands of lakes and 367 miles of coastline, it's no wonder Texas is home to more than half a million recreational boats. If you have a boat, your homeowners insurance may include enough coverage. To make sure, check our tips on boat insurance.
March 14, 2024
Any place can flood. Do you have flood insurance?
It can rain and flood anywhere. And most home insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. You might want to buy flood insurance.
One inch of water in a home or apartment can cause up to $26,000 in damage.
To shop for coverage, talk to your insurance provider. If they don’t offer a flood policy, go online to floodsmart.gov to find providers.
A flood policy takes effect 30 days after purchase. It’s wise to shop before hurricane season, which begins June 1.
Get expert advice on flood insurance in this Texas Insurance Podcast.
Learn more
- Flood insurance: Why you need a policy
- You live in a flood plain
- Hurricane season: How to prepare your home and property
January 17, 2023
Texas law encourages renters to buy flood coverage
A Texas law (House Bill 531) emphasizes that renters insurance doesn’t pay for flood damage.
Renters insurance, available for about $20 a month, pays to repair or replace the things you own if they’re damaged by fire, smoke, theft or vandalism, and certain kinds of water damage.
But most renters policies don’t pay for losses caused by floods.
Renters worried about flooding should consider buying a separate flood policy. Ask your agent if they sell flood insurance. If not, you can buy a policy from the National Flood Insurance Program. You can also call them at 877-336-2627.
Landlords are now required to:
- Tell potential renters if they know the dwelling is in a 100-year flood plain.
- Tell potential renters if they know the dwelling had flood damage at least once in the previous five years.
- Encourage renters to buy flood insurance.
Even if your home isn’t in a flood plain, you might want to consider a policy. Flooding can happen anywhere at any time. Poor drainage systems, broken water mains, neighborhood construction, and summer storms can result in flooding.
Learn more
- Flood insurance: Why you need a policy
- Renters insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost?
- How do you know if you need flood insurance? (video)
- Why you need renters insurance (video)
August 12, 2021
Got insurance? Questions to ask at a job interview
Congrats, you got a job interview! After you talk about pay and telecommuting, don’t forget to ask about the benefits. And we don’t mean days off – we mean insurance.
On average, benefits make up a third of a company’s compensation package, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Health insurance is a big part of that.
Ask if the company offers health insurance and how much of the premium you’ll pay. Also ask if they offer health insurance for your family. And look at the plan’s copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. Those are all amounts you’ll have to pay yourself.
If you already have health insurance, getting it through your job will probably cost less and offer more benefits. But always compare costs and benefits before you switch.
If a company doesn’t offer health insurance, ask if there’s a health savings plan. It’s a plan you pay into to help with the cost of health care.
Learn more about what to ask about insurance before you switch jobs.
Insurance tips and help
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