Hudgens Directs Insurers to Exercise ‘Leniency’ After Georgia Storms

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens has issued an order directing insurers to exercise leniency in dealing with individuals and businesses that may have trouble paying premiums due the winter storms that swept through the state earlier this month.

Georgia experienced its worse winter storm in decades from January 9 through January 11 as much of the state was covered by up to five inches of snow including up to three inches in the Atlanta metropolitan area. As a result, several of the state’s mail highways were closed to traffic and hundreds of flights were cancelled at the Atlanta-Hartsfield airport. Additionally, state and federal offices were closed along with many of the state’s schools.

Former Governor Sonny Perdue on his last day in office called for a state of emergency directing the state’s Department of Transportation and Public Safety to take steps to clear roads and restore power.

Hudgens directive calls for insurers to exercise leniency when issuing cancellation or nonrenewal notices to policyholders whose premium payments may be received late due to disruptions in mail delivery.

“I expect insurance companies to be understanding when so many of their policyholders’ lives have been severely disrupted,” Hudgens said. “This would include premium payments and nonrenewal notifications.”