The culmination of the Department of Insurance’s efforts in 2015 resulted in more than $69 million recovered for Californians from consumer complaints and market conduct exams. More than $56 million in grants were awarded to district attorney’s to fight insurance fraud, there was nearly $25 million recovered through lawsuits in which the Department joined whistleblowers to combat health insurance fraud, and more than $200 million obtained by the Department to settle a long standing dispute over a failed insurance company.

The Department also approved first of their kind insurance products for the sharing economy and built new web-based consumer tools to benefit Californians. To help Californians reduce the risk of damage to their homes from an earthquake, $3 million was also obtained in general funding for the California Earthquake Brace + Bolt program.

Fighting fraud continues to be a priority for the Department. Insurance fraud is a multi-billion dollar drain on California’s economy. For fiscal year 2015/2016 the Department awarded $34.95 million in grants to district attorneys to combat workers compensation fraud and more than $21.95 million in grant funding to fight auto and organized auto fraud. As of November 30, Department of Insurance detectives arrested 745 individuals for alleged insurance fraud this year.

In an effort to curb California’s underground economy the department led a statewide multi-agency outreach effort visiting more than 75 businesses to educate business owners about their obligations to comply with insurance, licensing, workplace safety, labor laws and tax codes. This effort resulted in more than 15 citations, multiple stop work orders and nearly $300,000 in fines.