The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing of its subcommittee on Disaster Management, examining the insurance industry’s claims practices following recent natural disasters.

The testimony was all too familiar to storm victims in Louisiana, but served as a poignant reminder that—despite Commissioner Temple's coziness with the insurance industry—we cannot trust big insurance.

Subcommittee Chair Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) grilled insurance executives from Allstate and State Farm following testimony from storm victims, adjusters, and consumer advocates.

Storm victims testified to being delayed, assigned multiple adjusters, stonewalled, lowballed, and denied. Adjusters testified that insurers directed them to change estimates and falsify reports.

Senator Hawley accused insurance companies of prioritizing profits over their policyholders and engaging in a pattern of "institutionalized fraud."

Watch the full hearing here

ARTICLE CREDIT: Real Reform Louisiana