NOW. RISING RATES, INSURANCE ISSUES AND HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE, BRINGING THEIR QUESTIONS STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE. THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER. THAT’S RIGHT. TONIGHT, NORTH SHORE RESIDENTS MET WITH TIM TEMPLE AND OTHER NORTH SHORE LEGISLATORS TO TRY AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO THESE PRICING PROBLEMS. WDSU REPORTER JASMINE FRANKLIN IS LIVE WITH HOW STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY ARE PLANNING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO HELP YOU. JASMINE. STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS INSURANCE ISSUES BY PROPOSING NEW BILLS AT THE STATE CAPITOL. IT IS TOO HIGH. IT IS DEFINITELY TOO HIGH. COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ON HIGH INSURANCE RATES TO STATE LEADERS DURING A TOWN HALL MEETING TUESDAY EVENING. WHAT I’M HEARING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE FED UP. THEY’RE TIRED OF THE STATUS QUO. THEY’RE READY AND DEMAND CHANGE. HIGH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN FOR BUSINESS OWNER AISHA LEE. SHE OWNS A TRUCKING COMPANY IN FRANKLINTON. THE PAYMENT? MY MY MONTHLY PAYMENT. IT IS EXTREME. AND IF I LIVED IN ANOTHER STATE, MISSISSIPPI, WHICH IS TEN MINUTES AWAY, IT WOULD BE CUT IN HALF. SO I DON’T THINK THAT’S FAIR. AND SOME PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT INCREASES IN THEIR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. IN LOUISIANA, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH INSURANCE. IT’S IT’S FAR TOO HIGH. IT’S HIGHER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE I’VE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES. JERRY KHERSON SAYS SHE NOTICED HER FLOOD INSURANCE BILL RISE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT HAS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TO WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN LOUISIANA. STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY HAVE FILED 25 HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS PERTAINING TO A VARIETY OF INSURANCE TYPES, INCLUDING HOME, AUTO, FLOOD AND BUSINESS. STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TIM TEMPLE SAYS THESE BILLS COULD HELP BRING NEW INSURANCE COMPANIES TO THE TABLE. THESE BILLS ARE AGAIN DESIGNED TO HELP PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY TO COME AND DO BUSINESS IN LOUISIANA. DESPITE THEIR CONCERNS, MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REMAINING OPTIMISTIC. WE, AS THE PEOPLE HERE IN LOUISIANA, NEED TO BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS. THAT’S WHAT WE NEED. BATON ROUGE TO BE FOCUSED ON. AND THE PROPOSED BILLS WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTS NEXT WEEK. REPORTING LIVE IN SAINT TAMMANY PARISH.
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Lawmakers say they are working to address state-wide insurance issues
People voice concerns to State leaders over high insurance rates during town hall meeting
"It is too high, it is definitely too high,” said Eiesha Lee.Community members voiced their concerns on high insurance rates to state leaders during a town hall meeting Tuesday in St. Tammany Parish."What I’m hearing is that people are fed up. They are tired of the status quo and they demand change,” said State Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple.High insurance premiums are a major concern for Lee, who owns a trucking company in Franklinton."The payment is my main concern. My monthly payment is extreme. If I lived in another state like Mississippi, which is just 10 minutes away, it would be cut in half, so I don't think that's fair,” Lee said.Some people are worried about increases in their homeowners insurance."In Louisiana we have a problem with insurance, it's higher than anywhere else I’ve been in the United States,” said Jerri Creson.Creson says she noticed her flood insurance bill rise over the past few years. "It has increased in the past several years and people are starting to wonder whether or not they can afford to continue to live in Louisiana,” Creson said.State lawmakers say they have filed 25 House and Senate bills pertaining to a variety of insurance types, including home, auto, flood, and businesses.Temple says these bills could help bring new insurance companies to the table."These bills are designed to help promote the insurance industry to come and do business in Louisiana,” Temple said.Despite their concerns, many community members remain optimistic."We as the people here in Louisiana need to be able to pay our bills that's what we need baton rouge to be focused on,” Creson said.
ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. —
"It is too high, it is definitely too high,” said Eiesha Lee.
Community members voiced their concerns on high insurance rates to state leaders during a town hall meeting Tuesday in St. Tammany Parish.
"What I’m hearing is that people are fed up. They are tired of the status quo and they demand change,” said State Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple.
High insurance premiums are a major concern for Lee, who owns a trucking company in Franklinton.
"The payment is my main concern. My monthly payment is extreme. If I lived in another state like Mississippi, which is just 10 minutes away, it would be cut in half, so I don't think that's fair,” Lee said.
Some people are worried about increases in their homeowners insurance.
"In Louisiana we have a problem with insurance, it's higher than anywhere else I’ve been in the United States,” said Jerri Creson.
Creson says she noticed her flood insurance bill rise over the past few years.
"It has increased in the past several years and people are starting to wonder whether or not they can afford to continue to live in Louisiana,” Creson said.
State lawmakers say they have filed 25 House and Senate bills pertaining to a variety of insurance types, including home, auto, flood, and businesses.
Temple says these bills could help bring new insurance companies to the table.
"These bills are designed to help promote the insurance industry to come and do business in Louisiana,” Temple said.
Despite their concerns, many community members remain optimistic.
"We as the people here in Louisiana need to be able to pay our bills that's what we need baton rouge to be focused on,” Creson said.
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