What You Can Do

We ask that you make some important telephone calls. The more frequently the deciders hear you, the more they will realize the scope of the problem:

1. Call and write Governor Deval Patrick (888-870-7770) - Tell him to enforce the Commissioner's responsibility to protect the citizens and stop Homeowners Insurance Gouging in Coastal MA. Tell the Governor to show LEADERSHIP in this crisis - Speak Out and Investigate!
2. Call and write Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burnes (617-521-7794) and tell her to rule by the Statute and protect the Citizens and not the Insurance Industry by:
   • Require MA ONLY data be used in the models and public access to this part of the model must be mandatory in rate hike filings.

   • Require that ALL INSURERS MUST provide annual profits in all rate hike filings.

   • Follow the Statute and appoint 6 citizens to the Fair Plan Executive Board Annually- citizens WITHOUT connections to the insurance industry. Make 3 of such appointees from Coastal MA, North Shore, South Coast and the Cape and Islands.

   • Require public notice on the Division of Insurance Web Site prior to ALL Rate Hike Fillings of all Homeowners Insurance Companies.

   • Require Attorney General Review of All Rate Increase Fillings.

   • The Commissioner must rule that ANY CHANGE to the Fair Plan Rules or Operations or Rates MUST require a PUBLIC HEARING prior to any decisions.
3. The State Attorney General represents the homeowners in the decision regarding the 25% rate increase asked for by the Fair Plan. Send your personal story of difficulty wrought by the insurance rates to the Massachusetts Attorney General, either to The Office of the Attorney General, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, or by email to ago@ago.state.ma.us.
4. Call and Write Rep. Mariano, Co-Chair of the Financial Services Committee(617-722-2220) Ask that his committee work diligently to:
   • Support Sen. O'Leary and Rep. Cabral bill on putting caps back on the Fair Plan in Coastal MA.

   • Provide a "Trigger Bill" for Wind Deductibles requiring Named Storms with Hurricane Winds hitting Ma in order to activate our wind/hurricane deductibles.

   • Create and fund a Massachusetts Public Model on Hurricanes requiring ONLY MA data and all MA data be used. This Science/Data Team must not be connected with the Insurance Industry.

   • Mandate that the Commissioner of Insurance MUST require the Fair Plan models to use EXCLUSIVELY MA DATA and MA COASTLINE in any model used for a rate hike hearing. This data must allow public/ scientist access to all data used.

   • Create Bills to address the findings of the recent State Homeowners Insurance Study.
5. Call and write your State Senator and State Representative and ask them if they have:
   • Signed on to Representative Cabral and Senator O'Leary's bill to amend Section 5 of Chapter 175C of the General Laws which would put caps back on the Fair Plan rate hikes in Coastal MA?

   • Have they read the findings of the State Homeowners Insurance Study and are they supporting the findings, and working on the bills?

   • Have they contacted the Governor to ask that he put pressure on the Commissioner to protect the citizens?

   • Tell your legislator this topic is important to YOU in the re-election campaigns.
6. Spread our message to as many homeowners as you can to have them further our cause. Have them register with our web site so that we can keep them abreast of the issues.