Causey negotiates settlement on mobile home insurance for lower rate increase

RALEIGH - The N.C. Department of Insurance settled its legal dispute with the N.C. Rate Bureau over mobile homeowners' insurance rates, saving policyholders millions of dollars in premiums compared to what had been proposed by the insurance industry.

"While no increase in premiums is good news to consumers, I am glad we were able to negotiate a settlement that saves consumers more than $10 million a year in premium payments compared to the original request from the Rate Bureau," N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a release Tuesday announcing the settlement. "I am also glad the Department of Insurance has avoided a lengthy administrative legal battle which could have cost consumers money."

On Feb. 26, the NCRB, which represents companies writing property insurance in North Carolina and is not a part of the NCDOI, proposed an overall statewide average 24.9% increase for mobile home fire, or MH-F, policies and an overall statewide average of 11.3% increase for mobile home casualty, or MH-C, policies.

The settlement resulted in a much smaller overall statewide increase of 12.5% for MH-F and 4.7% for MH-C.

Unlike standard homeowners' programs, MH-F and MH-C programs include flood coverage. The two mobile home insurance programs are similar. However, the MH-F program provides coverage for a broader range of perils.

The settlement means a hearing on the dispute scheduled for January has been canceled.

The increase will take effect on new and renewed policies beginning on or after Sunday, May 1, 2022.