Missouri officials tell insurance companies to stop canceling homeowner policies

JEFFERSON CITY — The state’s top insurance regulator called on insurers Monday to stop canceling policies for Missouri homeowners still recovering from storms that hit St. Louis and other parts of the state this spring.

Angela Nelson, director of the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, issued the bulletin after agency officials said they were alerted to “a few” companies that had terminated coverage for consumers who continue to complete repairs on their homes months after the weather events.

“It is unacceptable that consumers who are already victims of devastating weather should then be subjected to this additional worry. This department will always put the fair treatment of Missouri consumers first and will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” Nelson said.

The department did not identify the companies it is targeting, but said insurers need to give policyholders impacted by natural disasters a reasonable amount of time to complete repairs necessary to make the premises habitable.

“As one can expect after natural disasters, repairs can be delayed for a number of a reasons the policyholder does not control, including but not limited to, shortages of contractors or building supplies,” the bulletin notes.

Under the order, insurers should not cancel or fail to renew a policy for storm-related damage occurring after March 1.

Insurance companies have the legal right to cancel policies, but policyholders must be given 30 days notice and offered a reason why.

The agency’s enforcement power includes the ability to cancel a company’s license to conduct business in Missouri.

Among those who have faced policy cancellations is Matthew Chrum of Arnold, who told the Post-Dispatch that State Farm notified him in early October that it was ending his coverage after he made weather damage claims in 2022, and following a storm in March.

He said he has purchased a policy through another company, but said the experience was nerve-wracking.

“It makes it tough. I imagine that could be a rock and a hard place for some people,” Chrum said. “I had no problems dealing with State Farm. They didn’t fight me on anything. But the cancellation part messed me up.”

While the department did not respond to requests for information about what companies they are tracking, some homeowners have taken litigation into their own hands.

In August, Michelle Gravel and Paul Sonderegger filed a breach of contract claim in St. Louis city court against their home insurer, State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. The couple alleges the insurer was slow in providing them an estimate on what it will cost to fix their Central West End home following the tornado, costing them more than $250,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.

In St. Louis, an EF3 tornado, which had winds up to 152 mph, barreled through Clayton in St. Louis, up through North City before crossing the river into Illinois on May 16. Five people were killed and dozens injured. The storm leveled trees and homes, hitting North City particularly hard.

A Post-Dispatch analysis found that in some city blocks more than 70% were uninsured, primarily because many residents inherited their homes and were not required to carry insurance by a lender.

In August, Nelson said insurance payouts for tornado damage and flooding throughout the state could exceed $2 billion.

In addition to the St. Louis tornado, severe storms have pummeled the state this year, causing wildfires and flooding in southeast Missouri.

A round of storms in April and May damaged an estimated 80 homes and businesses in Lawrence, Newton and Greene counties in southwest Missouri.

The department, meanwhile, has been scrambling to assist consumers seeking help with claims.

Nelson said the agency’s Consumer Affairs Division has managed more than 16,000 phone calls and 18,000 emails from homeowners, while recovering more than $28 million in unpaid claims.

“We urge every Missourian encountering a problem — or even anticipating one — to contact us immediately. We can do this job most effectively when you call us first,” Nelson said.

DCI’s Consumer Hotline is 800-726-7390. Additional resources can be found online at insurance.mo.gov.

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