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• Former insurance agent gets 5 years in fraud case

  May 17, 2013 8:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 35-year-old Denham Springs man has been sentenced in Baton Rouge federal court to nearly five years in prison and ordered to pay two life insurance companies more than $1.4 million for frauds he committed against them. The Advocate reports Timothy R. Schlatre must report... more »

• St. Landry board considers options for insurance

  April 12, 2012 10:36 AM

  OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) - The St. Landry Parish School Board has voted to begin receiving quotes for the district's property, casualty and liability insurance coverage. The Advocate reports board attorney Gerard Caswell recommended Wednesday that school system officials request paying the insurance premiums incrementally rather than in one annual payment... more »

• State police arrest pair on insurance fraud

  March 16, 2012 9:55 AM

  MONROE, La. (AP) - State troopers have arrested two people accused of submitting fraudulent insurance claims in Ouachita Parish. Investigators with the State Police Insurance Fraud Unit arrested 52-year-old Stephen Sanderson of Winnsboro on Thursday and 46-year-old Sherry Williams of Monroe last Friday. They were booked into Ouachita Correctional Center,... more »

• Citizen insurance plaintiffs to seize cash

  March 7, 2012 10:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The plaintiffs who won a $92.8 million judgment against Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. three years ago plan to seize the company's cash Wednesday. The move comes after a ruling late Tuesday in a Jefferson Parish state district court. The Advocate reports the state-backed Citizens... more »

• Insurance Fight Shows Catholic-Evangelical Ties

  February 25, 2012 10:57 PM

  After the White House decreed this month that religious employers would have to pay for workers' birth control, it was no surprise that Roman Catholic leaders would protest. That evangelical Protestants would rally to their cause was less expected and unthinkable even a generation ago. "It's just the common good.... more »

• Mandeville expects insurance rates to drop

  January 23, 2012 10:02 AM

  MANDEVILLE, La. (AP) - New federal flood elevations take effect in Mandeville in May and city officials say many residents' insurance rates will drop sharply. The city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently met with local residents and business interests to explain the new base flood elevations. Storm surge... more »

• "How to Be a Better Insurance Consumer: A Risk Management Training for Small Businesses" Play Video

  January 9, 2012 10:31 AM

  "How to Be a Better Insurance Consumer: A Risk Management Training for Small Businesses" LSBDC at UL Lafayette is offering a seminar on "How to Be a Better Insurance Consumer: A Risk Management Training for Small Businesses". This seminar will take place at the Acadiana Technical College on 1100... more »

• Woman sentenced in insurance murder fraud case

  September 23, 2011 6:23 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A 32-year-old woman has been sentenced to five years for her involvement in an insurance scheme that led to a murder in 2004. U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon on Thursday sentenced Maria Samuels who pleaded guilty. The scheme involved her brother and a murder-for-hire... more »

• Should Agents Killed in Ville Platte Get Special Death Benefits

  June 10, 2011 11:20 PM

  A Louisiana lawmaker wants to make death benefits available for State employees killed in the line of duty, such as the two insurance investigators killed Tuesday in Ville Platte. There's no doubt Tuesday's double-murder suicide still weighs heavily on the small town of Ville Platte. Many residents now turning... more »

• One of First Witnesses Recounts Ville Platte Shootings

  June 8, 2011 10:22 PM

  More information about Tuesday's double murder suicide surfaces only a day after the shooting in downtown Ville Platte. One of the first witnesses on the scene describes what happened in an exclusive interview with KATC, and the shooter's family issues a statement about the incident. The witnesses doesn't want... more »

• What Could Have Led to Ville Platte Double Murder-Suicide

  June 8, 2011 12:18 AM

  It was a tragic end to a sordid past for Ville Platte insurance agent Melvin Lavergne. After over 40 years in the insurance business, he'd recently faced several investigations and an arrest. It was all leading up to Tuesday's double murder suicide in Ville Platte. "Today around one o'clock... more »

• Louisiana governor's insurance plan gets support

  January 24, 2011 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Black physician groups and operators of some health clinics for the poor have lined up in support of the Jindal administration's plan to have state taxpayers purchase private health insurance policies for the poor. But the much larger private physicians and hospital groups continue to... more »

• New Flood Maps: Vermilion Parish

  January 19, 2011 7:51 PM

  New flood maps for Vermilion Parish are now in effect. But, who do they affect? And, how? FEMA put the new flood hazard maps, known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps or "DFIRMS," into effect on Wednesday. "People that were not in the flood zones... they have put them... more »

• Flood Maps for St. Martin Parish in Effect November 4

  October 21, 2010 5:45 PM

  ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. - St. Martin Parish property owners without flood insurance are encouraged to buy coverage now to get the best possible premiums before new flood insurance rate maps go into effect on November 4, 2010. The latest flood hazard maps, known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate... more »

• Ike-Damaged School Districts wants Insurance Help

  September 22, 2010 9:51 AM

  GALVESTON, Texas - Some Hurricane Ike-battered school districts want state help in paying their higher insurance premiums. School district officials in Galveston County have had discussions with state Reps. Craig Eiland of Galveston and Larry Taylor of Friendswood. Eiland says the state should incorporate higher insurance premiums for school districts... more »

• Property Insurance Assessments Sitting Unclaimed

  August 28, 2010 3:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More than $275 million in special assessments for Louisiana property insurance policyholders have not been reclaimed. And if they don't act before the year is over, more than half that total will disappear. The assessments were imposed on private polices over the past four years... more »

• Some LA Homeowners Will See Insurance Rates Increase

  August 18, 2010 5:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana homeowners who get their insurance coverage from five companies owned by Allstate Corp. will start paying higher rates in either November or December. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon recently approved rate increases ranging from 2.9 percent to 11.6 percent, depending upon which of the Allstate umbrella... more »

• House OKs Overhaul of US Flood Insurance Program

  July 16, 2010 6:51 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has voted to overhaul the debt-ridden federal program that provides flood insurance to more than 5 million homeowners and businesses located in flood-prone areas. The National Flood Insurance Program, an arm of FEMA, has for more than four decades offered affordable flood insurance to people... more »

• Rayne Man Arrested For An Alleged Insurance Fraud

  July 13, 2010 6:31 PM

  Today, the Louisiana State Police Region 2 Insurance Fraud Unit arrested a Rayne man for insurance fraud and theft charges. On October 13, 2009, 32-year-old Demoine Declouette of Rayne, LA, allegedly filed a claim with his insurance company after his vehicle, a 2008 Dodge Ram, caught fire. Declouette's claim, which... more »

• Obama to Announce Health Insurance Benefits

  June 21, 2010 8:47 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is set to announce new health insurance benefits for consumers to mark the first 90 days since he signed landmark legislation to expand coverage. The White House says the announcement Tuesday will follow a private meeting between administration officials, several state insurance commissioners and... more »

• Flood Insurance Changes

  June 11, 2010 2:52 PM

  In a state where hurricanes-and therefore flooding-are a big worry, homeowners need insurance. State Farm, Louisiana's largest property insurer, says the federal government is not helping out the way it should. It is changing its arrangement with the National Flood Insurance Program. Agents will continue to sell... more »

• Health Insurance Ban For Abortions Scaled Back

  May 26, 2010 12:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A proposed ban on health insurance coverage for all elective abortions has been scaled back by a Senate committee to affect only the state insurance purchasing pools set up by the federal health overhaul legislation. Lawmakers on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee say they... more »

• State Farm: Homeowners Insurance Increase

  May 6, 2010 5:45 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. has won a 9.9 percent average increase for homeowners insurance coverage in Louisiana. Insurance Commissioner James Donelon approved the request Thursday. Earlier, Donelon rejected the company's request for an average 19.1 percent rate hike, calling it unreasonable and unjustified. Last... more »

• Penalty For Not Getting Health Insurance

  April 22, 2010 1:08 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - New congressional projections show that nearly 4 million Americans will have to pay a penalty for not getting health insurance when that provision of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is fully phased in. The vast majority of those who must pay will be middle class, which... more »

• Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Increase Rates

  April 1, 2010 4:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The board of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has decided to increase rates for its homeowner policies. Citizens originally proposed a 10 percent increase last year but after further review by the state Department of Insurance, the suggested increase was cut to 7 percent on... more »

• Lafayette AFLAC Employee Arrested for Insurance Fraud

  March 31, 2010 3:42 PM

  Today, troopers with the Louisiana State Police Region 2 Insurance Fraud Unit arrested a Lafayette man for various charges pertaining to insurance fraud. In December 2009, troopers received information that indicated an AFLAC insurance agent may have been inappropriately receiving money from insurance premiums. During their investigation, troopers learned twenty-six... more »

• State Farm: Homeowners Insurance Increase Request

  March 30, 2010 11:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. has filed an average 9.9 percent rate increase request for homeowners coverage in Louisiana. State Farm is Louisiana's largest home insurer with just over 300,000 policyholders. In February, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon rejected the company's request for an average... more »

• Healthcare Bill Reactions from Acadiana

  March 22, 2010 1:58 PM

  President Obama's healthcare bill is in its final steps, and it is sparking passionate reactions from people here in Acadiana. Some locals who been following the healthcare bill all along are furious: "It's not change-- it's chains. This healthcare bill is to support a socialist agenda to control... more »

• Boustany part of health summit

  February 25, 2010 12:36 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Louisiana Republican will be among dozens of Congress members attending the White House health care summit. Rep. Charles Boustany, a physician from southwestern Louisiana, opposes the plan backed by President Obama and Democratic members of Congress. Among Boustany's proposals is a plan to allow individuals... more »

• State Farm Asks For Homeowners Insurance Rate Increase

  January 7, 2010 4:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., Louisiana's largest homeowners insurer, has asked for a rate hike that will average 19.1 percent statewide. The Louisiana Department of Insurance will consider the request, which could generate $67.6 million, or an average of about $229 per policyholder. The... more »

• New laws take effect in La

  December 30, 2009 11:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Nearly two dozen new state statutes take effect with the start of the new year. Some are arcane or technical changes to existing laws while others are more sweeping. The new statutes will: -Increase the minimum auto insurance liability coverage required for drivers, boosting... more »

• Louisiana to get bonus for boosting enrollment in children's health coverage

  December 17, 2009 1:32 PM

  IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH COVERAGE HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today awarded $1.5 million to Louisiana for making significant progress in enrolling uninsured children in Medicaid and improving access to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Louisiana joins eight other states in receiving the first round of performance bonuses for... more »

• Commissioner Donelon: Chinese Drywall help available

  November 24, 2009 10:34 AM

  Commissioner Donelon Says Help Available For Victims of Chinese Drywall Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon held a press conference today (November 23, 2009) to announce help for home owners whose properties are contaminated with defective Chinese drywall. Donelon said many home owners in Louisiana are vacating their homes after... more »

• Louisiana Medicaid Recognized

  November 20, 2009 10:26 AM

  Louisiana Medicaid Recognized as a National Best Practice for Administrative Efficiency Despite one of lowest administrative costs in nation and 15 percent reduction in eligibility staff, Louisiana Medicaid shows significantly lower error rates, keeps nearly 100 percent of qualified kids on rolls BATON ROUGE- Louisiana Department of Health... more »

• Blue Cross to Cover H1N1and Seasonal Flu Vaccines

  November 19, 2009 11:55 AM

  Blue Cross to Cover H1N1 (Swine) Flu and Seasonal Flu Vaccines For Individual Members and Fully Insured Group Members Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) will cover the administration of H1N1 (swine) flu and seasonal flu vaccinations for its members. All individual members and fully insured group members... more »

• Ville Platte insurance agent accused of fraud

  November 10, 2009 9:29 AM

  A Ville Platte agent has been issued a cease and desist order, summary suspension of his licenses and fine notice today for allegedly providing fraudulent proofs of insurance. John Melvin Lavergne, 64, was served by Department of Insurance Fraud Section Investigators with an order to cease and desist from... more »