Louisiana Department of Insurance : Everything you need to know

Office address: 1702 N. Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 
Website: ldi.la.gov 
Year established: 1957 
Employees: 270+ 
Key people: Tim Temple (commissioner); Shauna Irwin (first assistant commissioner); Melissa Gibson, Chuck Myers, Frank Opelka, Nathan Strebeck, and Nina Hunter (deputy commissioner); David Caldwell (executive counsel) 
Operating budget: $58.3 million (actual spending for FY 2023–2024) 

The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) regulates insurance companies and agents across the state. It makes sure rules are followed and helps protect people from unfair insurance practices. 

History of the Louisiana Department of Insurance 

The Louisiana Department of Insurance was established in 1957 to regulate the state's insurance industry and protect consumers. It grew over time to handle disasters, company failures, and sudden rate hikes.  

It still works to keep the insurance system fair, stable, and helpful for people in Louisiana. Here are a few key points in its recent past: 

• 2020 to 2021: handled a spike in complaints after hurricanes damaged thousands of homes 
• 2022: new laws were passed to stop unfair insurance practices and improve claim handling 
• 2023: launched a grant program to help people add stronger roofs to their homes 
• 2024: ten new insurers were approved to offer more coverage choices in Louisiana 

LDI continues to update how it works so it can better deal with storms, rising costs, and market changes. It focuses on solving problems quickly and making insurance available to everyone. 

Louisiana Department of Insurance mandate 

The Louisiana Department of Insurance operates under state law to oversee insurance activity and help keep the system in check. It has legal power to license agents, review company practices, and enforce insurance rules that protect the public. 

Its top goal is to keep companies honest and make sure people can get fair, reliable coverage. Some of the agency’s main duties include: 

• approving new insurers: checks company strength before they sell policies in Louisiana 
• licensing professionals: handles applications and renewals for agents, adjusters, and brokers 
• investigating fraud: tracks down scams that hurt policyholders or the market 
• reviewing rate filings: monitors proposed changes to premiums before companies raise prices 
• handling complaints: resolves issues between customers and insurance providers 

Louisiana Department of Insurance is led by the state’s elected Commissioner of Insurance, who serves a four-year term. The current commissioner, Tim Temple, took office in 2024 and seeks to fast-track reforms. 

Key offices include consumer services, insurance fraud, public affairs, and policy research. 

Key responsibilities  

LDI carries out many duties that support both policyholders and the state’s insurance system. These include core activities that affect coverage, pricing, and consumer protection: 

• checking insurance forms: reviews documents companies use to sell, renew, or change coverage 
• tracking market conduct: monitors how insurers handle claims, billing, and service 
• running public outreach: shares clear information about policies, rights, and responsibilities 
• managing health program access: supports Medicare, LaCHIP, and senior health programs 
• handling disaster response: provides guidance after hurricanes and major insurance events 
• granting licenses: processes applications for producers, adjusters, and companies 
• collecting reports and filings: gathers financial data and filings from insurers 
• supporting legal reviews: assists with disputes, fraud cases, and compliance actions 

Louisiana Department of Insurance’s responsibilities help keep insurers accountable and consumers protected. Its work shapes every insurance policy sold in Louisiana. 

Recent initiatives and regulatory focus 

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has launched reforms to strengthen the local insurance market and speed up disaster recovery.  

In 2024, LDI chose to focus on managing insurance data at the state level instead of joining the NAIC project. Some of its other recent initiatives include: 

• expanding the Fortify Homes Program: gives grants to strengthen roofs against hurricanes 
• approving new property insurers: added more companies to expand coverage choices 
• updating rate review rules: sped up the review of insurance rate requests after disasters 

It continues to modernize how it regulates companies to meet urgent consumer needs. By keeping more control locally, Louisiana Department of Insurance works to build a stronger insurance system for the future. 

Consumer protection and outreach 

The Louisiana Department of Insurance helps consumers by resolving complaints and providing clear insurance information. It offers online tools like the Insurance Check-Up and Consumer Complaint Form to assist policyholders. 

LDI also hosts events such as Homeowners 101 and Medicare workshops to educate the public. These efforts aim to make insurance more accessible and understandable for Louisiana residents.