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Division of Insurance - Consumer Protection Services

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Consumer Assistance
Enforcement
Office of Managed Care
 Market Analysis
Market Conduct Examinations/Anti-Fraud Compliance Unit
 
Consumer Assistance

The Consumer Assistance Unit is responsible for investigating many types of insurance-related inquiries and complaints that fall within the jurisdiction of the Department of Banking and Insurance.  Requests for assistance or inquiries involving all lines of insurance (other than Managed Care medical complaints) must be submitted to our Department through the Consumer Inquiry and Response Center (CIRC).

Each inquiry or complaint is assigned to an investigator who reviews the case to ensure that the insurance company and/or producer involved in the matter has complied with applicable insurance statutes and regulations and that the consumer has been treated fairly.  In conducting this review, the investigator will contact the insurer or producer and require that the licensee respond to all aspects of the complaint/inquiry.  Once the review is complete, the investigator will prepare and send to the consumer a written report of our findings.  In appropriate circumstances, a case will be referred to the Department’s Enforcement Unit for further investigation, which may result in the imposition of administrative penalties. 		 
Additional Resources
Frequently Requested Regulations
 
Enforcement


The Enforcement Unit is responsible for investigating cases of alleged violations of New Jersey’s insurance laws.  Such cases may be referred to the Enforcement Unit from various Units within the Department, such as Consumer Assistance. The Unit investigates insurance-related allegations made against agents, brokers, insurance companies or other persons or entities licensed or regulated by the Department. The Unit also investigates allegations made against unlicensed persons or entities that may sell insurance from or within our State. 

In addition, the Enforcement Unit is responsible for processing any administrative penalties that may be imposed by the Department for non-compliance with our insurance laws. As necessary, the Enforcement Unit will work with the Office of the Attorney General in prosecuting persons or entities that allegedly have violated the State’s insurance laws.  Finally, the Enforcement Unit works closely on issues of common interest with New Jersey’s Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, the New Jersey Bureau of Securities and other State agencies, as well as with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), other states and law enforcement agencies.
 
Office of Managed Care

The Office of Managed Care (OMC) assists consumers and providers with managed care medical complaints and utilization management (UM) appeals.  The complaints investigated include matters involving issues of medical necessity, quality of care, and availability of and access to providers. 


The OMC also oversees the Independent Health Care Appeals Program (IHCAP).  After a member or a provider, with the member’s consent, exhausts a carrier’s internal UM appeal process, the member or provider has a right to access the Stage 3 (external appeal) process through the IHCAP administered by the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI).  DOBI contracts with independent utilization review organizations (IURO) to conduct the Stage 3 reviews for the IHCAP. The IURO’s determination is binding on the carrier.  Provider complaints regarding carrier payment issues are also reviewed and investigated through DOBI’s Provider Prompt Payment Unit (PPPU) in the OMC. The PPPU also oversees DOBI’s Program for Independent Claims Payment Arbitration (PICPA).

  
Related Links
 
Market Analysis

The Market Analysis Unit reviews statistical data, records, reports and complaint trends related to licensed entities to identify general market problems and companies that may be operating outside general industry norms.  A major goal of the unit is to identify issues before they cause considerable consumer harm and to initiate the appropriate regulatory response to address the particular concern.
 
Market Conduct Examinations/Anti-Fraud Compliance Unit


The Market Conduct Examinations Unit within the Office of Consumer Protection Services conducts on-site examinations of insurance company and agency operations and business practices to determine whether consumers, medical providers and other members of the public are being treated fairly and in accordance with New Jersey insurance laws. The unit examines life, health, managed care and property/casualty companies, with specialty lines reviewed as appropriate.  For insurers that are subject to N.J.S.A. 17:33A, the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act, and N.J.A.C. 11:16-6, {transact private passenger automobile or health insurance in this State} the on-site examination also will include review to determine compliance with fraud prevention, detection and reporting standards required by law.

 
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New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance