Sussex County Woman Indicted for Insurance Fraud

Dover, DE—Janet Lane, 59, formerly of Ocean View, Delaware was indicted on Monday September 9^th, 2019 by a Sussex County Grand Jury for two counts of insurance fraud and one count of identity theft following an investigation by the Delaware Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Unit.

Ms. Lane had been a passenger in a car that was struck in a motor vehicle accident in July 2015. Ms. Lane sustained injuries from the accident. During the course of the claim process, Ms. Lane submitted a fraudulent wage and salary verification form to her insurance company, CSAA Insurance, utilizing her past employer’s information and forged signature. She claimed that she was employed during the time of the July 2015 accident. However, Ms. Lane was not employed at the time of the accident. In addition, Ms. Lane submitted a fraudulent doctor’s work note to CSAA Insurance. Based upon the fraudulent documents, Lane received $15,488 for lost wages she was not entitled to receive from CSAA Insurance.

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The Delaware Department of Insurance protects Delawareans through regulation and education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.

Contact: Vince Ryan

Office: (302) 674-7303

Mobile: (302) 387-7670

Email: vince.ryan@delaware.gov

Delaware Department of Insurance Opens New Building in Dover, DE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2019

Delaware Department of Insurance Opens New Building in Dover, Delaware

Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro cut the ribbon during a ceremony held this morning at 11 AM to commemorate the opening of the Delaware Department of Insurance’s new Dover office location at 1351 West North Street, Suite 101 in Dover. The Department moved from its original location in the Silver Lake Office Complex in Dover to its new location on July 15, 2019. The event was also attended by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, State Auditor Kathy McGuiness, as well as Dover City Councilmen Fred Neil and Bill Hare.

The Department began its relocation efforts in 2018 to improve Delaware consumers’ ability to visit the office so their needs could be better met. This included expanded parking, and improved handicap access, in addition to a significant rent savings of over $150,000 during the first year.

Commissioner Navarro mentioned the rent savings over the 15 year lease term with DGKP North (the building’s owner) that would exceed $2 million from what the rent was in the previous location. Additional savings were cited by the Commissioner that included relocating existing furniture, computers, video equipment, and reducing document storage by more than 100 square feet. Several construction modifications were made to the interior of the previous office that became cramped over the past 2 decades, and the Department of Insurance was out of space. The new building is a more efficient design employing the latest technology for energy efficiency. The footprint of the new building is a 13% increase in space, but a 30% reduction in rent per square foot.

Commissioner Navarro stated, “I’m pleased that we were able to move to a new building with these enhancements, and save taxpayers money at the same time. We now have a conference room that can accommodate our entire staff. A move of this magnitude is never easy. I have to commend our internal staff who worked on this project, as it was completed on time, and on budget.”

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The Delaware Department of Insurance protects Delawareans through regulation and education

while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.

Contact: Vince Ryan

Office: (302) 674-7303

Mobile: (302) 387-7670

Email: vince.ryan@delaware.gov

Delaware Department of Insurance

http://www.insurance.delaware.gov

Dover Office: 302-674-7300

Consumer Services Division: 1-800-282-8611

Delaware Department of Insurance New Location Ribbon Cutting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2019

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:

Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro will be hosting a ribbon cutting and ceremony to commemorate the opening of the Delaware Department of Insurance’s new Dover office location. The Department moved from its original location at 841 Silver Lake Blvd, Dover, DE 19904, to the current location beginning on July 15, 2019.

The Department began its relocation efforts in 2018 to improve Delaware consumers’ ability to visit our office so we could better meet their needs. This includes expanded parking opportunities, improved handicap access in addition to a significant rent savings of over $150,000.

WHEN:

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 10, 2019

WHERE:

Delaware Department of Insurance

1351 West North Street, Suite 101

Dover, DE 19904

WHO:

Stuart Snyder, Chief of Staff

Frank DiMondi, building owner

Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro

Additional Attendees:

Delaware Auditor Kathy McGuiness

Kent County Sheriff Brian Lewis

Dover Councilman Fred Neil

Capital Police Lieutenant Scott Simpson

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The Delaware Department of Insurance protects Delawareans through regulation and education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.

Contact: Vince Ryan

Office: (302) 674-7303

Mobile: (302) 387-7670

Email: vince.ryan@delaware.gov



Delaware Department of Insurance

http://www.insurance.delaware.gov

Dover Office: 302-674-7300

Consumer Services Division: 1-800-282-8611

Delaware Named as Asia Captive Awards Finalist

September 3, 2019

Delaware is a finalist for non-Asian domicile of the year. Captive Review magazine released the shortlists for the 2019 Asia Captive Awards for both captive insurance domiciles in Asia and non-Asian domiciles having a significant presence on the continent.

“The Delaware Insurance Department has one of the highest international profiles of any U.S. state,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “We participate in a number of international supervisory colleges and work with insurance regulators in Asian countries like Japan and Singapore. Its captive insurance director, Steve Kinion, is the only U.S. captive domicile regulator who has not only met with, but also taught classes about the U.S. insurance regulatory system, for the staff at the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.”

Delaware is the world’s fifth largest captive insurance domicile and the third largest in the U.S.

Of the four finalists for the non-Asian domicile of the year, only Delaware is recognized by the International Center for Captive Insurance Education as an ICCIE Trained Organization. This recognition reflects Delaware’s commitment to developing a professional captive insurance staff by having 80 percent of its financial analysts hold the Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) designation.

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The Delaware Department of Insurance protects Delawareans through regulation and education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.

Contact:         Vince Ryan

Sr. Advisor to the Commissioner

Vince.ryan@delaware.gov

Office: 302.674.7303

Clarifications on Medigap

August 13, 2019 – The Delaware Department of Insurance has received inquiries from Medicare eligible citizens concerning misunderstandings or misinformation they’ve received from some insurance agents and brokers regarding the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). As this act is rather complex, it has not been determined if consumers have been misinformed, or if they did not fully understand what was relayed to them by agents and brokers. The lack of complete understanding can have a damaging effect relative to decision making for Medicare beneficiaries or their caretakers. To help alleviate the situation, Commissioner Trinidad Navarro issued a bulletin to agents and brokers last month, clarifying the requirements of MACRA. Listed below are some of the highlights of MACRA.

Please read the following highlights to better understand how MACRA will change the availability of certain Medicare Supplement insurance plans, more commonly known as Medigap.

“Newly eligible” means individuals who turn age 65 on or after January 1, 2020 or first become eligible for Medicare due to age, disability or end-stage renal disease on or after January 1, 2020.

As of January 1, 2020, the sale of Medigap plans C, F and F High Deductible will be discontinued and no longer available for purchase by “newly eligible” Medicare beneficiaries.

“Newly eligible” beneficiaries who turn age 65 on or after January 1, 2020 or first become eligible for Medicare due to age, disability or end-stage renal disease on or after January 1, 2020 can purchase Medigap plans D, G or G High Deductible as a substitute for Medigap plans C, F and F High Deductible.

The discontinuation of plans C, F and F High Deductible will not affect you if you are currently age 65 or will be 65 before January 1, 2020.

The discontinuation of plans C, F and F High Deductible will not affect you if you first become eligible for Medicare due to age, disability or end-stage renal disease before January 1, 2020.

Individuals who were Medicare eligible before January 1, 2020 will still be able to keep their C, F or F High Deductible plans and will be able to repurchase those lettered plans on or after January 1, 2020.

Medigap coverage cannot be canceled and is guaranteed renewable as long as the policyholder pays the premium.

For more information about upcoming changes to Medigap, please visit https://insurance.delaware.gov/divisions/dmab/ or call the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) at 1-800-336-9500 to speak to one of our Medicare counselors.

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The Delaware Department of Insurance protects Delawareans through regulation and education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.

Contact:         Vince Ryan

Sr. Advisor to the Commissioner

Vince.ryan@delaware.gov

Office: 302.674.7303

Mobile: 302.387.7670