NC Rate Bureau requests 42% increase in homeowners’ insurance rates

Temperatures may not be the only thing to rise this summer in North Carolina. The North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) has requested a rate increase of 42.2% in homeowners’ insurance rates effective August 1, according to a press release from NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. 

The NCRB represents companies that write insurance policies in the state and is a separate entity from the NC Department of Insurance (NCDOI).

North Carolinians who drive vehicles or motorcycles already felt a pinch in their wallets or pocketbooks in December when auto insurance rates increased by 4.5% and motorcycle liability rates increased by 2.3%. Both modes of transportation will see the same increase later this year under a settlement reached between the NCDOI and insurance companies. 

In November 2020, NCDOI received a request from NCRB for a 24.5% increase in homeowners’ insurance rates. The filing resulted in a settlement between Causey and NCRB for an overall average rate increase of 7.9%.

The public can voice their opinions during a public comment period. There are four ways to provide comments:

• A public comment forum will be held on Jan. 22 from 10 am to 4:30 pm at the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Jim Long Hearing Room in the Albemarle Building, 325 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603.
• A virtual public comment forum will be held simultaneously with the in-person forum. The link to this virtual forum will be: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mb3fe10c8f69bbedd2aaece485915db7e
• Emailed public comments should be sent by Feb. 2 to: [email protected].
• Written public comments must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, by Feb. 2 and addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1201.

Public comments will be shared with the NCRB. If NCDOI officials do not agree with the requested rates, the rates will either be denied or negotiated with the NCRB.

Causey will request a hearing if a settlement can’t be reached within 50 days.

A specific table of proposed homeowners’ rate increases across the state can be found here.

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