Texas home insurers' profits rise, as do their premiums
AUSTIN Texas home insurance companies saw big gains in their profits in 2013, new financial figures compiled by the state show, even as regulators consider whether to challenge hefty rate increases of Texas biggest insurers for this year.
Premium and loss numbers for 2013, released Wednesday, showed that State Farm, Allstate and Farmers significantly improved their bottom lines over 2012. That was also considered a profitable year.
The state consumer advocate argues that premium increases imposed by the three insurers this year are unreasonable. She has urged the insurance commissioner to reject them.
Overall, insurers paid out an average 44.8 percent of their premiums to cover property losses. That was a sizable improvement from the previous year, when companies had to use 54.5 percent of premiums to pay for losses.
More at http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140402-texas-home-insurers-profits-rise-as-do-their-premiums.ece .