Hawley Demands Insurance Companies ‘Make Policyholders Whole’ in Wake of Devastating Missouri Storms

For information about Senator Hawley’s new RECA law to compensate Missourians,click here.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent aletterto the presidents and CEOs of State Farm, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Allstate, and American Family Insurance among others in the wake of the devastating storms that hit Eastern Missouri on Friday. Senator Hawleycalled onthe companies to uphold their end of the insurance contract as policyholders work to rebuild.
“Your policyholders have paid you faithfully, often for years. Now is the time for you to honor the faith your customers placed in you. As Missourians work to rebuild and recover from these devastating storms, you must provide immediate and comprehensive assistance to my constituents as they navigate the claims process,”the Senator wrote.“It is my full expectation that you will honor your commitments, fully pay claimants, and do your part to help rebuild communities across Missouri.”
The storms come just days after Senator Hawley’s subcommitteehearingthat exposed industry-wide corruption in the insurance industry that rips off those who have paid into insurance policies. The Senator has also launched a bipartisan investigation into the practice of subjecting policyholders to delays and underpayments.
Read the full letter to the State Farm CEO here orbelow.
May 17, 2025Mr. Jon FarneyPresident and Chief Executive OfficerState Farm MutualDear Mr. Farney:On Friday, May 16, a series of severe storms swept across Eastern Missouri. As of Saturday morning, approximately 5,000 buildings were damaged and nearly 80,000 Missourians were without power. There have been seven confirmed fatalities. The scale of the damage is devastating. Records indicate that you currently provide significant property and casualty insurance coverage across Missouri. Victims of these severe storms will soon be seeking assistance. During this time of crisis for Missouri, I fully expect that your company will make policyholders whole.As you may be aware, as Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Management, I have launched a bipartisan investigation into major insurance companies’ claims practices. Last week, the Subcommittee held a hearing that established an industry-wide practice of subjecting policyholders to substantial delay and underpayment. Even more alarming, the hearing revealed a practice whereby key findings in adjustment reports are altered or deleted by reviewers who have never seen the property to drive payouts to policyholders down. My investigation has revealed a pattern of this activity across the country and across disaster events. That is unacceptable and must change.Your policyholders have paid you faithfully, often for years. Now is the time for you to honor the faith your customers placed in you. As Missourians work to rebuild and recover from these devastating storms, you must provide immediate and comprehensive assistance to my constituents as they navigate the claims process. It is my full expectation that you will honor your commitments, fully pay claimants, and do your part to help rebuild communities across Missouri.
Sincerely,Josh HawleyUnited States SenatorChairSubcommittee on Disaster Management
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