Montana Legislator Challenges Insurer Cancellations Over Zero Dollar Claims

After the damaging May 18, 2014, hailstorm pummeled roofs all over Billings, insurance companies refused to renew about 3,000 homeowners’ policies. The reason given? They had filed three claims in three years, including claims for which the insurance company paid out money — and claims for which the company paid nothing. In the 2015 Legislature, Sen. Mary McNally, D-Billings, proposed an end to counting “zero dollar claims” against insurance customers. Her bill included other consumer protection measures. Although it was supported by state insurance commissioner Monica Lindeen, a Democrat, and passed by the Senate, that bill died in the 2015 House.