N.C. Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey was in Henderson Tuesday and spoke to a room full of local insurance agents, business leaders and others from the community about what’s going on in the industry.
The event, sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, was held in the Farm Bureau Room of Perry Memorial Library, which Causey noted was a fitting location for the program. Following his remarks, Causey entertained questions from the audience.
Causey is seeking a third term as the state’s insurance commissioner; he faces two Republican challengers in the Mar. 5 primary.
At the top of everybody’s minds is the proposed 40-plus percent rate hike presented recently to Causey by the N.C. Rate Bureau.
Causey told the group that state law requires just one word from the insurance commissioner with regard to a proposed rate hike: yes or no.
Causey said he’s always answered “no,” which means the proposal goes before the courts for a determination. The Rate Bureau has to submit a lot of paperwork that includes payout totals for claims and amounts paid for premiums.
The period for public comment continues through Feb. 2; so far, Causey said his department has gotten about 10,000 comments, the vast majority of which are against the rate hike.
He said he must wait until the comment period has closed before making a statement about the proposed rate hike. He said that likely would come sometime between Feb. 2 and Feb. 22; a court date most likely would come in October.
“In fairness to the insurance companies, they have paid out a lot in claims,” Causey explained, citing dozens of recent natural disasters from wildfires to hurricanes. “We all pay for it, no matter where you live.”
The insurance department oversees more than just homeowners’ insurance, Causey said. The Smart NC program,for example, helps consumers who have disputes with doctors, hospitals and medical bills. “It’s done a lot to help people,” he said.
The department’s fraud control group mainly focuses on white collar crime and there are sworn officers – federally funded – who investigate Social Security fraud.
“I talk about fraud so much because we’re paying for it,” Causey said. The “we” in this case is everyone who pays insurance of any kind. He said that about 20 cents of every dollar spent on insurance is used to combat fraud.
In the world of insurance, the rule of thumb is that 1 in 10 claims will be unfounded or fake. But when it comes to health care fraud, that number jumps to more than 4 in 10, he said.
Anyone who suspects fraud can report anonymously to the Department of Insurance. It takes less than a minute to file a complaint online, he said. The department fields about 6,000 calls a year.
If investigators determine that the fraud is a civil, rather than criminal, matter, the department sends out a warning letter that lets folks know that what they’ve done is wrong and they’ve been put on notice to stop.
Causey said more than 200 letters have been sent, and not one person has been a repeat offender.
“Sometimes it just takes getting their attention,” he said.
Another program available through DOI is the Lost Life Insurance Locator, which does exactly what the name implies – it helps locate life insurance policies. People who want to know if their deceased relatives have any life insurance policies that they don’t know about need only submit a bit of demographic information to find the answer.
“If it was written within the state, we’ll find it,” Causey said.
So far, the program has found more than $300 million in life insurance. Last year alone, the figure was $66 million.
Causey has in his possession a policy from 1908 that is signed by the very first person to hold the office of insurance commissioner in North Carolina. That man was James Young, an insurance agent from right here in Henderson. He served for 22 years, from 1899 to 1921.
Visit www.ncdoi.gov to find out more.
Check out Tuesday’s TownTalk at wizs.com to hear an interview with Commissioner Causey that was aired at 11 a.m.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 01-25-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood Changing A Tire
/by WIZS StaffFor our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.
Count yourself lucky if you’ve never had to change a tire on your vehicle.
Count yourself luckier still if someone taught you how to change a tire, just because it was something you needed to know.
Thursday’s Pop the Hood segment features some key reminders about being safe when changing a tire, especially if you’ve been stranded by the side of the road.
It’s tricky enough to remember all the steps when you’re in your level driveway on a sunny day when the temps are mild and there’s no rain in sight.
But blowouts never occur when it’s convenient, so it’s vital to keep safety in mind when you’ve got to remove one tire and put another one on.
First of all, make sure the jack is rated for your vehicle and is properly placed before you attempt to lift the vehicle- don’t use cinder blocks to hold up a car. It’s a bad idea.
Once you’ve got the bad tire off and you’re ready to mount the spare in its place, make sure it’s properly seated. Seat the tire by putting the first two lug nuts on hand-tight. Then introduce the other three lugs and tightening every other one until you’ve gotten them all. The tightening pattern to remember is 1, 3, 5, 2, 4.
It’s a process that takes time, but it’s worth it to get the torque specifications right – too loose, you’ve got problems. Too tight, different problems.
If the circumstances aren’t right, the main order of business is to get the vehicle safely off the road and get help.
The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS. Safety First! Always seek proper help. This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.
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TownTalk: Human Trafficking and Putting a Stop to It
/by Laura GabelNorth Carolinians can take pride in knowing that this state we call home is a destination for many tourists each year. The interstate highway network helps folks travel easily from Manteo to Murphy, Henderson to Charlotte and just from about anywhere to Raleigh with minimal effort.
Those very things that make the Old North State an attractive spot for visitors, however, also get the attention of some other individuals: human traffickers, whom U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr. called one of the biggest threats and most insidious to our society.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Easley spoke with WIZS on Thursday’s TownTalk to discuss just what the state is doing to fight the problem.
Easley created a task force to combat human trafficking in the Raleigh/Cary area, and earlier this week announced that a second task force has been formed to work with counties to the East near the coast.
These task forces bring together local law enforcement agencies with state and federal agencies to create a strong one-two punch to catch and prosecute people who engage in human trafficking and prostitution.
“We have taken a victim-centric approach,” Easley said. “We’ll hit it with law enforcement,” Easley said of uncovering illegal operations, “but we’ll also have social workers, service providers and mental health professionals” on hand to assist those who have been victimized.
He praised the efforts of the FBI for their work in disrupting these trafficking networks and said the agency has “an incredible victim support system to help (victims) get their lives back on track and stabilized.”
He also praised the efforts of local law enforcement agencies, calling Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame “reliable partners” who are both in his speed dial.
And he called District Attorney Mike Waters “one of the most forward-leaning prosecutors” he knows. “He’s an incredible partner and somebody I count on to help unravel these cases.”
Traffickers are masters of manipulation, he said, and they prey on the most vulnerable in society – often, these are young people.
They seize control, little by little, he explained, and bring their victims under their full control.
“They control their victims, but they’re not bound in chains,” Easley said. “The chains are invisible.”
Some signs to look for include individuals who are not in control of their own documents, like a passport or driver license. They aren’t allowed to speak for themselves, or they often wear the same clothes day after day and only carry cash.
These are all those “invisible chains that bind a victim to a trafficker,” Easley said.
Perhaps most chilling was Easley’s comment about protecting young people from becoming victims of human traffickers: “Any kid who has a smartphone is a target,” he said. “There are groomers online who are trying to cleave them away” from parents and their community.
It may start with the victim agreeing to send one nude photo to an online groomer, he said, before that trafficker has the leverage needed to target another victim.
“We will break down and eliminate this insidious crime,” he said. “We can’t do it alone; we’ve go to do it side by side with local police and law enforcement.”
If you or anyone you know needs help or has information to provide regarding a potential human trafficking situation, please contact law enforcement by calling 911 if the situation appears unsafe, or contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline:
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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Parenting Separately
/by Bill HarrisListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Narcotics Detectives Chase Suspect, Seize Vehicle
/by WIZS StaffVance County Sheriff’s Office Press Release Information:
On Friday, January 19 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit attempted to conduct a vehicle stop at the intersection of Bearpond and Peter Gill Road.
The vehicle fled the scene and led narcotics detectives on a vehicle pursuit that ended on Walter Grissom Road in the edge of Franklin County.
The driver was apprehended and identified as Kenneth Jerome Harris of Kittrell.
During the investigation, crack cocaine was seized. Harris was charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession With Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Cocaine, Maintain Vehicle for Keeping and Selling a Controlled Substance and Felony Flee to Elude Arrest.
Harris’s vehicle was seized under the NC Run and Done Law. Harris was placed in the Vance County Jail under no bond for 48 hours.
Two Men Sentenced During Recent Granville County Criminal Superior Court Session
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of District Attorney Mike Waters
Two men were sentenced last week during a session of Granville County Criminal Superior Court, one receiving an active sentence of between 21 months and 35 months for driving while impaired and the other one between and 5 and 7 years for trafficking cocaine and related offenses.
According to a press release from District Attorney Mike Waters, Jose Antonio Guillen was found guilty by a Granville County jury of driving while Impaired, driving while license revoked for an impaired driving offense. After that verdict, Guillen pleaded guilty to habitual DWI, in that he had three prior convictions of DWI within 10 years before this date of offense. Guillen was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Josephine Davis to an active sentence of 21 to 35 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
On Sept. 24, 2022, Guillen approached a checking station set up by members of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. After an investigation, it was determined that he was in fact impaired while operating the car, and his license was revoked because of a previous Driving While Impaired conviction from Wake County. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated that case. The State of North Carolina was represented by Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps.
Orlando Latta faces up to 7 years after pleading guilty to two counts of trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon for offenses that were discovered after a traffic stop on I-85 in Granville County on Dec. 14, 2021.
Latta pleaded to possession of a handgun by a convicted felon,and 30 grams of cocaine. This incident was investigated by a deputy with the Granville County Sheriff’s Office. Latta also pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in opiates or heroin, and possession of a firearm by a felon, for offenses that were discovered after a traffic stop on Gate #1 Road in Butner on Apr. 4, 2022. During that stop, Latta was found to be in possession of two firearms as a convicted felon, and over 8 grams of Fentanyl. This incident was investigated by Butner Public Safety, Judge Davis sentenced Latta to an active sentence of 70 months to 93 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. The State of North Carolina was represented by Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps.
TownTalk: Rep. Sossamon Voices Concerns About ‘Gas Station Heroin’
/by Laura GabelN.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon, recently appointed to serve on the House Select Committee on Substance Abuse, said he would like to see the state ban the sale of products that contain tianeptine, which is being referred to as “gas station heroin.”
Sossamon was a guest on Wednesday’s TownTalk and said eight other states have banned the drug and he said North Carolina should join them.
“North Carolina should follow suit,” he said. “The easiest and quickest thing to do is just ban it,” he said.
Tianeptine is not approved for medical use by the Food and Drug Administration, although it is an ingredient in a number of widely available products sold at gas stations and convenience stores as “cognitive enhancers,” according to information on the FDA website.
It is an opioid type drug linked to overdoses and death, Sossamon explained. He said he looks forward to the first meeting of the substance abuse committee, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. in Raleigh.
He said the committee will hear from experts and others whose loved ones have died from taking the drug. “I don’t know what all we’ll recommend, but I hope it will be effective to protect the citizens of North Carolina.”
The drug is used in other countries to treat depression and anxiety, but in the U.S. it is a Schedule I controlled substance. This means it has a high potential for abuse, Sossamon said.
“When you begin to read some of the material, it’s a no-brainer that it should be banned.”
Whether it should be a permanent ban or just a pause is part of what the committee can determine during its research and investigation into the issue.
The FDA is sometimes slow in taking action to ban something, and that’s why states have taken steps to prevent the products from being sold.
“The drug, evidently, has some positive effects if it’s used properly,” Sossamon noted, but if it is not regulated there’s a greater likelihood for abuse. It can come in pill or powder form and Sossamon said it’s even in a product that looks like a lollipop.
“We’ve got to ban it until we know more about it,” he said. “I don’t want it on my watch that somebody dies when I had a voice and an opportunity to ban it.”
Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 01-24-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey Visits Henderson For Chamber-Sponsored Event
/by Laura GabelN.C. Department of Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey was in Henderson Tuesday and spoke to a room full of local insurance agents, business leaders and others from the community about what’s going on in the industry.
The event, sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, was held in the Farm Bureau Room of Perry Memorial Library, which Causey noted was a fitting location for the program. Following his remarks, Causey entertained questions from the audience.
Causey is seeking a third term as the state’s insurance commissioner; he faces two Republican challengers in the Mar. 5 primary.
At the top of everybody’s minds is the proposed 40-plus percent rate hike presented recently to Causey by the N.C. Rate Bureau.
Causey told the group that state law requires just one word from the insurance commissioner with regard to a proposed rate hike: yes or no.
Causey said he’s always answered “no,” which means the proposal goes before the courts for a determination. The Rate Bureau has to submit a lot of paperwork that includes payout totals for claims and amounts paid for premiums.
The period for public comment continues through Feb. 2; so far, Causey said his department has gotten about 10,000 comments, the vast majority of which are against the rate hike.
He said he must wait until the comment period has closed before making a statement about the proposed rate hike. He said that likely would come sometime between Feb. 2 and Feb. 22; a court date most likely would come in October.
“In fairness to the insurance companies, they have paid out a lot in claims,” Causey explained, citing dozens of recent natural disasters from wildfires to hurricanes. “We all pay for it, no matter where you live.”
The insurance department oversees more than just homeowners’ insurance, Causey said. The Smart NC program,for example, helps consumers who have disputes with doctors, hospitals and medical bills. “It’s done a lot to help people,” he said.
The department’s fraud control group mainly focuses on white collar crime and there are sworn officers – federally funded – who investigate Social Security fraud.
“I talk about fraud so much because we’re paying for it,” Causey said. The “we” in this case is everyone who pays insurance of any kind. He said that about 20 cents of every dollar spent on insurance is used to combat fraud.
In the world of insurance, the rule of thumb is that 1 in 10 claims will be unfounded or fake. But when it comes to health care fraud, that number jumps to more than 4 in 10, he said.
Anyone who suspects fraud can report anonymously to the Department of Insurance. It takes less than a minute to file a complaint online, he said. The department fields about 6,000 calls a year.
If investigators determine that the fraud is a civil, rather than criminal, matter, the department sends out a warning letter that lets folks know that what they’ve done is wrong and they’ve been put on notice to stop.
Causey said more than 200 letters have been sent, and not one person has been a repeat offender.
“Sometimes it just takes getting their attention,” he said.
Another program available through DOI is the Lost Life Insurance Locator, which does exactly what the name implies – it helps locate life insurance policies. People who want to know if their deceased relatives have any life insurance policies that they don’t know about need only submit a bit of demographic information to find the answer.
“If it was written within the state, we’ll find it,” Causey said.
So far, the program has found more than $300 million in life insurance. Last year alone, the figure was $66 million.
Causey has in his possession a policy from 1908 that is signed by the very first person to hold the office of insurance commissioner in North Carolina. That man was James Young, an insurance agent from right here in Henderson. He served for 22 years, from 1899 to 1921.
Visit www.ncdoi.gov to find out more.
Check out Tuesday’s TownTalk at wizs.com to hear an interview with Commissioner Causey that was aired at 11 a.m.