North Carolina Issues Bulletin Regarding FEMA Inquiries Following Hurricane Helene

On October 31, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) issued Advisory Bulletin 24-B-18to all companies writing property and casualty insurance in the state, reminding them of the specified statutory requirements related to inquiries made by policyholders seeking financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Helene.

Under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP), a letter from the policyholder's insurer may be required to verify that the loss is not covered under their existing homeowners policy. The NCDOI asks insurers to recognize any verification letter requests by policyholders as FEMA eligibility verification requirements rather than claims activity. Insurers are instructed that taking any underwriting action in response to requests for the verification letters may unfairly penalize policyholders and violate the cited statute.

Please see Advisory Bulletin 24-B-18for more information. For any questions regarding the bulletin, please contact the Department's Consumer Services Division at [email protected]or 855-408-1212.