An Opinion Editorial by Commissioner Troy Downing My team and I were on the ground in eastern Montana helping families work with their insurance companies to rebuild immediately following the devastating flooding of 2022. Meeting at the civic center in Red Lodge with hundreds of Montanans, we learned the true extent of the damage and … Read more
After two years as your Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, I still smile every morning when I walk into the office. I am proud of the work we do to protect consumers, educate Montanans, and serve the people of this great state. From top to bottom, I am humbled by the work ethic, knowledge, … Read more
In 2019, WWII veteran Forrest Allen passed away, bequeathing 5,677 acres in Golden Valley County to the Shodair Children’s Hospital. Today, as a member of the Board of Land Commissioners, I was proud to vote in favor of purchasing this land for public use. The purchase, known as the Snowy Mountain Acquisition, is a win … Read more
By Commissioner Troy Downing Are social media denizens tricking you into making bad investment decisions where you lose, and they win? Social media influencers aren’t just dancing on TikTok or recording themselves playing video games. The rise of the unlicensed online “expert” sharing tips on investing, trading cryptocurrency, or how to get rich quick is … Read more
By Commissioner Troy Downing There is a lot of confusion about when an investment in a company becomes a “security” and what the legal requirements are once it does. If you and a friend or family member join forces to start a business, and you both invest money into that business, and you both have … Read more
Montana’s Wild West is alive and well as a rogue subset of bounty hunters who commit crimes and abuses against defendants on bail, their families, and the public. State law gives bondsmen unrestrained arrest powers leading some to employ dangerous tactics that threaten public safety and infringe on defendants’ rights. There is a clear need … Read more
We have been generally impressed by Troy Downing’s performance as state auditor and insurance commissioner. In his handling of multilevel sales companies, his backing of the federal No Surprises Act and outreach to healthcare consumers who could be helped by it, and his call for reforms of Montana’s cabin-site sale program are all small but … Read more
The rise in Covid-19 cases and the new federally mandated reimbursement program from insurance companies has led to an increase in demand for mail-order, self-administered Covid-19 tests. Home testing, if correctly administered, can give you vital information about the need to avoid contact with others to limit spreading the virus. At-home testing is convenient, but … Read more
HOW THE NO SURPRISES ACT AFFECTS THE UNINSURED[Helena, Montana] On January 1st of this year, the No Surprises Act (NSA) went into effect protecting individuals with private health insurance from surprise medical bills. In other words, if you are insured by a company that is not Medicare or Medicaid and receive emergency medical care or … Read more
Thumbs down Lewis and Clark County has already spent well over six figures on the horses seized in a Helena Valley animal abuse case, and the price tag is only expected to rise. As of late November, the county had spent more than $171,000 to care for the nearly 60 horses confiscated from a breeding … Read more