“Independence Day Weekend is ahead of us, which means many Montanans will be utilizing our expansive public lands to camp, hike, fish, and recreate. This is Insurance Commissioner Troy Downing. Over the long and unusually warm weekend, please remember that our State is at critical risk of wildfires. Campfires and fireworks should be used with … Read more
“Montana is expecting an above-normal fire season. High temperatures, drought, and heavy fuel loads in our forests are critical factors in the unseasonably large number of fires we’ve experienced over the last few weeks. The fires have already led to evacuations and destroyed homes in parts of the State. This is Commissioner Troy Downing. Now … Read more
“This is Commissioner Troy Downing. Lumber prices are at all-time highs. Consumer prices surged 5% last month, the fastest in over a decade. Everything is getting more expensive, but few Montanans know this means your insurance coverage may not meet the replacement costs following a loss. Most commercial and many homeowners policies include a clause … Read more
“Unlicensed and untrained agents using high-pressure sales techniques and intentionally misleading information are selling poor-quality health plans to Montanans. This is Commissioner of Insurance Troy Downing. Purchasing a health plan that provides little to no coverage can lead to devastating financial outcomes should a major medical event arise. Remember to always vet anyone trying to … Read more
75% of the securities fraud cases our agency investigates involve a person who is 65 years or older. This is Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downing. It’s estimated Montana seniors have lost over $1 billion to securities fraud and scams in just the last four years. You can help us fight back against fraud … Read more
Dozens of multi-level marketing companies operate in our State, but only around ten are properly filed with our agency. To simplify, a multi-level marketing company or MLM is a company where you sell products to a network of customers who also sell to their own customers. You get compensated with a part of each sale … Read more
“COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and the right thing to do. This is Troy Downing, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, the Montana State Auditor. Last week, I received my first COVID-19 vaccination. I’m asking you to join me in getting vaccinated – a positive step to get our lives and Montana’s economy back to normal! … Read more
APRIL 28, 2021 “This is Commissioner Troy Downing. Last week, Governor Gianforte signed multiple pieces of legislation sponsored by our agency into law. Among them was House bill 379, allowing insurance companies to use gender and marital status when pricing policies. Since 1985, Montana was the only state in the Nation that prohibited this practice … Read more
“This is Commissioner Downing. In recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, our agency is sponsoring a legislative study bill to better understand the extent of elder exploitation in our state and what can be done through education and statute to curb this growing issue. What we already know is that elder exploitation is … Read more
“This is Commissioner Troy Downing. Have you ever been the victim of an automobile accident and had the other driver’s insurance company partially blame you for the accident and require you to pay part of the claim? Assigning liability levels to two or more parties involved in a traffic accident is called Comparative Negligence or … Read more