Republican Senator Hawley brands insurers "morally obscene" for Milton and Helene claims denials

By George Abbott

Jan 28 - (The Insurer) - Republican Senator Josh Hawley has invited US insurers to publicly testify over "morally obscene" disaster claim denials related to hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“Denying coverage to American policyholders, at a time when so many of them have been displaced and left grieving, is not merely a betrayal – it is morally obscene,” Hawley wrote in an open letter to the sector.

Hawley invited insurers to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management, which he chairs.

He also called on insurers to disclose how many Helene and Milton claims they have denied, on what grounds these were denied, and their average response time for claims in the aftermath of a disaster.

While Hawley’s letter does not specify the companies under scrutiny, it references a report by Weiss Ratings that highlighted troubling trends in Florida’s homeowners insurance market. According to Weiss, six insurers in the state denied more than 40 percent of homeowners insurance claims in 2023.

Hawley’s actions follow President Trump’s recent visit to North Carolina, where he met with residents still recovering from the damage caused by Helene. During the visit, Trump criticised the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its inadequate response and threatened to abolish the agency.

Known for his populist approach, Hawley has made a name for himself by challenging major corporations. In his 2023 book, The Tyranny of Big Tech, he called for companies including Amazon, Meta and Google to be broken up under antitrust laws.

This has prompted political columnist Charles Pierce, writing for Esquire, to warn: “The most dangerous place to stand in Washington DC is any place between Senator Josh Hawley and a live microphone.”