Watching the devastating wildfires in California, I was struck by a gut-wrenching scene shared by Tyler Perry: a daughter desperately using a garden hose to protect her 90-year-old parents’ home because their insurance had been canceled. This is the human toll of corporate greed — a story that’s all too familiar for many Georgians. Families are facing skyrocketing insurance premiums or outright cancellations, and our state Legislature has failed to act.
Instead of holding insurers accountable, some Georgia Republicans have focused on tort reform, a misguided attempt to limit your right to seek justice in court. Tort reform won’t lower your premiums, stop insurers from denying claims or prevent them from abandoning policyholders during times of crisis. It’s a distraction — a ploy to protect the billion-dollar insurance industry at the expense of hardworking Georgians.
Credit: courtesy
Credit: courtesy
The problem isn’t lawsuits; it’s the insurance companies themselves. Last year, the industry made more than $80 billion in profits while mastering the art of squeezing every last penny out of policyholders. From hurricanes to wildfires, many insurers deploy a notorious playbook: delay payments, deny claims and defend their profits at all costs.
This predatory behavior hit home in Georgia after Hurricane Helene. Families across the state were left stranded by insurers when they needed help the most. One family in Lowndes County faced endless hurdles to get their insurer to cover basic repairs after their home was severely damaged. Their claim was initially denied, and the eventual payout offered covered only a fraction of the costs.
And yet, when faced with these realities, some Georgia Republicans have consistently chosen to protect insurance companies over citizens. They refuse to cap premium increases or demand transparency in rate-setting. They’ve ignored calls to strengthen oversight and enforcement, leaving insurance companies free to operate without accountability.
They claim that “frivolous lawsuits” drive up premiums, but this framing is dishonest. Georgia courts are already well-equipped to handle baseless claims, dismissing meritless lawsuits and sanctioning attorneys who bring them. Instead of requiring insurers to provide clear proof that successful citizen lawsuits are raising premiums, their champions expect us to simply take their word for it.
The truth is, many insurance companies and their lawyers gamble in court, hoping juries will side with them, instead of paying valid claims. When they lose, they blame citizens and run to lawmakers for protection. Now, they want to strip Georgians of their constitutional right to have a fair shot at justice in court.
Here’s how we fix this broken system:
- Transparency in rate-setting: Insurers must justify premiums and prove rate increases are necessary — not just profitable.
- Cap premium increases: Families and businesses shouldn’t face sudden, unaffordable hikes because insurers want to pad their bottom line.
- Stricter oversight: The Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s office needs resources and authority to investigate unfair practices and enforce penalties.
- Give consumers an advocate: A state advocate should represent policyholders in rate hearings and ensure their voices are heard.
These common sense solutions help address the real causes of rising premiums without sacrificing Georgians’ constitutional rights.
These claims about lawsuits driving up costs are a distraction. States with strict tort reform haven’t seen premiums decrease — in fact, some have seen them rise. You see, the problem isn’t the courtroom; it’s the boardroom.
Perry highlighted a story that isn’t unique, and neither are the struggles of Georgia small-business owners and families like those in Lowndes County. It’s time for real leadership that prioritizes accountability and people over profits.
Georgia leaders have a clear choice: Fight to shield the powerful from accountability or demand that insurance companies stop hiding behind words like “tort reform” to shield their greed. It’s high time they be held accountable to those whose money they took on a promise to protect them. I know where I will stand.
Tanya Miller represents District 62 in the Georgia House of Representatives.
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