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What is a State Insurance Commission?

State insurance commissions are generally a pision or department within the state government that helps regulate insurance within their respective state. While the specific responsibilities of state insurance commissions/regulators can vary by state, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring insurers follow state laws,
• Protecting consumers’ interests,
• Resolving complaints about insurers,

The state insurance commissioner (the head of insurance commission) is generally appointed by the Governor. .

How Can My State’s Insurance Commission Help Me and/or My Clients?

If you are having a problem with a state-regulated insurer, you can contact the state insurance commission for support. State insurance commissions generally allow the public to file a complaint, ask questions, and view educational materials.

State insurance commissions investigate the complaints, but the process, timeline and outcomes may vary by state. For instance, some states have a more aggressive approach toward insurance regulation than others. Additionally, some states have more developed mental health parity laws, which may provide further tools for regulating insurers and protecting providers and clients.

Please note that the United States uses a patchwork of regulatory oversight for insurance. has oversight of self-funded insurance plans, and the oversees Medicare and Medicaid. States provide primary oversight for fully insured plans as well as work with the federal government to administer Medicaid. So, when submitting a complaint about an insurer, be sure to check the insurance plan.

If it is a Medicare or a self-funded insurance plan, use the appropriate federal channels to file your complaint^[1]. If you have difficulties with federal regulators, you can still reach out to the state for additional support. “Many states have  that help you navigate insurance problems, including those with self-funded plans” .

How Do I Contact My State’s Insurance Commission?

Check out the page to find your state’s insurance commissioner and/or file a complaint with your state insurance department. You can also go directly through your state’s website to find your insurance commissioner.

For additional support navigating insurance barriers, check out our Insurance Parity Resources page and our Tips for Handling Claims Denials article.

^[1] For complaints about self-funded insurance plans, you can call the Department of Labor at 866-444-3272 or go to . For complaints about Medicare, you can call CMS at 800-633-4227 or go to