Malloy: Insurers may not impose hurricane deductibles

Connecticut homeowners filing insurance claims in the wake of Tropical Storm Sandy will not be subjected to hurricane deductibles, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state Insurance Department Commissioner Thomas B. Leonardi said Nov. 1.

Based on data from the National Weather Service, Sandy did not meet the criteria established by the state legislature last year that would allow insurers to impose a higher hurricane deductible on claims by homeowners.

The law, which was passed by the legislature and signed by Malloy following Tropical Storm Irene, requires that a hurricane warning be issued for Connecticut and that the National Weather Service record sustained hurricane force winds of at least 74 miles per hour.

“Based on the lessons learned from Tropical Storm Irene, we have built stronger consumer protections into our insurance laws,” Malloy said in a prepared statement. “The Insurance Department will be working with the industry to monitor these claims.”