Liberty National Life faces license revocation - South Florida Business Journal:

tenamup.wordpress.com
Kevin McCarty’s order follows a five-month onsiter investigation last yearat Liberty’ National’ws Birmingham, Ala., office, during which more than 7,000 life insurancde applications were reviewed. Investigators foun d 1,149 violations, of which 1,053 were for discriminatory according to a news release from the Floridaw Department ofInsurance Regulation. Liberty National has abouty 182,000 policies in Florida. “Discrimination of any kind by an insurancee company will not be tolerated by this Deputy Commissioner Mary Beth Senkewiczx said in anews release.
“We will do everythingf within our power to ensurew that Florida consumers are protected from suchunconscionablee practices.” The company is alleged to have refused to issu life insurance policies based on national origin, potential lawful travel and citizenship. A significant number of consumera affected by the practices were of Haitian originjor descent, according to the news release. Liberty Nationa l has more than 170 offices throughoutthe U.S. and more than 6,50 0 sales representatives, according to its Web Efforts to reach comment from Liberty National were notimmediatelyu successful. However, in a SEC filing, the company'sa parent, .
, said it believes the state'sw actions were not warrantecd and the company will vigorously respone tothe allegations. "The Florida regulator's claime relate to past underwritin practices of the companyh with regard to applicationes submitted by persons who livedx inthis country, but who were not United Statesa citizens. This legal status resultse in risk analysis, processing and proof differencew which Liberty National believes an insurer lawfullyy may takeinto account, the company wrote.
"The company believes that the Florida Office of Insurancs Regulation has misinterpreted the facts in significant believes that its past and currenty practices were consistent with Florida law at the and is optimistic that a satisfactor y resolution of this matter can be achieve d through appropriate administrative Liberty National has 21 days to responc tothe state.