Commissioner’s Bulletin # B-0032-98

This bulletin announces the call for rate information for the 1998 Auto and Homeowners Insurance Rate Guides. The rate guides are annual Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) publications that provide comparative premium information to Texas insurance consumers. To assure that the rate information is current and correct, TDI is collecting annual (twelve month) premium figures from companies.

For the 1998 rate guides, TDI requires all companies be listed that write within the top 80 percent of the auto or homeowners market in each rate guide region (group of two to four auto or homeowners rating territories). All other companies that wish to be listed also may provide TDI with this information. TDI will publish 1998 auto and homeowners rate guides in July 1998.

If your company is in the top 80 percent of the market in a given region, the attached form will show that region under "Required." If your company wishes to be listed in guides for regions where you are not required to appear (not within the top 80 percent for that region), please provide premium information for those regions in the "Optional" section. Optional information received after the deadline may not be included in the first printing of the guides.

Your company must provide the requested premium information within ten days, under authority of Article 1.24 of the Texas Insurance Code. The deadline for submitting rate guide information is June 8, 1998. Forms and instructions are attached. Please note the separate instruction sheet about how to report auto rates for county mutuals.

This year companies may submit their data electronically via the TDI Internet home page, or they may complete the enclosed forms and fax them to TDI. If you have questions about submitting rate guide information, please contact Melissa Hield in Consumer Protection (512/322-4349 or e-mail: Melissa.Hield@tdi.state.tx.us).

Sincerely,

Elton Bomer

Commissioner of Insurance

Texas Department of Insurance

1998 AUTO INSURANCE RATE GUIDE INFORMATION FORM

INSTRUCTION SHEET

TDI publishes auto rate guides that group rating territories into "regions." Each regional guide contains two to four territories. For your company, list the appropriate annual (twelve months) premium for liability insurance only -- minimum limits of 20/40/15 -- for each driver profile listed on the 1998 Auto Insurance Rate Guide Information Form. The deadline is June 8, 1998.

SUBMIT RATE GUIDE DATA VIA THE INTERNET OR FAX

This year companies may submit their rate guide data electronically via a secured file on the TDI Internet home page. This file is not visible to the public. To submit data via the Internet, open your Web browser and type in this address:

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/rates.html

Or you may enter the information on the enclosed Auto Insurance Rate Guide Information Form and fax it to: 512/305-7463. If you have questions about filing rate guide information, contact Melissa Hield in Consumer Protection at 512/322-4349 or e-mail: melissa.hield@tdi.state.tx.us.

Texas Department of Insurance

1998 AUTO INSURANCE RATE GUIDE INFORMATION FORM

INSTRUCTION SHEET

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR COUNTY MUTUALS

County mutuals that write in the top 80 percent of the Texas auto insurance market must submit figures for the 1998 auto rate guides. For each of the four driver profiles, calculate an average (median) figure for minimum liability coverage for twelve months. Do not include discounts. The deadline is June 8, 1998.

This year companies may submit their rate guide data electronically via a secured file on the TDI Internet home page. This file is not visible to the public. To submit data via the Internet, open your Web browser and type in this address:

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/rates.html

Or you may enter the information on the enclosed Auto Insurance Rate Guide Information Form and fax it to: 512/305-7463. If you have questions about filing rate guide information, contact Melissa Hield in Consumer Protection at 512/322-4349 or e-mail: melissa.hield@tdi.state.tx.us.

Texas Department of Insurance

1998 AUTO INSURANCE RATE GUIDE INFORMATION FORM

Texas Department of Insurance

1998 HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE RATE GUIDE INFORMATION FORM

INSTRUCTION SHEET

TDI publishes homeowners insurance rate guides that group rating territories into "regions." Each regional guide contains two to three territories. For your company, list the appropriate annual (twelve months) premium for a Homeowners "B" policy with $80,000 coverage on the house, $32,000 on its contents, and a 1% ($800) deductible for each of the owner profiles listed. Property Protection Classes are listed above the rate columns on the Information Form. The deadline for submitting your information is June 8, 1998.

SUBMIT RATE GUIDE DATA VIA THE INTERNET OR FAX

This year companies may submit their rate guide data electronically via a secured file on the TDI Internet home page. This file is not visible to the public. To submit data via the Internet, open your Web browser and type in this address:

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/rates.html

Follow the instructions on the screen to submit your rate guide data. Or you may complete the enclosed form and fax it to: 512/305-7463. If you have questions about submitting rate guide information, contact Melissa Hield in Consumer Protection at 512/322-4349 or e-mail melissa.hield@tdi.state.tx.us.

Texas Department of Insurance

1998 HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE RATE GUIDE INFORMATION FORM

Required Annual Rate: HOB $80,000/$32,000, 1% deductible