The commissioner supplies the appearance of consumer protection, but pretty much delivers insurance industry protection. This problem has been obvious to students of insurance regulation for many decades. It has been the study of Congressional hearings and endless studies. But nothing has been done about it. Perhaps this sorry situation is now more obvious with the public and political acceptance of the impact of campaign finance laws, always strong, but now overpowering beyond the wildest imagination.
Money dictates policy.
Campaign contributions gain access and input into the decision making process and also legislative and executive outcomes. The consumer is left out in the cold. What s not new is a high-level effort to change things. The only thing that changes is that it gets worse. The ruling philosophy is less regulation, less government interference, and more getting government off the back of business.