Representatives from the Maryland Insurance Administration will be in Frederick County next month. The agency says it will meet with citizens on Wednesday, October 3rd at the Thurmont Regional Library at 76 East Moser Road from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Officials will also meet with residents on Tuesday, October 9th at Frederick City Hall at 101 North Court Street from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM, and at the C. Burr Artz Library in Downtown Frederick at 110 East Patrick Street on Tuesday, October 23rd from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The final meeting of the month will be held on Wednesday, October 24th at the Brunswick Branch Library at 915 Maple Avenue from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Joy Hatchette, Associate Commissioner for Consumer Education and Advocacy, says the agency travels all over Maryland to answer citizens' questions about "what their policies cover, what they don't cover and their rights and obligations on their various insurance policies."

One issue that comes up is how to consumers can  file a complaint against an insurance company with the MIA. "All they need to do is contact us {1-800-492-6116} or go to our website {www.mdinsurance.state.md.us}. And what we'll do is we'll make sure that the insurance company and the insurance agent is complying with Maryland laws. And we'll review their particular complaint and make sure it's been done properly," she says.

Even if the insurance company is located outside of the state, it's not immune from complaints from policyholders in Maryland. "Just because their home office may be in another state does not mean they're not licensed to do business here in Maryland, and complaints can be filed with us," Hatchette says.

The Maryland Insurance Administration, established in 1872, regulates the $26-billion insurance industry, and makes certain insurance companies, health plans, agents and brokers comply with state law. The MIA licenses 110,000 agents and brokers and 1,500 insurance companies that do business in the state.

In addition to regulating the insurance industry, the Maryland Insurance Administration also can help consumers who are shopping around for insurance, or want to change carriers. "We have a rate comparison guide that compares the rates of the various automobile and homeowner's insurance companies. So you can compare what you're paying to what another insurance company might charge you," says Hatchette.