Bill of Rights
Insurance is required.
Fair treatment should be too.
Insurance rates are rising fast in South Carolina — and everyday people are paying the price.
Whether it’s your home, your car, or your small business, coverage costs more than ever, even as insurance companies report record profits.
For most South Carolinians, insurance isn’t optional. It’s required by law, by lenders, or by lease agreements. When people are forced to buy coverage, they deserve basic protections, transparency, and accountability.
That’s why we’re calling for a South Carolina Policyholders’ Bill of Rights. These are commonsense principles to ensure fair rates, honest claims, and real oversight.
South Carolina Policyholders’ Bill of Rights
1. The Right to Fair and Transparent Pricing
Policyholders deserve to know what they’re paying — and why.
- Protection from unfair rate hikes
If you weren’t at fault in an accident, your insurance company shouldn’t be allowed to raise your rates. - Clear explanations for price increases
Every rate increase should come with a clear, understandable justification. - Limits on using unrelated past claims
A claim on a previous home or unrelated property shouldn’t be used to raise your rates years later. - An end to discriminatory pricing practices
Pricing should be based on real risk not personal data like zip code or credit score that has nothing to do with coverage.
2. The Right to Hold Insurance Companies Accountable
Insurance companies should play by the same rules as everyone else.
- No special legal loopholes
When insurers act in bad faith or cause harm, they should be held accountable just like any other business. - A real watchdog for policyholders
South Carolina’s Department of Insurance should have the authority to protect consumers, not just process paperwork.
That includes the power to:
- Monitor pricing, risk, and profit data
- Identify unfair rate hikes and signs of price gouging
- Impose meaningful penalties for repeated violations
Regulators should work for policyholders not the insurance industry.
3. The Right to Honest and Timely Claims
When something goes wrong, insurance should work not stall.
- Prompt and fair claim decisions
Valid claims should be handled quickly and paid in full, without unnecessary delays or lowball offers.
Consequences for bad-faith behavior
When insurers delay, deny, or underpay claims to boost profits, there must be real consequences.
4. The Right to Clear, Understandable Policies
Insurance shouldn’t require a law degree to understand.
- Plain-language contracts
Policies should clearly explain what’s covered and what isn’t in language people can actually understand.