Hill Research Consultants

Information for leadership since 1988

h

Contact Dr. David B. Hill, Director

281-363-3840 ext. 102 / info@hillresearch.com

Consumers legal protections popular across partisan & ideological lines, statewide survey reveals
A statewide public opinion survey of 603 voters reveals widespread public support for protecting the right of a policyholder to hire an attorney to pursue their interests when they believe an insurance company has unfairly denied, delayed or underpaid a legitimate claim. The survey was sponsored by Texas Watch, an Austin-based consumer advocacy group, and conducted by Hill Research Consultants, a nationally respected Republican opinion-research firm. In the field March 21-25, 2013, and using a 25% cell-phone only household sample, results have a margin of error of +4.0%. To avoid biasing results, particular care was taken in crafting the survey questionnaire to objectively describe the current legislative climate and regulatory structure, fairly represent both insurance-industry and consumerrights positions, and rotate the order of questions and arguments presented. Key findings include intense voter agreementacross political, ideological and geographic linesthat
Insurance companies routinely deny or underpay legitimate claims and unnecessarily delay legal proceedings in the hope policyholders will simply give up before receiving what they are due78% agree, 55% strongly With higher premiums, larger deductibles & expanded exclusions, it seems like consumers are paying more and more for home & auto insurance these days while getting less and less in return84% agree, 60% strongly Policyholders should have easier access to the courts, and companies should potentially face stiffer fines and penalties, when a claim has been unfairly denied, delayed or underpaid88% agree, 61% strongly

Perhaps to the surprise of some, when asked to choose the best approach to balancing consumer rights with discouraging frivolous lawsuits, Republicans and Tea Partiers are as likely as Democrats and liberals to prefer that legislators Streamline & Simplify the process for consumers to seek redress in court All Voters Republican Democrat Tea Partier Liberal 49% 46% 50% 55% 50% Focus on Other more important issues because the current approach works 27 32 20 29 20 Further Shield insurance companies by increasing restrictions on claims 15 14 19 9 21

Full and complete copies of the questionnaire and final results are being released to the media, legislators and members of the general public for thorough examination. To receive a copy, email info@hillresearch.com. --30-Founded in 1988, Hill Research Consultants conducts public-opinion surveys, focus groups, policy and background research on behalf of a nation-wide roster of political, corporate, public affairs and trade-association clients. Political clients have included over a half-dozen state governors, more than a dozen United States Senators, over two dozen members of Congress, in excess of 100 members of state legislatures, and the RNC, NRSC, NRCC and Republican party organizations in more than a dozen individual states.