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File A Complaint

For the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency, we are asking all consumers to use the online portal to file complaints, if possible.

​The primary role of the Maryland Insurance Administration is to protect consumers from illegal insurance practices by ensuring that insurers and producers that operate in Maryland act in accordance with State insurance laws. We are here to assist you with your insurance inquiry or complaint about health, life, property and casualty insurance. Additionally, we are here to assist you if you have a complaint involving an insurance producer, public adjuster or adviser.

Click on the tabs below to learn more about your rights or to begin the process of filing a complaint.​​​

Auto, Home, Other Property and Travel Insurance

 
Click here to file a complaint online through our website. You can attach documents to your online complaint. The complaint portal is secure. The size limit for documents is 10 MB.
 
Download Forms to be Completed by Hand
   
These forms should be as complete and detailed as possible and be accompanied by copies of any relevant documentation of your complaint. They may be mailed or faxed to the agency as directed below:

 

Property and Casualty
En Español: Presentar una Queja de Bienes y Accidentes (Automóvil y Vivienda)

Life and Health Insurance; Complaints and the Appeals and Grievance Process

 

Click here to file a complaint online through our website. You can attach documents to your online complaint. The complaint portal is secure. The size limit for documents is 10 MB.

You can also download a complaint form and medical records release. If you download the form, you can mail it or fax it.

If you have a disability and need to file a complaint by phone, you can call us at 410-468-2244.

You should allow 90 days for a decision on your complaint, but feel free to call us at any time. Most complaints are resolved faster, but some take longer. You should send us all information you want us to know with your complaint. You have the right to appeal denial decisions under Maryland's Appeals and Grievance Law.

Medical necessity denials

Maryland law gives Maryland consumers the right to appeal a decision that denies you coverage for medically necessary treatment. If your doctor has determined that certain medical treatment is needed, but your HMO or health insurer does not agree, this law allows you to appeal. Generally, you must file a grievance with the carrier first before you can file a complaint wit the MIA. In some cases, though, including, for example, when you have a compelling reason, you can file a complaint with the MIA first.
 
A compelling reason includes showing that the potential delay in receipt of a health care service until after you exhaust the carrier’s internal grievance process and obtain a final decision under the grievance process could result in:
  1. Loss of life;
  2. Serious impairment to a bodily function;
  3. Serious dysfunction of a bodily organ;
  4. The member remaining seriously mentally ill or using intoxicating substances with symptoms that cause the member to be in danger to self or others; or
  5. The member continuing to experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
A member is considered to be in danger to self or others if the member is unable to function in activities of daily living or care for self without imminent dangerous consequences.
 
If care has not been provided and you have a compelling reason to skip the internal grievance process, or it is an emergency case, your complaint will be expedited.
 
Under the appeals and grievances law, the Maryland Insurance Commissioner has the authority to overturn your health plan's decision if your treatment is determined to be medically necessary. These areas can include: cosmetic, dental, experimental/investigational, medical necessity, pre-authorization, and prescription issues.
 

You should review the What We Can and Can’t Do tab to understand whether we can help you or not.

Contact Information:

Mail or fax this information to:
Maryland Insurance Administration
Attn: Consumer Complaint Investigation
Life and Health/Appeals and Grievance
200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 21202

Telephone: 410-468-2000 or 1-800-492-6116 TTY: 1-800-735-2258
Fax: 410-468-2270 (Appeals and Grievance) or 410-468-2260 (Life and Health)
 
You may also file a complaint online via our secure consumer portal or by e-mail to agcomplaints.mia@maryland.gov.
 
If you need help filling out these forms or would like to submit them to an agency representative, please visit us at one of our Consumer Outreach locations.

Failure to Act in Good Faith

 

If you believe your property and casualty or disability insurer failed to act in good faith when making a decision about your first party insurance claim, you may file an action under Section 27-1001 of the Insurance Article (property and casualty) and Section 3-1701 of the Courts Article of the Code of Maryland.

Consumer Guide: Filing a Section 27-001 Civil Complaint

You must complete a Section 27-1001 complaint information sheet and submit it to the MIA.

Insurance Producer (Agent) Adviser or Public Adjuster

 

If you have a complaint against an insurance agency or producer (agent) the MIA Enforcement Unit can:

  • provide information and investigate a complaint
  • work to answer questions or complaints about insurance professionals and assist consumers in resolving these complaints.

Click HERE for a complaint form.

Email: enforcement.mia@maryland.gov

What the MIA CAN or CANNOT Do

 

​THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO:

  • Forward a copy of your complaint to the insurer, if appropriate;
  • Obtain information or explanations on your behalf from the insurer or their representatives. This may involve written and verbal contact with such companies or persons;
  • Review in detail the information obtained from the company for compliance with statutes, regulations and policy contracts;
  • We investigate complaints involving disability insurance to determine (1) whether or not the denial decision is arbitrary or capricious and (2) whether or not the denial decision was rendered in accordance with the terms of the insurance contract and State insurance laws and regulations.
  • Provide general information about the provisions of your insurance policy, as appropriate;
  • Suggest to you actions or procedures that you may take which could aid in resolving your insurance problem;
  • If it is determined that the actions of an insurer violate a statute, regulation or policy that the MIA enforces, the Company may be required to remedy the problem and/or pay a fine.

THIS IS WHAT WE CANNOT DO:

  • Act as your legal representative, in or out of court;
  • Intervene in a pending lawsuit on your behalf;
  • In the case of disability insurance complaints, make a medical decision as to the extent of an individual's disability.
  • Address complaints or inquiries involving insurance contracts that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the insurance laws of the State or matters governed by other State or Federal agencies. This would include the following:
        
    • Self-funded or self-insured plans;
    • Medical Assistance (Medicaid);
    • Medicare and Medicare HMOs;
    • Federal Employee Health Benefit Programs;
    • Uniform Services Family Health Plans;
    • Workers' Compensation;
    • Contracts issued and delivered to the policyholder in another state.
      Review more information about the Maryland Insurance Administration's jurisdiction​;
  • Make a decision as to disputes between you and the insurer about:
    • Who is negligent or at fault
    • The facts surrounding the claim (that is, who might be telling the truth in the matter when accounts of that matter differ);
    • The value of a claim or the amount of money owed to you; or
  • Ask the Motor Vehicle Administration to "hold" a fine pending the investigation of your complaint.

Insurance Fraud

 

​Consumers are encouraged to report insurance fraud activities to the Maryland Insurance Administration's Insurance Fraud Division. You need not give your name. Simply call 1-800-846-4069 or print and submit the attached form by mail or fax. Our fax number is: 410-347-5350. Consumers may also email fraud referrals by sending completed forms to fraud_referrals.mia@maryland.gov.  

Please visit the MIA Insurance Fraud Webpage for more information.

Title Insurance

 

​The Maryland Insurance Administration has the authority to regulate the business practices of licensed title insurance producers and title insurance companies. If you have concerns regarding a title insurance claim, you may contact the Maryland Insurance Administration’s Property & Casualty Consumer Complaints Unit at 410-468-2340 or toll free at 1-800-492-6116 and elect option three (3).

Click here to file a complaint online through our website. You can attach documents to your online complaint. The complaint portal is secure. The size limit for documents is 10 MB.

To email your title insurance claim complaint, please send to pccomplaints.mia@maryland.gov 

If you have concerns regarding a licensed title insurance producer, you may contact the Maryland Insurance Administration’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit’s Tip Line at 410-468-2200.  To email your title insurance producer complaint, please send to enforcement.mia@maryland.gov
You may fax your title insurance complaint to 410-468-2307 or mail your complaint to the address noted below:
Maryland Insurance Administration
Property & Casualty Consumer Complaints
200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(f)  410-468-2307