High-minority areas have less insurance access, more problems

A new Missouri Department of Insurance study shows higher minority concentrations are tied to less access to agents, the sale of more restricted policies and higher complaint rates, even after controlling factors like income.

According to the study, based on insurance company data for 996 Missouri residential Zip codes over 10 years:

?Agents locate in high-minority areas at one-third the rate that they locate in low-minority areas.

?High-minority neighborhood residents were twice as likely as low-minority area consumers to buy homeowners or renters insurance that does not offer the level of benefits found in comprehensive policies.

?Residents of high-minority neighborhoods were twice as likely as low-minority neighborhood consumers to file homeowners insurance complaints with MDI, and twice as likely to obtain recoveries from insurers on complaints.