How Georgia reviews and negotiates insurance rate filings: staff limits, timelines and negotiation

At a Macon hearing, staff from the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s office detailed how rate filings reach final action and why regulators often negotiate rather than block filings.

Steve Manders said the department handles about 3,000 domestic rate filings and roughly the same number of foreign filings annually, with a small review staff (about 15) and four actuaries on payroll. State law sets a 45‑day review window for most lines and a 60‑day window for private‑passenger auto, Manders said, which constrains review time on auto filings and increases the need for quick actuarial assessments. The office relies on outside actuaries for much of the workload while expanding internal capacity and has instituted incentives (exam‑pass raises) to build staff expertise.

Manders described the practical negotiation that follows many filings: carriers’ 'indicated' or actuarially indicated rate increases are often higher than what they ultimately request; the department and actuaries analyze filings and then negotiate down requests (examples cited where a 10% request may end near 5–6%). He warned that availability — carriers leaving the market — is as significant a problem as affordability in some lines.

Committee members pressed on the department’s ability to keep pace with filings, the causes of carrier withdrawals, and the extent to which statutory constraints limit regulatory options. Manders said the department can require withdrawal notices but cannot force companies to write business and that solvency oversight and market conduct exams are used when complaints indicate broader problems.