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Local resident insuring the future |
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Saturday, 06 October 2007 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The view from 2100 Stella Court in Columbus is a nice one. It is a far cry from where the Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance Mary Jo Hudson grew up at 421 W. Spring St. in St. Marys.
Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Hudson to serve as the 46th Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance on Dec. 21, 2006. She took office on Jan. 8. Hudson now serves on Strickland’s cabinet, and is responsible for the 270 employees that comprise the Ohio Department of Insurance.
Hudson is the daughter of Dick and Ann Hudson, and a graduate of the Memorial High School class of 1981.The Roughrider said she never forgot where she came from as she climbed the ranks.
“I’m proud to say I’m from St. Marys,” Hudson said. “I was always interested in government. I was interested in helping people. Growing up in St. Marys I learned we all pitch in to help people out. I learned if I worked hard I could do what I wanted to do.”
The Ohio Department of Insurance licenses and monitors resident and non-resident insurance agencies and that do business in the state of Ohio. Currently, there are 1,700 insurance companies licensed in Ohio, 261 of which are based in the state.
Approximately 220,000 agents operate in the state. The department monitors financial conditions of insurance companies as well as investigate fraud, and handle consumer complaints.
“We deal with thousands of consumer issues every month,” Hudson said.
For the Ohio Department of Insurance, health insurance and health care coverage is a priority.
“The health insurance market is in extreme crisis right now,” Hudson said. “That’s one of our very top priorities.”
The department works with the government to get more coverage for Ohioans, Hudson said.
“Health insurance market is changing significantly,” she said, adding her department is striving to make the regulatory process more efficient. “We’re keeping an eye on (medical malpractice),” Hudson said.
As Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, one of Hudson’s main goals is to focus on helping seniors on Medicare. Staff members travel throughout the state to help seniors better understand the program they are enrolled in through Medicare.
“It’s one of our priorities — helping our seniors,” Hudson said.
The department is also working to protect seniors from predatory practices, such as stranger oriented life insurance.
“Someone buys the policy for you, investing when you’re going to die,” Hudson said. “We’re addressing a lot of complaints with seniors.”
Each day on the job varies for Hudson. Some days she meets with constituents, and others she works with individuals involved with the insurance industry either directly or indirectly, such as doctors, hospital administrators and legislature staff.
“My focus is management and regulatory issues,” Hudson said. “For the most part we do have some very hard working individuals in compliance with regulations.”
Hudson also speaks with professional insurance groups, such as insurance agents or company organizations.
“For those involved in the industry, it is very important,” Hudson said. “It is important in letting them know of the department’s interest.”
Hudson spoke briefly on the flood that hit Findlay and Ottawa in August. The St. Marys native said the disaster was one of the largest she’s seen.
“It’s was really sad and unfortunate what happened in the Findlay and Ottawa area,” she said. “It was the largest multi location response in recent memory.”
The last two multi location responses were following the 2002 tornado in Van Wert and the 1974 tornado in Xenia.
“Anytime there is a disaster, there is an emergency response coordinating effort,” Hudson said.
The department had a team of employees working extended hours to handle the calls coming into the center from customers.
“We were requested to go to certain relief stations,” Hudson said. At least half a dozen locations were staffed throughout Labor Day weekend.
While some home owner policies may have some flood insurance coverage, special flood insurance is offered through the government’s National Insurance Flood Program. The drawback however, is the cost.
“It’s very expensive,” Hudson said.
Hudson received her a bachelor’s of arts in public administration from Miami University in 1985, and her juris doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1988, where she graduated with honors.
Hudson practiced law for 18 years and has experience in several areas, including insurance regulation and liquidation law, consumer finance and retail law compliance, state and federal advertising law and general corporate matters.
Hudson served as an attorney with the Ohio Department of Insurance and as General Council for the Office of the Ohio Insurance Liquidator from 1989 to 1995. She was appointed to Columbus City Council in 2004, and elected in 2005, and served as Chair of the Jobs and Economic Development committee where she worked to retain and generate jobs in Columbus.
“We’re doing all we can to keep our market competitive in Ohio,” Hudson said. “We have some of the lowest rates in the country. I think the Ohio market will remain competitive. We need to do all we can to remain competitive.” |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 October 2007 )
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