Insurers digest ruling against Texas agency's rate orders.

Byline: Purva Patel

Nov. 10--A judge's order striking down the Texas Department of Insurance's rate orders against the state's largest insurers probably won't draw a flurry of protests or new rate increases from other insurers forced to implement cuts last year.

But it is generating heat from politicians who plan to revisit insurance reform during the legislative session in January.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the judge's decision hurt consumers, and he called on the companies to comply with the department's order.

"If an appeal is not successful, we will take every action necessary in January's regular session so that homeowners can get refunds on the excessive rates that State Farm and Farmers have been charging for over a year," he said in a written statement.

The companies who accepted the state-ordered cuts signed consent orders agreeing to them, and most have had a pretty profitable year, according to the department.

"We don't anticipate anything from other companies at this stage in the game," said Philip Presley, a chief actuary at the insurance department. "I suspect they would be hard-pressed to prove that they need the increase."