Insurance agent Jill Gorringe pled guilty and was sentenced on December 1, 2015 for Insurance Fraud (Misdemeanor A), Identity Fraud (Misdemeanor A), and Forgery (Misdemeanor B). She was ordered to pay restitution to AFLAC in the amount of $16,221.

Between August 2013 and June 2014, while acting as an insurance agent for American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, Gorringe wrote and submitted 74 policy applications for 40 false applicants using invented names, dates of birth, addresses and telephone numbers. The premiums for these policies, had they been valid, would have amounted to more than $96,000. Gorringe received $16,221 in undue commission payments from AFLAC as a result of these fraudulent applications.

Gorringe was sentenced to 12 months of probation. She had originally been charged with Felonies but as part of her sentencing agreement, she paid back all restitution prior to sentencing.

Gorringe was an active, licensed at the time of the crime. However, she allowed her license to lapse during the investigation and she is not eligible for reinstatement.

Press Release
Utah Insurance Agent Convicted of Fraud

Brent Hilton will serve up to 15 years in prison and pay $1.3 million in restitution.

On July 6, 2015 insurance agent Brent Hilton was sentenced to serve 1 to 15 years in prison and was taken into custody from the Third District Court in West Jordan. Hilton pled guilty to one count of “Pattern of Unlawful Activity” and four counts of “Unlawful Dealing with Property by a Fiduciary” — all second degree felonies.

Hilton was charged through the Utah Attorney General’s Office as a result of a lengthy investigation conducted by criminal investigators with the State of Utah Insurance Department Fraud Division and the State of Utah Tax Commission.

While working for Bennion Taylor Insurance Agency, Hilton admitted to improperly converting money from agency trust funds to his own personal use without the agency’s knowledge. No policy holders were affected.

Hilton was ordered to pay $1,377,546 in restitution and $3,000 toward the cost of the investigation to the Insurance Fraud Division. Hilton also agreed to pay $154,389 to the Utah State Tax Commission for tax liability and assessments.

The Utah Insurance Department is also taking administrative action to revoke Hilton’s insurance producer license. As a result of Hilton’s conviction, he will not be allowed to work in the insurance industry again.

Press Release
Insurance Agent Sentenced to Prison

Prepare for the Big One by checking your insurance coverage.

An earthquake is set to hit Utah on the morning of April 16. There will be no casualties or damage, and everyone involved will come away with a better understanding of how to respond in an emergency.

It’s the Great Utah ShakeOut, and it is slated to strike businesses, schools, government agencies and other organizations all across the State. More than 800,000 Utahns will participate in the mock-earthquake drill that takes place at 10:15 AM on April 16. The ShakeOut is an annual event that helps Utahns prepare for an earthquake.

It is also a great time to evaluate whether your insurance will cover you if the Big One hits. “Not all home or business insurance policies cover earthquake loss,” said Utah Insurance Commissioner Todd E. Kiser. “In fact, most of them do not. Earthquake insurance is a supplemental policy that covers the damage and destruction that can occur specifically from this type of disaster. It is an extra cost, but it also means extra help in case the worst happens.”

Earthquake insurance is a very good idea for Utahns who own property near an active fault, which is where earthquakes generally begin. Unfortunately, many of Utah’s most populous cities are built directly upon the Wasatch Fault, which runs along the Wasatch Front from Southern Idaho to Central Utah, and the Moab Fault, which crosses Southern Utah from Moab to the far west side of Arches National Park.

This means that approximately 90 percent of Utahns live in an active earthquake zone.

Utahns across the State should consider adding earthquake insurance to their coverage portfolio. “Geologists and other earth sciences experts predict that the Wasatch Front is long overdue for a severe earthquake,” said Commissioner Kiser. “Fortunately, preparing for the worst means you are ready when the worst happens.”

Check with your homeowners insurance provider today to find out more about their earthquake offerings. Then participate in the Great Utah ShakeOut on April 16 at 10:15 AM to practice your earthquake survival techniques. You can find more information, tips and resources at www.ShakeOut.org/Utah.

Press Release
The Great Utah ShakeOut is Coming

Take time April 13-17 to consider your options and insure your future.

National Retirement Planning Week kicks off today to encourage Americans to plan for their financial future. The week is organized by the National Retirement Planning Coalition — a group of prominent education, consumer advocacy and financial services organizations that recognize the ongoing need to help Americans plan for retirement.

“Many Utahns are looking forward to reaching retirement age, when they can look back at the many years of work they have done, while enjoying the fruits of those labors,” said Utah Insurance Commissioner Todd E. Kiser. “But if they haven’t done anything to save for the future, that age may be even further off. Retirement planning is essential to being ready for the future.”

Along with traditional financial instruments like annuities, 401(k)s and IRAs, insurance is critical. While the bulk of your asset base should not be overly invested in this group, investors should not ignore the importance of a good mixture of life insurance with long-term care, medical coverage and Medicare.

The National Retirement Planning Coalition is spearheaded by the Insured Retirement Institute, which is committed to educating Americans about the importance of retirement planning and is determined to make this a national priority.

National Retirement Planning Week and other coalition activities will demonstrate that it is still possible to “Retire On Your Terms” if comprehensive retirement plans are properly developed and managed. To support its educational and awareness efforts, the coalition maintains www.RetireOnYourTerms.org, which features resources and tools to help Americans focus on their long-term financial goals.

Events and information about retirement planning can be found from April 13 to 17 at www.RetireOnYourTerms.org.

Press Release
National Retirement Planning Week 2015

Premera Blue Cross announced that it was hit with a cyberattack in January 2015. Approximately 11 million people potentially had their private information compromised in the attack. Premera does not operate in Utah, but Regence BlueCross BlueShield customers could be at risk if they have received out-of-state medical care in the past decade.

“Premera writes health insurance business in Alaska and Washington, which are two popular travel destinations for Utahns,” said Utah Insurance Commissioner Todd E. Kiser. “Any Utahns who may have received medical attention in either of those states after 2002 should take steps to protect themselves and their identities.”

People who think their personal information may have been compromised can visit www.PremeraUpdate.com to get the most up-to-date information about the breach. Premera is offering two years of credit monitoring and identity protection to affected consumers.

While the scope of this attack is much smaller than the Anthem attack that happened around the same time, consumers should remain vigilant. Premera’s investigation has not determined that any data was downloaded, but the hackers gained access to names, bank account information, Social Security numbers, medical histories and other personal information.

Premera began sending letters to affected members on March 17, 2015, but if you believe your information was compromised, go to www.PremeraUpdate.com to learn more and enroll in free credit monitoring and identity protection.

Premera and Regence will be contacting affected members only by U.S. Mail. DO NOT give personal details to anyone who contacts you over the phone or by e-mail. NEVER give out bank account information, PIN numbers, Social Security numbers, or other personal information to people who call unsolicited.

More information is available at www.PremeraUpdate.com and news.regence.com/blog.

Press Release
Premera Hack: Some Regence Policyholders May Be At Risk

First things first: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield itself does not operate in Utah — the vast majority of Utahns will not be affected. However, there is some risk to consumers who are covered by Regence BlueCross BlueShield. Here’s what you need to know.

• 10,956 Utahns covered by Regence were compromised.
  • These are people who traveled to one of the affected states and received medical care while there. The affected states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
  • The stolen data dates back to 2004. If you received care in another state between 2004 and February 2015, go to www.anthemfacts.com.
  • 78.8 million consumers were affected across the U.S.
• Anthem is providing two years of identity theft repair and credit monitoring to affected consumers.
  • Find out more information at www.anthemfacts.com.
  • Enroll directly through the provider — AllClear ID — at anthem.allclearid.com.
• Regence will be contacting affected members over the next week by mail.
  • DO NOT give personal info to anyone who contacts you over the phone or by e-mail.
  • NEVER give out bank account information, PIN numbers, Social Security numbers, or other personal information to people who call unsolicited.
• Anthem has set up www.anthemfacts.com to distribute information about the hack and their efforts to remedy it.
  • You can also visit Regence’s news site at news.regence.com/blog for Utah specific information.
  • Consumers with specific questions can call the Anthem Facts hotline at (877) 263-7995.

Your best resource for the most up-to-date information on anything related to Anthem’s cyber attack is www.anthemfacts.com.

Previous news releases

• Anthem Hack: Some Regence Policyholders May Be At Risk
• Anthem Hack Update: What Utahns Need to Know