Texas Department of Insurance

The recorded history of insurance law in Texas and the predecessors of the Texas Department of Insurance date back to 1876 -- the year Mark Twain published "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and Colorado became the 38th state. The constitution of Texas adopted that year authorized the Legislature to create the office of Insurance Commissioner when it deemed it necessary. Two years earlier, the state had made its first effort to regulate the insurance business in Texas. The state's economy and population were growing, and wildcat insurance schemes were common. The 14th Legislature in 1874 passed a law regulating the life and health insurance business in the areas of company formation, activities and coverage.

Texas Department of Insurance Compact with Texans 

Customer Service Principles

At the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), we recognize our responsibilities to both consumers and the insurance industry.  We work to fulfill our legislative mandate to regulate the insurance industry while protecting the people and businesses that are served by insurance.  We pledge to provide high quality service to all our customers. 

TDI strives for excellent customer service through our professional attitude, competence, and efficiency.  As a customer of TDI, you can expect us to:

• treat you with courtesy and respect
• be fair, ethical, and professional
• provide timely and responsive service
• give you clear, accurate, and consistent information
• follow through on our commitments
• strive for continuous improvement in all of our services.   

Agency-wide Customer Service Standards

In our efforts to provide quality customer service, our standard is to respond to telephone communications, correspondence, and e-mail as soon as possible. We respond to requests for public information in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act. When the information you have requested is clearly open to the public, TDI will provide the information as soon as reasonably possible and without delay.

You can contact the Texas Department of Insurance and the Division of Workers' Compensation in person, by writing, by telephone, or through our website.   

Texas and TDI - Two Good Places to Work

 

State of Texas Benefits

There are many benefits to working for the State of Texas and with the Texas Department of Insurance.

New employees to the State of Texas have a 90 day wait for health coverage. After that time, the state pays 100% for a full time employee's health coverage and one half of the premium for a part time employee. Dependent coverage is also offered and the state pays part of the premium. Other insurance benefits include dental coverage, disability coverage, term life and accidental death and dismemberment. There is no waiting period to enroll in this coverage. Full time employees earn 96 hours of sick leave each year of state service and will earn a minimum of 96 hours a year of annual leave. As employment service continues, an employee's annual leave accrual increases and the employee may also be eligible for longevity pay. The State Auditor's Office maintains the State Holiday Schedule.

State employees are required to participate in the retirement program after a 90 day waiting period. State statute allows for the purchase of this waiting period service at the "actuarial present value" at a later date. The employee contributes 6.5% of their gross salary to the retirement program and the state matches the employee's contribution. The retirement program and insurance program are administered by the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Supplemental retirement plans are also available through a Deferred Compensation Plan (457) and Texa$aver (401K).

The Texas Department of Insurance has some benefits unique to the agency. These non-monetary benefits presently include flexible work hours, compressed work weeks, longevity service and other recognition awards and an employee assistance program. TDI also offers employees participation in the Texas Legal Protection Plan (TLPP) an employee-paid legal insurance program.

For more information, call the Texas Department of Insurance Human Resources office at 463-6578. 

Location - Another Perk

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is located in the Hobby State Office Building at 4th and Guadalupe Streets in the heart of Austin's downtown "warehouse" district, two blocks from Town Lake and its natural environment of hike- and-bike trails. Within short walking distance of the building are many different types of restaurants, coffee houses and shops. Also close by are banks, the U.S. post office, public library, gyms, dry cleaners and other conveniences.

The State Capitol and other government offices are a short drive away or accessible by free public transportation (the 'Dillo). Employees will find several bus stops within walking distance around the Hobby Building. For details about bus routes and rideshare opportunities, please visit http://www.capmetro.org.

The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) is approximately three minutes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 7551 Metro Center Dr., Suite 100 (one block from the intersection of Riverside Drive and Ben White Boulevard). The expansive building houses DWC as well as the Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC). The entire facility is nestled by a lengthy hike-and-bike trail as well as several neighboring hotels and office complexes. The Capital Metro bus stop is located one-half mile from the building.

TDI also maintains field offices around the state. TDI's Windstorm division has offices along the Texas coast in Angleton, Bay City, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Harlingen, LaMarque, Mont Belvieu and Port Lavaca. TDI's Financial program has offices in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. The State Fire Marshal's Office also has employees stationed throughout the state. There are 24 field offices to serve injured employees in these cities: Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Bryan, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ft. Worth, Houston East, Houston West, Laredo, Lubbock, Lufkin, Midland, Missouri City, San Angelo, San Antonio, Tyler, Victoria, Waco, Weslaco and Wichita Falls. All claims-related information is maintained in a separate facility at the Records Center in Austin.

TDI Contacts

Contact Method	Contact Information
TDI Physical Location:	333 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas   78701
DWC Physical Location:	7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX   78744-1645
Mail Letters to:	P.O. Box 149104 , Austin, Texas   78714-9104
Agency Switchboard:	1-800-578-4677 and in Austin, 463-6169
DWC Switchboard:	1-800-372-7713 and in Austin, 804-4000
Relay Texas:	1-800-735-2989
E-mail:	PIO@tdi.state.tx.us
Web site:	www.tdi.state.tx.us

Helpful TDI Contacts

TDI also maintains several toll-free numbers to provide information on specific services.  Below is a list of toll-free and other important TDI numbers.  

TDI Toll-Free Telephone Numbers

TDI Contact	Toll-Free Number
Consumer Help Line/Customer Assistance  (multi-lingual)	1-800-252-3439, in Austin 463-6515
DWC Injured Employee Hot Line	1-800-252-7031, in Austin 933-1899
CompConnection for Health Care Providers	1-800-372-7713, in Austin 804-4000 option 3
TXCOMP Help Line	1-800-489-2667
Insurance Fraud Hot Line	1-888-327-8818
Arson Hot Line	1-877-4-FIRE-45   (1-877-434-7345)
Workplace Safety/OSHCON	1-800-687-7080
Safety Violations Hotline	1-800-452-9595
Office of Injured Employee Counsel	1-866-EZE-OIEC (393-6432)
Helpinsure.com	1-866-695-6873
Windstorm Inspections	1-800-248-6032
Publications Order Line	1-800-599-SHOP   (1-800-599-7467)
TDI Job Line	1-800-952-7099, in Austin 463-6170