Market & Policy · Insurance Term
NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners)
Definition
The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) is the organization of the chief insurance regulators from each U.S. state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. It writes model laws, sets common standards and collects data, but it does not regulate insurers directly.
In Plain English
In the United States, insurance is regulated mainly by the states. The NAIC helps those state regulators work together. It drafts model laws and regulations that states may adopt, sets financial reporting standards for insurers and maintains shared databases.
Each state decides for itself whether to adopt NAIC models. In Texas, the regulator is the Texas Department of Insurance. So when you have a question or complaint about a policy, you go to your state regulator, not the NAIC.
The NAIC's financial data and solvency standards help regulators watch over insurers. Owners may also see NAIC company codes on documents, which identify an admitted insurer or other company in regulatory records. Financial strength ratings, such as an AM Best Rating, come from private rating agencies, not the NAIC.
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What to Watch For
- Take complaints or questions to the Texas Department of Insurance, not the NAIC.
- Use the NAIC company code on your policy if you need to look up an insurer in regulatory databases.
- Remember that NAIC models are not law until a state adopts them.
Sources
Last updated October 14, 2026 · Primesure editorial team · How We Write