NC Insurance Commissioner to be Released From Hospital After Heart Surgery

In his previous, dual role as state fire marshal, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner often championed the work of firefighters in the state. In 2023, while highlighting the health problems that firemen often face and the need for health screenings, Causey underwent a body scan alongside some fire workers.

The scan found a congenital problem with one of his heart valves and found that he had developed a blood vessel aneurism that was ready to burst, according to news reports and the Department of Insurance. The 74-year-old was scheduled for elective heart surgery, but he pushed back the date until Feb. 10, and has been in Duke University Hospital since then.

“The commissioner is currently recovering and doing well,” Jason Tyson, the DOI director of communications, said in an email. “He has been in regular contact with the Department of Insurance almost daily and has been briefed and has directed work. The department has been operating as it normally does since that time.”

Chief Deputy Commissioner Jackie Obusek has managed the department while Causey has been out, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

Causey’s surgery was not widely revealed ahead of time and only came to public attention at a Greensboro City Council meeting, the newspaper reported. Causey, who lives in Greensboro, had asked for a delay on local annexation and zoning actions, but had not been heard from in recent weeks, a council member said.

Causey told the news site that he was likely to be released from the hospital this week.

In late 2023, after some reported policy disagreements with Causey, the North Carolina General Assembly split the role of fire marshal from the insurance commissioner’s job. The commissioner now appoints the marshal and the state Senate must ratify the appointment.

Topics North Carolina