A quick scan of today's insurance news revealed unto me this shocker: "Many New Orleanians Unable to Find Affordable Insurance."

The story, presented by IJ, gives a couple anecdotes of distressed homeowners, including that of a successful personal injury lawyer who had a hard time paying for the insurance on her dream house—a 130 year-old Victorian home in the French Quarter—with a price tag of a half-million dollars.

The best quote she got from a private insurer was nearly $10,000 per year, or over $800 a month on top of her monthly mortgage - far more than she had budgeted and enough to price her out of the house.

Indeed, high insurance rates are much to blame for Gulf Coast homeowners having to sell and move inland, but I'm afraid I agree with the lone commenter to the IJ article (at the time of "press," ha) when he says that insurance shouldn't be looked at as the "lone exodus" of coastal homeowners.

There are a myriad of reasons why insurance companies are increasing premiums, the largest of which, high-risk weather, is of little surprise to residents. But aside from risk of catastrophe, let's not forget that property values in these regions have been escalating in recent years—as shown by the abovementioned $500,000 house. That'd be a hefty claim to pay if the house sustained significant damage.

It seems to me that there's a delicate balance to the co-dependent relationship between insurer and policyholder. It's true, they need each other. But how do you protect consumers while simultaneously protecting insurers? And how do you keep insurers from becoming the scapegoat of bereft homeowners along the coast?

Check out the IJ article here, along with the reader responses...and feel free to post your thoughts, ideas and opinions here!