Commissioner Lara Should Reject Farmers’ Auto Insurance Rate Hikes and Stop Surcharges Aimed At COVID-19 First Responders and Emergency Workers, Says Consumer Watchdog
Under Farmers' proposed rates, grocery clerks, delivery drivers, janitors, and warehouse workers will see their auto insurance rates increase by another 6.9% – on top of a 6.9% rate hike approved in
"The last thing Californians should have to worry about when they are trying to keep themselves, their families, and the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic is whether their auto insurance rates are going up," said Consumer Watchdog staff attorney
"The Commissioner needs to use his voter-enacted authority under Proposition 103 to protect Californians from unnecessary rate increases in the middle of a pandemic. Parked cars and grounded drivers cannot get into car accidents. Farmers and other auto insurance companies are pocketing the savings," said Sternberg.
Low-income and minority drivers, many of whom are the first responders and emergency workers keeping us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, are paying the highest rates at 7 of the top 10 insurance companies, including Farmers.
Farmers' own data suggests that it could lower its present rates by 5–17% under the minimum permitted premium established by the Proposition 103 ratemaking formula.
Read Consumer Watchdog's letter to the Commissioner here: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/2020-03-30%20Ltr%20to%20Lara%20re%20Farmers%20Group%20Rates%20%28final%29.pdf
Farmers' proposed rate increases are on top of another overall rate hike of 6.9% for all its customers that took effect barely three weeks ago on
Low-income drivers who can least afford it should not have to pay more based solely on their occupation, which has never been approved by regulation as a lawful rating factor under Proposition 103, said Consumer Watchdog. Farmers' unfairly discriminatory 3-tiered occupational rating system means lower income and less-educated drivers continue to pay the highest premiums based solely on their occupation.
Farmers' own rate analysis shows that its current rates are providing ample revenue – meaning another rate hike is not necessary. And that calculation does not take into account the windfall accruing to insurance companies every day that
Under Proposition 103 if an insurance company seeks a rate increase that exceeds 7%, and the application is challenged by the public, the Department must hold a hearing. In its letter to the Commissioner, Consumer Watchdog said Farmers' serial rate increase requests that fall just below the 7% threshold make it appear as if Farmers is gaming the rate application process in order to avoid a public hearing.
Consumer Watchdog and 10 community and civil rights organizations challenged auto insurers' illegal and discriminatory use of job and education to set rates in
The Department's analysis of industry data shows that drivers in the highest per capita income ZIP codes are more than twice as likely to receive occupational-based discounts than drivers in the lowest per capita income ZIP codes; and only 29% of drivers in predominately minority ZIP codes receive such discounts as compared with 47% of drivers living in ZIP codes with a predominately white population. In addition, 75% of drivers in
Voter-approved Proposition 103 requires auto insurance premiums be based primarily on three mandatory factors – driving safety record, annual mileage, and years driving experience – and prohibits unfairly discriminatory rates. Proposition 103 prohibits this kind of unfair rate discrimination based on income or race.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/commissioner-lara-should-reject-farmers-auto-insurance-rate-hikes-and-stop-surcharges-aimed-at-covid-19-first-responders-and-emergency-workers-says-consumer-watchdog-301032857.html
SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
Trump approves Pennsylvania disaster declaration
Coronavirus: Stocks On Pace To End March With Historical Losses
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News