Detroit Mayor Targets High Auto, Homeowner Insurance Rates

November 14, 2005

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Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said he will attack the high cost of auto and homeowner’s insurance in Detroit first by negotiating with the insurance industry.

If that doesn’t work, Kilpatrick said, he’ll have the city file a lawsuit against companies that appear to base rates “just on ZIP codes,” and ignore claims histories or other standards.

Peter Kuhnmuench, executive director of the Lansing-based Insurance Institute of Michigan, said that illegal insurance practices ought to be addressed, but the issue of affordability under Michigan’s no-fault system raises questions about how much to pay for injuries and wage loss. The institute is a lobbying and education organization for the property and casualty insurance industry,

Andy Schor, public-information officer for the state Office of Financial and Insurance Services, said that pricing insurance premiums by territory, however small and seemingly arbitrary, is legal, although that is what some call redlining, which is availability of insurance and is technically illegal.

A state law prohibition against such territorial rating was repealed in the late 1990s, Schor said.

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Latest Comments

  • December 4, 2005 at 6:42 am
    Angela says:
    High rates are one thing but absurdly high rates? My mom lives in Detroit and pays Allstate more for her home insurance there than I pay for car insurance in New Jersey. Wha... read more
  • November 15, 2005 at 9:30 am
    Tim says:
    Homeowners insurance isnt required by law to have. You choose or elect to have the insurance or are required to have it by your mortgage company. My guess if you have had Ho... read more
  • November 15, 2005 at 9:15 am
    Jim says:
    Mary: A little education is needed here. Your insurance cost is based on many factors, including losses that happen in a given geographic area (your neighbors) If the costs ar... read more
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