According to a recent statewide poll commissioned by the Coalition for Auto Insurance Reform (CAIR), an overwhelming number of Michigan voters believe their auto insurance premiums are too high and support no-fault reform legislation that would lower their auto insurance costs.
The poll revealed that voters are concerned about the high cost auto insurance – 70 percent said their auto insurance premiums were too high.
The belief that auto insurance rates are too high is shared by voters across all age groups, political parties and beliefs, especially among the following demographics:
88 percent of Detroiters
75 percent blue collar workers
79 percent lower to middle income ($30k-$50k per year)
74 percent conservatives
Support for Reform
The poll tested reforms being considered by the governor and the legislature that would lower the costs of no-fault insurance by asking the voters if they would support reforms that:
Established a $1 million lifetime coverage limit on medical coverage
Established rules to prevent medical providers from charging auto accident victims more than they charge other health insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield for the same services
Established a fraud bureau to fight auto insurance fraud
The survey found strong majorities across all geographic regions of the state support no-fault reform legislation with 67 percent supporting the reform package and only 18 percent opposing.
The strongest support for the proposed no-fault reform legislation came from young voters with 75 percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 34 supporting the reforms. Sixty-eight percent of voters between the ages of 35 and 54, and 64 percent of voters 55 or older support no-fault reform legislation.
Voters from both sides of the aisle agree that something needs to be done about Michigan’s skyrocketing auto insurance costs. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans support no-fault reform legislation that would lower costs for consumers, while 57 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Independents also support no-fault reform.
Other Key Findings
When voters are informed of the costs connected to family attendant care (some families are being paid $200,000 – $300,000 per year) and how this legislation would limit those costs, 75 percent now say they’d be more likely to support the proposal (52 percent strongly).
When voters hear about the mandated rate reductions of $125 – $150 per car, 74 percent are more likely to support the legislation (51 percent strongly).
When voters learn that the current no-fault law requires auto insurance claimants to pay the highest rate for care and that this legislation would limit those costs, 72 percent say they would be more likely to support it (49 percent strongly).
When voters learn that the $1 million limit on personal injury protection (PIP) benefits will cover more than 99.5 percent of all accidents, 67 percent say they are more likely to support it (41 percent strongly).
Marketing Resource Group’s Spring 2013 MRG Michigan Poll was conducted March 17 through March 23. All interviews were conducted live, by professionally trained telephone interviewers. The random sample, consisting of 600 likely voters who will be voting in the November general election. Given the samples size and sampling process, the survey has a margin of error of ±4 percentage points or less within a 95 percent degree of confidence.
The Coalition for Auto Insurance Reform (CAIR) includes: Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA), Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), Michigan Professional Insurance Agents (MPIA), Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), National Federation of Independent Business–Michigan (NFIB Michigan), Insurance Institute of Michigan (IIM), and Michigan Insurance Coalition (MIC).
A copy of the release can be found online at: http://michiganinsurancecoalition.com/2013/04/17/statewide-poll-voters-express-overwhelming-support-for-no-fault-reform.
Source: The Coalition for Auto Insurance Reform
