Michigan is known to have the highest auto insurance rates in the nation, but that may soon change. Michigan lawmakers recently changed the state’s no-fault law in hopes of bringing down the cost of auto insurance for drivers, which will take effect on July 1, 2020. Prior to this, there had been no significant changes to Michigan’s auto insurance law since 1973.
By 2018, Michigan auto insurance was ranked fourth in the U.S. for the most expensive premiums and 20% of drivers were driving uninsured, according to Dan Schrock, Jr., senior vice president of sales and field/life operations at the AAA-The Auto Club Group.
Schrock says the high cost was due to Michigan’s unique law of having unlimited lifetime medical benefits for those injured in an auto accident. Michigan is the only state in the nation to require drivers to purchase unlimited medical coverage with their auto insurance policies.
Erin McDonough, executive director of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan, said Michigan has also lacked checks and balances on what medical providers can charge for medical procedures to treat injuries from a car accident, allowing them to charge three to four times more for the same procedure.
“This disparity has made Michigan’s auto no-fault system a welcome mat for fraud and abuse, which costs families hundreds of dollars in additional premiums,” McDonough said.
How will auto insurance in Michigan change?
Michigan’s state law requires drivers to purchase no-fault auto insurance to operate a car legally, and the new law implements several changes to the current system. The law’s main change is medical coverage.
In July, drivers are going to have to decide on the amount of medical coverage they want to include on their auto insurance policy.
“For the first time ever, Michigan drivers will be able to choose their level of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on their auto policy,” Schrock said. “Drivers will be able to choose a level of coverage that fits their individual needs. It is no longer a one-size-fits-all system.”
New PIP coverage options
In the past, drivers were forced to purchase unlimited, lifetime benefits, which was a major factor that contributed to the rising cost of auto insurance in Michigan. Starting July 1, 2020, people will be able to choose from five PIP coverage options. A lower coverage amount is cheaper, but your medical expenses will only be paid to the limit you choose if you’re in an accident. According to McDonough, coverage options include:
- PIP opt-out for those with Medicare, or separate health insurance, that covers auto accident-related injuries (100% reduction)
- $ 50,000 in PIP coverage for those on Medicaid (45% reduction)
- $ 250,000 in PIP coverage (35% reduction)
- $ 500,000 in PIP coverage (20% reduction)
- Unlimited lifetime PIP coverage (10% reduction)
In addition to more flexible coverage options, Michigan lawmakers are enacting additional reforms that will take effect for residents on July 1, 2020 (except for medical billing, which will take effect in July of 2021).
More liability coverage
Under the new law, the default liability limits are up to $ 250,000 for a person who is hurt or killed in an accident and up to $ 500,000 for each accident if several people are hurt or killed.
New bans on insurance pricing
Michigan will ban several personal factors that are usually considered in car insurance pricing including gender, marital status, occupation, education, zip code, credit score and residential status.
Scheduled caps on medical billing
The new law reins in medical providers that are overcharging by enacting a fee schedule to cap how much insurers pay, which takes effect on July 1, 2021.
Stricter state regulation on insurance rates
Before insurers can start charging customers, state insurance regulators must approve new rates.
However, there’s been some confusion on coverage options and whether drivers will end up paying less for car insurance. As a result, the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) in Michigan developed an educational website to help drivers navigate the state’s new auto insurance law.
Will Michigan drivers pay less for car insurance?
After all these changes, experts say they’re still trying to decipher if the law will overall lower insurance costs for drivers. The answer seems largely dependent on which level of PIP coverage an individual chooses.
However, McDonough says drivers are already beginning to see a positive impact of Michigan’s new auto no-fault law, even before significant reforms take place.
The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) announced last year it will only charge $ 100 per vehicle for drivers who choose unlimited medical benefits after the law goes into effect. The new fee is 55% less than the $ 220 yearly fee that Michigan drivers typically pay, according to a government press release.
McDonough said the fee covers the cost of medical bills if a driver gets “catastrophically injured” in a car accident.
“The MCCA oversees the fund, which reimburses auto insurance companies for the cost of medical care when it exceeds a certain amount, which this year is $ 580,000,” McDonough said. “Drivers could see additional savings depending on the level of medical coverage they choose.”
Experts cited
Erin McDonough
Erin McDonough is the executive director of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan, an organization representing the majority of auto, home and business insurance companies operating in Michigan. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a dual bachelor’s degree in geology and environmental science and obtained a master’s degree in resource policy and behavior from the University of Michigan.
Dan Schrock, Jr.
Dan Schrock, Jr. is the senior vice president of sales and field/life operations at the AAA-The Auto Club Group in Michigan. Dan is graduate of the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in economics and completed an insurance executive program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
