Maryland Insurance

The plan Dir Jim Florio announced last week to roll back car insurance premiums in New Jersey, marks a turning point in the history of torture, an issue that bedeviled regulatory authorities and consumers alike since 1973.

But it can also be a step toward consumers, which is described as supporters of the revolt against the high level of automobile insurance in many countries throughout the country.

If nothing else, in his speech to a special session on the New Jersey legislation last week, Mr. Florio’s explanation of the problem. Insurance companies looting of public opinion, said the governor, and it was time for the payment of man.

The prêt”un word to describe a car irreparably damaged, our automobile insurance system is a whole,’’said Florio. ”Car insurance is a problem in other countries too. But the pilot of New Jersey, the highest in the country. So we need to lead this challenge.”

Consumer groups say, Mr Florio proposal will help them in terms of national struggle against a branch, they say, too little control too long.

But some spokesman for the industry, “said Florio, he has a scapegoat for a complex problem with no quick solutions. Ronald Krauss, spokesman for the American Insurance Association, which represents 220 companies, has high costs for car repairs, medical bills and all appeals to high premiums. In the design changes, the new governor of the aid say they hope that with two types of problems, born tried some reforms in the years 1983 and a few, you’ll find no-fault insurance system which is based in New Jersey 10 years ago.

In 1973, New Jersey, want to share with other states in which saves time and money for consumers and the courts, adopted a no-fault insurance law guarantees that motorists unlimited cover for medical injuries. But it allows them to transpose the pain and suffering, if the medical expenses exceeded $ 200 and premiums continue to rise.

In a new attempt at reform in 1983 a common state Underwriting Association to cover the driver could not buy insurance because they were regarded as bad risks. The private insurance selling agents of the Association of politics, but the agency subscription to the State pays claims. About half the drivers in New Jersey with the policy of liquidation of the Agency, and this year it had a 3.1 billion dollar deficit.

Especially in the Governor’s plan to get rid of the Joint Underwriting Association and $ 222, now that all drivers to pay premiums each year to maintain the flow.

The governor’s plan taxation and assessments of $ 1.4 billion against insurance companies over a period of seven years, as part of a strategy for the average premium at $ 1112 per year about $ 860. Other provisions, like a limit of $ 75000 injury coverage, unless you choose to buy more pilot, he said, should also help reduce the costs of the proceedings.

Governor as spokesman

Consumer groups were pleased with the plan and not only because it seemed, should the legislation. For the first time, they said they had a governor supported the argument that, throughout the region: the insurance companies are the culprits.

”The issue of auto insurance is hot and now Florio speech, he made a lot hotter,’’said Robert Hunter, chairman of the National-Versicherungs-organization of consumers, has seen national legislators across the country.

The first manifestation of discontent among consumers was in California in 1988, an initiative adopted, demanded a 20 percent rate, the same objective as Florio plan. The assurance of the economy, the action in California, and it is frozen in the courts. Some sponsors of the 1988 initiative to say whether the reduction delayed much longer, but it is another report that the State would have the industry.

In Nevada, the legislature has also commissioned a Rollback tax rates this year, the industry fought back, and the question is the Federal Court. The auto insurance of the economy has also Ergüsse consumer anger and threats of action, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Arizona.