State Senate to take up auto insurance rate rollback
Wisconsin Legislature-- Wisconsin drivers would not have to carry as much auto insurance under a bill that’s expected to be passed by the Senate Tuesday. The measure would roll back minimums for liability coverage that were increased by the legislature two years ago.
MADISON - Wisconsin drivers would not have to carry as much auto insurance under a bill that’s expected to be passed by the Senate Tuesday. The measure would roll back minimums for liability coverage that were increased by the legislature two years ago.
Supporters say the bill would reverse many of the big jumps in premiums paid by thousands-of-drivers as a result of the higher coverage. But some lawyers say there’s no guarantee that rates would go down. And opponents criticize some of the reduced benefits in the bill. For example, drivers would no longer be able to “stack” coverage – in which policy-holders can use uninsured motorist coverage from three of their vehicles to help pay for a crash involving one of the vehicles. Also, those buying coverage for the first time would be put into a high-risk group in which they’d pay more. That’s against the law right now. And the bill would allow “reducing clauses.” That means an insurance payment from one policy could be reduced if a driver gets money from another vehicle’s policy. Opponents say motorists would not get the full benefits they pay for.
But Assembly Republican Kevin Peterson of Waupaca says drivers should have the right to buy such coverage, as long as they’re told about it in advance. The Assembly gave preliminary support to the bill last week. But Democrats blocked final passage – and a vote in that house is set for late February.
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