Boston.com, October 31, 2007
Lawmakers who oppose Governor Deval Patrick’s plan for “managed competition” in the auto insurance market told colleagues yesterday that the proposal could hurt their reelection hopes.

Senator Dianne Wilkerson and Representative Antonio Cabral, seeking support for a bill that would change the administration’s final set of rules for managed competition, say new regulations leave loopholes for companies to charge higher rates to members of minority groups and the poor.

Boston.com, October 31, 2007
Senator Dianne Wilkerson and Representative Antonio Cabral, arguing that the new regulations for managed competition leave loopholes for companies to charge higher rates to members of minority groups and the poor, are trying to gain support for a bill that would change those rules.

Boston.com, October 30, 2007
Governor Deval Patrick sent a letter to every member of the Legislature, urging them to give managed auto insurance competition a chance.

Boston.com, October 28, 2007
A video from NECN of an interview with DOI Commissioner Nonnie S. Burnes, in which she responds to a series of general questions about the expected impact of managed competition.

eagletribune.com, October 26, 2007
An editorial in the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune that holds that the status quo does not serve the majority of drivers well, therefore legislators should give managed competition a chance to work.

U.S. Pirg, October 25, 2007
Contrary to recent news headlines and to statements by the Commissioner of Insurance, the newly deregulated auto insurance industry in Massachusetts will result in excessive premiums for consumers, USPirg claims.

WBZ.com, October 24, 2007
WBZ’s Lisa Meyer interviews State Senator Diane Wilkerson, cosponsor of a bill that seeks to eliminate any bias in the implementation of the managed competition model.

I’m curious how you think your insureds will behave once the April 1st, 2008 date draws near. Will they scamper to other agencies for quotes? Call you and look for reassurance? Turn a blind eye to the whole thing?

Just wondering whether people think somehow, some way, the plug will be pulled on this move toward competitive auto insurance.

Maybe the State Legislature will step in (they’ve already filed one bill). Perhaps a lawsuit that throws a wrench in the plans?

I know some people are thinking this will be the case.

Any thoughts?

Are you trying to address the changing auto market early on or waiting to see how things shake out first? Why or why not?

Granted you don’t want to give away your competitive edge here, but this is the kind of conversation we as a group should be having.

As the saying goes, united we stand … divided we fall.