so I am posting it here where the most people will read it and hopefully pass it on. I don't yet know what can be done about it but I intend to spend a lot of time, energy and money to resolve this problem for seniors. I know that are a lot of seniors in this forum.
Here is my story.
Today I received the insurance renew premium for my motorhome from GMAC Insurance, I believ that is totally owned by General Motors.
I moved my insurance to them a few years ago when I learned that State Farm covers my Motohome as a large car and not a Motorhome.
After about 4 years with GMAC they decided that this year I should pay them 471.00 every six months instead of the 409.00 I have been paying, even though the motorhome is now 3 years old and has 9000 miles on it and should be less premium, due to its depreciated value.
I immediately phoned them and asked why they would do this as I have never had a claim, accident or ticket in the last 30 or 40 years. I have the lowest rate in the books from State Farm for my other three vehicles.
This is what you need to know about age discrimination and insurance companies.
You are now charged according to your age. They told me that I was being surchaged because my wife turned 65 last month. Can you believe this. My wife doesn't drive the motorhome and is not a principal driver and she cannot be removed from the policy, because she lives in the same household that I do. I told them she has never driven this motorhome and probably never would unless it was an emergency, even though she has been trained to drive it.
They refused to make any adjustments unless I get a divorce and send them a copy of the final degree
I discussed this with some neighbors and two of them told me that their companies had surchaged them for 3 years because due to the law of averages they were within three years of having a major costly accident. One did not and after three years they dropped her rate back to what she had been paying before. The other one did and her rate will stay surcharged for ever. These are both senior women in their 50's The will next be surcharged when they turn 65.
I asked about myself and they told me I am already being surcharged as I was over 65 when I wrote this policy with them. I won't be surcharged again until I hit 80 in 4 more years.
I discussed this with my wife who is a Commercial lines (business) Insurance broker and she said that unfortunately yes they can do that as it is not illegal or discrimination at this time.
So............maybe we need to make it illegal and age discrimination because you are all going to have to deal with it.
Let me hear from you about your feelings on this big rip off we are all going to be subject to. I will return from vacation in 10 days and will be writing lots of letters, making phone calls and talking to some legal talent, as well as our state insurance commissioner.
Best to all and thanks for listening.
Thanks to Nigel if you would please leave this thread up here for replies.
Bebop