U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff, seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to run against GOP Sen. David Perdue, is running his first TV ad that slams insurance companies without providing any reason. Both Democratic and Republican consultants are scratching their heads. Why that odd topic? Why such a TV buy especially during a time when Georgians are especially happy with auto insurers for rebates and other pro-consumer steps they’ve taken in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
“By providing rebates and working with those who cannot currently afford to pay their premiums, these insurers are proving their commitment to the public good and putting their customers before their bottom line,” Insurance Commissioner John King declares. Ossoff, who is not well known among voters outside of metro Atlanta, would have been better off spending money on a biographical ad to better introduce himself.
In any event, consider that large auto insurers– making up a significant portion of market share in Georgia– have announced the following actions:
• Alfa to temporarily suspend late fees and cancellations for non-payment
• Allstate to provide a credit of 15%, on average, toward April and May premiums
• American Family Insurance to provide a one-time payment of $50 per vehicle
• Auto-Owners to provide a credit of 15% toward April and May premiums
• Country Financial to return 15% of their client’s Personal Auto premium for the months of April and May
• Farmers to provide a credit of 25% toward April premiums
• GEICO to provide a 15% credit for renewals and new policies between April 8 and October 7
• The Georgia Farm Bureau will send a refund check to customers after the state’s shelter-in-place order is lifted reflecting the reduction in claims
• The Hartford to provide a credit of 15% toward April and May premiums
• Kemper to provide a credit of 15% toward April and May premiums
• Liberty Mutual to provide a refund of 15% on two months of premiums beginning April 7, while waiving late fees and cancellations due to nonpayment through May 22
• Metropolitan (MetLife) to provide a credit of 15% toward April and May premiums
• Nationwide to provide a one-time $50 refund per policy
• Progressive to provide a credit of 20% toward April and May premiums
• State Farm to provide a credit of 25%, on average, for the time period of March 20 to May 31
• Travelers to provide a credit of 15% toward April and May premiums
• USAA to provide a credit of 20% toward April and May premiums
Note: The above is not an all-inclusive list of the carriers that have provided relief due to the COVID-19 crisis.
