© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senate adopts no-fault insurance overhaul

Tomorrow, the Michigan legislature will hold hearings on bills that seek to change the state's no-fault insurance policies.
user H.L.I.T.
/
Flickr
Tomorrow, the Michigan legislature will hold hearings on bills that seek to change the state's no-fault insurance policies.

The Michigan Senate has taken an initial step toward overhauling Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system.

The legislation would set limits on what hospitals could charge insurance companies. It would also cap what insurers can be charged for in-home care for people severely injured in car accidents.

“The best approach to bringing down insurance rates in Michigan is to get costs out of the system ,” said state Senate Insurance Committee Chairman  Joe Hune, R-Hamburg.

But Democrats say patient care will suffer and there’s no promise to make insurance more affordable.

“There is nothing in this bill that rolls back rates or even guarantees a rollback in rates! Nothing!”  said state Sen. Coleman Young, D-Detroit.

There is also a spending provision in one of the bills that would ensure a new insurance law could not be repealed by a voter referendum.

The bills now go the state House. 

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.