WA Insurance Commissioner Issues Stunning Emergency Rule

No doubt opponents and the GOP will be pointing this out, as well as citizens, that some political leaders will do what they want regardless of legislative and Constitutional procedures.

Earlier during the legislative session, a bill that would have done away with credit score based insurance rates for drivers died without even being voted on. It never made it out of committee after being amended.

The bill was a pet project of Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who is very much in lock step with the policies of Gov. Inslee. The reasoning behind the bill was that allowing people with better credit to get better premiums was biased against poorer drivers; namely people of color.

We reported back in December, even prior to the legislative session, that Inslee's idea for this would eventually cost drivers more money. Kreidler claims it's an example of systemic racism, discriminating against lower income citizens and persons of color.

However, study after study for seveal decades have shown that credit scores and general fiscal responsibility are reflected in how people drive. Persons with higher credit scores were significantly less likely to make claims; therefore could get better lower premiums.

Higher risk drivers, we all know, demand higher rates because they're more likely to get in accidents or violations. Kreidler and Inslee deemed this to be "racist."

Now, on Tuesday, in a stunning move that some might question the legality of, Kreidler issued an emergency rule banning the use of credit based rates in WA for a period of three years after the COVID Pandemic is officially declared over. KING-5 TV is reporting the new rule will apply to auto, renters, and homeowners insurance.

This will end up costing more money for middle and low risk drivers, because now the implied risk or liability costs will have to be spread more evenly among drivers. Instead of lower risk better credit drivers getting a break, they will have to help subsidize the lower credit higher risk motorists.

One of the arguments against the bill in the legislature is that it would hurt older drivers, including retired high credit financially secure seniors. Due to statistic showing they drive safer and less often, now they could be facing rate hikes due to this spreading out of financial risk.

could be some low risk drivers will now be looking for ways to save money, to offset rising rates?