For two decades, CPAN has served as Michigan's leading consumer advocate in the fight for fair auto insurance laws. We work tirelessly to protect the rights of all Michigan drivers, auto crash survivors, and their families against the powerful insurance industry lobby.
How CPAN Protects Michigan Consumers
Opposing Harmful Legislation: CPAN has put the brakes on devastating auto no-fault bills that would have stripped away consumer protections. When harmful legislation has passed, we've advocated for corrections and improvements to minimize damage to consumers.
Transparency in Rate Setting: We've filed lawsuits against the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) to open their records to public scrutiny, demanding transparency in how auto insurance rates are calculated and fighting for consumer representation on their board.
Rate Fairness: We work to ensure Michigan drivers are charged fair and affordable rates while maintaining full access to quality care when injured in auto-related incidents.
Public Education: CPAN launched the Shop Your Policy website to help consumers find the most affordable policies and to educate them about the importance of choosing unlimited personal injury protection benefits.
Research
CPAN works with Doug Heller, Director of Insurance for the Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Federation of America and an appointee of the U.S. Department of Treasury's Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance. Heller is a nationally recognized insurance expert with two decades of experience in public policy and regulatory matters related to property-casualty insurance.
Exposing Discriminatory Pricing: Through Heller's research, CPAN has revealed that Michigan's 2019 auto insurance reforms resulted in consumers paying more for less coverage. His groundbreaking study of 54 insurance companies representing 99.2% of Michigan's auto insurance market found that unlimited Personal Injury Protection costs an average of $478 annually, while limited $50,000 PIP benefits actually cost more at $591 annually.
Uncovering Rate Manipulation: Heller's analysis has exposed how insurance companies circumvented the law's intended protections. Despite promises of rate reductions, his research documented that major carriers implemented significant rate increases, including Allstate's 12% hike, while cutting coverage benefits.
Geographic Discrimination Research: Working with CPAN, Heller has documented ongoing geographic discrimination in auto insurance pricing. His research showed dramatic rate differences for identical drivers living just blocks apart—with quotes exceeding $7,000 annually on the Detroit side of Mack Avenue compared to $3,700 for the same driver on the Grosse Pointe side.