By Associated Press - Tuesday, May 7, 2019

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Latest on the Michigan Legislature’s consideration of auto insurance bills (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is threatening to veto Senate-passed auto insurance legislation if it gets to her desk in its current form.

The Democrat said Tuesday the bill headed toward the House “creates more problems than it solves.” The Senate earlier Tuesday approved a bill that would eliminate Michigan’s unique system requiring drivers to buy unlimited medical coverage for crash injuries. Instead, they would buy a lower amount of coverage or none at all if they have qualifying health insurance.

Whitmer says the legislation “preserves a corrupt system where insurance companies are allowed to unfairly discriminate in setting rates and the only cuts it guarantees are to drivers’ coverage.”

Majority Republicans say their legislation would slash a unique fee assessed on Michigan drivers, and insurers would have to cut personal injury protection rates to appease regulators and stay competitive.

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1:05 p.m.

Lawmakers are taking aim at high car insurance premiums by giving initial approval to a plan that would no longer make Michigan the only state to require drivers to buy unlimited medical benefits through their auto insurer.

The bills won passage from the Republican-controlled Senate on a largely party-line vote Tuesday. They move to the GOP-led House for consideration next and face an uncertain future.

The measures would let drivers purchase no personal injury protection coverage if they have other qualifying health insurance, or choose up to $250,000 in benefits unless insurers offer higher amounts. The legislation also would curb medical providers’ ability to bill car insurers much more for care than health insurers pay.

Democrats criticize the legislation for not mandating rate reductions or prohibiting the use of discriminatory non-driving factors in setting rates. Republicans say a unique fee assessed on Michigan drivers would be slashed and insurers with lower costs would have to cut personal injury protection rates to appease regulators and stay competitive.

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9:45 a.m.

Lawmakers are taking aim at high car insurance premiums by giving initial approval to a plan that would no longer make Michigan the only state to require drivers to buy unlimited medical benefits through their auto insurer.

The bills won passage from a Republican-controlled Senate committee on Tuesday. The full Senate plans to OK it later in the day.

The measures would let drivers purchase no personal injury protection coverage if they have other qualifying health insurance, or choose up to $250,000 in benefits unless insurers offer higher amounts. The legislation also would curb medical providers’ ability to bill car insurers much more for care than health insurers pay.

Democrats criticize the legislation for not mandating rate reductions, while Republicans say insurers with lower costs would have to cut rates to appease regulators and stay competitive.

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5:25 a.m.

Lawmakers are taking aim at high car insurance premiums by unveiling a plan that would no longer make Michigan the only state to require drivers to buy unlimited medical benefits through their auto insurer.

The bills are expected to win approval from the Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday.

The measures would let drivers purchase no personal injury protection coverage if they have other qualifying health insurance. The legislation also would curb medical providers’ ability to bill car insurers much more for care than health insurers pay.

Efforts to change the no-fault auto insurance system have failed in the past. But Republican Sen. Aric Nesbitt says Michigan’s highest-in-the-country premiums must be reined in because people can’t afford to drive or are being forced to drive illegally without insurance.

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