Michigan strengthens Graduated Driver Licensing law

http://www.iihs.org/laws/graduatedLicenseIntro.aspx
State young driver licensing summary:
Michigan

Rating: GOOD

To get a learners license you must:

Have a minimum age of:
14, 9 months1

Before getting a license or restricted license you must:

Have a mandatory holding period of:
6 months

Have a minimum supervised driving time of:
50 hours, 10 of which must be at night

Have a minimum age of:
162

Restrictions during intermediate or restricted license stage:

Nighttime [...]

Health care reform changes go into effect January 1 for most Blues customers

Recently, we told you about health care reform changes that go into effect Jan. 1 for most Blues customers. We encourage you to use this article as well as our educational flier to inform your employees about the benefit changes due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including:

Extending dependent coverage up to [...]

Blue Cross adjusting rates of individual health plans

The state Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) has formally approved a new rate structure and benefits for all of BCBSM’s nongroup and group conversion products (closed and Plus products) for those under 65.
Beginning January 1, 2011, BCBSM MyBlueSM members will see many enhancements to their benefits. Here are some of these changes, required by the Patient Protection [...]

Progressive competes for more business

Progressive is excited to start marketing a new personal auto product called 8.0.  Some of the highlights include:
More competitive rates at new business

Continuous Insurance Discount – The longer a customer’s tenure with us or another carrier, the better the discount. This is in addition to the current Prior Insurance Discount.
Education Discount – We won’t charge [...]

Pioneer State Mutual changes rates on February 1st

Pioneer State Mutual will be making the following changes to the rating structure for homeowner policies:

Insurance Scores will be recalculated every renewal.  If a higher score is discovered, then the resulting tier will be used even in the improvement is from multiple tiers.  If a lower insurance score is discovered, policyholders will only drop one [...]

Hastings Mutual Insurance Company Recognized Again For Financial Strength

Hastings, Michigan, October 13, 2010: For more than 125 years Hastings Mutual Insurance Company has focused on financial strength and responsible management of its assets. The company’s dedication to excellence has paid off as reflected in their recent results. This year Hastings Mutual Insurance Company is again awarded the highest honors by Weiss Ratings (formerly [...]

Grange starts new surveying of customers

Grange has a new program called “Voice of the Customer.”  The survey is designed to provide information that will help identify areas that are working well and opportunities for improvement. 
Satmetrix, a leading provider of customer experience management solutions, will administer these surverys on behalf of Grange.
Policyholders will be contacted quarterly via email and print.  Claimants [...]

Grange Homeowner rates adjusted

Effective February 1st, Grange Insurance Pin-Point Homeowner policies:  Rates will likely increase slightly but will vary by each policy.  With this revision however, Grange is also introducting an automated rate-capping program to prevent rate changes from significantly affecting a policy’s premium.  If a policy’s renewal premium reaches the capping threshold due to a rate change, [...]

State Fire Marshal Reminds Consumers: Water Your Tree Daily Don’t Risk the Fire Danger of a Dry Christmas Tree

Contact:  Mario L. Morrow 517-373-9280
Agency: Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

December 7, 2010 – To reduce the chance of a holiday tragedy, the Bureau of Fire Services is urging consumers to thoroughly water their Christmas tree daily. If a tree has already become too dry, State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr says to remove the tree [...]

Spray-painter burned in garage fire

Man was painting near a wood-burning stove
Updated: Wednesday, 08 Dec 2010, 10:38 AM EST
Published : Tuesday, 07 Dec 2010, 11:12 PM EST

CANNON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) – A 57-year-old man was severely burned after an explosion occurred in his garage as he was spray-painting near a wood-burning stove.
Louis Deleau suffered second- and third-degree burns on nearly [...]