The Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions (TCAIS) believes all Texans should have access to affordable home and auto insurance.

We are committed to working with state legislators, regulators, consumers and others to find public-policy solutions that will improve insurance affordability and accessibility in Texas.

Competition is the Answer!
Better State Policy Will Make Better Insurance Policies

The Texas home and auto insurance market is finally on the mend. Rates have begun to stabilize, and thanks to landmark reforms passed in 2003, companies are even eyeing our state as a place to do business. Competition and its benefits are just around the corner.

Under the old rules, Texas insurers couldn’t really compete against each other. Government mandates forced them to essentially look and act the same, offering one-size-fits-all policies for similar prices. It was as though all auto companies could only build station wagons that had to cost $35,000. Or if all homes had to have 2-bedrooms or restaurants could only serve fried food.

Under the modernized system called “file and use,” insurance companies are able to provide a variety of products and prices so customers can choose policies that best fit their needs and budgets. This market-based structure allows insurers to develop innovative products and set competitive rates, which will likely lead to lower prices as companies compete to attract new customers. New companies will come to Texas to offer unique insurance products, further increasing competition and driving down prices. Learn more.

Competition Means Shopping Around is Key!

Three Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Premium
By ANGIE C. MAREK
May 9, 2008, Wall Street Journal

Auto-insurance premiums dropped last year for the first time since 1999, but only by an average of 1 percent. So getting that lower rate might still mean work. We looked at how insurers are calculating premiums these days — even your credit score can matter — and compiled a few tips.

Shop once a year. A little research can go a long way. Bob Hunter of the Consumer Federation of America suggests checking price ranges on your state insurance commission's Web site. If you're working with an insurance agent, he adds, ask him to match online price quotes, which are typically lower. No-frills insurers are another good starting place; InsWeb.com lists some.

Fess up. Late credit card payments and where you park your car can now boost your price. But insurers will factor in other details in your favor. Teens, for instance, get discounts off their usual sky-high rates if they maintain at least a B average or take a driving course. And savvy shoppers can remind agents of any professional associations, fraternities or alumni groups they belong to. At Geico card-carrying members of American Mensa, the American Dental Hygienists' Association and the William and Mary Alumni Association — as well as more than 200 other groups — get up to 27 percent off.

Pay for what you use. Good news for second cars: Some companies now offer pay-as-you-go insurance, tied to how many miles a car-mounted Global Positioning System says a vehicle drives each year. GMAC, for one, offers a 54 percent discount to those who drive less than 2,500 miles annually. And if you trot out your tennis bracelet more often than your Mercedes-Benz, consider package deals. High-end insurer Chubb offers auto policies that pair up with jewelry or yacht insurance for discounts of 10 to 20 percent.