Hartford Raised Auto Premium 45%

[LarryA556457]

We have been with AARP for several years and decided a few years ago to switch auto insurance to Hartford because of their affiliation with AARP.  For no apparent reason Hartford raised our auto insurance premium 45% this time around.  Can AARP help us with this problem?

[AARPConsumerCare]

@VintageDrummer I can understand your concerns. At this moment we only work with The Hartford to provide car insurance to our members. Please know that AARP is always working to identify discounts and other member benefit opportunities that meet the wants and needs of our members like you. Our Member Relations team act as liaison for AARP service providers. Each scenario is different and we want you to get all the answers and assistance you need, that's why we're asking you to reach out by chat, text, or phone so we can get all the details while protecting your personal information. - Diana G.

[VintageDrummer]

Diana, thank you for your reply.

There’s little more to say that would add to what you already are aware of concerning The Hartford as an insurance Service Provider Partner. I have already spoken with AARP support… it’s a bureaucratic rabbit hole insofar as this insurance problem is concerned - it doesn’t help. That conversation was a total waste of my time.

One key takeaway is that AARP seems stuck in a helplessness leadership mode. Pushing for Members to chat with support persons fixes nothing. AARP already knows there’s a serious problem. It’s now up to executive leadership to quickly find a solution in a way that’s transparent to Members. 

So, no, I’m not going to speak further with your support team. What I am going to do is evaluate alternative auto insurance. Same for renewing my AARP membership. 

[GailL1]

@VintageDrummer wrote

What is AARP doing to help its members about this issue?

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What issue?  You can change your policy to another carrier at any time.  I really do b elieve that many folks here have a somewhat skewed idea of what “value” might means in benefits.

Determining whether or not a product or service - including all types of insurance products - is a good value is a personal decision and an individual’s specific circumstances have to be their measure.  

AARP has nothing to do with premium setting by any type of insurance that bears their branded name.The branded name is just a way for the organization to collect revenues over and above membership dues - to use for the greater good of certain members of society as a whole which is their mission. 

The AARP Mission Statement.

“Our mission is simply to enhance the quality of life for all as we age. We champion positive social change and deliver value through advocacy, information and service and we do it on the national and at the state level. The vision that drives us is a society in which all people live with dignity and purpose and fulfill their goals and dreams.”

Read the disclosures on any of their branded insurance benefits - they all say about the same thing in their disclosures.

AARP.org- Insurance Benefits

This one is from The Hartford Auto Insurance as an example:

DISCLOSURES

AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.

*Your savings may vary. Rate difference for AARP members and non-member vary by state and AARP membership tenure. †Terms and conditions apply. 

What does AARP Do?

from the link:

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for more than 100 million Americans over age 50, helping people turn their goals and dreams into "Real Possibilities" by changing the way America defines aging.

We work to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security, and personal fulfillment.

Complementing our parent organization are three other entities supporting our mission:

• AARP Foundation works to ensure low-income older adults have nutritious food, affordable housing, a steady income and strong and sustaining bonds.
• The Legal Counsel for the Elderly is our second affiliated charity, championing the dignity and rights of seniors in Washington, D.C.
• AARP Services, Inc., is a wholly owned taxable subsidiary performing quality control oversight of the wide range of products and services that carry our name and are made available by independent providers as benefits to AARP members.

[VintageDrummer]

Thank you for your reply. I'm already aware of the tenets AARP subscribes to and appreciate the organization's advocacy efforts.

However, your reply makes AARP sound passive and powerless with respect to leveraging to provide better Member value with those it partners with for business purposes. AARP provides The Hartford with ready access (of a sort) to millions of AARP members and receives a royalty in return. That's a business transaction. Perhaps that royalty increases with insurance rate increases? Or maybe it doesn't.  How transparent is AARP about such? The phrase "Cui Bono" comes to mind: AARP? Business Partners? Members?

And, of course, Members can turn elsewhere beyond AARP's "Providers." 

And, just as Members can switch who they conduct business with, AARP could seek a replacement for The Hartford - for example, a Provider who is much more Member centric.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@VintageDrummer, I've replied to your other post. Thanks. - Diana G.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

(3/18/24) I agree @MartynP267354  👍

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[*** MARTYN @MartynP267354 wrote:

I think AARP needs to decide where their loyalties lie - either with their membership or their relationship with Hartford.  If its with the AARP membership, then immediately terminate all endorsement of Hartford and completely disassociate the use of any AARP relationship. Perhaps the loss of up to 40 million referrals would hurt Hartford where they would feel it in their stock price which has seen a market beating increase from approximately $70 to $100 over the past 12 months.  It would at least give Chris Swift their CEO something to explain at the next shareowners meeting unless of course he is too busy counting his approximately $14,000,000 in compensation. ***]

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[SummerOnTheWay1]

(3/18/24) @MartynP267354 , AARP is not going to "fix" the issues with Hartford. All they do is post they HEAR the complaints!  😎

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[*** MARTYN @MartynP267354 wrote:

 This is not enough action on the part of AARP.  Members are reporting increases in the 45 to 75 percent range over 12 months.  This is unconscionable.  I moved my policy to Hartford in 2023 in no small part because of AARP's good name and endorsement.  Now my policy has increased 62% over 12 months.  Is this not a classic definition of bait and switch?    AARP fix this!! ***]

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[dw22859371]

Increase in supply chain issues? for what? Computers, copy paper, paper clips? I just got off the phone with Hartford because our rate was unjustifiably increased by 27%. I was told it was a rate revision that not only each state, but also AARP approved. I understand (and even expect) it if there were claims involved on individual policies, but to do a blanket increase because the insurance company may have had to make a few more payments than they're used to is unconscionable.  

It was laughable to get my policy renewal statement where The Hartford was so excited to tell me "congratulations, you've earned 450.00 off your collision dedcutible with Disappearing deductible!" only to find out the premium increased by $407.00!  After almost 10 years with The Hartford, I will now spend an inordinate amount of time researching alternatives. 

[MariamaA859467]

Hi @dw22859371. Here to help! We certainly understand your concern regarding the rate increase on your automobile insurance with The Hartford. We would be glad to work with the Escalation team at The Hartford to have this investigated for you. If you are still having difficulties with The Hartford, please either give us a call at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) to request an Escalation or send me a private message in the AARP Online Community by clicking this link and entering my username, “AARPMariamaA” into the “Send to” box https://community.aarp.org/t5/notes/composepage . Please provide the following details in your message:

• Full name
• AARP Membership # (or home address)
• Phone # and email address to contact you
• Description of your issue

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate you informing us of your concern. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Mariama A.

[dw22859371]

I have tried several times to send you a private message but each time I enter your username, the Send to box goes blank. I clicked on the link you provided and then copied and pasted your username to ensure it was correct. I also tried entering it manually.  I don't know what else to do. I'm happy to provide the info you requested via email if that works for you. But time is of the essence. My policy renews 11/1/23 and I have already begun a conversation with another insurance company.  Thanks 

[AARPThelmaG]

Hi @dw22859371! I'm sorry to hear that there seems to be an issue with the link that was provided. Please use link ( https://help.aarp.org/s/ ) and scroll done to contact us by phone or chat to provide the information that is requested. Once a case is created, a representative will be able to assist you. Thanks

[dw22859371]

Thank you! I used the chat to get this escalated.

[LarryA556457]

Do you work for Hartford?

[MariamaA859467]

Hi Larry A556457. No, I do not work for The Hartford. I work for AARP Member Relations Department.

Sincerely,

Mariama A.

[StephfanW784785]

Hi there @LarryA556457, here to help! We certainly understand your concern regarding Hartford We would be glad to work with the Escalation team at Hartford to have this investigated for you. If you are still having difficulties with Hartford, please either give us a call at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) to request an Escalation or send me a private message in the AARP Online Community by clicking this link and entering my username, “AARPStephfanW784785” into the “Send to” box https://community.aarp.org/t5/notes/composepage . Please provide the following details in your message:

• Full name
• AARP Membership # (or home address)
• Phone # and email address to contact you
• Description of your issue

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate you informing us of your concern. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

[LarryA556457]

I tried doing this three times and your username didn't work.  Why wouldn't you sign your message with at least your first name?

Larry Ayers

[AARPBrittanyS]

If you have difficulties sending private messages via the link, you can select the username, then once you are on their profile "send private message" is located on the right of the page. This method should auto-populate with the person you are attempting to send a message to. Otherwise, you may call the number Stephfan provided above. I hope this helps!

[LarryA556457]

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