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?

[SummerOnTheWay1]

(2/25/24) You are WELCOME @susanr624672   😎

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[*** SUSAN @susanr624672 wrote:

Thank you!! ***]

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[ad91895610]

 For 3 autos, 2 senior drivers with clear records our annual premium increased from $2200 to $4800. Shopped the policy and switched to Progressive for $1400 yr, same coverage. Progressive's on line and app access is so much better too. 

[Nemesis666]

Same here, up 36% this year.....way to support the retiree's AARP!

[GregK439261]

I just checked to see how much we will owe for The Hartford auto insurance renewal in late February. It went up 73%. I talked (texted) to someone at The Hartford. All they could say is that because we live in Florida and there are natural distasters here, Florida had the hightest increases in the country. But73%? No accidents, no tickets, drive 50 miles or less per week. We are not in a flood zone and experienced no flooding, even during Hurricane Ian, which went right over us, and was one of the---if not THE worst--hurricanes to hit Florida. AARP needs to investigate this mistreatment of senior citizens.

[Tempest332]

Got my renewal. Mine went up 29% with no changes, tickets or claims.   From a few people I spoke with this seems to be the norm.  .  I haven't had a claim since 1993, & drive around 6K/yr

Auto Insurance companies primarily do that, lowball you in, then creep your rate up, I've been with Hartford for 6 years with pretty much the same years of vehicles (actually older now).  & my rate has close to doubled for the same coverage. ... no tickets claims or accidents in that period. 

I fear though next year this will be another 30%. 

[w478291r]

Same experience with Hartford. There initial insurance (auto) quote was the same as most others; now they have increased my premium by 35%. Where's the discount? Oh! just in advertising.

[JackO388839]

Same concern here.  Went with to Hartford because of affiliation with AARP and the associated good rates.  Hard to believe the AARP members with this insurance has had enough claims to warrant this size of increase in premium.  This does not reflect well against AARP in my opinion. How are our benefits being protected as members?  We need the clout of AARP to determine if this is justified and if AARP needs to be shopping this benefit to other auto insurance companies.

[WayneF254394]

Mine just went up 40% with no changes, tickets or claims! When I chatted with them they basically said tough luck, nothing they could do about it! In Arizona the average increase is 9% this year, but they could not explain at all why they have to increase by 40%!

[AARPThelmaG]

Hi @WayneF254394! We certainly understand your concern regarding AARP Auto & Home Insurance provided by The Hartford. We would be glad to work with the Escalation team at The Hartford to have this investigated for you. To do this, we will need more information. At your convenience, please use this link (https://help.aarp.org/s/) to contact us by phone, chat or text and provide the following:

- AARP membership number (or home address)

- Best email address & telephone number

- Description of your issue

- Please mention that you are requesting an Escalation or assistance from AARP regarding this issue.

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

[VitaminE]

My auto rate went up, 2025. HUGE increase. AARP should interact with Hartford regarding these rate increases that adversely affect so many of us. Or perhaps AARP could join hands with another insurance company. But the bottom line is that I need to be able to trust AARP to look after its members.

[MartynP267354]

Perhaps this would be an opportune moment for new AARP CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan to show that you are listening to member's numerous complaints about Hartford by addressing the issues head on and in-depth rather than these platitudinous 'Oh we are so sorry' ineffectual responses from your Member Relations Team.  Ms. Minter- Jordan are you listening?   The complaints have been consistent for over two years to date.  

[VintageDrummer]

@MartynP267354 

Your comment is 1,000% on target.

It would be a great first step for the new AARP CEO to actually weigh in here, on this forum. To date, absolutely nothing of significance for members at large has been visibly accomplished to improve the situation with The Hartford. Unknown to me is the extent to which the AARP support function is siloed off from senior management (a common occurrence with large organizations). 

Perhaps members ought to start communicating with Dr. Minter- Jordan's office to alert her to the many comments about this problem and so that she could see for herself that many people are viewing the various discussions about The Hartford and the connection with AARP and the impact on members. However, that being said, it looks like the office of the CEO may be siloed with respect to members communicating directly with it; see: 

https://community.aarp.org/t5/Social-Security/Who-are-our-AARP-Leaders/m-p/2590641 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @VitaminE, I'm sorry to hear that The Hartford increased your premium. We'd like more details and the chance to help as soon as possible. Please send us a private message or visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[VintageDrummer]

Unfortunately, AARP doesn’t truly care. The organization has had more than ample time to visibly address the problem. It comes across that AARP is living off of its reputation from a now bygone era when it actually took great effort to represent the needs of its members. Nowadays, not so much. A change in their senior leadership is needed. 

[dw22859371]

 I think the only thing that will correct this is for people to go elsewhere this year. We would have preferred to stay, but ridiculous rate increases for no legitimate and/or sound reason forced us to look elsewhere. The Hartford reached out and asked us to complete a survey on why we left so I happily completed it. One of the final questions was to ask if we'd be back. I said maybe. I liked being part of The Hartford. I didn't like being taken advantage of by The Hartford. The only message that will make them understand is losing customers. 

[JackO388839]

 I think a good message to deliver would be for AARP to perform an insurance carrier assessment/valuation and determine which carrier will provide the best value for it's members.  That is what I expect from AARP.  Viewing the number of complaints, I would have thought this would already be done.  Your thoughts, AARP?

[SuzanL826921]

Our Hartford rate went up 27% for a 6 month policy, that's 54% annually which is and should be unsustainable for most AARP members. As far as this rate hike from  Hartford and their business plan  AARP needs to reassess their relationship and quit promoting it.

Richard Schonder # [MEMBERSHIP # REMOVED]

[AARPThelmaG]

Hi @SuzanL826921. The most recent term increased was most due to a rate revision The Hartford implemented in all states. We asked that members contact The Hartford directly to go over any options that will be available to help offset the cost. If this is related to an auto policy, there’s been a increase in supply chain issues, labor shortages, and the frequency and severity of car accidents. These trends, combined with medical costs continuing to soar, have caused the price of most accidents to rise. It was necessary for The Hartford to increase their prices to keep up with the costs for repairing or replacing damaged vehicles and helping to indemnify those harmed in losses. There may also be specific factors that may cause a member's policy to increase such as a change in age, your driving record, how your vehicle is used, your vehicle symbol and coverage limits, loss of a discount, and any other changes made to your policy.

[MartynP267354]

 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!!

[GailL1]

@MartynP267354 wrote

AARP fix this!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What do you think they can do ?  

Not considering what you are paying, are you still getting the discounts and benefits which they { Hartford } have documented for AARP members - inclusive of the footnotes ?

The Hartford - AARP Auto Insurance Program From The Hartford

AARP - Membership Benefits - Auto and Property Insurance 

AARP DISCLOSURE

[ see bottom of page ] 

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. 

State Availability

Not available in U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Accident Forgiveness and Disappearing Deductible are not available to CA policyholders.

[MartynP267354]

What can AARP do?

 Well after a little digging and some conversations with people at Hartford what AARP could do is make the online defensive driving class available to all members without charge.  This would result in an ongoing discount from many auto insurers. 

If AARP truly has member's interests front and center, this could be a simple and effective gesture with widespread effect. 

[MartynP267354]

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.  

[AARPConsumerCare]

We're sorry to hear you’re having trouble with The Hartford, @MartynP267354. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[JamesK205786]

 I also just received the notice from the Hartford that my auto insurance rate would be increasing by 50% for 2024-2025  (Over $1,000 increase) and represents an increase of over 75% 2023-2024/2024-2025.  This not considering no claims, violations in the past 5 years, and driving less than 10 miles a day.    No benefit for loyalty to the company (Over 15 years)  .  No explanation other than cost of coverage raising but neglecting that corporate stock continues to show significant increases.  AARP should not be promoting this as a benefit to its members as the costs continue to skyrocket and are not as competitive as other insurance providers. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

@JamesK205786, I'm sorry to hear The Hartford increased your premium. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=14452879228 to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[GailL1]

They JUST renewed their affiliation in 2020 to 2033 

Hartford News Release 06/02/2020 - The Hartford And AARP Agree To Extend Auto And Home Insurance Pro...

I have asked several times how these increases are being applied - is it collision, comprehensive or the reduction of other discounted benefits like disappearing deductible or something else similar, etc.  I have yet to get anybody to tell me.  

Do people opt for these savings measures?  Like payment in full instead of installments?  Or New car replacement?  

Heck, is this happening based on where some people live?  Traffic, car thefts. the replacement and repair cost of autos - especially those of the newer variety with all the technology - 

Good grief, it cost a mint to even have a windshield replaced because each car is different in their glass tech.

All I know for sure is that ALL auto insurance cost have gone up for many reasons.  If you want bare-bones you can find it but then are you covered adequately?  

[AARPConsumerCare]

We're sorry to hear you’re having trouble with one of our benefit providers, @GailL1. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[VintageDrummer]

At this point in time, I would imagine AARP is already very familiar enough with the problem of steeply increased auto insurance premiums from The Hartford. It's one thing to listen to members, it's a related but separate thing to do something about the problem. What is AARP doing about the issue beyond increasing its awareness? What is AARP doing to help its members about this issue? 

[AARPConsumerCare]

We're sorry to hear you’re having trouble with The Hartford, @VintageDrummer. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[VintageDrummer]

Dear AARPConsumerCare:
Prior to posting here in the Community I had already spoken to an AARP Representative. The response was unacceptably bureaucratic, i.e., I was supposed to open a case, wait up to three days for a response, etc. In other words, going down a rabbit hole of AARP wanting to deal with the problem on a 1:1 basis. That's not a good strategy at all. I would bet there's a very large number of AARP members impacted by The Hartford's rate decision. You, your fellow team members and executives higher up in the AARP organization are presumably already aware of the problem (if they're not, then AARP has an even bigger problem). I would think that the purpose of AARP is to serve its members, not partner insurance organizations. I'm not hearing of any push back by AARP on The Hartford. 

In sum: You, Member Relations and hopefully senior AARP executives are likely already aware of the very excessive rate increase. My prior two fundamental questions still stand: "What is AARP doing about the issue beyond increasing its awareness? What is AARP doing to help its members about this issue?" Individuals opening chats with the Member Relations team is avoiding addressing a problem that you're already aware of. I'm sorry but it's a complete waste of time for individuals to follow that advice. If The Hartford is not positively responsive, maybe it's time for AARP to change who it partners with or for members to explore other alternatives for their insurance needs?