House Panel OKs Changes to Michigan’s Car Insurance

A Michigan legislative panel has approved a bill that would end unlimited lifetime medical care for people seriously injured in car crashes.

Premiums would drop at least $125 in the first year under the measure being pushed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and the Legislature’s GOP majority. All motorists would get $1 million in coverage.

The bill approved Thursday by a House committee is different from one that stalled in 2011. But it’s still going to run into opposition in the GOP-led House because not every Republican is on board and Democrats fiercely oppose the plan.

Michigan is the only state that offers unlimited medical benefits for catastrophic auto injuries and rehabilitation. The assessment costs motorists $175 per car per year and is rising to $186 this summer.