Mich. Admin. Code R. 500.1505

Current through Vol. 24-10, June 15, 2024
Section R. 500.1505 - Unfairly discriminatory rates

Rule 5.

(1) For purposes of section 2109(1)(c) of the code, MCL 500.2109, a rate for a coverage is unfairly discriminatory in relation to another rate for the same coverage if the differential between the rates is not reasonably justified by differences in losses, expenses, or both, or by differences in the uncertainty of loss, for the individuals or risks to which the rates apply. A reasonable justification must be supported by a reasonable classification system; by sound actuarial principles when applicable; and by actual and credible loss and expense statistics or, in the case of new coverages and classifications, by reasonably anticipated loss and expense experience.
(2) A rate is not unfairly discriminatory because it reflects differences in expenses for individuals or risks with similar anticipated losses, or because it reflects differences in losses for individuals or risks with similar expenses.
(3) A reasonable classification system is a system designed to group individuals or risks with similar characteristics into rating classifications that are likely to identify significant differences in mean anticipated losses or expenses, or both, between the groups, as determined by sound actuarial principles and by actual and credible loss and expense statistics or, in the case of new coverages or classifications, by reasonably anticipated loss and expense experience.
(4) Sound actuarial principles must include, but are not limited to, all of the following principles:
(a) That data used in developing classifications and rates are derived from the experience of a population or sample of risks that is sufficiently similar to the anticipated insured population so that the statistics obtained can reasonably be expected to produce representative and reliable estimates of the anticipated loss and expense experience for the insured population and are calculated in a manner that is suitable to their intended use.
(b) That a reasonable predictive relationship can be demonstrated to exist between a characteristic used in defining a rating classification and anticipated losses, anticipated expenses, or the uncertainty of loss for the risks to which the classification applies.
(c) That if rates for individual rating cells are calculated by means of arithmetic combinations of relativities for the classifications defining those rating cells, the relativities are combined in a manner that equitably reflects the anticipated loss and expense experience for those rating cells.
(d) That sampling techniques used in developing classifications and in estimating loss and expense experience are suitable to their intended application.
(e) That with regard to private passenger automobile insurance and private residential property insurance, rates for an insurance coverage provided are established in a manner that can reasonably be anticipated to produce loss ratios that are substantially uniform among the classifications, kinds, or types of individuals or risks to which the rates apply. Evaluation of loss ratios must make appropriate adjustments for differences in deductibles and limits of liability among insureds, for expense provisions that are not allocated to premiums on a percentage-of-premium basis, and for differences in contingency factors among classifications and must give due consideration to the credibility of experience for groupings of individuals or risks, to trends in past and prospective loss experience, and to historical patterns between projected and realized loss ratios. For purposes of this subdivision, "substantially uniform" means the absence of significant variations among loss ratios. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of appropriate pure premium relativities to estimate or evaluate rate relativities.
(5) Data of an insurer or rating organization used in calculating actual and credible loss statistics must be of sufficient volume, or combined in an appropriate manner with suitable data of sufficient volume, so that the statistics calculated are reasonably credible and can reasonably be anticipated to produce reliable estimates of anticipated loss and expense experience.
(6) Data for reasonably anticipated experience used in calculating rates for new coverages and in establishing new classifications must, to the extent possible, be based on actual experience for similar coverages and for groups of risks similar to the proposed classification and be of sufficient volume so that statistics produced can reasonably be anticipated to produce reliable estimates of loss and expense experience.
(7) Relevant external information, including general economic data and other indicators, may be given due consideration in evaluating or projecting loss and expense experience.

Mich. Admin. Code R. 500.1505

1981 AACS; 2021 MR 6, Eff. 3/24/2021