I was just reading an article in The NY Times regarding discrimination in resolving claims for dwelling (apartment and/or home) insurance.
Let’s, for this entry, assume all insurance claims are discriminating based on ethnicity/race when it comes to people of color. I am going to add another qualifier, balance insurance bias/discrimination with the KNOWN commodity of Environmental Justice.
The US Congress as well as state legislatures should have no problem in stepping up to the challenge and bring about legislation that places all claims on the same level playing field. Then define that level playing field for profound fairness in quotes for insurance, fees, claims, and claim resolution.
When that legislation is written a clause that provides transparency for the customer and transparency for annual reporting of statistics must be included. By reporting statistics (absent of customer personal data) legislators can determine whether insurance premiums are fair or gouging consumers.
Insurance providers of any kind also need to be blind to ethnicity, race, gender, sexual identity and the way a person makes a living except if the insurance is directly involved in employment, ie: fire personnel or police that receive insurance through a union contract.
Penalties for not adhering to the rule of law should be made plain to the insurer if violations occur. The fines need to be significant. The insurer has broken the law(s) that directly effect citizen’s lives.
Penalties, including jail/prison time should be part of the legislation, including prohibition of pardons. And let’s not forget prohibited from any form of liability waiver.
