Years of storms bring higher insurance rates

By David Markiewicz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia has suffered more than the usual amount of storm-related weather damage the last several years. Now, hundreds of thousands of homeowners in the state are paying for it in  higher insurance rates.

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John Spink, jspink@ajc.com Jason Miller owner of Sunnyside RV & Truck Sales who was devastated as he spoke on the phone about the million and a half dollars on inventory he lost in an April 28 tornado. In the background some of his damaged RV's sit on the next door neighbors property at Atlanta Lift Truck Salvage near School Road and Hwy. 19/41.

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Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com Norma Parris looks for valuables in the master bedroom of her Ringgold home Friday April 29.

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Allstate is leveling a 23 percent rate hike when customers renew their policies, an increase approved by the state insurance commissioner's office around the end of last year. Other home insurers have bumped rates as well.

"From 2005 to 2008 we had quite a bit of losses with hailstorms and tornadoes," said Steve Manders, director of insurance product review for the commissioner's office. Insurance companies regularly showed underwriting losses during that time, largely as a result of hard weather, he said.

Now, as they calculate future risks to determine rates in coming years , they're factoring in those losses.

In a letter to customers, Allstate noted, "...we've seen record-level storm events over the past few years. Because of this and other contributing factors, a premium increase is needed to cover future losses and remain financially strong so that we may continue to provide you the protection you need."

Manders said Allstate sought an increase of about twice the amount granted.

Prior to the increase, Allstate's homeowners rates were significantly lower in Georgia than in surrounding Southeast states, the company said. Now they are comparable to most, Allstate said.

In Georgia, the average Allstate annual premium will be $917 after the rate hike, up from $745. That compares to the average of $930 in Alabama, $900 in South Carolina, and $1,100 in Mississippi, according to Allstate. 

Allstate said its 359,710 home policy owners in Georgia will be affected. It said it is the state's second-largest insurer behind State Farm, which last year got state approval to raise homeowner rates an average of 9 percent. That change took effect in January.

Allstate spokesperson Nancy Lemke said the insurer increased its rates in 2005, in 2009 and in 2010. Other insurers might seek smaller rate increases more frequently, Manders noted.

Lemke said that, "Even with our new rate we're very competitive with other insurance companies doing business in the state."

East Point resident Heath Willis, 38, has had Allstate homeowners coverage for about three years. He might shop around now, he said.

However, because Allstate was very responsive to a recent claim, Willis said he would consider spending $50 more per year to stay with Allstate. If the difference is more like $110 or $120, he added,  "I'd have to look at doing something differently."

Dave Colmans, executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service, an industry group, said insurance companies base future rate calculations on years of claim history for the area.

So-called catastrophic occurrences, such as tornadoes,  severe hailstorms and hurricanes, are analyzed over an even longer period of time, Lemke said, to "smooth out" statistical spikes.

Atlanta-based consumer expert Clark Howard, on his website, lists several pieces of advice regarding homeowners insurance. One recommendation is to raise deductibles to $1,000 or $2,500. "You'll pay less in premiums," he says on his site, "but more importantly, you'll reduce the risk that your insurer will cancel your coverage because you made too many claims."