Bill to Protect Homeowners with Dogs

"Sleeping Pups", originally uploaded by basykes.

Newsday:

The House of Representatives agreed and narrowly passed a bill that bans insurance companies from refusing coverage based only on dog breed. The bill passed on a 77-70 vote and it awaits action in the Senate.

The bill does allow insurers, however, to use breed when underwriting a homeowner's or renter's policy. For example, they could require owners of particular breeds to have their animals neutered or take the dogs to obedience training. It is part of an effort to reduce the possibility of the dogs biting someone.

Rep. Robert Megna, D-New Haven, the bill's main proponent, said five of the top 10 homeowner's insurance companies will not issue policies to people who own particular breeds of dogs, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers. Of the remaining five companies, some have breed-based underwriting criteria, such as requiring the dog be contained in a secure, fenced-in yard.

Megna said such breed blacklisting hurts the responsible dog owners. He said they are sometimes unable to obtain regular homeowners insurance and are forced to pay exorbitant rates in alternative insurance markets.

Posted by Angie on May 04, 2005 | 0 Comments

Comments

0 comments.

Thanks for participating. Comments are now closed.

Trackbacks

0 so far. To trackback this entry, ping this url:

http://www.nicheblogs.net/mt/mt-tb.cgi/206

« Cover the Uninsured Week | Main | Understanding Health Insurance Terms »