Thousands rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday against Michigan’s auto insurance law. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed sweeping changes to the law in May that ended requirements for everyone to have unlimited, lifetime medical benefits for catastrophic car accidents.
Karen Dickerson from Rockford says she suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car accident. She’s worried about ending the requirement.
“If you have an accident, I mean it could happen to you, and if you don’t have any medical coverage who’s going to pay for your therapies that you need?” she says.
Supporters of the current law say it will help drive down the state’s high auto insurance rates. Michigan’s have been among the highest in the nation.
Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) voted in favor of the changes, and says he realizes there might be a need for changes down the road.
“There are some things that need correcting,” says Schmidt. “We want to make sure that auto insurance is affordable, but people have access to healthcare. So, we passed it, we’re going to give rate relief, but we’re going to make sure Michiganders are taken care of too.”
On Tuesday, some Democrats spoke out against a budget, saying does not put enough money toward the implementation of the new auto insurance law.
Republicans say that budget mirrored what Whitmer proposed, though she presented her proposal before she signed the new insurance law.