매니토바/위니펙 소식

MPI(Manitoba Public Insurance) 보험료 환급수표를 받으셨나요?

작성일 2008.05.02 21:43

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지난 4월 26일자에 MPI(Manitoba Public Insurance) 가 올해 또 다시 지난해와 마찬가지로 매니토바주 자동차보험 가입자에게 납부한 보험료의 일부를 돌려준다고 발표를 한 지 일주일이 안되어 오늘 수표가 집으로 배달되었습니다.

매번 자동차보험료 환급수표를 받을 때마다 느끼는 것인데, 공돈이 생긴 것 같아 흐믓해집니다.

신문 기사를 읽어보니 어떤 자동차를 보유하고 있는지, 얼마를 보험료로 냈는지에 따라 다르겠지만 2007-08년 자동차 보험료의 10%을 돌려주며 평균 약 100불정도가 될거라고 하네요.

이번 보험료 환금은 2001년, 그리고 2006년부터 연속 3년간 보험료를 가입자에게 돌려주는 것으로, 돌려주는 총 금액은 $63 million 이고, 발송비등 관리비용으로 $500,000 이 소요된다고 합니다.

(수표발송에 따른 부대비용이 엄청나네요. 매년 조금씩 보험료를 올리지 말고 차라리 보험재계약때 그만큼 할인해 주는 것이 더 좋을 것 같네요. ^^)

자세한 내용은 아래의 Winnipeg Free Press 기사를 참고하세요.

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MPI rebate cheques heading to province's motorists

Byline:By Bruce Owen

Updated: April 26 at 12:45 AM CDT

Print Article E-mail Article Manitoba Public Insurance is sending out rebate cheques to vehicle owners again this year after it was ordered to lighten its piggy bank.

The average rebate will be about $100, enough to buy a tank of gas and a car wash for most car owners. Cheque amounts will vary depending on the vehicle you own and what you pay in insurance, but will be about 10 per cent of your 2007-08 vehicle insurance premium.

MPI spokesman John Douglas said cheques will start rolling out May 1.

The Crown-owned car insurance company was ordered by the Public Utilities Board to issue the rebate to all vehicle owners. It's the third year in a row, and the fourth time since 2001, MPI has had to issue a rebate.

The rebates will cost MPI $63 million, plus up to $500,000 in administration fees to cover issuing and mailing out the cheques.

Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen said the rebates are unnecessary as MPI should do a better job of predicting insurance rates before it goes to the PUB for approval. The PUB adjudicates what MPI can charge car owners for insurance.

McFadyen said the cost of issuing the rebates is a waste of money and that the entire process of giving drivers back their own money shows MPI sets its rates unnecessarily too high before it goes to the PUB.

"The suspicions of many people is that premiums are higher than they need to be," he said.

He also said drivers should be allowed to keep their money at the outset rather than be treated to a cheque from a "benevolent corporation."

McFadyen made his comments during a provincial budget hearing.

In response, Premier Gary Doer said the setting of rates is not that easy as MPI is gauging what it will need in its rainy day fund against stock market conditions and future, possible claims.

Doer said he'd prefer MPI give out less in rebates so that its rainy day or retained earnings fund remains healthy.

"I actually think a reserve fund is a good thing for consumers," he said. "I would prefer the PUB be more prudent."

MPI is coming off a strong financial year and several seasons of relatively stable claims costs.

It keeps its rainy day fund in place as a cushion should there be a huge spike in claims, like damage caused by a major hail storm.

In the past couple of years, MPI has earned more revenue than it was expecting because the investment markets, until recently, performed above expectations.

"When we are in the situation that we are now and retained earnings are above the target range, then the excess flows back to Manitobans in the form of a rebate," Douglas said.

He added MPI cannot set rates to anticipate the stock market.

"Given the current state of the stock market, you can imagine just how bad that could be for ratepayers."

The PUB has also said this may be the last year Manitobans get a rebate for a while because of the downturn in the investment markets.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca