CURE Auto Insurance Marks 25 Years of Fighting for Insurance Equality for All Drivers

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Jun 11, 2015, 02:54 ET

PRINCETON, N.J., June 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CURE Auto Insurance marks its 25^th anniversary in the auto insurance marketplace since writing its first policy on June 1, 1990. Founded as a consumer-focused solution to New Jersey's ailing auto insurance industry, CURE's presence in the marketplace has elevated the standards for fairness and equality in the industry, by basing rates predominantly on each applicant's driving record and not on income-proxy related factors such as education, occupation, home ownership or credit score.

"For the past 25 years, we have pioneered fairer rating and underwriting methods, and have consistently pushed other insurance carriers to follow our lead," said Eric Poe, COO of CURE Auto Insurance. "Unlike the other insurance carriers in the state, our rates and discounts aren't based on education, credit score, or other income proxies since we believe those factors do not directly correlate with how well an individual drives. Since we opened our doors in 1990, our rates have been, and continue to be, based primarily on an individual's driving record. We believe this is the fairest way to insure drivers."

Already firmly established as one of New Jersey's top auto insurers, CURE expanded to Pennsylvania in 2008 and has built a reputation as the consumer's auto insurance carrier because of its outspoken stance against the proliferated use of income-proxy rating factors by the rest of the auto insurance industry. Poe, on behalf of CURE, has testified against its own insurance industry's trade group in opposing the use of a driver's education, credit score and occupation for rating and underwriting insurance. CURE's cooperation with consumer groups and legislators on this issue has brought heightened scrutiny to the practices of national auto insurance companies.

"CURE was found as a solution to the 1980s auto insurance crisis. During that time, New Jersey's drivers paid one of the highest premium rates in the nation, yet auto insurers were reluctant to write new auto insurance policies due to low profitability and massive legislative and regulatory constraints," added Poe. "It was during this crisis that former New Jersey Insurance Commissioner James J. Sheeran and an award-winning insurance expert, Dr. Lena Chang, founded CURE Auto Insurance, which has subsequently evolved into a market leader in policyholder satisfaction to the thousands of responsible drivers who have become its members."

Today, CURE has a staff of 215 employees, insures 65,000 vehicles and serves 45,000 policyholders. CURE is also active in the communities it serves, sponsoring its Annual "Pay It Forward" Scholarship Award since 2006, which recognizes young adults who perform unselfish, compassionate acts for their communities. CURE has awarded almost $140,000 in scholarship funds to local students. Additionally, over the years CURE executives have volunteered their time to provide safe driving presentations to local high schools.

For 25 years, CURE Auto Insurance has challenged the industry, advocating to remove income proxy related factors from rating and underwriting practices. Its not-for-profit model allows CURE to continually offer affordable auto insurance to responsible drivers. For more information, visit www.CURE.com or call 800-535-CURE. Stay connected and "like" CURE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cureinsurance or follow CURE on Twitter and on Instagram at @CUREInsurance.

About CURE

Headquartered in Princeton, N.J., Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange, (CURE) is a not-for-profit reciprocal exchange. Founded in 1990 by New Jersey Insurance Commissioner James J. Sheeran and award-winning insurance expert, Dr. Lena Chang as answer to the insurance crisis in New Jersey, CURE continues to lead the way as the not-for-profit solution for responsible drivers and the "cure" for the continuously evolving auto insurance problems. CURE is currently available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. More information can be found at www.CURE.com or by calling 800-535-CURE.

SOURCE CURE Auto Insurance