WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As a result of the recent decision by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to move to managed competition, MetLife Auto & Home, one of the state’s top five personal auto insurers, announced today that it has filed plans to provide Massachusetts auto customers with lower rates and enhanced coverages in 2008. The filings are subject to approval by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, and are scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2008. The filing includes a request for lower rates for approximately 74% of the nearly 300,000 vehicles it currently insures. The safest drivers will see rate decreases of up to 20% or more.

These filings follow upon the announcement in October that MetLife Auto & Home, which has been writing business in the state since 1978, had received approval to provide identity theft resolution services to its Massachusetts auto insurance customers. This benefit comes at no additional charge and is already in effect.

“This recent filing is yet another example of the benefits that managed competition will bring,” said Paul Gavin, vice president of State Management for MetLife Auto & Home. “As an industry leader in the Massachusetts auto insurance market, we’re excited about the positive changes that these reforms will bring to the Commonwealth, particularly for our customers, who will begin to receive product enhancements that our auto customers throughout most of the country already enjoy. In addition, we’re pleased to offer good drivers a better, highly competitive rate, no matter where they live in the state.”

In addition to the new rates, MetLife Auto & Home also has plans to introduce its popular “Auto Advantage” program into the state of Massachusetts, which provides enhancements to the standard auto insurance policy that are designed to minimize coverage gaps. Significantly, unlike some other personal lines insurers that offer “enhanced” protection, but at an additional cost, Auto Advantage is offered to MetLife Auto & Home customers at no additional charge.

Coverage includes:

• Replacement cost for a total loss, which means that the company doesn't deduct for depreciation for the total loss of a new owned auto within its first year or first 15,000 miles, whichever comes first.
• Replacement cost for special parts, which provides “replacement cost” coverage for certain special damaged parts, such as tires, brakes, batteries, and shocks, despite their wear and tear condition at the time of an accident. Most other companies only pay the depreciated value (actual cash value) for these parts.
• Enhanced rental car damage coverage, which protects against costs for which most standard auto policies will not provide, in the event that a rental vehicle is involved in an accident. This includes reimbursement for rental income lost while the rental car is being repaired; claim handling expenses; any decrease in the rental vehicle’s market value; and expenses such as towing and storage of the damaged rental auto.

MetLife Auto & Home is one of the nation’s leading personal lines property and casualty insurance companies. MetLife Auto & Home has developed a reputation for innovation in product design, being the first insurer to introduce product enhancements that provide greater value to consumers, including Identity Theft resolution services to both its auto and home insurance customers, offered at no additional charge, which is available in most states. The company was named among the industry’s leaders in customer service according to J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Auto and Homeowners Insurance Studies^SM. MetLife Auto & Home is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET - News), a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the U.S. and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.

MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, Warwick, RI.

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Source: MetLife Auto & Home

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