Esurance Offering Savings To Same-Sex Couples in 25 States
- Written by Chase Martin
- Read 478 times
In 2004, Esurance was one of the first car insurance companies to offer discounts to same-sex partners. Last month, the company announced that it is offering new car insurance savings to those in domestic partnerships and civil unions in 21 new states across the country. While many car insurance companies offer savings for same-sex couples in states that have legally recognized civil unions, Esurance is going a step further. Now same-sex couples who live together in nearly all the states where Esurance does business can enjoy those same benefits, regardless of their state's laws regarding same-sex partnerships.
"Esurance is firmly committed to recognizing and supporting diversity for its customers," said Gary Tolman, Esurance president and chief executive officer. "Offering additional savings to consumers regardless of where individual states stand on the issue of same-sex marriage is another measure of those commitments."
Esurance, a subsidiary of Allstate, has offered similar car insurance savings for same-sex partners in California, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington for some time. Now, customers in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin will be able to take advantage of these savings.
This gives committed same-sex couples the same savings opportunities of 10 percent or more on their auto insurance premium as legally married couples. Actual savings vary widely depending on a number of pricing factors, including driving record, accident history, and vehicle.
When a driver selects 'Domestic Partner' as his or her marital status, they will be rated with the same factors used for drivers with 'Married' as their marital status. Same-sex couples in a civil union will get a "married" rate when they list on the same policy, which may be a lower rate than those previously available to such non-married individuals. This rate applies to two persons of the same or opposite sex who form a civil union.
Esurance has a long history of support of and involvement in LGBT issues. including The Trevor Project, the leading organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, by donating $50,000 to recognize volunteers who generously donate their time to the NTL (Need to Talk Live) movement. The company also promotes and sponsors pride events around the country, including events this year in Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Esurance scored a 90 on the Human Right Campaign's Corporate Equality Index in 2012; and Allstate, its parent company, scored an 85.
Chase Martin
Creative Director & Founder, therepubliq.com
Director, Marketing/Promotions & Co-Founder, The OUTlander Project
Producer, OutCast Austin
Austin, Texas
Chase is the founder and Creative Director of therepubliq.com and co-founder and Director, Marketing & Promotions of The OUTlander Project. He is also a producer and engineer for OutCast Austin, an award-winning LGBT weekly radio program on KOOP 91.7 FM in Austin. In 2011, he was named the Critics Pick for 'Most Gaybiquitous' in the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin.
Additionally, Chase runs PlanetChase, LLC, a consulting firm providing a variety of business development services including web development, marketing, branding, technology to small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs; as well as meeting planning services for the financial services industry.
On his spare time, Chase has volunteered with local organizations including AIDS Services of Austin, the Octopus Club, the Austin Gay Basketball League and Volleyball Austin. In 2007, he was appointed by then-Austin Mayor Will Wynn to serve on the Austin Area Comprehensive HIV Planning Council where he served as the chairperson of the Community Access & Nominations committee.
