"It's encouraging to see state legislatures going after insurance fraud again this year," said Nancy Pierce, GEICO regional vice president and chair of the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) Board of Governors. "Fraudulent activities like staged accidents, inflated medical bills and enhanced damage drive up premiums for honest consumers, so GEICO is strongly in favor of laws to cut down on those schemes." Photo: Fotalia
California
Lawmakers intend to use asset forfeiture as a weapon against fraudsters who participate in a pattern of insurance schemes. Photo: iStock
Iowa & Mississippi
Both states are considering bills that would specifically make installing counterfeit airbags a crime. The bill is intended to save lives and prevent insurers from paying inflated costs for phony airbags. Photo: iStock
Kentucky
A federal court overturned a law prohibiting the solicitation of motor vehicle accident victims for healthcare services last year. State and national partners now are working on a bill that would reinstate the ban on solicitation and address the federal court's concerns. Photo: iStock
Michigan
A proposed state auto insurance authority would provide resources to find and prosecute medical mills and staged-accident rings, which continue to drive up premiums. Photo: iStock
Minnesota
Multiple bills are being considered that would increase civil penalties against fraudsters, reduce inflated medical costs and give state authorities more power to crack down on fraudulent medical providers. Photo: iStock
New Jersey
One measure being proposed would address fraudsters who illegally register vehicles in states in an attempt to get lower premiums. Another proposal would prevent fraudsters from accessing police crash reports to solicit accident victims. Photo: iStock
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