The Southern Company Employees: Does Your Credit Score Affect Your Insurance Rates?

Healthcare Provider Update: The Southern Company's healthcare provider is generally managed through an employer-sponsored health plan, which typically relies on insurers such as Aetna or Cigna, although specific arrangements can vary. As we approach 2026, significant healthcare cost increases are anticipated due to a multitude of factors affecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. With some states projecting premium hikes of over 60%, the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies is expected to push monthly costs for many enrollees up by more than 75%. This unprecedented rise in premiums combined with ongoing inflation in medical costs, driven by higher hospital and drug prices, creates a complex financial landscape for consumers navigating their health insurance options in the coming year. Employers like The Southern Company may need to strategize effectively to mitigate the impact of these escalating costs on their employees' healthcare coverage and overall well-being. Click here to learn more

A good credit history can help you with both financial stability and lower insurance rates, which can save you money on auto and homeowners' insurance, The Southern Company employees should know.

With proactive credit management, The Southern Company employees can get lower insurance rates and turn a simple financial habit into a savings opportunity for household costs.

In this article, we will discuss:

1. Auto and home insurers use credit-based insurance scores.

2. Factors that affect insurance premiums include credit scores.

3. Good credit habits can boost insurance rates for The Southern Company employees.

As a The Southern Company employee, you might be interested to know that about 95% of auto and home insurers base their pricing on credit-based insurance scores.In Massachusetts, Hawaii and California, insurance companies are illegally using credit-based insurance scores to set premiums. Some states allow it only as a factor on property insurance - like auto and homeowners' - policies. Other states allow it on all kinds of insurance.

Several factors

Underwriting generally involves only one factor - credit-based insurance scores - that insurance companies use. We also remind The Southern Company customers that there may be additional factors based on type of insurance. Your ZIP code, age of occupants, make, model, and age of vehicle and annual mileage may also affect auto insurance.

Using credit scores to set premiums for insurance is based on research showing that people with lower credit scores suffered greater auto insurance losses and received more money for their claims.Ask your insurer whether a credit-based insurance score was used to underwrite and rate your policy and which risk category you were assigned to.

The Southern Company employees wanting to improve their credit-based insurance score should do the same thing as they would with a good credit rating: making timely debt payments, resolving past disputes, and keeping low credit card balances are all important to do.More Accurate Decision Making, Better Risk Segmentation & Greater Profitability with Predictive Analytics, Fair Isaac Corporation, 2012 (last updated statistics).

Added Fact:

But your credit-based insurance score could also affect your rates for homeowners' insurance. Credit scores also are considered in determining home insurance premiums. A better credit score may mean lower insurance rates for your vehicle and home. Thus, as a The Southern Company employee, good credit habits may help you save money or even get better insurance rates. Keep up with the payments on your credit to improve your credit-based insurance score and possibly save on your auto and home insurance.

Added Analogy:

For insurance purposes, think of your credit score as a rear-view mirror. So much like a rear-view mirror helps you see the road ahead when you drive, your credit score gives insurers a look at your financial past. It's like a mirror of your financial responsibility and trustworthiness. A clear rear-view mirror lets you drive confidently, so too can having a good credit score mean higher rates on insurance. Or a dirty or tarnished mirror might block your view and raise premiums. And as a The Southern Company employee, keep your credit score clean and honest - and reflect responsible spending. So you can move forward knowing that better insurance rates will protect your assets and give you peace of mind as you travel down the financial road.

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Sources:

1. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 'Credit-Based Insurance Scores.'   National Association of Insurance Commissioners , 2024, pp. 1-2.  https://content.naic.org/insurance-topics/credit-based-insurance-scores .

2. DeNicola, Louis. 'Which States Prohibit or Restrict the Use of Credit-Based Insurance Scores?'   Experian , 12 Jan. 2024, pp. 1-2.  https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/which-states-prohibit-or-restrict-the-use-of-credit-based-insurance-scores .

3. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 'Credit-Based Insurance Scores Aren't the Same as a Credit Score.'   National Association of Insurance Commissioners , 2024, pp. 1-2.  https://content.naic.org/article/consumer-insight-credit-based-insurance-scores-arent-same-credit-score-understand-how-credit-and-other-factors .

4. 'Does Credit Score Affect Car Insurance Rates?'   Allstate , 2024, pp. 1-2.  https://www.allstate.com/resources/car-insurance/does-credit-score-affect-car-insurance .

• 5. Ohio Department of Insurance. 'How Credit Information Can Impact Insurance Premium Amounts.'   Ohio Department of Insurance , 2021, pp. 1-3.  https://insurance.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/fc232c36-ac0f-4c12-afc2-5acafebe104a/credit_based_insurance_2021.pdf?CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_K9I401S01H7F40QBNJU3SO1F56-fc232c36-ac0f-4c12-afc2-5acafebe104a-ntUixSL&CONVERT_TO=url&MOD=AJPERES .