Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Dog owners across the country have reason to celebrate; earlier this month, New York joined the slowly-growing list of states that restrict insurance carriers’ ability to deny or restrict coverage based solely on dog breed. The restriction has been controversial for years, as factors that effect a dog’s likelihood to bite expand far beyond their pedigree: the most aggressive breeds are seldom the ones restricted by “aggressive breed” restrictions. Since rate changes need to be approved by the state legislature, there’s no indication yet of whether or not these lifted restrictions will affect premiums. Homeowners worried about paying higher premiums to subsidize policyholders with aggressive dogs can relax; insurance carriers are still able to ask about a dog’s history and temperament, it’s only breed-based restrictions that are being sent to the doghouse.

AnneMarie McPherson with IA has more information here.