Could the Geico lizard be far behind?
Progressive Insurance, the countrys third-largest auto insurer, filed plans last week to sell car insurance in Massachusetts, prompting hurrahs from state lawmakers and trade associations looking for signs of affirmation of rules adopted last year. Gov. Deval Patrick had hoped to lure more insurers to the 19 currently writing policies in the state when the former 30-year- old system of state-regulated auto rates was scrapped in favor of allowing companies to set their own premiums. Progressives rates average 18 percent lower than the average rates paid by Massachusetts drivers in 2007. Yet to offer automobile coverage in the state are major insurers Allstate Corp., State Farm Mutual and Geico. And the winner is Charter Communications Inc. passed a milestone last week when Marianne Olynyk of Worcester switched her telephone service to Charter. That made her the one-millionth telephone customer of the St. Louis-based company. It also got her and her mom a chauffeur-driven limousine ride
