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One thing that has often been a source of frustration to many dog owners nationwide is the fact that some breeds are much harder to get coverage for through home insurance than others. However, one lawmaker in the state of Connecticut is looking to change that fact for residents, and that could have a major impact on the entire home insurance industry. Consequently, agents operating in the state will certainly have to keep a close eye on proceedings here, and let their clients know about how the impending changes could impact them.

State Rep. Brenda Kupchick, a Republican representing Fairfield, recently proposed a bill that would make it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against dog breeds of any kind, including the controversial pit bulls and Rottweiler dogs, according to a report from the Hartford Courant. She says that many in her constituency are hit with much higher home insurance premiums as a result of having these breeds, and many may have their policies canceled if they get one.

""There are people who literally will have their insurance dropped because they have a certain breed of dog, which I think is ridiculous,"" Kupchick told the newspaper.

The other side of the issue
For their part, though, home insurers say this law could become extremely problematic, the report said. These dogs cost more to insure because they may be more prone to attack, and experts say that even if this law is put into place, the added cost has to go somewhere. That, in turn, would likely lead to all homeowners in the state, or perhaps just all dog owners, paying more for their coverage than they had to in the past. There will be a public hearing on the proposed bill before it advances to a vote, as lawmakers have likewise expressed concern about the ways in which the potential law would impact more than just the owners of these types of dogs.

The more insurance agents can do to help their clients understand their policies, and how their dogs might impact their costs, the better off both sides of the policy are likely to be. Having that kind of knowledge in advance may help consumers make more informed decisions while also improving the relationship they have with their agent. That, in turn, could lead to more customer satisfaction and higher retention rates.

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