We had State Farm for over 20 years (home and auto). The premiums just kept going up and up. I finally shopped around, getting quotes from both the big companies and brokers. We saved (overall) nearly 300/year by switching. Ditto. State Farm customer for 20 years and saw the premiums keep going up even though the houses and cars and I all were getting older and they had paid out only once (minor accident). When I left, I didn't even get a phone call from anyone at State Farm (not even my agent) wondering why a good 20-year customer left. Don't let the door hit you, guys.... I'm now with American Family and saving a bundle over what SF was charging. But I do watch and I do shop around, and, if AF starts getting unfriendly, I'm elsewhere.

Do you pay the premiums or does your hubby's retirement plan do so. I think the only way you can get the insurance is join, and I am surprised that a retirement plan would be able to offer such a plan. Please at least check you a local independant agent and/or like one poster said, with Social Security. You have some good suggestion here to help you out. As far as I know AARP does not offer insurance plans, but do offer supplements only, as Medicare, if you have it, is your primary provider. Is your husband's retirement a big company--small etc and what else do they provide (insist) the retires do. We are with Los Angeles County and we can choose anyone we want as our supplements. Please feel free to ask questions as we do have a lot of very knowlegable people here.

graywings, we had auto insurance with GEICO for over 10 years and our experience was positive, but I guess any insurance company could handle some customers badly. As for State Farm paying regardless of who was at fault because it insured both drivers, they were willing to pay us, but would not assign liability to the other driver though she was at fault. We didn't think the claim should be paid from our policy (which could affect rates or coverage later) because there was no dispute as to who was at fault in the police report and the witness statement. The other driver wouldn't admit fault until a few weeks after the police report came out and she didn't have any other justification or proof.

Late to the party here but will add my two cents for those looking for auto insurance. I was a PI attorney before retiring, representing plaintiffs, usually. Of all the auto insurance companies I dealt with, GEICO gave their insureds the least amount of problems. So, I also switched to GEICO for auto insurance. They don't directly sell home insurance in my state so can't say anything about that.