Can You Lose Your Insurance Because of Your Political Beliefs?

The answer is "yes," if you have insurance with Providence Mutual. An 80-year old retired pediatrician has lost her insurance coverage due to her hometown "political activities" - activities which included hosting fundraisers for Howard Dean. An excerpt from the Concord Monitor:

Helen Johnston is an 80-year-old retired pediatrician who hardly considers herself much of a risk for being sued. That's not how her insurance company sees it, however....




Johnston is losing extra coverage she bought years ago while she still practiced medicine - not because she's a retired doctor, but because she is active in Francestown politics. The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Co. sent her a letter last month notifying her it is not renewing her $1 million umbrella policy next month because of "the political positions the insured holds."

"If she was just a retired doctor, it wouldn't be an issue," said Dale Groves, vice president for underwriting for the Providence, R.I., company.

What does this say about the role of corporations in our democracy? Are we putting ourselves at risk in our society simply by exercising good citizenship? This kind of corporate conduct is outrageous and should be stopped in its tracks.

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