Insurance cooperatives provide insurance services to their members, who are consumer policyholders. Insurance cooperatives operate by pooling and investing the premiums paid by the members. The revenues generated are then used to reduce the costs of providing insurance. Because policyholders are also owners, any profits are returned to the consumers as dividends. Insurance cooperatives are able to provide lower insurance rates and greater control for members.
Examples of Mutual Insurance Companies
Over the last 85 years, Nationwide has grown from a small mutual auto insurer owned by policyholders to one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world. Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company that offers a full range of insurance and financial services across the country, including car, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, farm, life, and commercial insurance, as well as administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans, and specialty health services.
Middleton Fire and Lightning Insurance Company was formed in Wisconsin in 1876 by a group of individuals, with the idea of providing fire and lightning coverage for eight local communities. Now Middleton Insurance Company provides insurance to residents of south central Wisconsin.