Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) is a public entity self-insurance pool that provides liability and property coverage to municipal governmental entities across Michigan.
MMRMA was born in 1980 in a marketplace that was becoming increasingly unfriendly to public entities. Three member municipalities founded MMRMA as a joint purchasing arrangement, which allowed them to secure necessary insurance coverage at a reasonable price.
Around the same time, other public entity pools began to crop up across the United States. The idea was criticized and predicted to fail. However, like many of its fellow pioneers across the nation, MMRMA grew steadily over three tumultuous decades. MMRMA, and the entire government pooling industry, continues to thrive in 2010.
Within a few years of MMRMA's inception, commercial insurers either ceased to offer coverage to governmental entities or sharply increased their premiums. The mid-1980s saw a big boost for public entity pools. In 1985, 133 members joined MMRMA and 1986 brought another 53 new members.
Also in 1985, MMRMA responded to the volatility of the commercial reinsurance market by assuming some risk directly. This enabled MMRMA to continue offering affordable, reliable coverage to members. Again, this trend-setting move was decried by the commercial insurance industry. But again, the skepticism was unfounded. Today, most public pools nationwide follow MMRMA's lead and retain some risk themselves.
Thirty years after its inception, MMRMA is the largest liability and property pool in Michigan and a recognized national leader in the field. We continue commitment to meeting the challenges of tomorrow.
