But insurers, who offered cheap premiums and low deductibles to encourage this new line of business, now find that they underestimated the number of small awards that companies make every year and did not anticipate the growing size of jury verdicts, one-fifth of which are now for $1 million or more.
In states like California, Maryland and Michigan, urban and even some rural counties have multiple insurers offering plans with relatively cheap premiums.
One would encourage insurers to offer short-term policies with variable copays and deductibles, and the other would allow people to form groups to create so-called association health plans with cheap premiums and limited benefits.
Some of the tricks they use are: guaranteeing you a high coverage for cheap premiums, some won't provide any guarantee for the benefit that they are supposed to give and many scams promise you a safe and fast process.
However, with 10 years' NCD the cheapest premium is £216.27, and this remains the same after 15 or even 20 years without claims.
A few pounds saved through a cheaper premium can be a false economy if you find you are paying out hundreds when claiming because of a very high excess.
Contact specialist brokers who may be willing to offer you cover even when the main market has turned you down or cover you at a cheaper premium than standard insurers have offered.
Then, says Foulsham, "you have the opportunity to explain the circumstances to a human being, who can put into context any incidents to insurers, which can, hopefully, deliver a cheaper premium".
They'll also offer cheaper premium package prices.
At the very least, this does offer some indication that customers are willing to pay top dollar for all the latest bells and whistles, even when a cheaper premium alternative is on the market at the same time.
