Super Bowl Insurance Ad Targets Frustrated New York Fans for Engagement

New York football fans might be disappointed that the Giants, Bills, and Jets won’t be competing in Super Bowl 2026, but there’s still a compelling reason to tune in this Sunday.

During the highly anticipated matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, viewers will see a television ad titled BILLS, which directly addresses the frustrations of New Yorkers.

This ad is part of a campaign from Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR), backed by Uber, which is launching a “seven-figure statewide television and digital ad campaign.” The initiative aims to support New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s re-election and her recent proposals aimed at reducing auto insurance costs for New Yorkers.

The campaign, which kicks off during the Super Bowl, highlights Hochul’s commitment to tackling the high costs of car insurance in New York. It positions her as a leader in the fight against what is described as a “greedy” trial lawyer system that has contributed to soaring insurance rates.

New Yorkers are currently grappling with “crushing car insurance costs.” According to Bankrate, the average monthly cost for full coverage auto insurance in New York is $341, while the state minimum insurance averages $148—both figures are nearly double the national average. This cost is comparable to the price of a general admission ticket to a Bills regular season game.

Adding to the financial strain, New York drivers experienced a 13.5% premium increase in 2025, ranking as the fourth-highest in the nation, as reported by Bankrate.

According to NY Focus, Uber is contributing $3 million to CAR to support this campaign, which aims to lower insurance costs for rideshare drivers. The group plans to spend $7 million advocating for insurance reforms in 2026, with Uber having donated millions since its inception.

The BILLS campaign will be broadcast statewide across various channels, including those serving New York City, Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, and other upstate markets. The ads will continue airing for weeks following the Super Bowl.

New York Governor Hochul Vows to Tackle Insurance Affordability, Litigation and Fraud

In her recent State of the State address, Hochul outlined her reform strategy, which includes allowing prosecutors to pursue criminal penalties against those orchestrating staged crashes and medical providers who endorse fraudulent diagnoses. She also aims to give insurers more time to investigate fraud and to pass savings on to consumers.

Hochul emphasized that New Yorkers “should not pay more for the same coverage” and expressed her determination to make significant changes this year.

The sponsors of the ad hope it will galvanize lawmakers in Albany to pass legislation that addresses the rising insurance rates that have made coverage unaffordable for many families across the state.

However, the path forward may be challenging, as trial lawyers are poised to oppose these reforms. The New York Trial Lawyers Association has labeled Hochul’s proposals a “victim tax” and a “disaster for crash victims’ rights,” arguing that the changes would hinder injured residents from receiving claim payments.

Do New Yorkers Pay Too Much for Auto Insurance?

While trial lawyers criticize Hochul’s plans, various small businesses, truckers, taxi drivers, and community groups have expressed support for her approach. Zach Miller, vice president at the Trucking Association of New York, stated, “Meaningful reform requires standing up to the forces that profit from high insurance costs. Governor Hochul is doing exactly that.”

Eduardo Giraldo, president of the Queens Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, added, “The math simply doesn’t add up for New York drivers anymore: we pay nearly twice the national average for the same basic coverage. We welcome Governor Hochul’s commitment to delivering much-needed reforms.”

Shortly after Hochul announced her proposals, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple I) released a report, New York Personal Auto Insurance Premium and Cost Drivers, identifying key factors contributing to high insurance costs, such as elevated repair costs and high claims-handling expenses.

“By tackling these cost drivers, New Yorkers could see meaningful steps toward improving long-term insurance affordability,” said Michel Léonard, chief economist and data scientist at Triple I.

Topics
New York

New York football fans might be disappointed that the Giants, Bills, and Jets won’t be competing in Super Bowl 2026, but there’s still a compelling reason to tune in this Sunday.

During the highly anticipated matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, viewers will see a television ad titled BILLS, which directly addresses the frustrations of New Yorkers.

This ad is part of a campaign from Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR), backed by Uber, which is launching a “seven-figure statewide television and digital ad campaign.” The initiative aims to support New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s re-election and her recent proposals aimed at reducing auto insurance costs for New Yorkers.

The campaign, which kicks off during the Super Bowl, highlights Hochul’s commitment to tackling the high costs of car insurance in New York. It positions her as a leader in the fight against what is described as a “greedy” trial lawyer system that has contributed to soaring insurance rates.

New Yorkers are currently grappling with “crushing car insurance costs.” According to Bankrate, the average monthly cost for full coverage auto insurance in New York is $341, while the state minimum insurance averages $148—both figures are nearly double the national average. This cost is comparable to the price of a general admission ticket to a Bills regular season game.

Adding to the financial strain, New York drivers experienced a 13.5% premium increase in 2025, ranking as the fourth-highest in the nation, as reported by Bankrate.

According to NY Focus, Uber is contributing $3 million to CAR to support this campaign, which aims to lower insurance costs for rideshare drivers. The group plans to spend $7 million advocating for insurance reforms in 2026, with Uber having donated millions since its inception.

The BILLS campaign will be broadcast statewide across various channels, including those serving New York City, Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, and other upstate markets. The ads will continue airing for weeks following the Super Bowl.

New York Governor Hochul Vows to Tackle Insurance Affordability, Litigation and Fraud

In her recent State of the State address, Hochul outlined her reform strategy, which includes allowing prosecutors to pursue criminal penalties against those orchestrating staged crashes and medical providers who endorse fraudulent diagnoses. She also aims to give insurers more time to investigate fraud and to pass savings on to consumers.

Hochul emphasized that New Yorkers “should not pay more for the same coverage” and expressed her determination to make significant changes this year.

The sponsors of the ad hope it will galvanize lawmakers in Albany to pass legislation that addresses the rising insurance rates that have made coverage unaffordable for many families across the state.

However, the path forward may be challenging, as trial lawyers are poised to oppose these reforms. The New York Trial Lawyers Association has labeled Hochul’s proposals a “victim tax” and a “disaster for crash victims’ rights,” arguing that the changes would hinder injured residents from receiving claim payments.

Do New Yorkers Pay Too Much for Auto Insurance?

While trial lawyers criticize Hochul’s plans, various small businesses, truckers, taxi drivers, and community groups have expressed support for her approach. Zach Miller, vice president at the Trucking Association of New York, stated, “Meaningful reform requires standing up to the forces that profit from high insurance costs. Governor Hochul is doing exactly that.”

Eduardo Giraldo, president of the Queens Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, added, “The math simply doesn’t add up for New York drivers anymore: we pay nearly twice the national average for the same basic coverage. We welcome Governor Hochul’s commitment to delivering much-needed reforms.”

Shortly after Hochul announced her proposals, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple I) released a report, New York Personal Auto Insurance Premium and Cost Drivers, identifying key factors contributing to high insurance costs, such as elevated repair costs and high claims-handling expenses.

“By tackling these cost drivers, New Yorkers could see meaningful steps toward improving long-term insurance affordability,” said Michel Léonard, chief economist and data scientist at Triple I.

Topics
New York