TheInsurancePolicy: July 2006 Archives

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Jul31	Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Approves 90% Rate Increase Andrew Smyth July 31, 2006 Know More: Hurricane Katrina, Insurance News, Mississippi, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale, Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, insurancejournal.com 2.0, Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association George Dale, the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner, approved a 90 percent rate increase for homeowners’ policies provided by the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association according to insurancejournal.com. The association is commonly referred to as the wind pool. The wind pool initially requested a rate increase of nearly 400 percent because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Dale deemed the initial premium increase “unacceptable”. Dale did comment on the necessity of the current increase, “an increase is necessary in order to maintain the stability of the program. Without the wind pool, many residents would be unable to get any wind coverage due to a number of companies choosing not to write the wind on the coast.'' Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul28	U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Removes Endorsement Of Sacramento Levees Andrew Smyth July 28, 2006 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reversed a 1998 evaluation and endorsement of the levees protecting parts of Sacramento according to insurancejournal.com. The Corps chief engineer “attributed the decision to local and federal studies that have unearthed levee vulnerabilities.” The... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul27	Garamendi Urges Yucca Valley Fire Victims To Use CDI Toll Free Helpline Andrew Smyth July 27, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi is urging all Yucca Valley Fire Victims to contact the Department of Insurance’s toll free helpline (800-927-4357) for assistance and support. In a news release Garamendi is asking all victims of the fires to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul26	Independent Agents Group Lending Hand In New Orleans Rebuilding Effort Andrew Smyth July 26, 2006 The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IABA) will be in New Orleans this September for a leadership conference and board meeting. Three hundred of the attendees will be working with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild the hurricane... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul25	NICB Releases 2005 List Of Top States For Motorcycle Theft Andrew Smyth July 25, 2006 I had no idea there were so many motorcycles in this country. In 2005 alone 70,613 motorcycles were stolen according to a press release on the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website. Those stolen motorcycles add up to a whopping... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul24	MIB Group Inc. Receives -5.4% Less Life Insurance Applications In June Year-Over-Year Andrew Smyth July 24, 2006 The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) Group Inc. released information in a press release about a dip in life insurance application activity for June compared to June of last year. In the last four consecutives years of June declines this past... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul23	NASD Foundation Releases Elderly Investment Fraud Study Andrew Smyth July 23, 2006 I saw a press release on the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Foundation website regarding a study examining “What makes elderly susceptible to investment fraud?” Some of the findings were surprising to me.This study was conducted with the help... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul22	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 9th Installment Andrew Smyth July 22, 2006 This week was a very busy one for insurance fraud and scams in general. I am a little miffed as to the reason behind the first story. Why would the two nurses and the doctor give lethal doses of drugs... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul21	Senate Bill Passed For Insurance & Financial Product Sales On Military Bases Andrew Smyth July 21, 2006 This past Wednesday the Senate passed a bill “that would impose new rules on companies selling life insurance and other financial services products on military bases” according to nationalunderwriter.com. I wrote about this Act in an earlier post when the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul20	Health Plan Report Shows Positive Steps Towards Members Making Informed Choices Andrew Smyth July 20, 2006 The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) released the eValue8TM results of a nationwide analysis of how health plans are helping consumers manage their health. The results showed “Health plans are making strides in providing a greater variety of information... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	$2.7 Million Grant Awarded To Connecticut Partnership Andrew Smyth July 20, 2006 A federal grant of $2.748 million from the Presidents High-Growth Job Training Initiative was awarded to a Connecticut partnership according to a press release on the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). The grant “targets training for key occupations... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Indiana Traffic Fatalities Increase By 40% On Roads With Increased Speed Limit Andrew Smyth July 20, 2006 Insurancejournal.com reported on the 40 percent increase in traffic fatalities on Indiana’s six main interstates. These increases have occurred during the year since “the General Assembly voted to increase the speed limit to 70 mph.”The good news in the midst... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul19	State Farm Requests Rate Increase In Florida Of 52.7% Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 State Farm Florida Insurance Company has requested a statewide average rate hike of 52.7 percent from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) according to insurancejournal.com. This steep rate increase was much less than the initial two rate increases requested... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Genworth Financial Study Indicates LTC Impacts Women More Than Men Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 Genworth Financial released the results of a study, The Impact of Long Term Care on Women – An Analysis of Women as Care Providers and Care Recipients, this week. According to the press release on Genworths website the study “found... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Proposed Michigan Rule Barring Use Of Discretionary Clauses Under Fire Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 A proposed Michigan rule is under attack from insurance groups according to natioanlunderwriter.com. The rule “would bar use of discretionary clauses in all lines of consumer and personal insurance policies.” A hearing is going to be held by the Michigan... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Settlement In California Leads To Strong Protections For Disability Insurance Policyholders Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 An announcement made today by California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi revealed a settlement with several insurance industry associations according to a press release. This settlement “will lead to strong protections for disability insurance policyholders and require insurers to comply with... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oregon Activist Sponsors Initiative Against Using Credit History To Set Insurance Rates Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 One of Oregon’s most prolific initiative authors, Bill Sizemore, has decided to sponsor an initiative measure “to prohibit insurance companies from raising customers rates solely because they have poor credit history” according to insurancejournal.com.In the past Sizemore has sponsored measures... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul18	East Coast Insurer Offers Identity Resolution Services Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 According to a press release on identitytheft911.com Commerce Insurance Company made an announcement last week “that they have joined together with Identity Theft 911™ to offer their homeowner policyholders identity resolution services, should they fall victim to identity theft.” Identity... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Affordable Health Insurance For Employees Of Missouri Small Businesses Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 According to insurancejournal.com legislation was recently signed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt to “increase access to affordable health insurance for employees of small businesses.” The bill “expands eligibility for association health plans by decreasing the mandatory number of members from... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	2-Step Process Announced For Florida Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) has announced a two-step process to help homeowners meet the requirements of the comprehensive “Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program.” Step one is a free home inspection and step two is to apply for a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wild Fires In San Bernardino County Not Insurance Catastrophe Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 The three raging fires that joined to become one massive blaze in San Bernardino County have burned more than 84,000 acres according to nationalunderwriter.com. Even though the reach and magnitude of the fire was enormous it is not being considered... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Eligible CA Residents Not Signing Up For Gov. Sponsored Health Insurance Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 A stunning number of eligible California residents, 43 percent of reported 6.7 million, are not signing up for government sponsored health insurance according to insurancejournal.com. When the Foundation for Health Coverage Education became privy to these statistics they decided to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul17	Insurance Rates Triple On Alabama Gulf Coast Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 Reading this article on insurancejournal.com I was stunned to learn the severity of insurance rate increases to some Alabama property owners. The owners of the 35-unit Romar Tower in Orange Beach, Alabama had their premiums vault to $424,000 from $35,000,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Louisiana Recovery Authority May Sue Insurers Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 An official from the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) said the Road Home “program that is helping storm-damaged homeowners rebuild or relocate may take over insurance claims and sue for additional insurance payments on behalf of recipients” according to insurancejournal.com.The chairman... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Occupational Health Program Returns Injured Workers Faster In Eastern Washington Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 If you live and work in Eastern Washington you might consider going to a “doctor who participates in a Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) program that encourages occupational-health best practices.” A press release on the L&I website cites a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	World Cup Proves Good Venue For Terrorism Catastrophe Bonds Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 The World Cup is not only incredible entertainment but also helpful for proving the viability of using terrorism catastrophe bonds to handle risk as reported on nationalunderwriter.com. Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a catastrophe modeler, “did a risk analysis concerning the... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	U.S. House Of Reps. Help Effort For Life Insurance Awareness Month Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 According to nationalunderwriter.com the insurance industry is receiving help from the U.S. House of Representatives for a major consumer awareness effort. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) said lawmakers introduced House Resolution 912 designating September as Life... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul16	Federal Reserve Official Worried About Wal-Mart Creeping Into Banking Arena Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 If you do not already know the illustrious Wal-Mart is awaiting approval from the FDIC on an application to establish a bank like entity called an industrial loan corporation (ILC) according to insurancejournal.com. Concerns by many and most recently by... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Survey Says Pennsylvania Seniors Drinking & Driving More Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 According to a press release for the 2005 Pennsylvania Youth Survey Report by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency more 12th grade students are binge drinking and driving under the influence than in past years. The survey is conducted... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Hampshire Homeowners Need Help Cleaning Flooded Homes Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 There is a need for volunteers in New Hampshire to help clean basements of mold and mildew left over from the May flood in New Hampshire according to insurancejournal.com. There are currently more than 300 families statewide living with toxic... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Connecticut Gov. Advises Motorists On Way To Thwart Thieves Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is letting motorists know new motor vehicle registration stickers are being sent out that will be placed inside the windshield rather than on the rear license plate according to a press release. This change is... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurer Issues Disaster Planning Guide To Policyholders Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 A subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Group, America First Insurance, will be distributing a Disaster Planning Guide booklet to it’s 8,5000 homeowner insurance customers in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas according to a press release on their website. You can download... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul15	Commissioner Garamendi Praises New Auto Insurance Regulation Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has been pushing for reforms in the way auto insurers set their rates. In a press release on Friday Garamendi “commended the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and Governor Schwarzeneggar for moving the approval... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ohio Schools Purchase Policies Covering Terrorist Attacks And School Shootings Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 Who knew schools in this country would have to be worried about terrorist attacks and school shootings. I’m sure someone did but regardless schools in Ohio are taking out insurance policies not only for workers comp and liability but also... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 9th Installment Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 I was shocked at the 70 year old man this past week who was charged with wire fraud, health care fraud and the distribution of controlled substances. This guy was a doctor and in his retirement years. I do not... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Minorities & Women Hold More Management Jobs In Finance Industry Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 The U.S. Government Accountability Office “published figures on trends in management-level diversity and diversity initiatives in the financial services industry.” According to nationalunderwriter.com “Women and minorities held about 53% of management-level jobs at U.S. financial services companies in 2004, up... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Utah City Recommends Traffic Tickets Stay Off Insurance Companies Desks Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 The city of Holladay, Utah’s Citizens Advisory Board is “recommending some traffic tickets not be reported to insurance companies so the offenders' premium rates don't go up” according to insurancejournal.com. This recommendation has not been received a warm welcome from... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul14	FEMA Announces 5 Million Americans Now Have Flood Insurance Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made the announcement that over 5 million Americans currently have flood insurance. FEMA director David Paulison credited the milestone to consumers, insurance agents, lenders, real estate agents, state insurance commissioners, industry leaders and the... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	First Post-Katrina “Wind vs. Flood” Case Begins In Mississippi Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The first of many “wind vs. flood” cases has begun in a federal court in Mississippi. Nationalunderwriter.com reports this case involves an agent from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company against Pascagoula residents Paul and Julie Leonard. One of the plaintiff’s attorneys... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Guardian Life Releases Retirement Study Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America recently released the results of a study entitled “Leading-Edge Boomers: Rethinking Retirement & Exploring Annuities” that surveyed 1,019 U.S. baby boomers between the ages of 50 to 59. Harris Interactive® conducted the study... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	IRS Needs You For Punishment Ideas Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is now asking for public comments “about how it should run a new system for punishing tax-exempt entities that get involved with potentially abusive tax shelters” according to nationalunderwriter.com.Due to the passage of the Tax... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Several Key Trends Point To Significant Change In Insurance Industry Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 A study by TowerGroup, a research and consulting group for the financial services industry, “points to recent trends and statistics on how we live, communicate and work today that will affect how insurance carriers respond in areas such as products,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul13	NCCI Workers Comp Prescription Drug Study Shows U.S. Drug Cost Is Slowing Andrew Smyth July 13, 2006 The National Council on Compensation Insurance released the 2006 Update to the Workers Compensation Prescription Drug Study on their website, www.ncci.com. According to the study “nationwide prescription drug spending for all payers (including Group Health and Workers Compensation)” showed a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Study Finds Life Most Popular Voluntary Worksite Insurance Product Andrew Smyth July 13, 2006 An annual study conducted on worksite carriers by Eastbridge Consulting Inc., of Connecticut, found double-digit increases across several product lines according to a press release. The majority of the growth over the past few years came from hospital indemnity and... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurance Settlement Benefits 25,000 North Carolina Victims Of Race-Based Premiums Andrew Smyth July 13, 2006 Even though this racial discrimination happened 30 to 50 years ago an insurance company has agreed to a settlement. Western and Southern Life Insurance Co., based in Cincinnati, and the North Carolina Department of Insurance have agreed on a settlement... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul12	Catastrophe Modeling Firm Funds University Research Into Wind Speed Data Andrew Smyth July 12, 2006 Remember the movie Twister back in 1996? I can’t believe that was ten years ago! They were chasing tornadoes in order to release data gathering devices into the heart of the tornado. Although not as exciting as a Hollywood movie... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Swiss Re Announces Layoffs Of 2,000 Workers. More Potential Bloggers! Andrew Smyth July 12, 2006 The march of layoffs among the steady flow of mergers and acquisitions continues unabated. The most recent layoffs in the insurance biz come from the now largest reinsurance company Swiss Re. A decent amount of lives turned upside down, 2,000... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul11	North Carolina Passes Seat Belt Law Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 If you live in or plan on driving through North Carolina make sure and buckle up for your own safety and your pocketbook. A bill was tentatively approved last week in the North Carolina House requiring all vehicle passengers, including... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Voluntary Claims Filing Extension Ignored By Louisiana Insurers Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 A little over a month ago Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon asked “insurers to voluntarily extend the one-year deadline for customers to file suits for unsettled claims related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita” according to insurancejournal.com. A month has passed... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Hampshire Embraces “Michelle’s Law” Health Coverage Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 In the state known as the Granite State New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed a bill “expanding young adults’ ability to continue to get health coverage through their parents” according to nationalunderwriter.com. This bill will create “Michelle’s Law” named after... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oregon Senators Propose Health Coverage For Uninsured Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 A health proposal in Oregon is gaining momentum with the support of Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith. The proposal is to “help uninsured people obtain health coverage and those with insurance avoid financial ruin from a catastrophic illness” according... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	N.Y. Insurance Superintendent Mills Warns Insurers Against Canceling Policies Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 The New York Insurance Superintendent Howard Mills is taking steps to reign in potential cancellations of homeowners’ policies in various New York counties. According to nationalunderwriter.com Mills wrote insurers “urging them not to act hastily and cancel the insurance of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul10	Cars Donated By Insurance Companies Used As Decoys For Thieves Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 In Shreveport, La. cars donated from insurance companies throughout the state will be used as bait for thieves according to insurancejournal.com. These cars will be left out on the street once police officers learn how to use the high-tech tracking... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CA Ins. Commissioner Garamendi Ok’s 7% Rate Cut Of Auto Insurance Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi proposed regulations for the fair pricing of auto insurance back in May. Garamendi announced today in a press release his support and intended approval of a 7% decrease in premium rates for policyholders of the... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Hampshire Police Write 6,000 Tickets Over 4th Of July Weekend Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 I was amazed at the amount of tickets written in only New Hampshire over the 4th of July holiday weekend. New Hampshire state troopers stopped 7,000 vehicles and wrote an astonishing 6,000 tickets according to insurancejournal.com. Some simple math will... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Tenet Healthcare Agrees To $340 Million Amount For Katrina Damage Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 An agreement totaling $340 million was reached between Tenet Healthcare and its various property insurers to settle the hospital group’s physical damage and business interruption claims from Hurricane Katrina, according to nationalunderwriter.com.This settlement, according to Tenet, marks the “first major... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pennsylvania Governor Signs Two Insurance Related Bills Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell last week signed into law two important insurance related bills according to nationalunderwriter.com. One bill pertains to a tax on insurance policies and the other relates to the Pennsylvania National Guard.H.B. 801 cuts the state’s life... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul 9	Lawsuit Filed Against University Offering Benefits To Same Sex Partners Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 The American Family Association of Michigan (AFA of Michigan) filed a lawsuit last week to “stop Michigan State University from offering health insurance to the partners of gay workers and said the school is violating a 2004 amendment to the... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Mississippi Casinos Could Pay For Increases In Homeowners Insurance Rates Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 According to insurancejournal.com Mississippi Casinos are being targeted as a revenue source in order to hold down homeowner insurance rates on the Gulf Coast. Two Mississippi lawmakers are making this proposition because of increases in insurance rates.The Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	California Initiative Introduces Path To Insurance Career Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 If you are interested in starting a career in the insurance industry then the California Insurance Careers Program (CA-ICP) could be an option. This statewide initiative brings together 17 community colleges, 9 workforce investment boards, 30 businesses, employer associations and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Delaware Ins. Commissioner Denn Comments On Recent Initiatives Passed Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 This past week the Delaware Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn said the 2006 Delaware General Assembly session produced some positive accomplishments, but also left some of Denn’s pro-consumer initiatives undone according to a news release on the Delaware Insurance Department website. ... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Midwest Storms Costly For One Insurer Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 Over the past 11 months much has been written about Hurricane Katrina and the disaster it wrought not only on the victims but the insurance companies. Aside from Katrina there have been some “smaller storms within the past few years... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul 8	Two Large Insurer Foundations Give Grants To Non-Profit Groups Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 Hearing that large insurers are giving large sums of money to non-profit groups is always a sweet sound. Several foundations of the large insurers, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and New York Life are the most recent donors. You can find... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	W. Va. Insurance Commission Cracks Down On Employers Without Workers Comp. Insurance Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 In West Virginia there are an estimated 2,000 employers in the state without workers compensation insurance according to insurancejournal.com. The West Virginia Insurance Commission has decided to take efforts to seek out these employers.A fund called the Uninsured Fund was... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Property-casualty Rates Decline 7% In June compared To Last Year Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 According to nationalunderwriter.com a report published by MarketScout shows “property-casualty rates have declined by 7 percent in June compared to the same period last year.” MarketScout says that the “soft market is in its 16th month.”Richard Kerr, MarketScout Chief Executive... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Survey Says Texas Homeowners 50% Prepared For Another Major Storm Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 A Hurricane Readiness Index revealed many Texas homeowners have only taken “50% of the steps to prepare their homes and property to recover from a major hurricane” according to a news release on the Southwestern Insurance Information Service website. The... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CA Insurance Commissioner Garamendi Announces Consumer Protection Grants Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced this past week in a press release the awarding of a total of $500,000 in consumer protection grants. These protection grants were awarded to four District Attorneys’ Offices for the Life and Annuity... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul 7	Virginia Employers Will Receive Workers Comp. Refunds Due To Computer Glitch Andrew Smyth July 7, 2006 Nationalunderwriter.com reported Virginia state legislators announced this past Friday that Virginia employers will get refunds amounting to $1-to-$1.2 million in November on their workers’ compensation premiums as a result of a computer glitch at the National Council on Compensation Insurance.” ... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Allstate Wants Meeting With Sen. Hillary Clinton Over Flood Insurance Mistake Andrew Smyth July 7, 2006 Apparently Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made the assumption Allstate underwrites flo

Jul31	Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Approves 90% Rate Increase Andrew Smyth July 31, 2006 Know More: Hurricane Katrina, Insurance News, Mississippi, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale, Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association, insurancejournal.com 2.0, Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association George Dale, the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner, approved a 90 percent rate increase for homeowners’ policies provided by the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association according to insurancejournal.com. The association is commonly referred to as the wind pool. The wind pool initially requested a rate increase of nearly 400 percent because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Dale deemed the initial premium increase “unacceptable”. Dale did comment on the necessity of the current increase, “an increase is necessary in order to maintain the stability of the program. Without the wind pool, many residents would be unable to get any wind coverage due to a number of companies choosing not to write the wind on the coast.'' Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul28	U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Removes Endorsement Of Sacramento Levees Andrew Smyth July 28, 2006 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reversed a 1998 evaluation and endorsement of the levees protecting parts of Sacramento according to insurancejournal.com. The Corps chief engineer “attributed the decision to local and federal studies that have unearthed levee vulnerabilities.” The... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul27	Garamendi Urges Yucca Valley Fire Victims To Use CDI Toll Free Helpline Andrew Smyth July 27, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi is urging all Yucca Valley Fire Victims to contact the Department of Insurance’s toll free helpline (800-927-4357) for assistance and support. In a news release Garamendi is asking all victims of the fires to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul26	Independent Agents Group Lending Hand In New Orleans Rebuilding Effort Andrew Smyth July 26, 2006 The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IABA) will be in New Orleans this September for a leadership conference and board meeting. Three hundred of the attendees will be working with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild the hurricane... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul25	NICB Releases 2005 List Of Top States For Motorcycle Theft Andrew Smyth July 25, 2006 I had no idea there were so many motorcycles in this country. In 2005 alone 70,613 motorcycles were stolen according to a press release on the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website. Those stolen motorcycles add up to a whopping... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul24	MIB Group Inc. Receives -5.4% Less Life Insurance Applications In June Year-Over-Year Andrew Smyth July 24, 2006 The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) Group Inc. released information in a press release about a dip in life insurance application activity for June compared to June of last year. In the last four consecutives years of June declines this past... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul23	NASD Foundation Releases Elderly Investment Fraud Study Andrew Smyth July 23, 2006 I saw a press release on the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Foundation website regarding a study examining “What makes elderly susceptible to investment fraud?” Some of the findings were surprising to me.This study was conducted with the help... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul22	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 9th Installment Andrew Smyth July 22, 2006 This week was a very busy one for insurance fraud and scams in general. I am a little miffed as to the reason behind the first story. Why would the two nurses and the doctor give lethal doses of drugs... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul21	Senate Bill Passed For Insurance & Financial Product Sales On Military Bases Andrew Smyth July 21, 2006 This past Wednesday the Senate passed a bill “that would impose new rules on companies selling life insurance and other financial services products on military bases” according to nationalunderwriter.com. I wrote about this Act in an earlier post when the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul20	Health Plan Report Shows Positive Steps Towards Members Making Informed Choices Andrew Smyth July 20, 2006 The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) released the eValue8TM results of a nationwide analysis of how health plans are helping consumers manage their health. The results showed “Health plans are making strides in providing a greater variety of information... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	$2.7 Million Grant Awarded To Connecticut Partnership Andrew Smyth July 20, 2006 A federal grant of $2.748 million from the Presidents High-Growth Job Training Initiative was awarded to a Connecticut partnership according to a press release on the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). The grant “targets training for key occupations... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Indiana Traffic Fatalities Increase By 40% On Roads With Increased Speed Limit Andrew Smyth July 20, 2006 Insurancejournal.com reported on the 40 percent increase in traffic fatalities on Indiana’s six main interstates. These increases have occurred during the year since “the General Assembly voted to increase the speed limit to 70 mph.”The good news in the midst... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul19	State Farm Requests Rate Increase In Florida Of 52.7% Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 State Farm Florida Insurance Company has requested a statewide average rate hike of 52.7 percent from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) according to insurancejournal.com. This steep rate increase was much less than the initial two rate increases requested... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Genworth Financial Study Indicates LTC Impacts Women More Than Men Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 Genworth Financial released the results of a study, The Impact of Long Term Care on Women – An Analysis of Women as Care Providers and Care Recipients, this week. According to the press release on Genworths website the study “found... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Proposed Michigan Rule Barring Use Of Discretionary Clauses Under Fire Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 A proposed Michigan rule is under attack from insurance groups according to natioanlunderwriter.com. The rule “would bar use of discretionary clauses in all lines of consumer and personal insurance policies.” A hearing is going to be held by the Michigan... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Settlement In California Leads To Strong Protections For Disability Insurance Policyholders Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 An announcement made today by California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi revealed a settlement with several insurance industry associations according to a press release. This settlement “will lead to strong protections for disability insurance policyholders and require insurers to comply with... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oregon Activist Sponsors Initiative Against Using Credit History To Set Insurance Rates Andrew Smyth July 19, 2006 One of Oregon’s most prolific initiative authors, Bill Sizemore, has decided to sponsor an initiative measure “to prohibit insurance companies from raising customers rates solely because they have poor credit history” according to insurancejournal.com.In the past Sizemore has sponsored measures... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul18	East Coast Insurer Offers Identity Resolution Services Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 According to a press release on identitytheft911.com Commerce Insurance Company made an announcement last week “that they have joined together with Identity Theft 911™ to offer their homeowner policyholders identity resolution services, should they fall victim to identity theft.” Identity... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Affordable Health Insurance For Employees Of Missouri Small Businesses Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 According to insurancejournal.com legislation was recently signed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt to “increase access to affordable health insurance for employees of small businesses.” The bill “expands eligibility for association health plans by decreasing the mandatory number of members from... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	2-Step Process Announced For Florida Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) has announced a two-step process to help homeowners meet the requirements of the comprehensive “Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program.” Step one is a free home inspection and step two is to apply for a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wild Fires In San Bernardino County Not Insurance Catastrophe Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 The three raging fires that joined to become one massive blaze in San Bernardino County have burned more than 84,000 acres according to nationalunderwriter.com. Even though the reach and magnitude of the fire was enormous it is not being considered... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Eligible CA Residents Not Signing Up For Gov. Sponsored Health Insurance Andrew Smyth July 18, 2006 A stunning number of eligible California residents, 43 percent of reported 6.7 million, are not signing up for government sponsored health insurance according to insurancejournal.com. When the Foundation for Health Coverage Education became privy to these statistics they decided to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul17	Insurance Rates Triple On Alabama Gulf Coast Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 Reading this article on insurancejournal.com I was stunned to learn the severity of insurance rate increases to some Alabama property owners. The owners of the 35-unit Romar Tower in Orange Beach, Alabama had their premiums vault to $424,000 from $35,000,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Louisiana Recovery Authority May Sue Insurers Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 An official from the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) said the Road Home “program that is helping storm-damaged homeowners rebuild or relocate may take over insurance claims and sue for additional insurance payments on behalf of recipients” according to insurancejournal.com.The chairman... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Occupational Health Program Returns Injured Workers Faster In Eastern Washington Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 If you live and work in Eastern Washington you might consider going to a “doctor who participates in a Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) program that encourages occupational-health best practices.” A press release on the L&I website cites a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	World Cup Proves Good Venue For Terrorism Catastrophe Bonds Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 The World Cup is not only incredible entertainment but also helpful for proving the viability of using terrorism catastrophe bonds to handle risk as reported on nationalunderwriter.com. Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a catastrophe modeler, “did a risk analysis concerning the... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	U.S. House Of Reps. Help Effort For Life Insurance Awareness Month Andrew Smyth July 17, 2006 According to nationalunderwriter.com the insurance industry is receiving help from the U.S. House of Representatives for a major consumer awareness effort. The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) said lawmakers introduced House Resolution 912 designating September as Life... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul16	Federal Reserve Official Worried About Wal-Mart Creeping Into Banking Arena Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 If you do not already know the illustrious Wal-Mart is awaiting approval from the FDIC on an application to establish a bank like entity called an industrial loan corporation (ILC) according to insurancejournal.com. Concerns by many and most recently by... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Survey Says Pennsylvania Seniors Drinking & Driving More Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 According to a press release for the 2005 Pennsylvania Youth Survey Report by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency more 12th grade students are binge drinking and driving under the influence than in past years. The survey is conducted... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Hampshire Homeowners Need Help Cleaning Flooded Homes Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 There is a need for volunteers in New Hampshire to help clean basements of mold and mildew left over from the May flood in New Hampshire according to insurancejournal.com. There are currently more than 300 families statewide living with toxic... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Connecticut Gov. Advises Motorists On Way To Thwart Thieves Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is letting motorists know new motor vehicle registration stickers are being sent out that will be placed inside the windshield rather than on the rear license plate according to a press release. This change is... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurer Issues Disaster Planning Guide To Policyholders Andrew Smyth July 16, 2006 A subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Group, America First Insurance, will be distributing a Disaster Planning Guide booklet to it’s 8,5000 homeowner insurance customers in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas according to a press release on their website. You can download... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul15	Commissioner Garamendi Praises New Auto Insurance Regulation Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has been pushing for reforms in the way auto insurers set their rates. In a press release on Friday Garamendi “commended the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and Governor Schwarzeneggar for moving the approval... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ohio Schools Purchase Policies Covering Terrorist Attacks And School Shootings Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 Who knew schools in this country would have to be worried about terrorist attacks and school shootings. I’m sure someone did but regardless schools in Ohio are taking out insurance policies not only for workers comp and liability but also... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 9th Installment Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 I was shocked at the 70 year old man this past week who was charged with wire fraud, health care fraud and the distribution of controlled substances. This guy was a doctor and in his retirement years. I do not... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Minorities & Women Hold More Management Jobs In Finance Industry Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 The U.S. Government Accountability Office “published figures on trends in management-level diversity and diversity initiatives in the financial services industry.” According to nationalunderwriter.com “Women and minorities held about 53% of management-level jobs at U.S. financial services companies in 2004, up... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Utah City Recommends Traffic Tickets Stay Off Insurance Companies Desks Andrew Smyth July 15, 2006 The city of Holladay, Utah’s Citizens Advisory Board is “recommending some traffic tickets not be reported to insurance companies so the offenders' premium rates don't go up” according to insurancejournal.com. This recommendation has not been received a warm welcome from... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul14	FEMA Announces 5 Million Americans Now Have Flood Insurance Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made the announcement that over 5 million Americans currently have flood insurance. FEMA director David Paulison credited the milestone to consumers, insurance agents, lenders, real estate agents, state insurance commissioners, industry leaders and the... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	First Post-Katrina “Wind vs. Flood” Case Begins In Mississippi Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The first of many “wind vs. flood” cases has begun in a federal court in Mississippi. Nationalunderwriter.com reports this case involves an agent from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company against Pascagoula residents Paul and Julie Leonard. One of the plaintiff’s attorneys... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Guardian Life Releases Retirement Study Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America recently released the results of a study entitled “Leading-Edge Boomers: Rethinking Retirement & Exploring Annuities” that surveyed 1,019 U.S. baby boomers between the ages of 50 to 59. Harris Interactive® conducted the study... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	IRS Needs You For Punishment Ideas Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is now asking for public comments “about how it should run a new system for punishing tax-exempt entities that get involved with potentially abusive tax shelters” according to nationalunderwriter.com.Due to the passage of the Tax... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Several Key Trends Point To Significant Change In Insurance Industry Andrew Smyth July 14, 2006 A study by TowerGroup, a research and consulting group for the financial services industry, “points to recent trends and statistics on how we live, communicate and work today that will affect how insurance carriers respond in areas such as products,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul13	NCCI Workers Comp Prescription Drug Study Shows U.S. Drug Cost Is Slowing Andrew Smyth July 13, 2006 The National Council on Compensation Insurance released the 2006 Update to the Workers Compensation Prescription Drug Study on their website, www.ncci.com. According to the study “nationwide prescription drug spending for all payers (including Group Health and Workers Compensation)” showed a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Study Finds Life Most Popular Voluntary Worksite Insurance Product Andrew Smyth July 13, 2006 An annual study conducted on worksite carriers by Eastbridge Consulting Inc., of Connecticut, found double-digit increases across several product lines according to a press release. The majority of the growth over the past few years came from hospital indemnity and... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurance Settlement Benefits 25,000 North Carolina Victims Of Race-Based Premiums Andrew Smyth July 13, 2006 Even though this racial discrimination happened 30 to 50 years ago an insurance company has agreed to a settlement. Western and Southern Life Insurance Co., based in Cincinnati, and the North Carolina Department of Insurance have agreed on a settlement... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul12	Catastrophe Modeling Firm Funds University Research Into Wind Speed Data Andrew Smyth July 12, 2006 Remember the movie Twister back in 1996? I can’t believe that was ten years ago! They were chasing tornadoes in order to release data gathering devices into the heart of the tornado. Although not as exciting as a Hollywood movie... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Swiss Re Announces Layoffs Of 2,000 Workers. More Potential Bloggers! Andrew Smyth July 12, 2006 The march of layoffs among the steady flow of mergers and acquisitions continues unabated. The most recent layoffs in the insurance biz come from the now largest reinsurance company Swiss Re. A decent amount of lives turned upside down, 2,000... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul11	North Carolina Passes Seat Belt Law Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 If you live in or plan on driving through North Carolina make sure and buckle up for your own safety and your pocketbook. A bill was tentatively approved last week in the North Carolina House requiring all vehicle passengers, including... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Voluntary Claims Filing Extension Ignored By Louisiana Insurers Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 A little over a month ago Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon asked “insurers to voluntarily extend the one-year deadline for customers to file suits for unsettled claims related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita” according to insurancejournal.com. A month has passed... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Hampshire Embraces “Michelle’s Law” Health Coverage Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 In the state known as the Granite State New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed a bill “expanding young adults’ ability to continue to get health coverage through their parents” according to nationalunderwriter.com. This bill will create “Michelle’s Law” named after... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oregon Senators Propose Health Coverage For Uninsured Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 A health proposal in Oregon is gaining momentum with the support of Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith. The proposal is to “help uninsured people obtain health coverage and those with insurance avoid financial ruin from a catastrophic illness” according... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	N.Y. Insurance Superintendent Mills Warns Insurers Against Canceling Policies Andrew Smyth July 11, 2006 The New York Insurance Superintendent Howard Mills is taking steps to reign in potential cancellations of homeowners’ policies in various New York counties. According to nationalunderwriter.com Mills wrote insurers “urging them not to act hastily and cancel the insurance of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul10	Cars Donated By Insurance Companies Used As Decoys For Thieves Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 In Shreveport, La. cars donated from insurance companies throughout the state will be used as bait for thieves according to insurancejournal.com. These cars will be left out on the street once police officers learn how to use the high-tech tracking... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CA Ins. Commissioner Garamendi Ok’s 7% Rate Cut Of Auto Insurance Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi proposed regulations for the fair pricing of auto insurance back in May. Garamendi announced today in a press release his support and intended approval of a 7% decrease in premium rates for policyholders of the... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Hampshire Police Write 6,000 Tickets Over 4th Of July Weekend Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 I was amazed at the amount of tickets written in only New Hampshire over the 4th of July holiday weekend. New Hampshire state troopers stopped 7,000 vehicles and wrote an astonishing 6,000 tickets according to insurancejournal.com. Some simple math will... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Tenet Healthcare Agrees To $340 Million Amount For Katrina Damage Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 An agreement totaling $340 million was reached between Tenet Healthcare and its various property insurers to settle the hospital group’s physical damage and business interruption claims from Hurricane Katrina, according to nationalunderwriter.com.This settlement, according to Tenet, marks the “first major... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pennsylvania Governor Signs Two Insurance Related Bills Andrew Smyth July 10, 2006 Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell last week signed into law two important insurance related bills according to nationalunderwriter.com. One bill pertains to a tax on insurance policies and the other relates to the Pennsylvania National Guard.H.B. 801 cuts the state’s life... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul 9	Lawsuit Filed Against University Offering Benefits To Same Sex Partners Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 The American Family Association of Michigan (AFA of Michigan) filed a lawsuit last week to “stop Michigan State University from offering health insurance to the partners of gay workers and said the school is violating a 2004 amendment to the... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Mississippi Casinos Could Pay For Increases In Homeowners Insurance Rates Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 According to insurancejournal.com Mississippi Casinos are being targeted as a revenue source in order to hold down homeowner insurance rates on the Gulf Coast. Two Mississippi lawmakers are making this proposition because of increases in insurance rates.The Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	California Initiative Introduces Path To Insurance Career Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 If you are interested in starting a career in the insurance industry then the California Insurance Careers Program (CA-ICP) could be an option. This statewide initiative brings together 17 community colleges, 9 workforce investment boards, 30 businesses, employer associations and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Delaware Ins. Commissioner Denn Comments On Recent Initiatives Passed Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 This past week the Delaware Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn said the 2006 Delaware General Assembly session produced some positive accomplishments, but also left some of Denn’s pro-consumer initiatives undone according to a news release on the Delaware Insurance Department website. ... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Midwest Storms Costly For One Insurer Andrew Smyth July 9, 2006 Over the past 11 months much has been written about Hurricane Katrina and the disaster it wrought not only on the victims but the insurance companies. Aside from Katrina there have been some “smaller storms within the past few years... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul 8	Two Large Insurer Foundations Give Grants To Non-Profit Groups Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 Hearing that large insurers are giving large sums of money to non-profit groups is always a sweet sound. Several foundations of the large insurers, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and New York Life are the most recent donors. You can find... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	W. Va. Insurance Commission Cracks Down On Employers Without Workers Comp. Insurance Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 In West Virginia there are an estimated 2,000 employers in the state without workers compensation insurance according to insurancejournal.com. The West Virginia Insurance Commission has decided to take efforts to seek out these employers.A fund called the Uninsured Fund was... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Property-casualty Rates Decline 7% In June compared To Last Year Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 According to nationalunderwriter.com a report published by MarketScout shows “property-casualty rates have declined by 7 percent in June compared to the same period last year.” MarketScout says that the “soft market is in its 16th month.”Richard Kerr, MarketScout Chief Executive... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Survey Says Texas Homeowners 50% Prepared For Another Major Storm Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 A Hurricane Readiness Index revealed many Texas homeowners have only taken “50% of the steps to prepare their homes and property to recover from a major hurricane” according to a news release on the Southwestern Insurance Information Service website. The... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CA Insurance Commissioner Garamendi Announces Consumer Protection Grants Andrew Smyth July 8, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced this past week in a press release the awarding of a total of $500,000 in consumer protection grants. These protection grants were awarded to four District Attorneys’ Offices for the Life and Annuity... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jul 7	Virginia Employers Will Receive Workers Comp. Refunds Due To Computer Glitch Andrew Smyth July 7, 2006 Nationalunderwriter.com reported Virginia state legislators announced this past Friday that Virginia employers will get refunds amounting to $1-to-$1.2 million in November on their workers’ compensation premiums as a result of a computer glitch at the National Council on Compensation Insurance.” ... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Allstate Wants Meeting With Sen. Hillary Clinton Over Flood Insurance Mistake Andrew Smyth July 7, 2006 Apparently Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made the assumption Allstate underwrites flo

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