TheInsurancePolicy: September 2006 Archives

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Sep24	Florida Holding Homeowner Expo In Pensacola Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 Know More: Consumers, Pensacola Florida Homeowners Expo, homeowners insurance 2.0, Pensacola Florida Homeowners Expo If you live in or near Pensacola, Fl. you might want to consider attending an upcoming homeowners expo. In an article on the insurancejournal.com they explain the expo will have “businesses and not-for-profit agencies to show Floridians how to make their homes more hurricane-resistant.” The event is called “Fortify Florida: Pensacola Prepares” and is being held September 30 at the Pensacola Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be more than 70 exhibitors “providing information, services and products” and also “insurance company representatives who will be on hand to help homeowners understand the hurricane-resistance measures that will protect their homes, and how they can apply for discounts on their insurance premiums.” Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep24	New Technology From Nissan Helps With Drivers Safety Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 If you have ever worried about other drivers appearing out of nowhere and almost causing accidents then new technology from Nissan Motor Co. could be the answer. In Japan Nissan is testing a new technology that utilizes “street corner sensors... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	UnumProvident Corp. Reviews Trends In Benefits Market Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 UnumProvident Corp. (UNM)has done a review of current trends in the benefits market that indicates “women and workers in their 40’s seem to be especially likely to buy supplemental disability and critical illness insurance” according to an article on nationalunderwriter.com.The... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Survey Says Health Care Providers Should Publish Cost & Quality Info Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 The United Benefit Advisors (UBA) has released the results of a survey of 1,094 U.S. employers according to nationalunderwriter.com. The results show that “Benefits buyers say the federal government should require health care providers to publish cost and quality information... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep23	Senator Makes Noise About Farmers Crop Insurance Plight Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 According to insurancejournal.com “Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar has asked federal agriculture officials to reconsider their decision to deny drought disaster loans to farmers on the Eastern Plains whose wells were shut off in a water rights dispute.” Salazar went on... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Florida Workers Comp Companies Refund Excess Profits Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 If you are in the workers compensation business in Florida you are not allowed to be too greedy or make too much profit. The Florida Insurance Commissioner, Kevin McCarty, “has ordered five workers compensation insurance carriers to return what his... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Couple’s Insurance Scam Caught On Tape Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 Rack this one up there with some of the stupidest crooks in history. I am simply amazed at not only the lengths people will go to in order to run a scam but that they think no one will catch... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	N.J. Hybrid Owners Get More Perks Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 If you live in New Jersey you might already be familiar with Governor Jon S. Corzine “announcing last spring that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority will allow hybrid vehicles to travel in the Turnpike’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes” according... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 15th Installment Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 It seems to me the most common type of insurance fraud is Workers Compensation Fraud. Almost every week there is at least one if not two or three workers comp fraud cases. Any ideas as to why this type of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep22	Georgia Insurance Commissioner Warns Against Contest Winnings Scam Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 The Georgia Insurance Commissioner, John W. Oxendine, is warning Polk County residents about a scam being run using an insurance companies letterhead according to a news release on their website. Residents throughout Georgia and other states have been receiving bogus... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rockford Ill. Flooding Brings Up Insurance Confusion Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 This week Illinois insurance experts met with Rockford, Ill. neighbors to answer questions related to their policy coverage according to wrex.com. The meeting was held at the Human Services Department with “a team from the state’s insurance division offering free... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Disability Insurance Factors To Consider Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 Depending on your occupation disability insurance could be key to protecting a potential temporary or permanent loss of income. Disability insurance will provide a portion of your earned income if you are unable to earn a living because of sickness... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Your Contractor Should Have Liability Insurance Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 If you are considering hiring a contractor to work on your home it is highly recommended that you protect yourself against potential disasters. According to an article on communitypress.com you should take several critical steps before hiring that contractor.The first... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Texans Fight Against Insurance Companies One Year After Hurricane Rita Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 In an article on theexaminer.com they illustrated the frustrations Southeast Texans are still having with their insurance agencies one year after Hurricane Rita hit. As residents continue to rebuild they feel that are receiving little help from the insurance companies. ... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep21	Two Large Insurers Help Schools And Youth Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 Hearing that insurers are giving back to the community is always great news to be shared. Two large insurers, New York Life Insurance Company and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, are helping out in their communities as reported on... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Utah Optometrists Not Allowed Into Health Insurance Plan Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 In a ruling in Salt Lake City on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals a 3-judge panel decided “Even if one group of health care providers persuades a health plan to exclude another group of providers from its network,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Travel Insurance Buying Habits Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 The U.S. Travel Insurance Association (UStia) recently released a survey of the demographics for travel insurance purchasers in a news release on their website. The survey was conducted online in late 2005 of “850 people who had taken at least... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Mexico Hailstorm Brings A Rain Of Insurance Claims Down Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 Have you ever been in a hailstorm? I for one have not and hope never to be after reading about last weeks hailstorm in Las Cruces, New Mexico on the insurancejournal.com. Apparently golf ball-sized hail and over two inches of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep20	Anti-Rollover Technology For Automobiles Mandatory By 2012 Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 As a step towards safer vehicles in the near future the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced “new automobiles will be required to have anti-rollover technology by the 2012 model year” according to insurancejournal.com. Administrator of the NHTSA, Nicole... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Should Travel Plans Affect Life Insurance Underwriting? Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 A heated discussion arose during the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) fall meeting about whether applicants travel plans should be incorporated into the underwriting process according to nationalundewriter.com. The meeting was attended by the Foreign Countries Working Group, an... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	¿Hablas Español? Insurance Information Institute Opens To Spanish Speakers Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 In a press release on the Insurance Information Institute (III) website iii.org the III has started expanding the En Español section of their website. The growth of Spanish-speaking consumers is not lost on III as they begin to add more... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurance Is Least Of Your Worries When Starting A Business In China & India Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 If you are thinking about opening a business in China or India prepare for a significant longer time compared with the United States according to an article on nationalunderwriter.com. During an Aon Risk Services Inc. presentation last week titled “Emerging... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Sad Day For Chubb Group After Employee Is Stabbed To Death Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 An underwriting associate for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (CB), Karen Allende, 40, was stabbed to death while walking to work in lower Manhattan as reported on insurancejournal.com. Her estranged husband, Richard Allende, 41, has been arrested on suspicion... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep19	La. Insurance Commissioner Candidate Robbed Outside Hotel Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 If you plan on running for Insurance Commissioner in Louisiana you might be better off with a bodyguard. A candidate running for Insurance Commissioner, Louisiana State Sen. James David Cain was robbed last week outside a Monroe hotel according to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	National Flood Insurance Program Needs Revamping Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 It goes without saying that the U.S. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is need of drastic changes to prevent repeating the Katrina disaster. The NFIP received a $25 billion dollar bailout after Hurricane Katrina hit “and highlighted deficiencies that have... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Marsh & McLennan Cutting 750 Positions Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 Let the onslaught of layoffs continue with the newest round of cuts at Marsh & McLennan (MMC). MMC announced they will be “eliminating 750 positions in a restructuring move aimed at saving the company $350 million by the end of... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Have you taken the Auto Insurance Savings Quiz? Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 If you are looking for ways to save on auto insurance premiums then take the auto insurance savings quiz on Yahoo!®Finance, its actually on insweb.com but you can access the quiz through Yahoo! as well. I for one dislike paying... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Highmark Inc. Aims High With $100 Million Community Initiative Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 Highmark Inc., a leading Pennsylvania health insurer, announced in a press release the launch of Highmark Healthy High 5, a five-year $100 million community initiative supported by its contribution to the Highmark Foundation. The initiative will try to “reverse the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep18	Prescription Costs Go Up Yet Plans Seem Happy With Pharmacy Benefit Managers Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 Results from a recent survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) show despite increases in prescription drug spending health plans seem to be content with their pharmacy benefit managers. The results come from the publication of the... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chicago Mayor Chops Down Minimum Wage & Benefits Mandates Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance in July that would have imposed minimum wage and benefits mandates on large retailers according to nationalunderwriter.com. However, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley vetoed the bill.Following the veto 31 out of 18 City Council... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Helps Insurers Detect Unsavory Applicants Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 According to nationalunderwriter.com the Louisiana Department of Insurance has released a bulletin on the topic of “Authorized and Unauthorized Questions for Use on a Life Insurance Application.” Insurance Commissioner John Donelon inked the bulletin that contained a list of do’s... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Big Savings For California Auto & Homeowners’ Insurance Policyholders Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner announced in a news release this past week that two major insurers, 21st Century Insurance (TW) and Safeco Corp. (SAFC), have decreased auto and homeowners policy rates. These combined rate cuts total a whopping $96 million... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	AOL Dangles Free Insurance Coverage As Enticement To Subscribers Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 I remember back around 1996-97 when I first used the internet with AOL. I was amazed that I could connect with people from all over the world. AOL was the dominant player for many years in the cyber world but... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep17	NY Senate Passes “Timothy’s Law” For Insureds With Mental Illnesses Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 “Timothy’s Law” was passed this past week in the New York Senate in order “to provide parity in insurance coverage for mental illnesses” according to an article in the northcountrygazette.org. The legislation “requires insurance companies to cover most mental illnesses... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Geico Hiring 600 People In Tucson, Arizona Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 Reading about the announced plans by Geico to hire around 600 more people for its Tucson service center on kvoa.com caught my attention. I was born in Tucson and have a large extended family in Tucson and surrounding cities and... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Do You Have Digital Insurance For Your IPod and Computer Downloads? Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 Thanks to a blurb on webpronews.com by Jason Lee Miller I have learned that Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company is the first US insurer to offer coverage for music and other entertainment downloads. An article on The Independent website by Isabelle... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	90% Of Americans Out Of Luck In Health Insurance Purchases Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 The Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit research group, released the results of a study in a news release about the difficulties facing Americans looking for health insurance outside of employer-based plans. Many workers who lose or are not offered insurance through... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ohio State Insurance Fund Rattled By Scandals And Sky High Medical Costs Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 High medical costs are just some of the problems for the Ohio state insurance fund for injured workers. The fund met with companies “the agency says must brace for lower payments for managing medical claims” according to insurancejournal.com. Even though... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep16	State Farm & Casualty Co. Pulls Back 2,500 Feet From Mississippi Coastline Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 State Farm & Casualty Co. made an announcement this week that they are no longer offering new property insurance policies within 2.500 feet of the coastline in some areas of Mississippi’s Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties as reported on insurancejournal.com.The... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	State Bailout Could Be In Works For La. Insurer Of Last Resort Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 The Louisiana insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (Citizens), borrowed $1 billion to pay off claims after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now La. Governor Kathleen Blanco is considering a partial state bailout for the insurer accoridng to... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Health Provider Compensation Method Unveiled Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 A new way to pay health providers and doctors is being tested by Prometheus Group Inc. according to nationalunderwriter.com. The payments will be based “partly on whether patients receive the right amount and type of care.” Health policy experts formed... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Running Back Warrick Dunn Joins Guardian Life To Promote Life Insurance Awareness Month Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 Atlanta running back Warrick Dunn is working with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America to help promote Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) according to a press release on guardianlife.com. Dunn is an example of a person who was personally affected... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Study Says Health Plans Vary Drastically In Different Regions Of The U.S. Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 A study was conducted by United Benefit Advisors, an alliance of 141 independent benefit firms, on over 13,000 health plans that cover a total of 3.5 million U.S. residents according to nationalunderwriter.com. The results show “Northeastern plans are much more... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep15	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 14th Installment Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 This week is fairly slim for insurance fraud but I'm not too worried about this being a trend. Lets see what happens next week. Grand Theft, Forgery & Insurance Fraud - California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced the arrest of... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Virginia Residents Inundate Insurance Agents With Calls After Flooding Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 Following a heavy rainstorm in Virginia local insurance agents were receiving numerous calls from homeowners according to thetimesonline.com. Many homeowners basements and foundations were overwhelmed by the rain. According to a local State Farm agent, Jim Miskovich, “This is as... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Don’t Let Your Business Go Without Business Interruption Insurance Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 In an article on insurancejournal.com Loretta Worters, vice president for communications of the Insurance Information Institute, a New York-based trade group said, “Perhaps the biggest omission owners make when buying a commercial policy is business interruption insurance. They fail to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Good News: This Hurricane Season Appears To Be A Weak One Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 I can imagine every person from residents to insurers are happy of the prognostications of several meteorological sources regarding this hurricane season. Nationalunderwriter.com reported a scientist for Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) consortium, Mark Saunders, said, “there has been below-average hurricane... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurer Giant Slayer Eliot Spitzer Inches Closer To Becoming The Next NY Governor Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 As I’m sure you are aware New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has proven to be fearless in the face of insurance and financial services giants. He has charged numerous companies for many different improprieties and changed both the insurance... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep14	Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Joins LIFE For Life Insurance Awareness Month Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 A life insurance company, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, is joining together with the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) to support and promote Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) this September according to insurancejournal.com. LIAM is an industry wide... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Texas Dep. Of Insurance Improves Proficiency Of Complaint Resolution Process Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced in a news release their complaint resolution process has gone “paperless”. Having dealt with companies and general entities while trying to resolve a grievance I can appreciate any... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Medicaid Program Rules Affects Nursing Home Residents Retirement Savings Efforts Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 A researcher, Lina Walker, at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) presented a paper regarding Medicaid nursing home benefit requirements as reported on nationalunderwriter.com. The paper “suggests that program rules really do affect residents’ retirement savings efforts.” Walker’s paper is attempting... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ground Zero Workers Suffering Long-Term Health Problems With Little Gov. Help Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 In the aftermath of 9/11 many people were working around the clock for days at Ground Zero looking for survivors and not knowing they were endangering their future health. According to an article on insurancejournal.com “lawmakers are criticizing the governments... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GAO Health Savings Accounts Study Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 The U.S. Government Accountability Office has published the results of a study of Health Savings Account plan member experiences according to nationalunderwriter.com. Results are showing that “Few members of employer-sponsored health savings account programs seem to have much luck negotiating,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep13	Florida Sinkhole Coverage Receives Premium Decrease Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced in a news release “residential property owners in Florida could potentially save up to 14.4% on the sinkhole portion of their premium for residential property policies due to changes in coverage pertaining to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Louisiana Attorney General Unveils “Zero Tolerance” Program Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti Jr. along with federal and state officials introduced the United States Department of Justice “Zero Tolerance” program. The Zero Tolerance program deals directly with the Road Home program. The Road Home program is to... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pay-As-You-Drive Automobile Insurance Based On Miles Driven Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 I had not heard of this new twist on paying for auto insurance based on the amount of miles driven until reading an article on oregonlive.com. Pay-as-you drive auto insurance would be based on a per-mile price that would range... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pet Insurance ABC’s Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 If you have a pet or two you may have already had to deal with mild and/or severe illness that can be very expensive. If you don’t have proper savings for these types of unexpected expenses then pet insurance could... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	U.S. Government Terrorism Risk Insurance Program In Jeopardy Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 A U.S. government terrorism risk insurance program initiated after 9/11 for the nation’s airlines is now at risk of not being renewed for the long-term according to nationalunderwriter.com.The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) bears strong resemblance to the program in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep12	Retirement Summit Raises New Ideas And Opportunities For Insurers Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 In a news release on the U.S. Department of Labor website the 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings report was released with many new ideas for improving retirement funding options for retirees. The report is entitled Saving for Your Golden... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chicago Bears Shut Out Packers! Get Your Free Furniture! Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 If you already know about the Chicago Bears amazing shut out of the Green Bay Packers this past weekend then you only know half the story. The owner of a little unknown furniture store, World Furniture Mall, in Kendall County... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Texas Is Place To Be For Doctors Due To Cap On Malpractice Awards Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 According to an article on nationalunderwriter.com Texas has become more doctor friendly due to a 2003 law “capping pain-and-suffering awards in malpractice cases.” Recruiting of doctors and physicians willingness to treat more risky cases has improved dramatically according to an... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Insurance Word Blog By The LIFE Foundation Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 If you haven’t already noticed my “Blogroll” is empty. I have yet to list some insurance related blogs that I recommend. There are several reasons for this, most importantly being the difficulty in finding very many insurance blogs and secondly... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Surveyed Pharmacists Claim Medicare Too Flexible Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 A recent survey commissioned by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation explored pharmacists and physicians take on the Medicare Part D prescription program in a news release on the foundations website, www.kff.org. The survey revealed “86 percent of pharmacists and... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep11	September 11, 2001 Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 Five years can seem like an eternity or a mere blink of the eye. Five years ago I was living a different life and could not have imagined where I would be today. My life has taken a leap in... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Safeco Corp. Joins NeighborWorks America For Community Building Initiative Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 Safeco Corp. (SAFC) and Washington DC based NeighborWorks America announced their partnership for a new community building initiative according to a press release on www.nw.org. The initiative is called the Safeco Community Build Program and will repair and revitalize homes... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Strong Support Of Workers Comp Bill In Face Of Insurance Industry Opposition Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 I wrote a previous post about a workers compensation insurance bill currently sitting on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk to “increase benefits for injured workers.” The bill has been facing stiff opposition from the American Insurance Association among other business groups. ... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Are Long Island & New York Overexposed To Tropical Storms? Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 The most recent tropical storm, Ernesto, hit Long Island this past week and caused some major and minor damages. An estimated 40,000 people were left without electricity not to mention the trees down, broken windows and other damages. Sam Friedman... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	P&C Insurance Rates Decline By 7% In August Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 Online insurance wholesaler MarketScout reported an overall decline in property-casualty insurance rates by 7 percent for August according to nationalunderwriter.com. Some small increases were found in “commercial property, directors and officers and business income insurance.”Interestingly the 7 percent decline in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep10	Ex Denver Broncos Star Terrell Davis Sues Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Andrew Smyth September 10, 2006 I remember Terrell Davis well. Davis was one of the most amazing running backs in the nineties and arguably of all time. He was a bruiser with speed, agility and an eye for finding the creases in a defense and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Is Your Commute Time On The Decline? Andrew Smyth September 10, 2006 According to an article on the insurancejo

Sep24	Florida Holding Homeowner Expo In Pensacola Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 Know More: Consumers, Pensacola Florida Homeowners Expo, homeowners insurance 2.0, Pensacola Florida Homeowners Expo If you live in or near Pensacola, Fl. you might want to consider attending an upcoming homeowners expo. In an article on the insurancejournal.com they explain the expo will have “businesses and not-for-profit agencies to show Floridians how to make their homes more hurricane-resistant.” The event is called “Fortify Florida: Pensacola Prepares” and is being held September 30 at the Pensacola Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be more than 70 exhibitors “providing information, services and products” and also “insurance company representatives who will be on hand to help homeowners understand the hurricane-resistance measures that will protect their homes, and how they can apply for discounts on their insurance premiums.” Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep24	New Technology From Nissan Helps With Drivers Safety Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 If you have ever worried about other drivers appearing out of nowhere and almost causing accidents then new technology from Nissan Motor Co. could be the answer. In Japan Nissan is testing a new technology that utilizes “street corner sensors... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	UnumProvident Corp. Reviews Trends In Benefits Market Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 UnumProvident Corp. (UNM)has done a review of current trends in the benefits market that indicates “women and workers in their 40’s seem to be especially likely to buy supplemental disability and critical illness insurance” according to an article on nationalunderwriter.com.The... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Survey Says Health Care Providers Should Publish Cost & Quality Info Andrew Smyth September 24, 2006 The United Benefit Advisors (UBA) has released the results of a survey of 1,094 U.S. employers according to nationalunderwriter.com. The results show that “Benefits buyers say the federal government should require health care providers to publish cost and quality information... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep23	Senator Makes Noise About Farmers Crop Insurance Plight Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 According to insurancejournal.com “Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar has asked federal agriculture officials to reconsider their decision to deny drought disaster loans to farmers on the Eastern Plains whose wells were shut off in a water rights dispute.” Salazar went on... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Florida Workers Comp Companies Refund Excess Profits Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 If you are in the workers compensation business in Florida you are not allowed to be too greedy or make too much profit. The Florida Insurance Commissioner, Kevin McCarty, “has ordered five workers compensation insurance carriers to return what his... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Couple’s Insurance Scam Caught On Tape Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 Rack this one up there with some of the stupidest crooks in history. I am simply amazed at not only the lengths people will go to in order to run a scam but that they think no one will catch... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	N.J. Hybrid Owners Get More Perks Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 If you live in New Jersey you might already be familiar with Governor Jon S. Corzine “announcing last spring that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority will allow hybrid vehicles to travel in the Turnpike’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes” according... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 15th Installment Andrew Smyth September 23, 2006 It seems to me the most common type of insurance fraud is Workers Compensation Fraud. Almost every week there is at least one if not two or three workers comp fraud cases. Any ideas as to why this type of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep22	Georgia Insurance Commissioner Warns Against Contest Winnings Scam Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 The Georgia Insurance Commissioner, John W. Oxendine, is warning Polk County residents about a scam being run using an insurance companies letterhead according to a news release on their website. Residents throughout Georgia and other states have been receiving bogus... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rockford Ill. Flooding Brings Up Insurance Confusion Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 This week Illinois insurance experts met with Rockford, Ill. neighbors to answer questions related to their policy coverage according to wrex.com. The meeting was held at the Human Services Department with “a team from the state’s insurance division offering free... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Disability Insurance Factors To Consider Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 Depending on your occupation disability insurance could be key to protecting a potential temporary or permanent loss of income. Disability insurance will provide a portion of your earned income if you are unable to earn a living because of sickness... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Your Contractor Should Have Liability Insurance Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 If you are considering hiring a contractor to work on your home it is highly recommended that you protect yourself against potential disasters. According to an article on communitypress.com you should take several critical steps before hiring that contractor.The first... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Texans Fight Against Insurance Companies One Year After Hurricane Rita Andrew Smyth September 22, 2006 In an article on theexaminer.com they illustrated the frustrations Southeast Texans are still having with their insurance agencies one year after Hurricane Rita hit. As residents continue to rebuild they feel that are receiving little help from the insurance companies. ... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep21	Two Large Insurers Help Schools And Youth Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 Hearing that insurers are giving back to the community is always great news to be shared. Two large insurers, New York Life Insurance Company and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, are helping out in their communities as reported on... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Utah Optometrists Not Allowed Into Health Insurance Plan Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 In a ruling in Salt Lake City on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals a 3-judge panel decided “Even if one group of health care providers persuades a health plan to exclude another group of providers from its network,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Travel Insurance Buying Habits Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 The U.S. Travel Insurance Association (UStia) recently released a survey of the demographics for travel insurance purchasers in a news release on their website. The survey was conducted online in late 2005 of “850 people who had taken at least... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Mexico Hailstorm Brings A Rain Of Insurance Claims Down Andrew Smyth September 21, 2006 Have you ever been in a hailstorm? I for one have not and hope never to be after reading about last weeks hailstorm in Las Cruces, New Mexico on the insurancejournal.com. Apparently golf ball-sized hail and over two inches of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep20	Anti-Rollover Technology For Automobiles Mandatory By 2012 Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 As a step towards safer vehicles in the near future the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced “new automobiles will be required to have anti-rollover technology by the 2012 model year” according to insurancejournal.com. Administrator of the NHTSA, Nicole... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Should Travel Plans Affect Life Insurance Underwriting? Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 A heated discussion arose during the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) fall meeting about whether applicants travel plans should be incorporated into the underwriting process according to nationalundewriter.com. The meeting was attended by the Foreign Countries Working Group, an... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	¿Hablas Español? Insurance Information Institute Opens To Spanish Speakers Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 In a press release on the Insurance Information Institute (III) website iii.org the III has started expanding the En Español section of their website. The growth of Spanish-speaking consumers is not lost on III as they begin to add more... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurance Is Least Of Your Worries When Starting A Business In China & India Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 If you are thinking about opening a business in China or India prepare for a significant longer time compared with the United States according to an article on nationalunderwriter.com. During an Aon Risk Services Inc. presentation last week titled “Emerging... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Sad Day For Chubb Group After Employee Is Stabbed To Death Andrew Smyth September 20, 2006 An underwriting associate for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (CB), Karen Allende, 40, was stabbed to death while walking to work in lower Manhattan as reported on insurancejournal.com. Her estranged husband, Richard Allende, 41, has been arrested on suspicion... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep19	La. Insurance Commissioner Candidate Robbed Outside Hotel Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 If you plan on running for Insurance Commissioner in Louisiana you might be better off with a bodyguard. A candidate running for Insurance Commissioner, Louisiana State Sen. James David Cain was robbed last week outside a Monroe hotel according to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	National Flood Insurance Program Needs Revamping Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 It goes without saying that the U.S. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is need of drastic changes to prevent repeating the Katrina disaster. The NFIP received a $25 billion dollar bailout after Hurricane Katrina hit “and highlighted deficiencies that have... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Marsh & McLennan Cutting 750 Positions Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 Let the onslaught of layoffs continue with the newest round of cuts at Marsh & McLennan (MMC). MMC announced they will be “eliminating 750 positions in a restructuring move aimed at saving the company $350 million by the end of... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Have you taken the Auto Insurance Savings Quiz? Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 If you are looking for ways to save on auto insurance premiums then take the auto insurance savings quiz on Yahoo!®Finance, its actually on insweb.com but you can access the quiz through Yahoo! as well. I for one dislike paying... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Highmark Inc. Aims High With $100 Million Community Initiative Andrew Smyth September 19, 2006 Highmark Inc., a leading Pennsylvania health insurer, announced in a press release the launch of Highmark Healthy High 5, a five-year $100 million community initiative supported by its contribution to the Highmark Foundation. The initiative will try to “reverse the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep18	Prescription Costs Go Up Yet Plans Seem Happy With Pharmacy Benefit Managers Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 Results from a recent survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) show despite increases in prescription drug spending health plans seem to be content with their pharmacy benefit managers. The results come from the publication of the... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chicago Mayor Chops Down Minimum Wage & Benefits Mandates Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance in July that would have imposed minimum wage and benefits mandates on large retailers according to nationalunderwriter.com. However, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley vetoed the bill.Following the veto 31 out of 18 City Council... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Helps Insurers Detect Unsavory Applicants Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 According to nationalunderwriter.com the Louisiana Department of Insurance has released a bulletin on the topic of “Authorized and Unauthorized Questions for Use on a Life Insurance Application.” Insurance Commissioner John Donelon inked the bulletin that contained a list of do’s... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Big Savings For California Auto & Homeowners’ Insurance Policyholders Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 The California Insurance Commissioner announced in a news release this past week that two major insurers, 21st Century Insurance (TW) and Safeco Corp. (SAFC), have decreased auto and homeowners policy rates. These combined rate cuts total a whopping $96 million... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	AOL Dangles Free Insurance Coverage As Enticement To Subscribers Andrew Smyth September 18, 2006 I remember back around 1996-97 when I first used the internet with AOL. I was amazed that I could connect with people from all over the world. AOL was the dominant player for many years in the cyber world but... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep17	NY Senate Passes “Timothy’s Law” For Insureds With Mental Illnesses Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 “Timothy’s Law” was passed this past week in the New York Senate in order “to provide parity in insurance coverage for mental illnesses” according to an article in the northcountrygazette.org. The legislation “requires insurance companies to cover most mental illnesses... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Geico Hiring 600 People In Tucson, Arizona Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 Reading about the announced plans by Geico to hire around 600 more people for its Tucson service center on kvoa.com caught my attention. I was born in Tucson and have a large extended family in Tucson and surrounding cities and... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Do You Have Digital Insurance For Your IPod and Computer Downloads? Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 Thanks to a blurb on webpronews.com by Jason Lee Miller I have learned that Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company is the first US insurer to offer coverage for music and other entertainment downloads. An article on The Independent website by Isabelle... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	90% Of Americans Out Of Luck In Health Insurance Purchases Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 The Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit research group, released the results of a study in a news release about the difficulties facing Americans looking for health insurance outside of employer-based plans. Many workers who lose or are not offered insurance through... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ohio State Insurance Fund Rattled By Scandals And Sky High Medical Costs Andrew Smyth September 17, 2006 High medical costs are just some of the problems for the Ohio state insurance fund for injured workers. The fund met with companies “the agency says must brace for lower payments for managing medical claims” according to insurancejournal.com. Even though... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep16	State Farm & Casualty Co. Pulls Back 2,500 Feet From Mississippi Coastline Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 State Farm & Casualty Co. made an announcement this week that they are no longer offering new property insurance policies within 2.500 feet of the coastline in some areas of Mississippi’s Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties as reported on insurancejournal.com.The... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	State Bailout Could Be In Works For La. Insurer Of Last Resort Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 The Louisiana insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (Citizens), borrowed $1 billion to pay off claims after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now La. Governor Kathleen Blanco is considering a partial state bailout for the insurer accoridng to... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New Health Provider Compensation Method Unveiled Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 A new way to pay health providers and doctors is being tested by Prometheus Group Inc. according to nationalunderwriter.com. The payments will be based “partly on whether patients receive the right amount and type of care.” Health policy experts formed... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Running Back Warrick Dunn Joins Guardian Life To Promote Life Insurance Awareness Month Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 Atlanta running back Warrick Dunn is working with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America to help promote Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) according to a press release on guardianlife.com. Dunn is an example of a person who was personally affected... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Study Says Health Plans Vary Drastically In Different Regions Of The U.S. Andrew Smyth September 16, 2006 A study was conducted by United Benefit Advisors, an alliance of 141 independent benefit firms, on over 13,000 health plans that cover a total of 3.5 million U.S. residents according to nationalunderwriter.com. The results show “Northeastern plans are much more... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep15	Weekly Insurance Scammers Exposed: 14th Installment Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 This week is fairly slim for insurance fraud but I'm not too worried about this being a trend. Lets see what happens next week. Grand Theft, Forgery & Insurance Fraud - California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced the arrest of... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Virginia Residents Inundate Insurance Agents With Calls After Flooding Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 Following a heavy rainstorm in Virginia local insurance agents were receiving numerous calls from homeowners according to thetimesonline.com. Many homeowners basements and foundations were overwhelmed by the rain. According to a local State Farm agent, Jim Miskovich, “This is as... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Don’t Let Your Business Go Without Business Interruption Insurance Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 In an article on insurancejournal.com Loretta Worters, vice president for communications of the Insurance Information Institute, a New York-based trade group said, “Perhaps the biggest omission owners make when buying a commercial policy is business interruption insurance. They fail to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Good News: This Hurricane Season Appears To Be A Weak One Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 I can imagine every person from residents to insurers are happy of the prognostications of several meteorological sources regarding this hurricane season. Nationalunderwriter.com reported a scientist for Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) consortium, Mark Saunders, said, “there has been below-average hurricane... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Insurer Giant Slayer Eliot Spitzer Inches Closer To Becoming The Next NY Governor Andrew Smyth September 15, 2006 As I’m sure you are aware New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has proven to be fearless in the face of insurance and financial services giants. He has charged numerous companies for many different improprieties and changed both the insurance... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep14	Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Joins LIFE For Life Insurance Awareness Month Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 A life insurance company, Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, is joining together with the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) to support and promote Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) this September according to insurancejournal.com. LIAM is an industry wide... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Texas Dep. Of Insurance Improves Proficiency Of Complaint Resolution Process Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced in a news release their complaint resolution process has gone “paperless”. Having dealt with companies and general entities while trying to resolve a grievance I can appreciate any... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Medicaid Program Rules Affects Nursing Home Residents Retirement Savings Efforts Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 A researcher, Lina Walker, at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) presented a paper regarding Medicaid nursing home benefit requirements as reported on nationalunderwriter.com. The paper “suggests that program rules really do affect residents’ retirement savings efforts.” Walker’s paper is attempting... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ground Zero Workers Suffering Long-Term Health Problems With Little Gov. Help Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 In the aftermath of 9/11 many people were working around the clock for days at Ground Zero looking for survivors and not knowing they were endangering their future health. According to an article on insurancejournal.com “lawmakers are criticizing the governments... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GAO Health Savings Accounts Study Andrew Smyth September 14, 2006 The U.S. Government Accountability Office has published the results of a study of Health Savings Account plan member experiences according to nationalunderwriter.com. Results are showing that “Few members of employer-sponsored health savings account programs seem to have much luck negotiating,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep13	Florida Sinkhole Coverage Receives Premium Decrease Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced in a news release “residential property owners in Florida could potentially save up to 14.4% on the sinkhole portion of their premium for residential property policies due to changes in coverage pertaining to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Louisiana Attorney General Unveils “Zero Tolerance” Program Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti Jr. along with federal and state officials introduced the United States Department of Justice “Zero Tolerance” program. The Zero Tolerance program deals directly with the Road Home program. The Road Home program is to... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pay-As-You-Drive Automobile Insurance Based On Miles Driven Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 I had not heard of this new twist on paying for auto insurance based on the amount of miles driven until reading an article on oregonlive.com. Pay-as-you drive auto insurance would be based on a per-mile price that would range... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pet Insurance ABC’s Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 If you have a pet or two you may have already had to deal with mild and/or severe illness that can be very expensive. If you don’t have proper savings for these types of unexpected expenses then pet insurance could... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	U.S. Government Terrorism Risk Insurance Program In Jeopardy Andrew Smyth September 13, 2006 A U.S. government terrorism risk insurance program initiated after 9/11 for the nation’s airlines is now at risk of not being renewed for the long-term according to nationalunderwriter.com.The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) bears strong resemblance to the program in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep12	Retirement Summit Raises New Ideas And Opportunities For Insurers Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 In a news release on the U.S. Department of Labor website the 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings report was released with many new ideas for improving retirement funding options for retirees. The report is entitled Saving for Your Golden... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chicago Bears Shut Out Packers! Get Your Free Furniture! Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 If you already know about the Chicago Bears amazing shut out of the Green Bay Packers this past weekend then you only know half the story. The owner of a little unknown furniture store, World Furniture Mall, in Kendall County... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Texas Is Place To Be For Doctors Due To Cap On Malpractice Awards Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 According to an article on nationalunderwriter.com Texas has become more doctor friendly due to a 2003 law “capping pain-and-suffering awards in malpractice cases.” Recruiting of doctors and physicians willingness to treat more risky cases has improved dramatically according to an... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Insurance Word Blog By The LIFE Foundation Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 If you haven’t already noticed my “Blogroll” is empty. I have yet to list some insurance related blogs that I recommend. There are several reasons for this, most importantly being the difficulty in finding very many insurance blogs and secondly... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Surveyed Pharmacists Claim Medicare Too Flexible Andrew Smyth September 12, 2006 A recent survey commissioned by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation explored pharmacists and physicians take on the Medicare Part D prescription program in a news release on the foundations website, www.kff.org. The survey revealed “86 percent of pharmacists and... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep11	September 11, 2001 Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 Five years can seem like an eternity or a mere blink of the eye. Five years ago I was living a different life and could not have imagined where I would be today. My life has taken a leap in... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Safeco Corp. Joins NeighborWorks America For Community Building Initiative Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 Safeco Corp. (SAFC) and Washington DC based NeighborWorks America announced their partnership for a new community building initiative according to a press release on www.nw.org. The initiative is called the Safeco Community Build Program and will repair and revitalize homes... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Strong Support Of Workers Comp Bill In Face Of Insurance Industry Opposition Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 I wrote a previous post about a workers compensation insurance bill currently sitting on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk to “increase benefits for injured workers.” The bill has been facing stiff opposition from the American Insurance Association among other business groups. ... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Are Long Island & New York Overexposed To Tropical Storms? Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 The most recent tropical storm, Ernesto, hit Long Island this past week and caused some major and minor damages. An estimated 40,000 people were left without electricity not to mention the trees down, broken windows and other damages. Sam Friedman... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	P&C Insurance Rates Decline By 7% In August Andrew Smyth September 11, 2006 Online insurance wholesaler MarketScout reported an overall decline in property-casualty insurance rates by 7 percent for August according to nationalunderwriter.com. Some small increases were found in “commercial property, directors and officers and business income insurance.”Interestingly the 7 percent decline in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Sep10	Ex Denver Broncos Star Terrell Davis Sues Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Andrew Smyth September 10, 2006 I remember Terrell Davis well. Davis was one of the most amazing running backs in the nineties and arguably of all time. He was a bruiser with speed, agility and an eye for finding the creases in a defense and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Is Your Commute Time On The Decline? Andrew Smyth September 10, 2006 According to an article on the insurancejo

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