Insurers, Young, Uninsured All Prepare For Different Changes Under Health Reform
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Insurers, the young, the uninsured and lawmakers are just a few of the groups sorting out what the implementation of health reform means for them as details emerge on changes to the system. The New York Times: Insurers are fighting over the details of how much of the premiums ... read more
State says drivers are responsible for dust-storm wrecks
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
State officials say that motorists - not a lack of safeguards - are to blame for dust-related crashes such as the multi-vehicle wrecks on Interstate 10 on Tuesday. And there are no plans for state agencies to collaborate on strategies to reduce collisions related to dust storms. "Dust ... read more
Health insurance premiums jump 5 pct this year
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
U.S. health insurance premiums rose 5 percent on average this year and more companies shifted an additional share of the cost to workers, an annual survey of businesses said on Wednesday.
The average premium for a family's health insurance provided by an employer rose to $12,680. Employees paid $3,354 of that ... read more
Panel Says U.S. Should Weigh Cost in Deciding ‘Essential Health Benefits’
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
WASHINGTON — The National Academy of Sciences said Thursday that the federal government should explicitly consider cost as a factor in deciding what health benefits must be provided by insurance plans under President Obama’s health care overhaul, and it said the cost of any new benefits should be “offset by ... read more
Children in Crashes are Better Protected than Ever
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Child restraint use is higher than ever, according to a report released Sept. 22 by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Association for International Automobile Manufacturers. Over an eight-year period, from 1999 to 2007, researchers noted that overall child restraint use increased from 51 percent to 80 percent among ... read more
New problem: ‘Apping’ while driving
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Smartphone apps are making us dumber drivers. According to a new survey, 25 percent of smartphone-owning motorists say they use apps while behind the wheel. What's worse is that a small percentage of those surveyed are using smartphones while driving to watch movies, play games — and even get ... read more
America Voted: GEICO Caveman Named Favorite Advertising Icon
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
WASHINGTON, Sep 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The more the Cavemen try to distance themselves from GEICO, the more attention they bring to the auto insurer, all of which helps GEICO keep on its record growth pace.
This week the GEICO Caveman was voted one of the country's most popular ... read more
Hartford, MetLife post losses amid investment woes
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hartford Financial Group (NYSE:HIG - News) posted its third straight net loss and said it plans to stop selling new policies in Japan and the United Kingdom, as the insurer reeled from the same weak financial markets that triggered a net loss at MetLife ... read more
Insurers Sue Mass. Regulators Over Rejected Rate Hikes
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
The
Boston Globe: Massachusetts insurers are suing the state government
after regulators rejected proposed double-digit premium rate increases
that would have gone into effect April 1. The move would spell hundreds
of millions of dollars in losses for the six insurers that joined the
suit, the firms said. ... read more
Mass. gov. hopes to lead nation in health care savings
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
BOSTON—Gov. Deval Patrick wasn't in office when Massachusetts passed its landmark 2006 heath care law, but it's largely fallen to his administration to make sure the complex undertaking doesn't collapse. It's a task Patrick has embraced. That's driven in part by his belief that access to health insurance ... read more
The Average Auto Insurance Company Fails to Capture 98 out of Every 100 Shoppers
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
On average, auto insurance companies quote and successfully sign only 2 percent of all auto insurance shoppers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 “Insurance Escaped Shopper Study” released Sept. 16.
The inaugural study examines the behaviors of auto insurance customers who recently shopped for a new insurance company. The ... read more
Premium Financing has many benefits
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Premium financing is a current marketing concept that is being used by many wealthy individuals requiring considerable life insurance coverage for business planning. Premium financing is a method that funds the purchase of life insurance for an individual who has significant ... read more
Health insurance for all a step closer
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
WASHINGTON - President Obama's plan to provide medical insurance for all Americans took a big step toward becoming reality Sunday after leaders of the health care industry offered $2 trillion in spending reductions over 10 years to help pay for the program.
Hospitals, insurance companies, drug makers and doctors planned to ... read more
Five more states join lawsuit against health reform
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Five more states will join a federal lawsuit, which includes Texas, challenging the newly passed health care reform law. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, who led the suit, said that Indiana, North Dakota, Mississippi, Nevada and Arizona are adding their names to the list of plaintiffs that filed the ... read more
Montana governor rejects GOP anti-federal health care laws
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
HELENA, Mont. — Gov. Brian Schweitzer agrees with Republicans that the looming federal mandate for individuals to buy health insurance is "onerous" and should be banned in Montana — but with one big exception. He thinks people should instead have the option to buy some form of cheap government-run insurance. ... read more
New Study Suggests Putting Off Driver Licensure to Save Lives
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Most U.S. states allow driving at age 16, 16-and-a-half, or somewhere in between. A new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report focuses on the costs in terms of lives of allowing licensure sooner rather than later. The message is that licensing at later ages would substantially reduce crashes involving teen ... read more
Auto-Owners Ranks Highest in Satisfying Auto Insurance Customers with the Claims Process
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Managing expectations, showing empathy, ensuring convenient service, and effective communication are key themes in enhancing overall insurance customer satisfaction with the claims process, according to the J.D. Power and Associates “2008 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study” released Oct. 29.
The study measures the experiences of auto physical damage claimants by ... read more
Money steers seat belt debate
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
The war of words over mandatory seat belt laws in the USA rages on this spring.
As state legislatures move toward adjournment, proponents argue that such laws save lives, while opponents counter that they are an unnecessary government intrusion.
For states confronting deep budget gaps this year, the debate has an added ... read more
Senate panel backs distracted-driving powers for states
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
WASHINGTON—A Senate committee Wednesday added its support of the battle against distracted driving by approving a bill that would allow states to enact laws prohibiting texting and using hand-held cell phones while driving. Two insurance organizations also supported the measure. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., sponsored the Distracted Driving ... read more
State Farm ordered to issue refunds
31 December 1969, Article added 42 years 2 months ago, InsuranceHeadlines.com
Florida insurance regulators have ordered State Farm to issue $120 million in credits or refunds to current and past policyholders who did not receive a rate reduction for making their homes more wind resistant, or who were not told about the available discount.
In addition, the insurance company must pay a ... read more