Insurance

 
 
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    Articles - Online Auto Insurance

  • The Three Stages of Auto Insurance Needs

    Matthew Morisset
    16 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    As people drive down the road of life, they need auto insurance to cover their assets. But over time a person’s priorities change, and often the same policy won’t always offer the best protection. Consumers should review their policies on an annual basis, but, at the very least, there are three distinct moments when coverage needs drastically change, and drivers need to stop and shop for a new plan. Young, First-Time Buyers: The first time that the thought of car coverage enters a person’s mind is when they get their license. Ambitions are high, assets are low, and the best insurance…

  • Modern Technology That Can Cut Insurance Costs

    Matthew Morisset
    15 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Motorists around the world are in the middle of a technological renaissance focused on keeping drivers safe while they cruise the open road. But safer cars with futuristic features means more than fewer accidents and injuries behind the wheel: It can also translate into cheaper car insurance. Producers rate applicants based on their accident risk, so if people are less likely to file a claim because of highly regulated safety features, policy prices might be lower. State and federal government has made it a priority to ensure that all vehicle owners are as safe as possible while driving. To…

  • Imagining a World without Automobile Insurance

    Matthew Morisset
    14 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    As automobile technology makes leaps and bounds forward, the number of car accidents and fatalities steadily declines. And with fewer claims being filed, the need for and price of auto insurance begins to decline as well. Over time, insurers may begin to experience a considerable decrease in revenue, which impacts the industry as a whole. This is the scenario proposed by Donald Light, a senior analyst for Celent, a division of Oliver Wyman, a global consulting firm. Light and thorough Celent research suggests that the steady decline of private and commercial auto insurance premiums (and…

  • The Cheapest States to Buy Auto Insurance

    Matthew Morisset
    11 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Almost every state requires motorists to be insured before driving, but each state has a unique range of prices for vehicle coverage. Insurance costs are dependent on many different things, like population density, crime rate, uninsured motorist percentage, required coverages, and many other facts that are unique for every location. As a result, there are some areas in the U.S. that are more affordable than others. The average cost of vehicle coverage is likely to change every year, but several states have consistently remained among the cheapest. Data produced by the National Association of…

  • Gender Matters: Why Men Pay More for Car Insurance

    Matthew Morisset
    10 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    People strive for gender equality in most facets of life, but in the auto insurance world, it’s a commonly known fact that men usually end up paying more. Data provided by California regulators, for example, shows men could expect to pay an average of about 13 percent more for the same coverage. Gender-based pricing differences are based on extensive statistical information that shows male drivers file more claims than female drivers. Although crash data usually comes out in a woman’s favor, gender can’t always be used to set rates. Debates have raged for years between men and…
 
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    Specialty Insurance Blog

  • Insurance Coverage for Hiring Illegal Aliens

    Specialty Insurance Blog
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    We were recently asked if we had ever come across coverage for unintentionally hiring illegal aliens. Our client had been approached by a customer that hires employees in different locations on short notice, and typically has high turnover. The employment procedures are designed to prevent this, but errors in the employment process were possible. We have a number of markets that will provide coverage for immigration claims on a limited basis via endorsement on Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPL). The idea is to provide limited coverage for unintentional employment errors, such as…

  • Escrow Exposure & Cyber Risk Insurance

    Specialty Insurance Blog
    2 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
     Title & escrow companies face Cyber exposures and should be buying Cyber Risk Insurance for protection. While the cost of Cyber Risk insurance is not high, the consequences of being without can be. Most Cyber Risk commentary focuses on the risk of data breach, which is a real exposure for many organizations including real estate companies. However, a data breach is not the only risk. Two recent lawsuits involving the theft of money from escrow companies using online banking systems demonstrate the threat and need for coverage: Choice Escrow recently fell victim to the Zeus virus, and lost…

  • D&O and Professional Services

    Specialty Insurance Blog
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:00 pm
    We have covered the role of the professional services exclusion in both General Liability (GL) and Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policies previously (see here, here and here), but a recent client interaction demonstrates the importance of not taking client education for granted. The insured was not sure why professional services were excluded from the D&O policies they were reviewing, and actually thought there were defects in the policy forms. As part of our support of our retail insurance agent client, we pointed out: D&O policies have a professional services exclusion for a reason,…

  • Risk Management in the Cloud

    Specialty Insurance Blog
    8 Mar 2012 | 12:37 pm
    Good post on risk management considerations when using cloud services from CyberInquirer – The Dos and Don’ts of Navigating The Cloud: A Business Guide For Cloud Computing. Note that the suggestion of changing vendor contracts with more favorable terms may not be available for smaller businesses. Related, all companies with confidential data should be purchasing Cyber Risk insurance with limits adequate for the exposure and coverage matching the type of account. Cyber Risk & Encryption: see our prior post and special information on our web site (here) on encryption and underwriters’…

  • The For-Benefit Corporation

    Specialty Insurance Blog
    23 Jan 2012 | 10:00 pm
    There is a new corporate form gaining acceptance, and insurance agents & brokers should be aware of this, particularly when applying for directors & officers (D&O) liability insurance. Wikipedia provides a definition (see here, here, here & here): A benefit corporation is a class of corporation required by law to create general benefit for society as well as for shareholders. This new form of corporate entity is called a variety of names, including for-benefit corporation, benefit corporations and B corp. These entities are not to be confused with public benefit corporations, which are…
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    About.com Personal Insurance

  • Homeowners Insurance and Sinkholes

    14 May 2012 | 7:28 am
    Do you know what signs may show sinkhole activity on your property? This latest article, Sinkholes and Homeowners Insurance, can help homeowners find the signs of sinkhole activity on thier property and understand when to contact their homeowners insurance company about it.

  • Insurance Networking News Looking for Influential Women in Insurance

    12 May 2012 | 12:45 pm
    Do you know of a woman insurance professional in your area "whose pursuit of excellence, leadership and professional performance has fostered influence that is redefining the insurance business and technology industry landscape?"...Read Full Post

  • Parents... Could You Be Causing Your Teens to Drive Distracted?

    6 May 2012 | 2:13 pm
    There are many reasons why teens tend to be more distracted while driving. Parents and their driving habits play a key role and insurance will just keep going up for us all if we don't stop our distracted driving. Knowing why driving distracted is a problem for teens can be a start in eliminating teen distracted driving....Read Full Post

  • Employee Health Insurance and Benefits

    23 Apr 2012 | 10:29 am
    Now that you are working, it is time to go through your health insurance and benefit options. It is great that you have some choices but the task of ...Read Full Post

  • Managed Care Provider Network

    23 Apr 2012 | 9:36 am
    Have you ever wondered why managed health care providers, like the health insurance you are able to purchase through your employer, uses provider networks? This new glossary article, Health Insurance Provider Network, will help explain why it is important for managed health care providers to use provider networks along with how the providers are chosen.
 
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    HomeApproved Car Insurance Blog

  • Competition : Win a Brand New Apple iPod nano 16GB – 6th Generation (Latest Model)

    amandab6
    11 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    HomeApproved is tonight launching the very first of our NEW, 30 day, Facebook Friends Competitions*! Our very first competition is to win a brand new Apple iPod nano 16GB – 6th Generation – in a colour of the winners choosing**. The competition is open to all (current) existing, and new HomeApproved Facebook friends who like our FB page between midnight Friday 11th May, 2012 and ending at Midnight on Sunday 10th June, 2012 (30 days). The winner will be drawn on the evening of Monday 11th June, 2012. Notification of the name of the winner will be across all HomeApproved platforms…

  • Provisional Licence Insurance

    amandab6
    8 May 2012 | 3:31 pm
    Looking for great rates for provisional licence insurance? We all know the soaring rates for car insurance in the UK! Thankfully you’ve found an excellent place to make sure you get the lowest UK motor premiums combined with the right cover levels for provisional licence holders. Proud to be the holder of a new driving licence? Well it comes with certain responsibilities! Driving on the roads is a serious business, and particularly as a learner driver you need to make sure you have adequate car insurance cover in place before you get behind the steering wheel. At HomeApproved we are…

  • It’s New For Us….

    amandab6
    5 May 2012 | 5:07 pm
    Yep… We launch Hybrid car insurance. The motor manufacturers are taking the technology seriously and so are the best UK insurers! Filed under: Car Insurance, Environmental, HomeApproved, Insurance Marketing Tagged: cars, hybrid

  • Review – Cheapest Car Insurance Northern Ireland

    amandab6
    4 May 2012 | 4:26 pm
    Cheapest Car Insurance Northern Ireland As promised we are providing a concise review of the car insurance market in Northern Ireland. We want to find out who are the main players in this sector, are their any smaller niche players who excel in winning profitable business, how do motor premiums stack up against the rest of UK, and are the big insurance comparison websites hoovering up a lot of business? Well, a quick search in Google for ‘Northern Ireland Car Insurance’ shows AXA Direct dominating Google Places results! In fact all three listings are for this company and their…

  • Co-op Young Drivers Car Insurance

    amandab6
    23 Apr 2012 | 2:47 pm
    Just how good is The Co-op young drivers insurance? We’re interested to know whether The Cooperative can really deliver for under 25′s up and down the UK? If you have applied for a new quote from this insurer and received a great deal let us know by posting a comment below. Filed under: Car Insurance, Insurance Marketing, New Drivers, Young Drivers Tagged: coop
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    Work Comp Roundup - Reduce Your Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage Costs with Timely Information for Employers

  • 10 Tips to Improve Your Return to Work Program

    Rebecca Shafer, J.D.
    16 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    Employers who successfully manage their workers compensation cost understand the importance of a strong Return to Work program. When an employee returns to work as soon as he is medically able, the indemnity payments are decreased, the medical and rehabilitation cost are lower and there is less of a productivity drop for the employer.  Returning to work sooner also benefits the employee by restoring a higher level of income, providing a faster physical recovery and promoting the emotional health of the employee.   All of the following suggestions may not apply if you already have a…

  • Health Promotion Efforts Keep Employees On The Job

    Robert Elliott, J.D.
    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Workers participating in a "comprehensive" workplace health promotion program had a one-fifth reduction in absenteeism during the first year, according to a study in the April Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Led by Maurice Niessen of the NDDO Institute for Prevention and Early Diagnostics, Amsterdam, the researchers evaluated a web-based worksite health promotion project at a large Dutch financial services company. The program used a "computerized knowledge-based…

  • Nearly 5 Dozen Workers Perish on the Job in Massachusetts

    Robert Elliott, J.D.
    15 May 2012 | 9:44 am
      According to a new report from several Massachusetts agencies, nearly five dozen workers died on the job during the last year in the commonwealth.     The 2012 Dying for Work in Massachusetts: The Loss of Life and Limb in Massachusetts Workplaces report notes that 58 workers died on the job in the commonwealth in 2011; an estimated 580 additional workers died from occupational disease.[WCx]     The report, a collaboration of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) and the Western Massachusetts Coalition…

  • Skills, Qualifications, and Support, Critical in Selecting TPA

    Rebecca Shafer, J.D.
    15 May 2012 | 9:27 am
      The selection of a third party administrator (TPA) is critical to the success of the claims operation.  With the wide variety of TPAs available for self-insured workers compensation insurance programs, determining the best TPA for a program will require an understanding of the difference between TPAs. When issuing a Request For a Proposal (RFP), it is possible to receive numerous proposals from TPAs that differ extensively in skills, qualifications, support services, and price.    Skills The large national TPAs with an office in every state, or even every large city, may…

  • Workers Comp Tidbits of News You Can Use

    Rebecca Shafer, J.D.
    14 May 2012 | 9:22 am
      Workers Comp this week provided a lot of fodder for discussion. Here’s a review:   Bison Jam Delays Dr. Glimp at Medcor Remote medical support may hold down WC costs, but it does invite some interesting circumstances. In early May, Thomas Glimp, MD, Chief Medical Officer, at Medcor, was late to an important meeting due to a "bison jam" in Yellowstone National Park. Executive Vice President Curtis Smith said "We were waiting for our Medcor doctor, Thomas Glimp, to join us on a conference call last week while he was doing some training at the three Medcor-run…
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    Health Insurance / Medical Insurance News From Medical News Today

  • New Study Finds Military Marriages Are Not More Vulnerable To Divorce

    14 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Despite the fact that military service means working long hours with unpredictable schedules, frequent relocations, and separations from loved ones due to deployment, a new study published in the Journal of Family Issues (a SAGE journal) finds that marriages of military members are not more vulnerable than civilian marriages...

  • Colon Cancer And Economic Theory In Health Care

    14 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    A study of 7,424 privately insured colon cancer patients found that managed care presence in the market and hospital competition increased the likelihood laparoscopic surgery to treat colon cancer lowered costs, a national team of researchers led by a professor at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services reported in the journal Cancer...

  • Introduction Of Bipartisan Bill To Eliminate Medicare SGR Formula Applauded By ACP

    11 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    The American College of Physicians (ACP) has applauded Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) and Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) for their bipartisan introduction of the Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act of 2012. The bill is designed to eliminate the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and the turmoil brought by its resulting scheduled cuts...

  • The Insurance Status Of Children In The Emergency Department May Lead To Disparities In Treatment

    11 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    In 2009, children with public insurance were three times more likely and children with no insurance were eleven time more likely not to have a primary care physician, compared with children with private insurance. Without a primary care physician, the Emergency Department (ED) often becomes the primary point of contact for treatments and diagnoses...

  • Supporting Community Progress Towards A High Performance Health System, Thanks To Affordable Care Act And Other Laws

    27 Apr 2012 | 3:00 am
    Noting the "unprecedented opportunity" provided under the Affordable Care Act, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, and other recently enacted federal laws, the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System has unveiled a community-based plan to enhance health and reduce spending by improving care for chronically il...
 
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    Colorado Health Insurance Insider

  • Prescription Drug Reuse And Disposal Programs In Colorado

    Louise
    15 May 2012 | 12:21 pm
    New post titled Prescription Drug Reuse And Disposal Programs In Colorado at Colorado Health Insurance InsiderFour years ago, we wrote an article about recycling prescription drugs to be used by patients who don't have health insurance or cannot afford their medications. This has remained a popular post on our blog, and people frequently search our site for information about prescription recycling and/or disposal programs in Colorado. So I wanted to write an updated post with information that we've come across in the years since we published that first article. [...]Visit for further reading:…

  • Anthem Introduces New Accident And Critical Illness Benefits In Colorado

    Jay
    14 May 2012 | 4:31 pm
    New post titled Anthem Introduces New Accident And Critical Illness Benefits In Colorado at Colorado Health Insurance Insider[...] For individuals and families who are healthy and rarely need their health insurance benefits, an accident may be their primary concern. Obviously we're all susceptible to illness aswell, but accidents have a more "out of the blue" quality to them, and can happen to even the healthiest of people. We've never needed our health insurance due to illness, but we've had a few injuries over the years that have been pretty costly. Stitches and x-rays on our son's finger…

  • Taxes And Individual Health Insurance

    Louise
    11 May 2012 | 1:04 pm
    New post titled Taxes And Individual Health Insurance at Colorado Health Insurance Insider[...] Greg's most recent article deals with the way that our tax code treats health insurance premiums. Medicare and Medicaid premiums are obviously subsidized by tax dollars. But group health insurance premiums are also subsidized, since the premiums that employers pay on behalf of their employees are not included in the employee's taxable income. People with individual health insurance usually don't get such a benefit. The self-employed get to deduct individual health insurance premiums on the 1040,…

  • Wild Wild West of Electronic Medical Records

    Jay
    9 May 2012 | 3:13 pm
    New post titled Wild Wild West of Electronic Medical Records at Colorado Health Insurance InsiderThis article was sent to us through our contact form from "Sandra" as an entry is our open mic/guest blogger category. Sandra is not a client of ours, but says she found our guest blogger category while researching her situation and would like her opinions published. We kept Sandra's requested title for the post and left the content nearly verbatim. We only removed her last name and the name of the health insurance carrier from the original submission for privacy. My on-line pharmacy list has had…

  • The Best Health Insurance Companies In Colorado

    Jay
    7 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    New post titled The Best Health Insurance Companies In Colorado at Colorado Health Insurance Insider[...] To make a long story short, although US News & World Report is a respected publication and website, this particular page seems to be mostly about affiliate marketing.  The information provided is not technically incorrect, but it's lacking in context and is obviously confusing, especially if people aren't aware of the multiple names used by carriers or the fact that not all carriers provide policies in both the individual and group market.  In addition, while the page does state…
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    ProtectYourIncome.com » Disability Insurance Blog

  • What You don’t Know about Disability Insurance Can Hurt you

    The Income Protector
    11 May 2012 | 5:01 pm
    I just read a new national survey about disability insurance by Wellpoint, Inc. and the findings are quite revealing: Two out of three Americans that have disability insurance don’t know what’s covered by their disability plans. Three our of four people surveyed don’t have disability insurance. One in ten of those surveyed worry that they will jinx themselves if they purchase disability coverage. Two thirds of the survey participants don’t have enough savings to cover living expenses for three months, let alone to cover a disability lasting longer than that time. One…

  • When to Purchase Disability Insurance

    The Income Protector
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:26 pm
    You’ve studied up on disability insurance and have decided it would be a great idea to have this coverage. You have made a great decision, but I must warn you not to stop there.  Now, it’s time to pull the trigger and make the purchase…but you want to think about it a little longer, or study some more so you know what you’re purchasing, or talk to Bob down the hall, who has a policy, so he can shed some light on the subject.  I have seen this scenario quite often and let’s just call a spade a spade – you’re suffering from good ole procrastination.

  • Disability Insurance for Doctors – a Short Course

    The Income Protector
    20 Apr 2012 | 4:04 pm
    Information about disability insurance for doctors can be found in various places, including on ProtectYourIncome.com.  As we specialize in physician disability insurance, I am sensitive to the time constraints most of them have.  Therefore, here is a short and to the point course on what features to look for in a disability insurance policy for doctors: Own-Occupation Definition of Disability:  The best definition protects you in your medical specialty and continues to pay benefits even if you to work in another specialty or occupation.  Look for language that includes medical specialty…

  • Likelihood of Disability – The Need for Disability Insurance

    The Income Protector
    29 Mar 2012 | 6:58 pm
    A tool used in financial planning that one often sees is the financial planning pyramid. The bases of the premium are the items that protect the rest of the pyramid. This is the foundation. They are made up of protection factors. The greatest retirement and wealth-building strategies can be destroyed by the risks of life. One of the most important of these factors is the problem of disability. The cornerstone protecting against this potential problem is disability insurance. The foundation of the financial pyramid is made up of: Insuring against premature death through life insurance Loss of…

  • Total and Residual Disability – What’s the Difference?

    The Income Protector
    28 Mar 2012 | 7:20 pm
    The Difference Between Total and Residual Disability When you’re comparing different options for disability insurance, be on the lookout for the areas where policies are likely to differ. Don’t assume that terms are defined in the same way from one policy to another. Pay close attention to the exact manner in which key policy terms, such as total disability and residual disability are described. That’s the only way you can be certain that you truly understand the terms and conditions of each policy option. Total Disability: Some policies use an “own occupation”…
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    Health Insurance Blog

  • Excellus BCBS: Affordable Plans In Tompkins County

    SamTabes
    14 May 2012 | 8:39 am
    The New York State Department of Health has approved Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and their efforts to offer Family Health Plus as well as the insurer’s Medicaid Managed Care product known as HMOBlue Option within Tompkins County.  HMOBlue is for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid and provides value through the BCBS name.  Eligibility for this particular option is based on household size and income.  People who receive Supplemental Security Income and meet other criteria could also qualify. Family Health Plus is a unique initiative to help families obtain quality health…

  • Medical Home Effort From Michelle Obama

    SamTabes
    10 May 2012 | 2:54 pm
    In 2005, Michelle Obama helped launch a unique initiative to get people to form a meaningful relationship with a primary care physician.  This concept, known as a “medical home” is changing the way Americans look at health care.  The article by Bruce Jaspen on Forbes.com says the idea behind the medical home is to form a relationship with a primary care physician that creates a healthy atmosphere for preventative care which can end up saving the health care industry a lot of money. The Urban Health Initiative was launched in 2005 by Michelle Obama when she was the vice president…

  • Humana Health Insurance Partners With Wal-Mart

    SamTabes
    8 May 2012 | 10:19 am
    Human health insurance is now partnering with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to provide a new prescription drug plan for insured employees working at Wal-Mart.  In addition to this, Humana’s pharmacy benefits management subsidiary, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, will be included in the Walmart prescription network.  Through this partnership, a new approved drug list called Rx4Value will be available according to Aabha Rathee’s article found on WallStreetCheatSheet’s site. Humana Pharmacy President, William Fleming, says this new program will help employers predict costs and save on…

  • Aetna Health Insurance Being Sold Through Costco

    SamTabes
    2 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    An interesting partnership is taking place between Aenta Health Insurance and the wholesale club, Costco.  The Connecticut health insurer is starting to sell individual health insurance policies to members of Costco.  Aetna announced in April that its Costco Personal Health Insurance Program will offer five health plans online.  The plans will provide options for major medical benefits, dental coverage, and lower copays on prescriptions bought at Costco pharmacies. There will be a noticeable discount on individual plans for Costco members which is a huge perk in today’s health…

  • California Health Insurance: Plan Rankings for 2012

    SamTabes
    25 Apr 2012 | 10:15 am
    Based on the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Health Insurance Plan Study, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of California received the highest California health insurance ranking.  The award recipient earned five out five in all categories including coverage and benefits, provider choice, information and communication, claims processing, statements, customer service and approval processes.  They received five out of five for over all experience. Cigna of California received the next best rating with a three out of five marking which is considered average.  They did receive four out of five in…
 
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    Insurance Law Hawaii

  • Insurer Must Defend Claims for Diminution in Value of Damaged Property

    Tred Eyerly
    16 May 2012 | 5:01 am
       The insurer's duty to defend a developer sued by purchasers of homes for damages for diminution in value of homes was at issue in Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. Academy Dev., Inc., 2012 WL 1382459 (5th Cir. April 20, 2012).    In the underlying action, plaintiffs alleged the developer knew when it sold the homes that the lake walls were falling and that water was leaking from the lakes onto adjacent home sites. They sought damages for diminution in the value of their homes resulting from the defective lakes. The action was tried in 2008, and the jury returned a verdict for the…

  • Ensuing Loss Provision Does not Preserve Coverage For Damage Caused by Fire

    Tred Eyerly
    14 May 2012 | 5:01 am
      The court determined the vandalism exclusion barred coverage and that the ensuing loss provision was not applicable. See New London County Mut. Ins. Co. v. Zachem, 2012 Conn. Super. LEXIS 850 (Conn. Super. Ct. March 29, 2012).    A fire caused by an explosion occurred at the insured's property on September 11, 2008. The fire inspector determined that a propane copper pipe was broken by an intruder, causing a gas explosion. The fire inspector's report concluded that the fire and explosion were a direct result from the intentional act of removing the copper propane lines. No…

  • Coverage Granted to Remediate Loss of Marijuana Crop Caused By Fire

    Tred Eyerly
    9 May 2012 | 5:01 am
       Tenants renting a house from the insured caused a fire by tapping into neighbor's electrical system to operate and conceal a marijuana crop. See Kochendorfer v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins Co., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51032 (W.D. Wash. April 11, 2012).   The insurer made an initial payment of $30,052.83 for the loss. The insured submitted a proof of loss in the amount of $323,823.49. An appraisal panel eventually awarded to the insured a total of $311,270 in replacement cost value and $240,077 in actual cash value. The award accounted for structure repairs, clean-up/remediation, code…

  • Ninth Circuit Certifies Question on Reach of Pollution Exclusion

    Tred Eyerly
    7 May 2012 | 5:01 am
       The case before the Ninth Circuit asked whether the pollution exclusion applied to carbon monoxide poisoning.  See Cent. Sur. Co. v. Casino West., Inc., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 56958 (9th Cir. April 6, 2012). The accident occurred in a Nevada casino and hotel owed by Casino West.    The fumes were created by a hotel's heater room which permeated into the deceaseds' rooms. Century issued a CGL policy to Casino West with a pollution exclusion, barring coverage for bodily injury arising out of the release or escape of "pollutants." The policy defined pollutants as…

  • Federal District Court Continues to Find Construction Defects do Not Arise From An Occurrence

    Tred Eyerly
    2 May 2012 | 5:01 am
       Coverage for construction defects continues to be hotly contested in Hawaii state and federal courts. In a recent decision, Judge Mollway felt bound to follow the Ninth Circuit's decision in Burlington Ins. Co. v. Oceanic Design & Constr., Inc., 383 F.3d 940, 944 (9th Cir. 2004), where the court found construction defect claims arise from breach of contract, not from an occurrence. Judge Mollway's most recent decision on the issue is Illinois Nat. Ins. Co. v. Nordic PCL Constr., Inc., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58464 (D. Haw. April 26, 2012).    Nordic constructed a grocery…
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    WordPress.com News

  • Stay In The Conversation

    Beau Lebens
    15 May 2012 | 6:01 pm
    It’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment…

  • Look at These Gorgeous Blogs

    Sheri
    15 May 2012 | 1:05 pm
    We’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can…

  • Photo Blogging 101, Part 1

    Erica V.
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Spring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including…

  • New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen

    Michelle Langston
    10 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Happy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices…

  • Find Friends Who Use WordPress

    Nick Momrik
    1 May 2012 | 2:32 pm
    Are you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
 
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    LifeInsure.com » Life Insurance Blog

  • Life Insurance Quotes and your Personal Information

    The Life Insurer
    15 May 2012 | 6:15 pm
    Is Your Personal Information Required to Get Life Insurance Quotes? I have written several posts about the state of life insurance websites today, specifically in regard to the personal data required by many sites and what happens to that data.  If you Google “life insurance quotes, you will come up with page upon page of companies offering “Free Quotes,” “Up to 70% Savings, “Lowest Prices on the Internet,” etc. (Disclaimer – it is the insurance companies that set the prices and that price will be the same no matter what agency you purchase from)…

  • Three Tips for Choosing an Online Life Insurance Agency

    The Life Insurer
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:58 pm
    Looking for an online life insurance agency? There are many benefits of purchasing life insurance online, but it’s also important to make sure that you make a wise decision when selecting an online agency to handle your life insurance needs. Following the following three tips for choosing an online agency can help you select the best agency for your needs. Instant Quotes – One of the primary benefits of working with an Internet insurance agency is the ability to get information about life insurance online quickly and easily. Verify that your agency has the capacity to provide you with…

  • Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance

    The Life Insurer
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:05 pm
    Universal Life Insurance or Whole Life Insurance Permanent insurance policies are designed and priced for you to keep over a long period of time.  If you don’t intend to keep the policy for the rest of your life, this may be the wrong type of insurance for you. If so, it may be better to consider term life insurance or return of premium insurance. The two main types of permanent life insurance are whole life and universal life insurance.  These have a feature known as cash value or cash surrender value. Universal life (or whole life) covers an event that’s certain to happen;…

  • Too Late to Buy Life Insurance?

    The Life Insurer
    20 Apr 2012 | 1:12 pm
    It’s Never too Late to Buy Life Insurance…or is it? Many financial experts advise as to the best time to purchase life insurance.  They will often talk of significant life events that lead many folks to consider purchasing a policy – marriage, birth of a child, change of employment or increased income, to name a few.  There are also business events that can prompt one to purchase a life insurance policy. However, I don’t ever see any mention of the times when you shouldn’t (or can’t) purchase a policy.  Unfortunately, we often receive requests from folks…

  • Life Insurance – How Much Death Benefit do you Need?

    The Life Insurer
    27 Mar 2012 | 3:11 pm
    Using Life Insurance Calculators to Determine Death Benefit Figuring out how much life insurance death benefit you need to get can be quite challenging. Purchasing life insurance is an important decision, and it certainly isn’t one that should be made lightly. Selecting the correct amount of coverage is just as important as choosing the right type of policy. When you want to figure out how much life insurance is enough, a life insurance calculator can be very beneficial. There are several different types of calculators available online. They’re free and easy to use. You can…
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    TDI News Releases

  • tdiprosecutor

    15 May 2012 | 5:03 am
    05/15/12 - AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Insurance announced the assignment of a fraud prosecutor and a fraud investigator to work exclusively with criminal prosecutors in Harris County to combat insurance fraud.

  • safetyawards

    1 May 2012 | 2:11 am
    05/1/12 - AUSTIN, TX – Two Texas companies received peer review safety program awards at the Texas Safety Summit's 16th Annual Safety and Health Conference in Austin April 12 for exemplary occupational safety and health programs.

  • febaction

    25 Apr 2012 | 7:16 am
    04/25/12 - AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Insurance today announced enforcement actions that became final during February 2012.

  • DWCself-insure

    24 Apr 2012 | 2:33 am
    04/24/12 - AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation has approved seven renewals of the Certificates of Authority for companies to self-insure their workers’ compensation claims.

  • insurassistance

    9 Apr 2012 | 7:25 am
    04/9/12 - AUSTIN – Consumers who suffered property damage as a result of the recent severe weather should contact their insurance company or agent to file a claim as soon as possible. Starting this process is the first step toward getting money to make repairs.
 
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    auto-insurance « WordPress.com Tag Feed

  • Authorized Foremost Insurance Agency | Get A Free Insurance Quote

    Mark A. Schneider
    13 May 2012 | 5:48 pm
    Looking for a Foremost Insurance Agency in the Metro Denver area or Colorado? You are at the right place. We are appointed and represent their products. Our agent code is 0501699. We are a full service National insurance agency. Here is a line up of what we do. Auto/Car Insurance SR22 Insurance Specialty Home Insurance Landlord Dwelling Insurance Mobile & Manufactured Home Insurance Motorcycle Insurance High Claims Experience High Risk Properties And More! Our Companies Claims Process Is Excellent We only write insurance with companies that have an excellent claims process. A claim can…

  • Cheap Motor Car Insurance Quote -- The Retiree Discount

    autoinsurancereq
    13 May 2012 | 6:04 am
    There are many different ways different profiles save and position themselves better for very cheap motor car insurance quotes. This also holds true for retirees. So how can you save as a retiree? Apart from the fact that all the usual stuff like maintaining an excellent credit rating, choosing higher deductibles, going for a car that has a high safety rating and the like are very essential. By default, most retirees are entitled to a discount known as the Retiree discount for one simple reason… They often drive far less and therefore have a very low annual mileage. Mileage is a very…

  • Auto insurance quote

    veloxinsurance
    12 May 2012 | 2:39 pm
    Check out our alternate website cheapcarinsuranceatlanta.com

  • Why I Believe in Oklahoma Auto Insurance

    RCI Insurance
    11 May 2012 | 3:57 pm
    If you’ve ever had car accident, you know about that sickening crunching sound that you hear for months after the accident. You go through the initial shock that something has just happened, and it may not be pretty. When you start to examine your car & the other party’s vehicle you see that either the damage is minimal or there’s significant damage. In both situations your stomach drops to your shoes. In most cases, your car insurance is immediately where your mind goes. Recently I experienced firsthand what some of our clients experience and report to our office, a car…

  • We Could Cover It!: Carpool Edition

    Greg
    11 May 2012 | 1:30 pm
                  This driver took carpooling literally! Also, be car
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    LifeInsure.com » Life Insurance Blog

  • Life Insurance Quotes and your Personal Information

    The Life Insurer
    15 May 2012 | 6:15 pm
    Is Your Personal Information Required to Get Life Insurance Quotes? I have written several posts about the state of life insurance websites today, specifically in regard to the personal data required by many sites and what happens to that data.  If you Google “life insurance quotes, you will come up with page upon page of companies offering “Free Quotes,” “Up to 70% Savings, “Lowest Prices on the Internet,” etc. (Disclaimer – it is the insurance companies that set the prices and that price will be the same no matter what agency you purchase from)…

  • Three Tips for Choosing an Online Life Insurance Agency

    The Life Insurer
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:58 pm
    Looking for an online life insurance agency? There are many benefits of purchasing life insurance online, but it’s also important to make sure that you make a wise decision when selecting an online agency to handle your life insurance needs. Following the following three tips for choosing an online agency can help you select the best agency for your needs. Instant Quotes – One of the primary benefits of working with an Internet insurance agency is the ability to get information about life insurance online quickly and easily. Verify that your agency has the capacity to provide you with…

  • Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance

    The Life Insurer
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:05 pm
    Universal Life Insurance or Whole Life Insurance Permanent insurance policies are designed and priced for you to keep over a long period of time.  If you don’t intend to keep the policy for the rest of your life, this may be the wrong type of insurance for you. If so, it may be better to consider term life insurance or return of premium insurance. The two main types of permanent life insurance are whole life and universal life insurance.  These have a feature known as cash value or cash surrender value. Universal life (or whole life) covers an event that’s certain to happen;…

  • Too Late to Buy Life Insurance?

    The Life Insurer
    20 Apr 2012 | 1:12 pm
    It’s Never too Late to Buy Life Insurance…or is it? Many financial experts advise as to the best time to purchase life insurance.  They will often talk of significant life events that lead many folks to consider purchasing a policy – marriage, birth of a child, change of employment or increased income, to name a few.  There are also business events that can prompt one to purchase a life insurance policy. However, I don’t ever see any mention of the times when you shouldn’t (or can’t) purchase a policy.  Unfortunately, we often receive requests from folks…

  • Life Insurance – How Much Death Benefit do you Need?

    The Life Insurer
    27 Mar 2012 | 3:11 pm
    Using Life Insurance Calculators to Determine Death Benefit Figuring out how much life insurance death benefit you need to get can be quite challenging. Purchasing life insurance is an important decision, and it certainly isn’t one that should be made lightly. Selecting the correct amount of coverage is just as important as choosing the right type of policy. When you want to figure out how much life insurance is enough, a life insurance calculator can be very beneficial. There are several different types of calculators available online. They’re free and easy to use. You can…
 
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    DailyFinance.com

  • For Mother's Day, Protect the Family Jewels

    Bruce Watson
    10 May 2012 | 12:55 pm
    Filed under: InsuranceMother's Day is nearly here, bringing with it piles of flowers, an avalanche of candy, and a big boost for the nation's brunch industry. But, while the classic Mother's Day gifts are great, Sunday might also be a good day to think about taking better care of the presents that mom has already received. Motherhood and jewelry do tend to go together: For many moms, engagement rings and push gifts are among the most valuable jewelry they own. But while these baubles are wonderful remembrances of some of life's most meaningful moments, they can also be worrisome possessions…

  • An Insurance Policy Made to Order for the Sandwich Generation

    Ross Kenneth Urken
    25 Apr 2012 | 5:30 am
    Filed under: Retirement, Insurance, InvestmentImagine this scenario: You'll while away your golden years in excellent health and fair financial shape before dropping dead from a heart attack at 93. You'll never need to spend any money on nurses and long-term care. As far as plans for one's eventual demise go, it's a fairly upbeat one. And more and more baby boomers are realizing that's probably not how it's going to go down for them. They've watched as their parents have outlived their assets, burning through their retirement savings paying for nurses, long-term care, and a host of other…

  • Could the Next Big Investment Craze Be Hedging Marriages?

    Bruce Watson
    17 Apr 2012 | 5:20 am
    Filed under: Insurance, LifestyleIt's a tough time to be an investor -- the stock market is moving in fits and starts, gold is sliding back down from its once-dizzying heights, and ridiculously low federal lending rates mean that banks aren't really all that interested in borrowing your money. But if you're looking for a promising gamble that could pay off big, there's a new investment opportunity on the horizon: hedging marriages. Betting on marriages may now be possible, thanks to Wedding Gift Refund, a new service for wedding guests. Recognizing that many couples move quickly from the the…

  • Death Bets Leave Oklahoma State University $33 Million in the Hole

    Ross Kenneth Urken
    21 Mar 2012 | 3:20 pm
    Filed under: InsuranceA major fumble on the life insurance gridiron has cost the Oklahoma State Cowboys $33 million. As Forbes reports, the OSU athletic department's attempt to bet on the deaths of 27 geriatric boosters with $10 million life insurance policies backfired when not one died. Talk about a Hail Mary gone wrong. Obviously, the way the scenario played out was less than a blessing for OSU. The "Gift of a Lifetime" fundraiser plan was allegedly the brain-child of OSU alum and tycoon T. Boone Pickens. By cashing in on the life insurance policies following the death of the 65- to…

  • Long-Term Care-Less: An Insurance Nightmare As Premiums Nearly Double

    MoneyShow.com
    20 Mar 2012 | 12:05 pm
    Filed under: InsuranceBy Terry Savage, author, The Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire It's the right thing to do: I still recommend that you purchase long-term care insurance to avoid the dreaded outcome of being older, alone, and in need of everyday care that is not covered by Medicare or supplements. That long-term custodial care -- at home or in assisted living or in a nursing home -- now costs $7,000 a month, and is rising yearly. But today, many people who purchased long-term care insurance are getting a shock. The insurance companies that wrote these important policies…
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    www.Artemis.bm The Alternative Risk Transfer, Catastrophe Bond, Insurance-Linked Securities and Weather Risk Management Blog

  • Catastrophe bond risk capital outstanding could grow to $16 billion by end of 2012

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 10:04 am
    Not only was April a record-breaking month in terms of the amount of risk capital issued in catastrophe bond transaction, as we wrote the other day, it also saw the amount of cat bond and ILS risk capital outstanding rise to $14.7 billion according to Swiss insurance-linked securities investment manager Plenum Investments. When Artemis last reported on the amount of risk capital outstanding in the market we had the number at $14.2 billion at the end of March thanks to data from Aon Benfield. As well as strong issuance in April of $1.245 billion there were also maturities to take into account,…

  • Wells Fargo bring insurance trust products to the UK and EU

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 7:12 am
    Wells Fargo & Company, the massive financial services group headquartered in the U.S., have announced that they are bringing their successful range of insurance trust products to the UK and EU. To date these insurance trust products have only been available in the U.S. where they are used in place of letters of credit and as a way to provide collateral for various types of insurance and reinsurance transactions, including for insurance-linked securities and catastrophe bonds. “We are excited to be able to offer UK-based corporate insurers a lower-cost, more efficient alternative to…

  • PERILS AG industry loss data used for over $4 billion of risk transfer capacity

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 3:50 am
    PERILS AG, the independent Zurich-based company providing industry-wide European catastrophe insurance data and loss indices,has published their latest newsletter today updating the market on the events of 2011 and the progress that PERILS have made. The last time we reported on PERILS progress they had just reached $3.18 billion of risk transfer capacity placed using their loss data and index. Now, after a number of further catastrophe bonds have come to market using PERILS they reached $4.039 billion of capacity placed at the 31st March 2012. In the first quarter of 2012 PERILS data and…

  • Capital market shows significant and growing appetite for catastrophe risk: Guy Carpenter

    admin
    15 May 2012 | 7:54 am
    After a record first quarter for the catastrophe bond market, which featured a diverse mix of old and new perils, new structures and new capital providers the capital market continues to demonstrate significant and growing appetite for catastrophe risk, says intermediary Guy Carpenter‘s GC Securities division in their end of Q1 2012 cat bond market report. The report says that the successes seen in Q1′s cat bond issuance illustrates the continued growth and maturation of the catastrophe risk asset class. Guy Carpenters report, Catastrophe Bond Update: First Quarter 2012, takes a…

  • April a record-breaking month for catastrophe bond risk capital issued

    admin
    15 May 2012 | 3:50 am
    The huge Everglades Re Ltd. catastrophe bond which completed in April at a record $750m for a single cat bond helped the month become the strongest single month for volume of catastrophe bonds issued since the market began, according to the latest report from Swiss insurance-linked securities investment manager Plenum Investments. Four cat bonds completed during the month of April, bringing an additional $1.245 billion to insurance-linked securities investors. So April broke records for both deal size with Everglades Re and total issuance. April saw a diverse mix of perils coming to market…
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    healthinsurance.org news digest

  • Vermont lawmakers approve health care measures

    Amanda Waldroupe
    2 May 2012 | 10:01 pm
    Bennington Banner–Vermont’s Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill creating a state-run health insurance exchange. The governor strongly supports the bill, and legislators view an exchange’s creation going hand-in-hand with creating a single-payer, universal healthcare system in the state.

  • In Fight Over Obama Health Law, a Front in Minnesota

    Amanda Waldroupe
    30 Apr 2012 | 10:15 pm
    The New York Times–As Minnesota’s governor Mark Dayton works to create a state health insurance exchange, he finds himself in an “icy standoff” with legislative Republicans.

  • House passes bill on health insurance exchange

    Amanda Waldroupe
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:18 pm
    Montgomery Advertiser–Alabama’s House of Representatives approved legislation to create a health insurance exchange, and it’s Republican sponsor hopes to have it considered in a Senate committee as quickly as possible.

  • Will Christie Conditionally Veto the Health Insurance Exchange Bill?

    Amanda Waldroupe
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:09 pm
    NJ Spotlight–New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie, has until May 10 to sign or veto a bill that would create a state-run health insurance exchange in New Jersey. He still has not made up his mind.

  • California moves forward with insurance Exchange

    Amanda Waldroupe
    24 Apr 2012 | 10:05 pm
    HealthyCal.org–Knowing that the level of enrollment is key to success, California’s health insurance exchange is starting to focus on ways to make it easy for individuals to join the exchange, and how to use existing state agencies to help enroll people.
 
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    InsureBlog

  • Be Careful What You Wish For . . .

    16 May 2012 | 7:41 am
    The folks at Consumer Reports open their mail bag . . . I'm pregnant. Can my health plan refuse maternity coverage? Q. I thought I had completed my family, and was confident of never getting pregnant again because I had an IUD. So we bought an individual family plan from Blue Shield of California that excludes pregnancy. But I got pregnant anyway. I asked to be moved to a plan that covers pregnancy, and was denied because of my "pre-existing condition." Is this legit? A. It sure is. In every health-plan underwriting manual I have ever seen, pregnancy is on the list of conditions…

  • Cavalcade of Risk #157 now online!

    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Dennis Wall presents this week's collection of risk-related posts. Please drop by.Original content copyright © InsureBlog

  • Dying for a quiet ride

    15 May 2012 | 1:29 pm
    File this under "Risky Unintended Consequences:" "Hybrids are so quiet that pedestrians never hear them coming ... NHTSA studies ... confirmed what many long suspected: Hybrids and electric cars are too quiet for the blind or even the fully sighted to hear them coming." Ooops. On the other hand, I was taught to always look both ways before crossing the street. Of course, that doesn't really apply to the sight-impaired, who count on a certain noise level to assess risk before stepping off the curb. 'Tis a puzzler. Then again, maybe not: "Thanks to the Pedestrian Safety Act of 2010 ... the…

  • Tuesday Morning LinkFest

    15 May 2012 | 8:45 am
    ■ We recently learned how resveratrol, a compound found (for example) in red wines, works. But that's not all: turns out, it's also potentially useful in combating the effects of Alzheimer's. The 'web can be a very useful and powerful tool for critiquing vendors, but be careful whom you critique and how: "Two years ago, Dennis Laurion logged on to a rate-your-doctor website to vent about a Duluth, Minnesota neurologist ... McKee wasn't amused. He sued Laurion for defamation" It may well be that the truth is a valid defense, but prudence is always a valid idea. From FoIB Jeff M, we learn…

  • And even MORE ObamaFail©

    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    In case you missed it yesterday: Now what does that banner remind me of?Original content copyright © InsureBlog
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    Workers Comp Insider

  • Cavalcade of Risk Plus Frisky Risk Management

    Jon Coppelman
    16 May 2012 | 9:43 am
    The latest edition of Cavalcade of Risk, hosted by Dennis Wall at Insurance Claims and Issues, is up. It's the risk-free option for checking out a potpourri of interesting posts related to risk. And while we are on the topic of risk, let's give a Bronx cheer for Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, for the work of his...

  • Too Much Sitting Plus Comorbidities = Big Trouble

    Jon Coppelman
    15 May 2012 | 10:42 am
    For those who seek risk conundrums, workers comp is fertile ground. From a micro perspective, the unfortunate Ronald Westerman, a paramedic for a California ambulance company, embodies many of the elements that result in sleepless nights for claims adjusters and actuaries: Westerman had an inordinately long commute (2.5 hours each way!), a sitting job with periodic lifting (inert patients and...

  • When it Comes to Safety, This is Just Ducky...

    Julie Ferguson
    14 May 2012 | 9:22 pm
    We begin the week on a somewhat bizarre note, as Donald Duck does safety in this vintage 1959 cartoon clip entitled "How to Have an Accident at Work." When it comes to safety, Donald is everyone's nightmare worker. For those of us in the workers comp field, this may seem more horror film than cartoon, but Donald, unlike ordinary workers,...

  • Health Wonk Review Hath Sprung

    Jon Coppelman
    10 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    Hank Stern of Insure Blog has hosted the latest edition of the health work review. It's a bouquet of wildflowers, well worth a few minutes of your time. And if you think palliative care is just for the terminally ill, check out Diane Meier's inspiring post, which reads like a sprig of lilacs in a mason jar on the kitchen...

  • NCCI Experience Mod Changes: The (Ominous) Future is Now

    Jon Coppelman
    9 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    These are the calm days before the coming storm. For most employers, workers comp falls under the "business as usual" category. If a worker is injured, the standard protocols are followed: secure medical treatment; report the claim; if it's convenient and not too difficult, bring the worker back on temporary modified duty. Sure, you will eventually pay for the losses...
 
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    Managed Care Matters

  • MIssouri's resident idiot

    jpaduda@healthstrategyassoc.com
    16 May 2012 | 7:22 am
    Earlier this month a physician legislator in Missouri blocked a bill setting up a prescription drug monitoring program, making MO one of two remaining states without a PDMP. Oh, and the Show-Me state's death rate from drug overdose (most of...

  • $20,728 - your family's 2012 health care cost

    jpaduda@healthstrategyassoc.com
    15 May 2012 | 7:21 pm
    That's the figure reported by Milliman earlier today. Yep, almost twenty-one grand just for health insurance and out-of-pocket costs. The good news (!) is the annual rate of increase was a paltry 6.9%, the lowest trend in a decade. The...

  • NCCI research wrap-up; disability duration drivers

    jpaduda@healthstrategyassoc.com
    14 May 2012 | 5:44 am
    Late on Friday the true work comp nerds stuck around for the research workshop, while the smarter NCCI attendees headed home or hit the golf course. Barry Lipton led off with the latest info on NCCI's research into temporary total...

  • NCCI's second day - state v fed regulation

    jpaduda@healthstrategyassoc.com
    11 May 2012 | 11:14 am
    Current Florida Insurance Commissioner and NAIC Chair Kevin McCarty led off his talk with a description of drug repackaging as a "license to steal.". I absolutely agree. He expressed optimism when noting the legislative effort will continue next year; on...

  • Hartwig's take; the economy and P&C insurance

    jpaduda@healthstrategyassoc.com
    10 May 2012 | 11:19 am
    We're drinking from the firehose that is Bob Hartwig's annual discussion of economic factors affecting the property and casualty industry. His presentation was - as usual - high energy and entertaining. Example - noting that a Greek default would have...
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    Insurance Industry Blog

  • CIAB: Rising Demand for Insurance

    Claire
    14 May 2012 | 4:00 pm
    More brokers said demand for insurance was up in the first quarter of 2012, according to the latest Commercial P/C Market Index survey from the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB). Some 59 percent of respondents said demand was up in the first quarter, compared to 53 percent who said demand did not improve in the previous quarter, the CIAB said. This increase in demand may be an indicator that the economy is improving. The broker comments came as the Council’s analysis showed prices hardened and underwriting toughened in the U.S. commercial property/casualty market in the first…

  • NCCI: Workers Comp Market “Conflicted”

    Claire
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    There were some positives and negatives for the workers compensation insurance market in the annual “State of the Line” report from NCCI Holdings Inc. On the plus side, written premiums saw growth for the first time since 2005, indicating that the worst of the recession is over. Net written premiums (including state funds) increased by 7.4 percent to $36.3 billion, a welcome shift following the cumulative 27 percent decline in premium from 2006-2010, NCCI said. However, for the third straight year, workers compensation holds the distinction of having the highest combined ratio of all the…

  • Obesity Prevention: An Urgent Need

    Claire
    9 May 2012 | 6:37 am
    A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has much to say on the obesity epidemic in the United States and the urgent need to strengthen prevention efforts. “Left unchecked, obesity’s effects on health, health care costs, and our productivity as a nation could become catastrophic,” the report said. This infographic sums up the IOM’s key findings: Earlier research from the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) found that insurers and reinsurers are just one of many industries affected by the obesity issue.  

  • MarketScout: Upward Adjustment In Rates Continues

    Claire
    7 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    The composite rate for U.S. commercial lines – commercial property, casualty and professional lines coverage – was up 3 percent in April 2012 compared to a year ago, according to the latest analysis from online insurance exchange MarketScout. Workers’ compensation and property coverage rates rose the most at plus 4 percent, the same as in March 2012. BOP and general liability were up 3 percent. While historically there has been a considerable difference in the underwriting approaches among the various types of insurers, recently MarketScout has noticed that both admitted and…

  • Irene Joins Top Ten Most Costly U.S. Hurricanes

    Claire
    4 May 2012 | 7:43 am
    A new ranking of the top ten most costly hurricanes just released by the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) puts 2011′s Hurricane Irene in tenth place, replacing 2004′s Hurricane Jeanne. Hurricane Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, on August 27, 2011 as a Category 1 storm and a second landfall in New Jersey and New York City as a tropical storm the next day. In all, Irene affected 14 states and resulted in $4.3 billion in insured damages, according to the Property Claim Services unit of ISO, and was directly responsible for 41 fatalities. The insured…
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    NewAmerica.net Blog Posts

  • "What are the benefits?' What are the risks? Are there alternatives?"

    11 May 2012 | 12:23 pm
    Those are the final questions in this article on Yahoo! News, under the title "How Much Medicine Do You Need?" The final quote comes from Rita Redberg, editor of the medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine, and pretty much sums up the questions that people ought to ask themselves when considering treatment. There's a lot more in the article that we're not going to summarize--check it out! Health Policy Program

  • The Lifesaving(?) Technology of Facebook

    10 May 2012 | 4:11 pm
    When most of us think about Facebook, the first phrase that comes to mind probably isn’t “good Samaritan.”  Facebook is an easy way to keep in touch with friends, and it can be a gigantic time-suck, for sure, but last week the site did something that could truly benefit a lot of people. On May 1, Facebook launched an initiative to encourage users to become organ donors, and within 24 hours there had been a spike in the number of people volunteering their body parts for the good of others. California’s registry saw almost two months’ worth of people sign up within the first day…

  • A Belated SCOTUS Wrap-up, and A Look Forward

    13 Apr 2012 | 2:37 pm
    Unless you've been living under a whole pile of rocks, you heard about the Supreme Court’s oral arguments in Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services—the Obamacare case. You’ve probably heard by now from a dozen reporters and pundits who claim that they know which way the Court will rule.I’m not going to make that claim. There are understandable arguments on both sides, and it’s incredibly difficult to predict how this Court will decide on such an important, divisive, politically charged issue.Instead, I want to provide a little perspective. Even if the Court decides that…

  • Big Win for Public Health - F.D.A. Style

    12 Apr 2012 | 2:41 pm
    In case you missed it, the FDA came out with new rules last week to limit the use of antibiotics in farm animals. While at first glance this might seem unrelated to health issues in humans, it actually matters quite a lot. The connection works like this: the indiscriminate use of antibiotics to produce the food we eat contributes to the creation of antibiotic-resistant disease strains. When humans then get infected with these strains, antibiotics are ineffective at treating the new strains, thus posing a fairly significant public health risk.This risk is not insubstantial. According to the…

  • A Humorous – But Revealing – Aside

    9 Apr 2012 | 1:48 pm
    Over at The New Yorker, David Sedaris has an amusing piece on his experiences with “socialized medicine.” It’s worth a read – if not for the humor, then for its helpful illustrations of concepts directly relevant to health policy.Take, for example, this section:The time before that, I was lying in bed and found a lump on my right side, just below my rib cage. It was like a devilled egg tucked beneath my skin. Cancer, I thought. A phone call and twenty minutes later, I was stretched out on the examining table with my shirt raised.“Oh, that’s nothing,” the doctor said. “A little…
 
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    Go Health Insurance Blog

  • GoHealth in the News: Student Health Insurance

    GoHealth
    16 May 2012 | 10:20 am
    At GoHealth, we make it our mission to help individuals and families find the right health insurance – by any means possible! We blog about it, tweet about and dream about, of course. But lately we’ve become health insurance missionaries, spreading the gospel about finding health insurance coverage across the nation. This past weekend, our Vice President of Consumer Marketing, Michael Mahoney, traveled to the fair city of Charlotte, North Carolina to visit their local CBS news station, WBTV. Consumer reporter, Kristen Miranda interviewed Michael about health insurance options for recent…

  • This is National Women’s Health Week

    GoHealth
    15 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    We keep finding out more and more about the month of May. Apparently, May 14th was National Dance like a Chicken Day. While this news is completely important and relevant to our readers, we thought we’d blog about a different May event – National Women’s Health Week (May 13-19). Organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, National Women’s Health Week aims to empower women to make their physical and mental health a priority. This year’s theme is “It’s Your Time.” One in every five American women do not have health insurance,…

  • Health Insurance Preparation for Pregnancy

    GoHealth
    14 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    For many couples, the thoughts of baby planning don’t start with health insurance — but they should. Prenatal care typically costs at least $2,000 out-of-pocket without insurance. The birth itself can range from $9,000 to $17,000 for a vaginal delivery without complications or $14,000 to $25,000 for a C-section without health insurance. With health insurance coverage, a couple can expect to pay around $500 to $3,000 for the birth which is much more affordable for a family. And, prenatal care is covered to a certain amount. To help consumers with baby brains, consider preparing yourself…

  • Health Reform Means Positive Shifts for Latinos

    GoHealth
    11 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    In a little over a month, we will finally know the Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA). As we wait patiently, GoHealth continues to keep the conversation about health reform going. Today, we focus on one segment of the American population that would benefit greatly by health care reform – Latinos. Latinos make up the highest number of uninsured people in the country. Assuming the health reform laws go through, about nine million Latinos in America will be have more control over their own health care than ever before. For…

  • Is the U.S. Doomed to Be Obese?

    GoHealth
    10 May 2012 | 4:11 pm
    In the past few weeks, America’s obesity epidemic has been making the news more than usual. A new study released by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates that more than 42 percent of Americans will be obese in 2030. As for people considered to be “severely obese,” the number is expected to more than double between 2010 and 2030. Among children, obesity rates are staggering. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. If a parent is obese, it is 3 times more likely that their child will be. The health problems associated with obesity have a…
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    Anthem Medicare Supplement - International Health Insurance

  • Anthem Medicare Supplement – Quick Links

    John
    15 May 2012 | 6:07 pm
    Below are some quick links for you to view many different aspects of owning, shopping for and switching Anthem Medicare Supplement plans.  Before you purchase a new Anthem plan be sure to scan some of these quick links, they may be useful in helping you find the right plan for your unique needs. Anthem Quick Links … Anthem Rates Anthem Application Anthem Extras (Dental – Vision – Silver Sneakers – Foreign Travel Assistance) Guarantee Issue Guidelines Medicare Part D Rx info Under-Age 65 Medicare Supplement info Excess Charges (Anthem plans A & N only)…

  • California Medicare Supplement Birthday Rule

    John
    14 May 2012 | 7:16 pm
    Maybe you have heard of the “Birthday-Rule” or maybe you haven’t. In any case, I believe this is one of the greatest Medicare Supplement rules for the Medicare beneficiaries living in California.  This rule allows anyone who has a Medicare Supplement (not a Medicare Advantage) plan in force, to switch companies each year on the month of their birthday to any company with the same plan or one with less benefits. Medicare Supplement Rates The true benefit of this option is if a person is dealing with current, or pre-existing conditions where a Medicare Supplement company can…

  • Anthem Extras – Missouri

    John
    11 May 2012 | 1:40 pm
    Anthem Extras in Missouri now allows any Anthem Medicare Supplement member to add Dental, Vision, Foreign Travel Assistance and the Silver Sneakers fitness program to their Medicare Supplement plan.  If you only want ‘Dental’ they also offer a “stand-along” dental option.  And best of all these packages are available for only; $20 (Standard Package), $40 (Premium Package), $50 (Premium Plus Package) and $36 (Premium Plus ‘Dental-Only’).  These optional Packages can be added and or canceled at anytime. The benefits in each package will roll up into one…

  • Health Net Medicare Supplement Rates

    John
    8 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Health care is complicated.  Choosing a company.  Selecting a plan.  Understanding your coverage.  It’s all hard, but it doesn’t have to be.  You simply need to know what your choices are.  That is why I have developed this website for your convenience.  You can check rates, review plans and companies, leave comments or questions.  All meant to educate, and help you make the right decisions.  I even offer my office phone and cell phone number, because often times when a person has a question, they would like to have it answered now.  Not have to wait and leave a message,…

  • Anthem Medicare Supplement Rates – Missouri

    John
    7 May 2012 | 2:06 pm
    The great state of Missouri has many choices when it comes to Medicare Supplement companies and plans.  Many companies will market low “teaser” rates hoping the shopper will bite, others will send you endless fliers and marketing pieces.  In my opinion Anthem Blue Cross of Missouri is the best choice, and here are 4 reasons. 4 Great Reasons to Choose Anthem… Over a 5 to 7 year period Anthem typically has the most stable premiums. Easy access.  Their customer service line it very easy to talk to a person, not an “automated attendant.” Great history –…
 
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    Health Insurance and You

  • The Role of Doctors and Insurers in Reducing Obesity

    nalinimp
    14 May 2012 | 11:05 am
    With tonight’s premiere of HBO’s ‘The Weight of the Nation’ documentary miniseries, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) prediction last week that 42% of Americans will be obese by 2030, overweight and obesity have been major news topics recently. It’s a public health problem that can be attacked on many fronts. These include individuals managing their diets and increasing their physical activity; city planners taking sidewalks, parks, and walkability into account in their work; schools and workplaces making sure that healthy meal options are available in…

  • State Exchanges Should Offer a Limited Number of Plans, Analysis Suggests

    nalinimp
    9 May 2012 | 2:20 pm
    Imagine being in the peanut butter aisle at the grocery store. You’ve got creamy, chunky, honey-enhanced, and natural varieties, each of which is sold by several different brands and in several different sizes. If all you need is the ingredients for a lunchtime PB&J sandwich, the number of choices can be a little overwhelming. You may even decide to scrap it all and go with a soup and salad instead. When state-based online health insurance exchanges debut in 2014, customers could have that same reaction if too many plans are available, according to an analysis published in this…

  • Telemedicine: A Cheaper, Convenient Approach to Routine Health Issues

    nalinimp
    7 May 2012 | 11:11 am
    Colds, bacterial infections and other routine health problems can come on suddenly, without warning – and as most of us know, rarely is it a convenient time to get sick. When you’re not feeling well but have the tasks of daily life to get through, it is hard to find the time or energy to abandon those tasks, visit a clinic or urgent care center in your insurer’s network, and wait to see a doctor. Now, many health insurance companies are starting to push for an alternative that can cost less and be more convenient for patients: web- and telephone-delivered health care. According to an…

  • Insurers Don’t Always Cover ER Treatment for Patients Under the Influence

    nalinimp
    1 May 2012 | 12:46 pm
    It happens to reveling partygoers across the country every day: the drinking gets out of hand and someone winds up in the emergency room. In most situations, luckily, people are okay in the end – if a little shaken by the near miss and a little wary of the next celebration on their calendar. But in the following weeks or months, many get some unwelcome news in the mail: because they were drinking when the emergency took place, their health insurance has decided not to cover the cost of the ER. According to an article by Michelle Andrews of Kaiser Health News, laws in more than half of…

  • As Health Insurers Diversify, New Challenges Arise

    nalinimp
    30 Apr 2012 | 3:35 pm
    Last May, we discussed a growing trend among health insurance companies to open their own walk-in clinics and other health care facilities. The aim was twofold; diversifying their business helped insurers both increase their revenue and stand out from the crowd. By centralizing medical records and bills, simplifying paperwork, and making coverage information more readily available, these clinics also had several advantages for consumers. But conflict of interest is a big challenge, and one that may not yet be fully resolved. In insurer-run clinics, doctors and nurses have a strong incentive…
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    Irish Life Blog

  • The Last Word Stability Treaty Debate broadcasts live from Irish Life

    TJ Mackey
    14 May 2012 | 8:32 am
    We are now nine months into our successful sponsorship of Matt Coopers show, The Last Word on Today FM. As part of our sponsorship, The Last Word will be broadcasting live from Irish Life Head Office on Thursday 17th May from 4.30 – 7pm. During this live broadcast, Matt will be chairing a debate on the upcoming Fiscal Treaty Referendum. We’ll have panellists and comment from government, opposition – and further afield – on both sides of this crucial decision about Ireland’s future in Europe. To follow the debate – tune into Today FM this Thursday at 4:30 pm.

  • Taxi’s, Savings plans and Life Insurance!

    George Fox
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:36 pm
    It was a wild evening last Wednesday and it cost me €18 in taxi fares, but it was just one of those evenings where you just really wanted to get into the warmth and out of the rain, it felt like €18 well spent when the door shut behind me. It was easy to imagine the origin of the saying “saving for a rainy day”. It was not a night for going back out!The rainy day is on a lot of minds at the moment, as we are all too aware, anyone who is lucky enough to have money, is saving like we’re in a never ending storm. Let’s hope we’re not but that’s a discussion for another day! Right…

  • Some spring cleaning on the Irish Life Blog

    Stephen Hayden
    27 Apr 2012 | 11:29 am
    We’ve spent a little time cleaning up our blog, as regular readers may notice. We’ll be ironing out any bugs over the next week or two. We’re always working to keep things fresh so we hope you like the clean up! Speaking of freshness and in the interest of it being a Friday (and for some blatant padding out of this post) why not sit back and enjoy some of the best of what the internet has to offer us on this very day: 200 reasons not to leave Dublin ‘Phoenix Park ‘, ‘A proper fry’, ‘Dublin Bikes’, ‘The girls are so pretty’ – just some of the top 200 reasons not…

  • Protecting what’s important

    Irish Life
    23 Apr 2012 | 9:53 am
     The saying “your health is your wealth” rang true when we conducted an attitude survey among 1,000 adults recently.   The main concern for 37% of those surveyed was that they or their partner would become ill or die suddenly, compared to 16% who were more concerned with losing their job.  Losing their home (11%) and being unable to pay bills (10%) were the next most important concerns for the respondents. The main concern for 37% of those surveyed was that they or their partner would become ill or die suddenly Half of those surveyed said they are aware of a family where the main…

  • Best in class

    Gerry Hassett
    2 Mar 2012 | 8:41 am
    Acceptance speeches may not be our forte, but we are extremely proud to have been chosen by Brokers for the Top Life Company award, again. “They really provide a quality service to brokers in all areas and are eager to improve and help by thinking outside the box where necessary.  They are flexible and helpful.” For the second year running, the members of the Irish Brokers Association(IBA) voted the service Irish Life provides to them and their clients as the best in the business.  We also hold the same award from the Professional Insurance Brokers Association(PIBA). Tony…
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    BGN Blog | Leading Benefits Agencies to Profitable Growth

  • Of Course I Can!

    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    I recently attended my son’s 8th grade “Gold N” ceremony.  To brag a little, the “Gold N” is awarded to those students who maintained an “A” average throughout their middle school career.  One of the keynote speakers was the district’s Teacher of the Year.Now, this particular teacher is one of those rare individuals who knew what she wanted to do from a very early age.  She knew from the time she was still in elementary school that she would be a teacher.  Obviously, given her recent award, she was right.  Not only did she know what she wanted to do with her life, but she…

  • Great Service Doesn’t Happen by Chance

    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Providing great client service is a claim that nearly every insurance agency makes. Being able to provide that great service, versus just promising it, is dependent on a number of things being in place.It begins with a definition of what great service means to your company.  And that is dependent on what you would like the client to experience every time they have an interaction with your company. Which is dependent on…well, let’s just take a look at how this works. Defining the company Starting from the top, the purpose of your agency must be clearly defined so everyone knows why he or…

  • What Do You Do When Your Heart Isn’t In It Anymore?

    7 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    I believe that selling is basically a transfer of confidence and passion.  When you are selling, you are working to give your prospect confidence that you bring a better solution to their situation than does your competition.  You are working to give them passion about addressing the situation that your solution is intended to address.  Confidence and passion are just like anything else.  You can’t give away what you don’t possess yourself. Confidence and passion may not be tangible in the way that you can hold something in your hand, but make no mistake, people can clearly see…

  • How Producers Are Like Excellent Waiters

    3 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    We talked recently about managing the changes insurance and benefits agencies are making as a result of the changing business model. One of the questions we hear a lot in these discussions is “Whose responsibility is that?” And it’s a good question.  One that needs to be explored within your own structure.  We can give you some ideas, but we can’t answer it specifically because each agency is as unique as the people within it. You might already be set up to deliver in some of these areas, or you might need to bring in new people, reallocate resources, or hire some outside firms for…

  • Spring Cleaning

    30 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    I am an avid runner.  For me, running is as much a mental exercise as it is physical.  I find that I do much of my best thinking and problem solving on a run.  In fact, I think that my time spent running is when I’m most creative.I have a bit of a problem though; I can be a creature of habit.  When I find a favorite restaurant, I tend to go there pretty regularly.  When I find a favorite item on the menu, it's not unusual for the waiter to know what I’m going to order before I say a word.  While I absolutely love trying new things, it often takes a conscious effort to break a rut…
 
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    Insurance

  • General Liability Problems When Contractors Perform Own Repairs

    jsadler
    11 May 2012 | 10:11 am
    When our contractor clients turn in General Liability claims for covered property damage arising from past work, they often want to perform their own repairs on behalf of their insurance carrier because they are already familiar with the job and believe they can do the work for a lower cost. However, their Contractor General Liability Insurance carrier may balk at paying the portion of the work attributable to overhead and profit. Claims adjusters and case law are split on this issue. Insurance carriers often refuse to pay for contractor overhead and profit in this situation because they…

  • Failure to disclose knowledge of a potential claim at the time of application may not exclude entitlement to insurance proceeds

    mthomas
    6 May 2012 | 12:35 pm
    The defendant insureds sought and were granted a declaration that their professional liability insurer was required to provide a defence in an action on the basis the insurer was not able to conclusively show that coverage would be excluded on the basis of the insureds’ knowledge of a potential claim at the time they applied for the insurance. Sydie v. Murad, [2011] O.J. No. 5381, November 28, 2011, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, P. Lauwers J. This was an application by the defendants in an action seeking a declaration their insurer under a professional liability…

  • “Litigating coverage dispute requires cost-benefit analysis,” an article about insurance coverage litigation by Judy Greenwald.

    sgodes
    30 Apr 2012 | 8:13 pm
    Business Insurance author Judy Greenwald recently wrote an article titled Litigating coverage dispute requires cost-benefit analysis.  In it, she writes about the issue of policyholders litigating questions of insurance coverage and insurance claims with their insurance companies. The article opens: When policyholders decide their only option is to pursue litigation against their insurers in coverage disputes, they should first conduct [...]Read Original Post

  • An insured may be entitled to punitive damages if her insured unsuccessfully attempts to breach her for impaired driving

    mthomas
    5 Apr 2012 | 11:16 am
    A plaintiff was successful in seeking a declaration that she was entitled to coverage on the basis that her motor vehicle insurer had not established she was impaired at the time of the accident and she was awarded punitive damages for the insurer’s bad faith conduct with respect to the claim. McDonald v. Insurance Corp. of British Columbia, [2012] B.C.J. No. 372, February 24, 2012, British Columbia Supreme Court, S.K. Ballance J.  This was an action by the plaintiff seeking a declaration that she was entitled to indemnification by her insurer, the Insurance Corporation of…

  • Is AB 2346 Legislation a Small Step to Disaster?

    gteafatiller
    3 Apr 2012 | 4:14 pm
    I smell smoke, so there may be a fire smoldering in the form of new legislation in California that is meant to protect farm laborers from Heat Illness. According to a news report, “Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-El Segundo) has just introduced a bill (AB 2346) she says will add teeth to the current California heat illness regulations. It will allow farm workers to sue their employers if they allege the employers don’t comply with Cal/OSHA Regulations. ” The bill is meant to “put teeth” into existing Cal-Osha regulations for violators of the Heat Illness and Injury Prevention…
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    Blog

  • Arizona Appraisers Affiliate with OPEIU’s Appraisers Guild

    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    The Coalition of Arizona Appraisers (CoAA) has voted to affiliate with the American Guild of Appraisers (AGA), a guild of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).

  • Ohio Labor Council Embraces Community Wetlands Project

    16 May 2012 | 7:05 am
    A partnership between the the Crawford/Richland County Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO and Ashland University is increasing access to the Black Fork Wetlands for student research and other community members in north-central Ohio. As a new feature in the AFL-CIO In Our Communities notes, the council, made up of 3,500 members in two counties, is raising funds to build an Environmental Studies Center at the wetlands site, a project that has lain dormant on Ashland University’s drawing boards for several years.

  • New Hampshire Lawmakers Lose Grip, Waste Taxpayer Money

    15 May 2012 | 4:04 pm
    New Hampshire House Speaker Bill O'Brien's dictatorial attitude hasn't helped him pass "right to work" for less laws, collective bargaining restrictions or a voter ID law. Now that heavy hand appears to be coming back to haunt him in major ways.

  • Older Workers Have Highest Long-Term Jobless Rate

    15 May 2012 | 2:24 pm
    Older workers who lose their jobs have the highest rate of long-term unemployment compared to any other age group. In 2011, more than half of jobless workers, ages 50 years and older, were out of work for more than six months. The trend continues this year. Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project (NELP), told the Senate Special Committee on Aging this afternoon:The prospects are dim for older workers who lose their jobs.

  • 'Warmth of Other Suns' Author at Georgetown June 12

    15 May 2012 | 1:44 pm
    Isabel Wilkerson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, will address scholars, labor activists and workers’ center organizers at the second annual conference of the Labor Research and Action Network (LRAN) at Georgetown University on June 12. Wilkerson is the author of The Warmth of Other Suns, a magnificent rendition of the great migration of some 6 million black Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West.
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    Car Insurance Crazy

  • Tax Lien Investing Isn’t For Anyone

    Kurt Fauver
    16 May 2012 | 4:30 am
    Tax lien investing is a technique that has become ever more popular, however this method isn’t right for everyone. Investing in tax liens can be very rewarding, simply because if the original owner pays off the lien then the investor will get the money spent back together with a nice yield for making the initial expenditure. When the lien isn’t satisfied then eventually the lien holder will own the exact property, normally for far less than what it’s valued at. This kind of investing does involve some risks though, and every trader who selects to bid on a tax lien must be…

  • Harley Motorcycle Bags -The Most Valuable Motorcycle Bags for Your Motorbike

    Harry Alan
    15 May 2012 | 2:59 am
    Harley bags are some of the most famous motorcycle bags available in the market. Their users are very satisfied with their quality as well as their operation. If you are also someone who seek a way from the continuing headache involving managing your bags on your bike, buying a Harley bag is unquestionably a great solution. There exists a large variety of Harley motorcycle bags available in the market and bikers choose accordingly. Some choose hard saddlebags and others for soft saddlebags. The hard saddlebags can be more expensive, whereas the soft saddlebags can have a limited bags carrying…

  • Choosing The Right Insurance Agent for Your NJ Contracting Business Could Save Your Livelihood

    Jeff Friedlander
    14 May 2012 | 4:29 am
    Being a full-time contractor is not always an easy job. Besides having to start your day extremely early and working insane hours, you will also constantly be on the move. Most of your money is invested in equipment, travel, and spending large amounts of time on the road. Your work involves a constant process of bidding on jobs, making sure that the work is actually getting done correctly and then making sure that you and your people are paid for your time. Even if you’ve been a contractor for any length of time most people view you as a small business. Typically you will not have an…

  • What Exactly Are The Top Developments In Today’s Stock Exchange?

    Hugh Farro
    13 May 2012 | 3:41 am
    Because you are taking a look at investing in today’s stock market one of the major things you’re definitely going to want to pay attention to are the latest trends happening at this time. So we’ll have a glance at all the various trends going on all across the different marketplaces involving stocks and we’ll see where it would probably make the most sense for you to put your hard earned money at this point in time. One of the greatest trends in the markets today which I personally really like are the fact that precious metals are significantly receiving the attention…

  • How Your Contracting Business In NJ Can Benefit From A Wise Insurance Agent

    Michael Kelley
    12 May 2012 | 4:38 am
    As a contractor you understand the very nature of your business can be dangerous and involve all lots of hands working on these kind of projects. Risk management is just part of the game. Transferring risk and assuming it by contract is something you must be highly aware of. How much or how little of that liability you decide to incur is completely a knowledge based game. This is why risk management and insurance is so incredibly important and that the insurance agent that you find and locate is completely knowledgeable about this. If you are a subcontractor being aware that general…
 
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    Car Insurance Comparison

  • Should I stop my search if I come across a company offering the lowest car insurance guaranteed?

    Carl
    12 May 2012 | 2:27 pm
    When you are looking for car insurance, price is absolutely something you should consider. Ultimately, you want to find the best insurance for the best price. However, not all auto insurance companies are created equally and price should not be your only consideration when you buy a policy. In addition to looking at premium rates, there are other factors to investigate, including consumer complaints, consumer satisfaction rates and financial stability. Let us help you find affordable car insurance. Enter your ZIP code in our FREE car insurance comparison tool and you will receive car…

  • What company has the lowest rated used car insurance?

    Carl
    11 May 2012 | 7:43 pm
    One way of rating used car insurance is to check the website J.D. Power and Associates. This is the organization that submits surveys to car insurance company clients in order to discern how well a job these companies are doing in offering their services. These surveys are given to the car insurance companies’ current clients who can feel free to answer the questions honestly. Let us help you in your search for car insurance. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to receive FREE car insurance quotes. The Lowest Rated Used Car Insurance The company that was the lowest rated for the used…

  • Do I qualify for the car insurance discount for students if I only attend school part time?

    Carl
    7 May 2012 | 11:19 am
    Car insurance companies offer various discounts for drivers. One discount, the Good Student discount is a common discount offered by many car insurance providers. If you are a good student, but are only a part time student, you may wonder if you qualify for the “Good Student” discount. In most cases, such as with Allstate and State Farm, one of the stipulations of the “Good Student” discount is that you are enrolled as a full time student. There may be other car insurance providers that offer the Good Student discount to part time students. But in most cases, they do not. The only way…

  • Is there such a thing as medical student car insurance discount?

    Carl
    7 May 2012 | 8:12 am
    The cost of a medical education is astronomical. For an in-state medical education at a state school, annual tuition and fees average approximately $25,000 for year. For a non-resident student or those attending a private school, the average cost is more than twice this amount. Further, this amount does not include any living expenses. As a medical student, you may be trying to keep your expenses low every way you can. Your car insurance is one area that you may be focusing on today, and you may be wondering if you qualify for a special insurance discount as a medical student. Enter your ZIP…

  • Top Rated 2012 Sports Cars

    Carl
    6 May 2012 | 11:40 pm
    When it comes to sports cars, there is definitely something for everyone. Whether you are a collector, a racecar driver or just the average middle aged driver looking for a new and sporty ride, a sports car could be your answer. To sum it up, sports cars are an American passion. Before making your decision, you should consider additional costs like car insurance, gas mileage and repair costs. To aid you in your search for the perfect sports car to meet your needs, we have compiled the following list of the top rated 2012 sports cars: Lamborghini Aventador Starting Price: $387,000 Horsepower:…
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    Insurance Providers

  • Amalgamated Life vs National Western Life Insurance Company

    Carl
    16 May 2012 | 12:59 pm
    Amalgamated Life and National Western are both great insurance companies. They both offer a wide variety of policies that could work for you. However, they do not offer exactly the same policies. It is highly recommended to review the details for all the policies that each company has to offer and request a quote from each company prior to selecting a plan. To compare FREE insurance quotes you can click here to enter your ZIP now! Amalgamated Life is a commonly used insurance company in the United States. They offer insurance for individual members, brokers, providers, and retirees. They…

  • The Ultimate Guide to Umbrella Insurance

    powder
    14 May 2012 | 7:12 am
    A typical insurance policy offers basic protection, and umbrella insurance is used to extend a person’s protection even further. It will fill in the gaps of a person’s general policy and give added coverage for a variety of potential circumstances. A policy could be spread over a person’s automobile and home insurance, or an umbrella policy can cover everything under a single policy if the person has a current policy that covers the home, car and boat. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to compare insurance quotes for FREE. What Does It Cover? In short, it covers whatever…

  • What is payment protection insurance?

    powder
    6 May 2012 | 9:53 am
    There are several different types of insurance that are available to those that are interested, including payment protection insurance. However, the variety of insurance coverage can confuse customers, ultimately keeping them from getting what they want or protection that they need. Payment protection insurance is something that many people need to consider, but they should understand what the insurance is to determine if it is right for them. Use our comparison tool to find and compare insurance quotes for FREE! Defining Payment Protection Insurance For those to know whether payment…

  • Is data privacy insurance necessary?

    powder
    5 May 2012 | 9:51 am
    Is data privacy insurance necessary? the simple answer and only answer is yes. In our contemporary digital age, not having data privacy insurance is leaving yourself open to host of cyber induced trouble and significant costs associated with security breaches and potential failure to comply with state and federal policies regarding client or patient privacy of information. Statistics indicate that approximately one in every three American households has been a victim of a white collar crime, and that U.S. organizations have inured damages and losses of more than $400 billion annually due to…

  • Do I need short-term liability insurance?

    powder
    4 May 2012 | 5:57 pm
    If you are looking for a new liability insurance policy, or even if you already have insurance coverage, there may be times when you may need to ask yourself “Do I need short-term liability insurance?” There are a variety of reasons why you might need this type of insurance, and once you have established that you need it, there is the issue of price. Each insurance company has a different scale or prices depending on a number of factors including length of the short-term disability insurance, the amount of the policy and what it covers. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool…
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    Teen Auto Insurance Quote

  • SUV’s car insurance, ways to reduce premium revealed!

    Kamlesh Desai
    16 May 2012 | 5:48 am
    Tim Duncan : I liked your blog post  on Auto insurance and teen safety- Comparison of mid size sports cars and SUV’s and am thinking of going for a SUV for my son. Which SUV’s are safe and are there ways to reduce car insurance for SUV’s? Response : Tim, thanks for your email. There are many SUV’s and I am no car expert. However below is the information for some popular SUV’s for 2012. Honda CR-V Review The 2012 Honda CR-V has a lot of changes both inside and out. Not only does the CR-V have a redesigned exterior, but it gets more standard features like…

  • Rental car insurance, do you need it or would your credit card cover it? Check out.

    Kamlesh Desai
    15 May 2012 | 5:51 am
    Rental auto insurance  is perfect for suckers, right? This is the advice my friend  received years back from his uncle who swore that rental auto insurance was just a money grab then one nobody really must purchase. And he  had always tended to agree with his uncle. This Easter he  leased a auto for that weekend and switched lower the insurance coverage according to usual, telling the rental agent with confidence that he was covered through his credit card. But when he drove north across the highway, a worrying doubt continued to be. Was he truly included in on his credit card? Was he,…

  • 16 year driver cheap car insurance, yes, get them with the stratagies given …

    Kamlesh Desai
    14 May 2012 | 5:47 am
    Whenever a teen reaches legal driving age, many parents begin to question simply how much is vehicle insurance for just about any 16 years of age prone to cost. The price of vehicle coverage may vary regarding the motive force as well as the insurance carrier, but generally youthful and unskilled drivers are charged more for auto protection for a lot of reasons. Policy pricing is mainly based on accident risk, as well as other studies have proven more youthful drivers, especially people more youthful than 25, may participate in any kind of accident than drivers in any other age group. Vehicle…

  • Which auto insurer offers cheap teen auto insurance?

    Kamlesh Desai
    11 May 2012 | 5:55 am
    Buying cheap vehicle insurance for teen motorists can be very challenging. Knowing where you can shop, you might find an inexpensive teen car insurance policy with lots of features. You will find several comparison websites where you can get free car insurance quotes from different companies. Enter your Zipcode into our FREE car insurance comparison tool to locate rates from multiple companies! Choose a minimum of three quotes and compare their similar features to get the best choice for you. Choose how much coverage you’ll need after which start trying to find car insurance discount…

  • Car insurance rate skyrocket – distracted driving and night driving are hazardous.

    Kamlesh Desai
    10 May 2012 | 6:44 pm
      Driving during the night could be hazardous for your car insurance rates. Research released within the Journal rest Research demonstrated that being driving for 3 hrs during the night enables you to drive as poorly as you aren’t a bloodstream-alcohol degree of .08, the legal limit for drunken driving in most 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia. Scientists analyzed 14 males who drove for a number of measures of your time at different batches of your time (3-5 a.m.,1-5 a.m.and9 p.m.-5 a.m.) on three nights. They drove in a steady rate of speed while cameras recorded their path to…
 
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    Business News - Forex Trading - Stock and Share

  • Zurich Insurance Completed the Acquisition of 100% MAA Share

    Dona Palupi
    19 Apr 2012 | 10:16 pm
    Stock and Share - Zurich Insurance Completed the Acquisition of 100% MAA Share - Malaysian Assurance Alliance Bhd (MAA) is to undergo a "several million-dollar" rebranding exercise following its acquisition by Zurich, CEO Chee Cheong said today.He said part of the exercise would include a name change on April 30 and remodelling of its 39 branches nationwide, with a new concept in line with the Zurich brand, which is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year."As we embark on the next phase of our integration, we hope to combine MAA's strong reputation and local market…

  • 3 Stocks that Drag Market Down in the Dow Jones Industrial Average

    Dona Palupi
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:31 pm
    Stock and Share - 3 Stocks that Drag Market Down in the Dow Jones Industrial Average - On a topsy-turvy day for the markets, the bears ended up winning the day. As has happened during previous down sessions, a big drop in shares of Apple seemed to get investors thinking more about taking profits after the six-month run-up in stock prices. By the end of the day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEX: DJI) fell 69 points to 12,964, once again closing below the 13,000 level and making some analysts wonder whether a deeper correction for the market is in the works.Let's take a closer look at…

  • List of Best Penny Stocks to Buy for April 2012

    Dona Palupi
    18 Apr 2012 | 12:13 pm
    Stock and Share - List of Best Penny Stocks to Buy for April 2012 - For you who interested in penny stocks and considering to buy some penny stocks, here is a list of best Over The Counter Pink Sheets (penny) stocks worth to buy for April 2012: List of Best Penny Stocks to Buy for April 2012247MGI, Inc. (TOFS.PK)3D Icon Corporation (TDCP.OB)Abot Mining Co. (ABOT.PK)Action Products International, Inc. (APII.PK)Advanced Battery Technologies, (ABAT.PK)Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (ACTC.OB)AER Energy Resources, Inc (AERN.PK)AL International, Inc. (JCOF.PK)Alamo Energy Corp. (ALME.OB)Alaska…

  • Alcoa's Outstanding Performance: 2012 Q1 Earnings US$ 94 Million

    Dona Palupi
    16 Apr 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Business News - Alcoa's Outstanding Performance: 2012 Q1 Earnings US$ 94 Million - It’s unpredictable. Alcoa Inc., the second largest aluminum producer in the world, suceed to make a profit of U.S. $ 94 million in the first quarter of this year. In fact, the market predicted the company would suffer a loss.Alcoa's positive performance was the result of an increase in production, and good demand in some markets. The group management of Alcoa also projects demand will continue to grow this year, with a good outlook for the aerospace sector, although there is still uncertainty in…

  • Commodity Prices Outlook April, 16-20, 2012

    Dona Palupi
    15 Apr 2012 | 10:56 pm
    Commodity Prices Outlook April, 16-20, 2012 - Upward price trend continues amid tight supply on cotton market: Karachi—Prices are still on upward march amid tight supplies on the cotton market, dealers said. Official spot rate extended its overnight gains, picking up Rs 50 more to Rs 5700, thus it rose by Rs 200 during the week, indicating prices may maintain its pace next week, they added.Prices of seedcotton in Sindh were at Rs 2000-2300 and in the Punjab at Rs 2100-2750, they said. As a result of increase in asking prices by the ginners, business volume came down, nearly 2500 bales of…
 
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    Cheap Car Insurance Quotes

  • How can I estimate car insurance coverage that I need?

    Sean Hopcraft
    7 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    Car insurance is a “must” for drivers today. It can minimize the expense of ownership related to accidents, theft, fire and more. Make sure to look for cheap car insurance quotes to protect yourself from too many expenses. These events can and do happen to drivers each and every day, and the expenses drivers face because of them can be significant. While car insurance reviews are important for drivers because they help people with how much insurance they buy, no driver wants to pay an excessive amount of money for the benefits insurance can provide. Comparing rate quotes can help you to…

  • Is it possible to have excess car insurance?

    Sean Hopcraft
    7 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Many people today are wondering if they are paying too much for their car insurance premium. Check online for cheap car insurance quotes to see if you are. Some may have learned that their own friends, family members, or women are paying less on their car insurance premium than they are. Others may have seen TV commercials that promise to help them save money on their car insurance expense. You can easily compare auto insurance rates by entering your ZIP code into the FREE tool above. While this is a great way to compare car insurance rates, it may have crossed your mind that you are paying…

  • Can you find low cost rental car insurance online?

    Sean Hopcraft
    6 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    Rental cars can come in handy when going on vacation or when the family car is in the repair shop. And just like when driving the family car, drivers must carry car insurance protection when using a rental car. Searching for the cheapest car insurance quotes for rental cars can be found online. Rental car insurance provides a layer of financial protection in the event of injury or damages caused by an accident. People looking at car insurance companies that provide rental insurance coverage have a variety of options to choose from besides the coverage offered through the rental car company.

  • Is there such thing as low income car insurance?

    Sean Hopcraft
    6 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Nowadays, having a car has become a necessity as people rely on their own transportation to get them to work as well as run errands and transport family members. Since more people are driving, more people are looking for cheap car insurance quotes which isn’t always easy to find. With state laws requiring drivers to have car insurance coverage, finding affordable insurance can help in reducing daily living expenses. This is especially true for people in the low income category, since a larger percentage of their yearly income must go towards auto insurance coverage. And while there…

  • How does low mileage car insurance work?

    Sean Hopcraft
    5 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    Many people rely on their car to get them to various different and often important destinations throughout the day. It is common for people to use their vehicle to drive to the grocery store for food, to work to earn an income to support their family and more. Each time you get behind the wheel of your car, you run the risk of getting into an accident. Car insurance can minimize your financial risk associated with accidents and other events, and it is a requirement for most drivers today. You simply have to type your ZIP code into the FREE rate comparison feature to shop for rates. While all…
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    Compare Auto Insurance

  • Is there such a thing as windshield auto insurance?

    Michelle
    15 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    While there’s no such thing as windshield auto insurance, there is usually a glass policy included in comprehensive and collision insurance. This is an optional part of your insurance policy, unless you have a car loan, so not everyone has glass coverage. Get instant, FREE quotes from several car insurance companies after you enter your ZIP above! However, different companies handle broken glass claims differently. And, depending on your deductible, the company might not pay for anything. Deductible Level Many people believe that auto insurance companies don’t cover windshield repair…

  • Why should I compare auto insurance companies?

    Michelle
    11 May 2012 | 1:06 pm
    No one likes to over-pay for anything. While there aren’t sales or coupons for auto insurance, there are some ways to save money on it. Comparing auto insurance companies and their rates is one of the best ways to save. Start saving now – just type in your ZIP code to get FREE quotes from multiple auto insurance offers and policies! When getting quotes from different companies, make sure you are comparing quotes for the same type of policy. If one company gives you a quote for a policy with a $500 deductible and another gives you a quotes with a $1000 deductible, it’s not a good…

  • Where can I find the best auto insurance quote?

    Michelle
    11 May 2012 | 12:50 pm
    You can find the best auto insurance quote by going online and completing some research on the top rated auto insurance companies. J.D.Power ranks automobile insurance companies using four categories: Policy offerings, pricing, billing and payment, and contacting the insurer. They won’t give you the quote, but you will know which companies are safe to work with. Then you can get quotes from any quote site. If you want to find the best auto insurance quote and policy for your car, place your ZIP code in the FREE tool right away! Another way to narrow your selection is to go to AM Best…

  • Where can I find an auto insurance guide?

    Michelle
    11 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    Auto insurance guides can conveniently be found all over the Internet. From insurance company websites, consumer oriented sites sponsored by state governments, financial magazines and newspapers to private organizations and blogs, smart shoppers can readily find helpful information when searching for automobile insurance. Make auto insurance shopping easy by putting your ZIP code in the FREE box on this page! Shopping for an efficient and economical auto policy can be a bit more complicated than searching for other insurance products since companies rate premiums for auto policies by taking…

  • Where can I find an auto insurance calculator?

    Michelle
    11 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    Auto insurance calculators may be more common than potholes, with a large number of calculators available online. Many auto insurance company websites offer insurance calculators, as do websites that focus on selling or providing quotes for various types of insurance. Enter your ZIP code into our FREE tool to compare the cost of various auto insurance rates now! Your zip code is typically the first piece of information an insurance calculator needs to begin. This kicks off the entire calculation process by determining what city and state you are in. As each state has its own set of auto…
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    Insurance Marketing HQ

  • Google’s Penguin Update: The New “Campaign” Against Web Spam & What You Can Do to Help Your Website

    sarnold
    4 May 2012 | 7:56 am
    It is common knowledge in the Digital Marketing world (or to any search users) how much Google changes – and how important it is to keep up with them. About a month ago, Google announced the plan for their upcoming algorithm changes – different than the Panda updates of the past.  In this initiative, the search engine stated they would begin to punish websites that are “over-optimized” or “over-SEO’d.” They have since back-pedaled on their statements to push the focus of this campaign to webspam, but nonetheless, “over-optimization” is a component to watch for. The update,…

  • What’s in a Title? Well…Everything!

    bscartabello
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:57 pm
    The old saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Sadly, when it comes to blogging, many online readers do. For bloggers, our cover is our title. If you do not produce an eye-catching, jumping-off-the-page kind of headline, your blog will be quickly dismissed. There is nothing worse than that for us bloggers! In order to avoid having this happen to our posts, it is important that we are all aware of a few tips and techniques on how to create interesting and relevant titles in the world of insurance. Before we get into the techniques, there are a few ground rules that one must…

  • The Missing Links

    Skundel
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:04 am
    In my last blog post, I discussed the importance of link building on the web, and how links can improve your Google PageRank.  Here at Astonish we have our own link building methods, but these are some you can try yourself. Although it might seem like a no-brainer, one of the best methods of getting a link is by e-mailing your friends, family, and loyal customers.  You already know that they would recommend you in person, so it makes sense that they would be happy to recommend you on the web as well.  Unless you ask, you’ll never know if one of them might have a popular website or blog…

  • Pressure and Time: Growing a Successful Twitter Following

    wmanly
    23 Apr 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Has your agency been locked into the social media game for a while? Now that the initial phase is over—getting acclimated with different platforms, setting up profiles, etc.—you may be ready to begin taking a more serious approach to your social media efforts. Whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, there’s always room for improvement, especially for the latter. Using Twitter effectively to help grow your business is a more daunting task than you probably initially thought. Because there are hundreds of millions of users with just as many interests, getting mentions and retweets isn’t…

  • Are You Blogging For Each Phase of Your Buying Cycle?

    ntomasso
    20 Apr 2012 | 10:37 am
    Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been blogging for a while, there are a few blogging strategies you should be aware of to generate success from all those hours you’re spending or are about to spend on your blog. In this post, we’ll talk about one blogging strategy that could really improve your insurance marketing plan. Have you ever considered writing content for each phase of the buying cycle? In insurance, there are a few phases most customers go through when deciding to purchase. The first phase is the awareness phase. This is a good time to grab potential customers’…
 
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    Insurance Forum

  • Site is Finally Up! Whatcha Think?

    Centralsolution
    16 May 2012 | 11:35 am
    Good job on writing the copy. I noticed a few commas missing, but other than that it looks great. My mom's side of the family is from Broken Bow, so I like the Okie feel that the page has.

  • CMS Complaints

    The Rabbi
    16 May 2012 | 11:32 am
    Quote: Originally Posted by moonlightandmargaritas (Post 540369) Rabbi, you strike me as kind of a low budget "Pajama Man". :yes: Thanks for the insight. My goal in life was to make as much money as possible with the least amount of effort. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Quote: Originally Posted by senior-advisor-indiana (Post 540395) I don't see how anyone could retire after 4 years selling Medicare advantage or med supps. You could definitely take a break but those renewals won't be there long if you stop working completely. 200 apps a year as an MGA and SGA and remember, I…

  • Agents Copy Entire Pages of My Site

    b61mack
    16 May 2012 | 11:20 am
    whats your link. and what is is link, we can all send him a nice little note....

  • Live Transfer Leads

    Phillyinsuranceguy17
    16 May 2012 | 11:17 am
    Green sky to answer your question i didnt realize the post was that old when I responded and yes I do like Live Transfers. Your responses are whats wrong with these sites. If you dont have something nice to say then zip it. I dont care how many posts you have on here mr Guru!

  • What Makes a Good Sales Manager?

    moonlightandmargaritas
    16 May 2012 | 11:17 am
    Quote: Originally Posted by djs (Post 540761) Problem is, most sales managers have no clue on how to actually sell. Virtually anyone can manage. Very few can manage, and lead.
 
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    bestcarinsurancecompanies.net

  • Choosing between Progressive and GEICO

    23 Apr 2012 | 10:57 am
    Progressive and GEICO are two of the leading names in the American insurance industry today. Both are full-service insurance companies that focus primarily on direct sales via the Internet or by phone. Progressive and GEICO both advertise heavily targeting the younger demographic and burgeoning families on a tight budget. Despite their similarities, including having the same blue and white colors in their logo, there are some major differences between the two about which customers should be aware before they choose one or the other. Company Similarities Both Progressive and GEICO offer a…

  • Allstate Drive Wise

    16 Apr 2012 | 4:26 am
    Before choosing an auto insurance plan, drivers should carefully examine all of the discount programs and services offered by competing providers. The Allstate Drive Wise® program is different in that it records the daily driving habits of the customer and can result in a substantial savings for those who demonstrate responsibility when operating a motor vehicle. Safe Drivers Earn Points Car insurance companies cannot afford to give favorable rate quotes to all drivers. Statistics gathered over the years clearly show correlations between certain driving habits and the likelihood of an…

  • Travellers IntelliDrive

    9 Apr 2012 | 4:48 am
    Modern technology has allowed insurance companies to monitor the driving habits of individuals more closely and accurately, making it easier to reward those who demonstrate good judgment while operating a motor vehicle. Travelers IntelliDrive is a program designed to help safe drivers keep their insurance premiums affordable while minimizing risk for the insurer. Driver Statistics Auto insurance companies determine the cost of premiums by looking at the make and model of vehicle, the driving record of the individual, and their address. Liability insurance, collision coverage and comprehensive…

  • High Performance Car Insurance

    3 Apr 2012 | 4:27 pm
    Several factors specific to performance vehicles make high performance car insurance much more expensive than insurance charged for other types of vehicles. Even so, owners of high performance vehicles who take the time to comparison shop will be able to find more affordable coverage. Why is Insurance For Performance Cars More Expensive? People who drive high performance vehicles are believed to be unusually high risks for auto insurance companies because of the nature of these vehicles. For one, high performance vehicles were created to be driven very fast. One of the main features that are…

  • The 5 Safest Station Wagons of 2012

    29 Mar 2012 | 3:19 am
    When it comes to transporting you, your family, and your personal items, station wagons still are a good choice. In recent years, station wagons have become more sporty (no Clark Griswold wagon’s please), offer more features, and more fuel-efficient. But one factor that shouldn’t be overlooked is safety. We look at the 5 safest station wagons of 2012, based on widely reported crash tests. Safety First There are many reasons to consider safety when selecting a car, and when you need a station wagon, either to carry your family or for the space these cars offer, you want to be sure you have…
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    Car Insurance Quotes

  • Auto Insurance For Your Teenager

    Chadwick
    11 May 2012 | 1:16 pm
    Your teenager is about to get their driving permit. The fact that they are a teenager alone probably causes you enough trouble, but the idea of them being more mobile is not comforting. How can you make the best of the situation? What sort of car will they drive? What sort of insurance should they have? What’s the safest way to insure them? How will you keep them alive long enough to safely graduate high school? Some of these are more easily addressed than others; perhaps it’s best to discuss those things which you can control. Don’t wait. Let your insurance company know as soon as your…

  • Test Driving a Vehicle on a Car Lot – Who Pays When You Get In An Accident?

    Chad
    16 Feb 2012 | 4:55 am
    You are on a car lot and choose a car to test drive. You pull out into traffic and—wham! An accident! What now? Are you responsible for the damage to the car? Doesn’t the car lot have insurance on its vehicles? Who pays the deductible for this claim? These are all questions which may occur to you after such an incident, and it is important to know the right answers. Otherwise, you might be stuck with paying bills which are not rightfully yours, or believe you are exempt from paying damages you actually owe. Car lots do carry insurance on their vehicles. In most cases, this insurance…

  • Auto Insurance For Your Kids When You Are Divorced

    Chad
    14 Feb 2012 | 5:59 am
    Divorces may be amicable, but the financial settlements are often complicated. When children are involved, there are many questions of financial responsibility to be answered. Who will carry the children’s automobile insurance? How will their cars be titled? Who has the responsibility for enforcing rules about driving? These questions can make insuring kids from a divorce very challenging. However, by careful planning and attention to detail, you can successfully insure your children even in a divorce situation. It requires communication between the divorcing parents and cooperation on the…

  • How Can You Obtain Your Vehicle’s Diminished Value From Your Insurance Agency?

    Chad
    9 Feb 2012 | 4:58 am
    If your car has been in a wreck, one unpleasant fact which must be faced is that it is now worth less than the same model of car which has not been in an accident. This decrease in value is known as “diminished value.” What is not commonly known is that your insurance company, or the insurance company of the person who caused your accident, can be made to pay you the difference in the diminished value of your car. The trick to getting this payment is first, knowing about it, and secondly, requesting it. Many insurance companies will deny such a claim at first, trying to keep customers…

  • Does My Credit Card Cover Collision Damage When Renting A Car?

    Chad
    7 Feb 2012 | 5:40 am
    If you frequently rent cars, it pays to be aware of some of the “hidden rules” regarding insurance coverage. There are several ways rental cars can be insured, and rather than duplicate coverage, you should be aware of coverage you may already have which would pay for damages if you rented a car and caused an accident. One way you may be covered for rental car damage is simply to take a policy out when you rent the car. These policies are cheap and are available right where you rent the car. However, if you already have liability insurance on your own car, you are generally covered when…
 
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    Insurance Marketing HQ

  • Google’s Penguin Update: The New “Campaign” Against Web Spam & What You Can Do to Help Your Website

    sarnold
    4 May 2012 | 7:56 am
    It is common knowledge in the Digital Marketing world (or to any search users) how much Google changes – and how important it is to keep up with them. About a month ago, Google announced the plan for their upcoming algorithm changes – different than the Panda updates of the past.  In this initiative, the search engine stated they would begin to punish websites that are “over-optimized” or “over-SEO’d.” They have since back-pedaled on their statements to push the focus of this campaign to webspam, but nonetheless, “over-optimization” is a component to watch for. The update,…

  • What’s in a Title? Well…Everything!

    bscartabello
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:57 pm
    The old saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Sadly, when it comes to blogging, many online readers do. For bloggers, our cover is our title. If you do not produce an eye-catching, jumping-off-the-page kind of headline, your blog will be quickly dismissed. There is nothing worse than that for us bloggers! In order to avoid having this happen to our posts, it is important that we are all aware of a few tips and techniques on how to create interesting and relevant titles in the world of insurance. Before we get into the techniques, there are a few ground rules that one must…

  • The Missing Links

    Skundel
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:04 am
    In my last blog post, I discussed the importance of link building on the web, and how links can improve your Google PageRank.  Here at Astonish we have our own link building methods, but these are some you can try yourself. Although it might seem like a no-brainer, one of the best methods of getting a link is by e-mailing your friends, family, and loyal customers.  You already know that they would recommend you in person, so it makes sense that they would be happy to recommend you on the web as well.  Unless you ask, you’ll never know if one of them might have a popular website or blog…

  • Pressure and Time: Growing a Successful Twitter Following

    wmanly
    23 Apr 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Has your agency been locked into the social media game for a while? Now that the initial phase is over—getting acclimated with different platforms, setting up profiles, etc.—you may be ready to begin taking a more serious approach to your social media efforts. Whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, there’s always room for improvement, especially for the latter. Using Twitter effectively to help grow your business is a more daunting task than you probably initially thought. Because there are hundreds of millions of users with just as many interests, getting mentions and retweets isn’t…

  • Are You Blogging For Each Phase of Your Buying Cycle?

    ntomasso
    20 Apr 2012 | 10:37 am
    Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been blogging for a while, there are a few blogging strategies you should be aware of to generate success from all those hours you’re spending or are about to spend on your blog. In this post, we’ll talk about one blogging strategy that could really improve your insurance marketing plan. Have you ever considered writing content for each phase of the buying cycle? In insurance, there are a few phases most customers go through when deciding to purchase. The first phase is the awareness phase. This is a good time to grab potential customers’…
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    Ryan Hanley's Blog

  • Opportunity and Success Through a Different Set of Eyes

    Ryan Hanley
    16 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    For those that don’t know my straight job is property-casualty insurance agent… Last night I had a meeting with a very good client of mine. He’s an immigrant from Eastern Europe and owns a decent amount of property here in Albany. After finishing some business we started chatting about the economy and where the US is currently positioned (economically speaking) in relation to the rest of the world. I commented that the growth of Russia and China and India and Brazil and their desire to break free of the US Dollar scared me as an investor and businessman (Not the point of…

  • How to Harness the Power of the Facebook Share Button

    Ryan Hanley
    14 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    A couple weeks ago I wrote a Guest Post for Ms. Ileane of Basic Blog Tips titled: Share Button vs Like Button For Best Facebook Exposure It sparked a fantastic discussion on the social sharing power of the Facebook Share Button and how most people just assumed that Share and Like button had similar authority within Facebook… …that couldn’t be more wrong. Don’t assume that all your Friend and Fans see every message you post… They don’t.  Read the post I reference above to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about. If you want your content…

  • Content Creation Curation – Social Media RoundUp – Week 16

    Ryan Hanley
    11 May 2012 | 5:58 am
    The Content Creation Curation is a visual representation of the week that was in Social Media. I use Pinterest as a repository for all the articles I find to be extremely valuable to the social media user seeking success Online. This is the 16th week of Content Creation Curation and this week features some of my favorite thought-leaders Online including: How to Seduce a Goldfish from Peter Sandeen The ‘Slow Drip’ Method for Building a Massive Following from Firepole Marketing 19 Ways to Build Relationships With Blog Comments Guest post from Marcus Sheridan on Social Media Examiner…

  • How to Add a Click to Tweet Link in a WordPress Blog

    Ryan Hanley
    9 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    As bloggers we’re all looking for ways to get our content shared on Twitter. Wouldn’t it be great if every single person that read your blog post Tweeted that post to all their friends and connections? Sure it would! Is it going to happen? Absolutely not. However there is a way to encourage your readers to Tweet your content more often: Tell your readers exactly what you want them to Tweet Make it easy for them to Tweet And the tool that can do both is Click to Tweet. (see below) Ryan Hanley is teaching me how to add a Click to Tweet Link to my Blog! Click to Tweet In the…

  • How to Paint Your Picture of Success Online

    Ryan Hanley
    7 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    What does success online look like to you? Seriously… I’m asking the question for real.  You’re obviously interested in marketing some sort of business online because you’re reading my blog… So I’m assuming because you’re taking the time to do so that you want some sort of success online… What does success online look like to you? It’s a question I ask myself all the time.  I’m still working on the answer. If there was a gun to my head I’d say something like: “The ability to create content around success Online and make…
 
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    Term Life Insurance | Cheap Life Insurance Quotes

  • Understanding Long-term Care Insurance

    David Romero
    8 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    As a person gets older, everything seemingly gets more expensive. The cost of living tends to rise or fall depending on changes in health, and as a person gets older their health also declines. Now more than ever, the elderly are increasingly prone to living below the line of poverty, and in the process the elderly have tended to become more and more of a burden on family members, care providers, taxpayers and the federal government. In order to combat this, many people have begun to take out long-term care insurance. But, because of the risks involved and other circumstances, the premiums…

  • Can Losing Weight Lower My Life Insurance Payments?

    Chad
    7 May 2012 | 3:30 am
    Losing weight has become the new national pastime. Every day we are bombarded with advertisements about the new ways we can lose weight quickly and painlessly. Companies have emerged that sell pre-packaged foods in an effort to take the work out of dieting, and health clubs and gyms are doing a booming business. The sudden interest in weight loss has spawned a billion-dollar-a-year industry that has caught the attention of millions of Americans. Most of us want to lose some weight to look better, feel better, and lower our blood pressure and cholesterol. Doctors and the healthcare industry…

  • Why You Need 30-Year Term Life Insurance Instead of 20

    Chad
    17 Apr 2012 | 3:17 am
    When considering life insurance policies, especially at a young age, thirty years may seem excessive. After all, by the age of 55, should you not expect to be retiring with a paid-for home and money in the bank? Why should you extend your life insurance term to 65, assuming you are 35 at the age of purchase? There are very good immediate reasons to choose a thirty-year term policy over a twenty-year term, and one of the biggest is price. You will most likely pay far less per unit for a thirty-year term policy than a twenty-year term policy, simply because the risk of your death is spread over…

  • 3 Mistakes People Make When Buying Term Life

    Chad
    3 Apr 2012 | 3:35 am
    Buying term life insurance is a big step for most people. After all, you are agreeing to a monthly payment in order to protect your loved ones after your death; are you sure you are getting the right insurance in the right amount for your money? Here are three common errors people make when purchasing term life insurance and how to avoid them. 1) Buying too much or too little insurance. This is probably the biggest mistake most first-time insurance buyers make. There are several formulas for calculating how much insurance you will need for your family, but none of them are foolproof and none…

  • Fortune 500 Companies and Their Life Insurance Benefits

    Chad
    20 Mar 2012 | 2:55 am
    For employees of Fortune 500 companies, especially those in senior management positions, life insurance may be handled differently than it is for “average” people. One form of life insurance called COLI, or corporate-owned life insurance, has become very common for high-level executives, although it used to be reserved for low-paid workers. COLI began to be commonly issued after World War II as a tax hedge for companies against the losses of key employees. A COLI policy could be issued on a president, vice-president, or CFO of a company, and although the premiums were not tax-deductible,…
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    The Claims SPOT

  • Insanity: Claim’s Departments Can’t Expect Different Results Without Changing Their Organizations

    Marc Lanzkowsky
    9 May 2012 | 3:12 pm
    Maybe I care too much about our industry or am just frustrated by the lack of attention to quality claims handling, but this is annoying. Why should claims make up half of the most frequent market conduct issues for the Property & Casualty industry as listed by Wolters Kluwer for the 5th straight year? As part of their review they track and analyze the results from state market conduct examinations. As with their prior studies, claims issues continue to dominate the list of state concerns. In my latest post I analyze the last 5 years of the Wolters study and find an upsetting trend -…

  • Listening: The Most Under-Utilized Skill in Negotiation

    Nancy Hudgins
    22 Mar 2012 | 10:12 am
    Nancy Hudgins is back with great advise about a skill claims folks can use to help improve their skills as a negotiator: Listening. It is certainly easy to implement and won't cost a claims organization anything. Take a read and tell us what you think.

  • What Would Steve Jobs Do In A Claims Organization?

    Marc Lanzkowsky
    15 Mar 2012 | 9:48 am
    So what would Steve Jobs say about our claims industry? Well, having heard about his reputation I think I will leave what he would say out of this post. Regardless, I think Mr. Jobs would see an industry with tremendous opportunities to innovate and improve the way they deliver and manage claims services. In our most recent post, we explore a claims world in as it may be in the world of a master of product design and marketing.

  • Negotiation Strategy: Going to the Balcony

    Nancy Hudgins
    13 Feb 2012 | 3:21 pm
    Sometimes taking a break from the heat of negotiations is a good way to jump start the process. In our latest post from contributor Nancy Hudgins, The Claims SPOT explores ways to cool those emotions in a heated claims negotiation. Take a look and tell us how you would react?

  • Getting More in Your Negotiations

    Nancy Hudgins
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:01 am
    Take a look at Contributor, Nancy Hudgins review of the Stuart Diamond book on negotiation. We can always use ideas on how to improve negotiations and these look like some good ones.
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    McCormick Insurance Solutions, Auto Insurance, Home Insurance, Surety Bonds

  • NHTSA Highway Fatality Report could Lower San Diego Auto Insurance Rates

    MccormickInsure
    16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    The recently released National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2011 automotive fatality report could have a positive effect on San Diego auto insurance rates. It’s too early to get excited, but the drop of 1.7% nationwide brings the total decline in traffic fatalities to 26% since 2005. That has consumers and insurance agents alike calling for lower rates, particularly in states like California that don’t offer no-fault auto insurance. According to an accident liability law study conducted recently at Columbia University, states that offer no-fault auto insurance policies have a…

  • Preparing for Fire Season with the Right Homeowners Insurance

    MccormickInsure
    3 May 2012 | 8:10 am
    No one wants to contemplate the thought of home damage by wildfire, but it’s a very real possibility, particularly when we’ve had the type of dry spring and erratic weather patterns that we’ve experienced in the past few years. More than one hundred large wildfires have already been reported this fire season and the US Wildlife Service predicts this year will be similar to last, a season that saw devastating fires in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Southern California is on the watch list this year also. Are you prepared? Do you have San Diego homeowners insurance? According to US…

  • More than just Auto, Home, and Life Insurance

    MccormickInsure
    18 Apr 2012 | 12:00 pm
    McCormick Insurance Solutions wants to be the company you call for all of your insurance needs. To attain that goal, we need to offer more than just auto, home, and our San Diego life insurance policies. Those are our staples, but your insurance needs are often for other more specific times in your life, like when you get married or when you travel aboard. Are you insured for those occurrences? Did you even know that insurance is available to cover you for these joyful occasions? Here at McCormick Insurance we have multiple options for you. Weddings are expensive, but when done correctly…

  • Spring has Sprung – Motorcycles are Everywhere

    MccormickInsure
    4 Apr 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Do you ride? Are you conscious of the fact that there are two wheeled vehicles on the road that are not as easy to see as the four wheeled automobiles you’re used to looking out for? We here at McCormick Insurance Solutions have, unfortunately, seen our share of needless motorcycle accidents over the years, usually caused by careless motorists not seeing a smaller vehicle when they change lanes or cut into moving traffic. As one of the leading providers of San Diego auto insurance, we know these situations are never pleasant, either for the driver of the car or the motorcyclist, who is…

  • Your Insurance Needs are not the same as Theirs Are

    MccormickInsure
    21 Mar 2012 | 12:00 pm
    The title says it all. Your insurance needs are not the same as your neighbor’s, your friend’s, or even your co-worker’s. There’s no one size fits all solution when it comes to insurance, whether its home insurance, auto insurance, or life insurance. At different stages of life, in different employment or living situations, you will need options. That’s what McCormick Insurance Solutions has to offer – choice. If that’s what you’re looking for you have come to the right place. We have thousands of customers with dozens of different insurance needs and we understand that you…
 
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    Auto Insurance News

  • Seven things your auto mechanic may not tell you

    Kristin
    14 May 2012 | 1:46 pm
    Linda Melone Unless you’re an auto mechanic, bringing your car in for repairs can be intimidating. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to tell whether your car has been properly repaired, says Kevin Alsup, vice president of insurance at Foundation Insurance Services in Florida. If you crash your car as a result of a mechanic using [...]

  • ADHD boosts teen driving risks

    Kristin
    9 May 2012 | 1:39 pm
    Linda Melone Teen drivers already run an extraordinarily high risk of crashing. Add to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to the mix, and it makes matters worse. Teen drivers with ADHD are two to four times more likely to crash than those without the condition, according to a study by the Medical University of South Carolina. [...]

  • Some auto insurers offering discounts for electric cars

    Kristin
    7 May 2012 | 5:04 pm
    Tamara E. Holmes While the jury is still out on whether the cost of insuring electric cars will be higher or lower than the cost of insuring gas-powered vehicles, a couple of auto insurance companies are rewarding consumers who embrace a more environmentally friendly approach to driving. The Hartford announced in April 2012 that it [...]

  • Teen driving crashes can cause lifelong effects on the brain

    Kristin
    4 May 2012 | 5:42 pm
    Lori Johnston Teens are encouraged to think before they get behind the wheel. That’s because even if they survive crashes – the leading cause of death for teens – the effect of the collisions could damage the organ that controls thinking: the brain. More than 30 percent of the 55,000 teen drivers and their passengers [...]

  • How epilepsy affects auto insurance rates

    Kristin
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:59 pm
    Kathryn Hawkins Epilepsy, a neurological condition that causes recurring seizures, is more common than you probably realize. One in every 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy during their lives. In the United States alone, close to 140,000 cases are diagnosed in a given year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [...]
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    Verisk Insurance Solutions Blog

  • How can small insurers survive and grow?

    Chip Chaffee
    16 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    In the past 15 years, more than 100 property/casualty insurance companies have either failed or merged into larger enterprises. The top ten insurance companies continue to grow, and the number of companies overall continues to decline. So how can the small insurer survive and grow? In a recently released Verisk Review article titled “Champions of [...]

  • Workers Comp Roundtable: Talking EDI, XML, FROI/SROI, Analytics — and How They All Tie Together

    Vincent Conti
    14 May 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Space may be the final frontier to anyone who’s a Star Trek fan — and I know you’re out there. But in the workers compensation arena, analytics is the next frontier. Though the topic isn’t new to the workers comp marketplace, there’s an important upward trend in using advanced analytics, as more and more companies [...]

  • ISO Launches Web Presence Search

    John Deegan
    8 May 2012 | 10:56 am
    With the rapid growth of social media has come an explosion in new content detailing the daily lives of individuals, many of whom are insurance policyholders. The average social media user creates more than 90 pieces of new content a month and more than 30 billion pieces of content are shared each month across a [...]

  • Your Insurance Telematics Questions Answered

    Chip Chaffee
    7 May 2012 | 9:06 am
    What do state regulators think about telematics programs? Is there any concern about infringement of privacy?   Those were just a couple of questions ISO experts Chris Sirota and Isaac Wash tackled in a recent live chat on insurance telematics. The live chat was a supplement to the popular web seminar Seven Million Miles Later: An [...]

  • Medicare Secondary Payer Legislation, Required Reporting, Processes, and Workflows

    Vincent Conti
    4 May 2012 | 12:18 pm
    If you listen to two respected individuals in a given field — even if you’re familiar with the field — you’ll probably get some new takes on the subject matter. At Verisk’s latest web seminar, the topic was Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) requirements. Rob Lewis, president of Verisk’s Crowe Paradis Services Corporation, and John Giknis, [...]
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    CarInsuranceQuotes.com

  • Mandatory car insurance vs. mandatory health insurance

    jason
    14 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    Gina Roberts-Grey ObamaCare sizzles as a hot-button issue — in political campaigns, in boardrooms, in households and in courtrooms. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to rule in June 2012 on the constitutionally of federal health care reform law, one of the cornerstones of President Obama’s first term. If the Supreme Court does not toss the mandate, most Americans will be required in 2014 to buy health insurance. This isn’t the first time that Americans have confronted an insurance mandate. Drivers in every state except New Hampshire are required to carry car…

  • Behind the wheel: Teen girls distracted by cellphones

    jason
    28 Mar 2012 | 1:32 pm
    John Egan Teen girls are almost twice as likely as teen boys to use cellphones and other electronic devices while driving, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “The gender differences with regard to distraction observed in this study raise some points that we’ll want to investigate in future projects,” says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Every insight we gain into driver behavior has the potential to lead us to new risk management strategies.” The study was based on in-car video taken of teen drivers in North…

  • In alleged fraud plot, man buries ‘stolen’ motorcycle

    jason
    26 Mar 2012 | 12:44 pm
    John Egan Investigators in North Carolina literally unearthed the primary piece of evidence in a motorcycle insurance fraud case. Peter Jay Raposa, 43, of Ellenboro, N.C., allegedly buried his 2005 Harley-Davidson custom motorcycle on his property after reporting it stolen in 2006. He then filed a theft claim with his insurer, Nationwide. The claim was settled with a $25,000 payment to the lien holder, First Citizens Bank in North Carolina, and a $4,000 payment to Raposa, according to the North Carolina Department of Insurance. In January 2012, the motorcycle was found buried on property…

  • Survey: Many Americans in the dark about car insurance

    jason
    21 Mar 2012 | 10:17 am
    John Egan Buying car insurance is no laughing matter. But as American drivers are being bombarded with humorous ads for car insurance, the laughter may be drowning out some important considerations. Sixty-eight percent of the Americans surveyed by Erie Insurance said that funny car insurance ads are mostly about saving money. But even though they ranked coverage as the most important factor when shopping for car insurance, 74 percent acknowledged that the blitz of car insurance commercials has caused them to forget about coverage choices that affect how well they’re protected.

  • St. Louis ranks as U.S. city with most dangerous drivers

    jason
    14 Mar 2012 | 4:26 pm
    John Egan St. Louis — a bastion of beer and baseball — reigns as the major U.S. city with the most dangerous drivers, according to a new list compiled by Men’s Health magazine. To determine the rankings, Men’s Health took into account the rate of deadly car crashes in 100 major U.S. cities; the percentage of traffic deaths involving alcohol, speeding or hit-and-runs; the rate of seat belt use; the average number of years between car accidents; and laws on cellphone use while driving. Compared with the city’s ranking on last year’s list, “the driving has only…
 
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    InsureDirect.comBlog | InsureDirect.com

  • Ohio Car Insurance Rates On The Rise

    Mike Dortch
    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Post Date May 15, 2012 An Insurance Institute report shows an average increase in Ohio car insurance rates  rose by over 5% from 2009 to 2011.  The auto insurance association, which represents home and auto insurance providers in the Buckeye state, show an insured drivers paid about $650.00 last year.  This is a sizable increase in auto insurance rates. Ohio auto insurance customers only paid about $600 in 2009. These statistics are based on information from Ohio car insurance rate studies from the Ohio Insurance Institute.  The Ohio Institute compared data from the National Association…

  • Allstate Auto Insurance Demands Fraudulent Claims Payments Returned

    Mike Dortch
    3 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Friday’s Post May 4, 2012 - In a bid to recuperate over a million dollars, Allstate Auto Insurance issued a lawsuit against sixteen people and healthcare firms it alleges filed auto insurance fraud claims for Personal Injury Payments. The suit claims that sixteen people whom lacked the proper medical expertise, and who filed the fraud paperwork – ran these companies unlawfully. The plot to file false claims involved a chiropractor, another individual, and three healthcare companies that had unlawfully filed articles of incorporation in New York State. The chiropractor was listed…

  • New Jersey Auto Insurance Fraud Case Charged

    Mike Dortch
    26 Apr 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Friday’s Post  4/27/12 -  A New Jersey man pleaded guilty on charges to commit New Jersey auto insurance fraud against a number of New Jersey Car Insurance Companies  robbing them of $2,000,000.00 in insurance fraud claims. Prosecutors charged a Chiropractor on a single count of conspiracy to commit fraud by mail, engaging in a scheme based out of his chiropractic practice. The man  had two New Jersey offices which are no longer in operation. In 2006, the  New Jersey man entered into conspiracy with an personal injury attorney and other accomplices to commit car insurance fraud…

  • 2012 Is A Good Year For Car Insurance And The Auto Insurance Industry

    Mike Dortch
    15 Apr 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Post Date April 16, 2012 - Auto Insurance Companies are very enthusiastic regarding the premium generation this year even though 2011 was a very difficult year. Where profits were exceptional in earlier years, auto accidents spiked in 2012.  One good sign this year is increased premium.  Auto Insurance Rate collection has been much higher since auto insurance companies have been focused on hiring sale field staff to expand car insurance agent representation.  Based on a recent car insurance company study, over half of all car insurance carriers nationwide are planing to add extra…

  • Auto Insurance Company Advocates For Implementation Of Safe Driving Laws

    Mike Dortch
    12 Apr 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Post Date April 13, 2012 -  The American Automobile Association called for more laws to ban text messaging, hand-held cell phones and other items which case distracted driving. The association expects law makers in fifteen states to pass driving laws barring such habits. 35 states have passed  new laws that bar drivers from sending or receiving text messages while driving a car or motorcycles. These activities cause, driving violations ,at fault accidents and increases in auto insurance rates. Since last year,  the NTSB has lobbied for a complete ban on non-emergency use of portable…
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    Life Insurance Insights

  • Pension Maximization

    Mike
    14 May 2012 | 6:37 pm
    In my last entry I discussed using an Indexed Life Insurance policy as a way to fund for a retirement income.  This time, I’ll also be dealing with retirement, but not as a way to fund for a pension, but as a way to enhance a pension that has already been earned. Married workers who are retiring with a monthly pension will need to make an important decision prior to the commencement of that pension.  The retiree and spouse must decide whether to: Receive the maximum monthly pension that stops at the retiree’s  death, leaving nothing for the surviving spouse—or— Receive a reduced…

  • An Alternative To The Roth IRA

    Mike
    10 May 2012 | 7:48 pm
    This is my first entry on the uses for Permanent Life Insurance. The Roth IRA has become a popular retirement plan.  Contributions to the Roth IRA are not tax deductible, but earnings on investment grow tax free and at retirement income is received tax free.  Here’s an interesting alternative or supplement to the Roth IRA using an Indexed Life (IL) Insurance policy… Our example is a male, age 35 who is thinking about contributing $5,000 per year to a Roth IRA.  He has a couple of young kids, so life insurance is important. Instead of the IRA he purchases a $444,451 Indexed Life…

  • When You Need “Perm” Not “Term”

    Mike
    7 May 2012 | 12:21 pm
    Now, it’s time to discuss when “Perm”, not “Term”, is necessary.  If term is the lowest price for pure death benefit protection, why would you ever pay more?  Here’s an overview of what I’ll be covering:  An interesting alternative to a Roth IRA. We’ll take a look at a very interesting alternative to a Roth IRA using Indexed Life Insurance.  You’ll be amazed at by what I show you, but beware of the risks. Pension Maximization. When a married worker is retiring with a monthly pension, there may be a way to maximize current income and provide greater…

  • Getting Cash From Whole Life Policies When You Want To Continue The Policy

    Mike
    3 May 2012 | 4:26 pm
    Last time I discussed accessing the cash value of a Permanent life Insurance policy by discontinuing the policy.  Now, here are some ways to get cash from policies while continuing the policy in force. If you own any type of whole life policy the only way to access the cash value of the basic policy withoutsurrendering the policy is through a policy loan.  If you borrow $10,000 from the policy’s cash value and the contract’s interest rate is 6% you will never have to repay the loan during your lifetime, but you will be charged $600 every year for interest.  If you don’t pay the…

  • Show Me The Money – How To Access Cash Values In Permanent Life Insurance

    Mike
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:20 pm
    I’ve outlined the different types of Permanent  Life Insurance and next I’ll be discussing when Permanent Insurance is needed.  But, first I want to address the cash value that these policies generate, how that cash can be accessed during your lifetime and what happens to it after you die. First, the cash value after death question.  Cash values are not paid in addition to the policy’s face amount at your death.  Oh yes, by adding a rider for an additional cost you can increase the death benefit by an amount equal to the cash value, but that gets very expensive.  It’s not part of…
 
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    SelectNews Blog

  • Good scores on your Life Insurance physical can pay off big!

    SelectQuote
    14 May 2012 | 7:11 pm
    We’re using a $500,000 policy from Banner Life* with a 20 year term as an example. A 45-year-old male would pay $1,205 a year for this policy he qualified for the Standard class rate. But his rate would only be $755 a year if qualified for the Preferred Plus class rate. That’s a savings of over $450 a year. When you multiply this over the 20 year term of the policy, it adds up to a saving of $9,100! The thing that has a great influence on your rating is how you do on your Life Insurance medical exam. For tips on how to make the most of your exam, see the SelectQuote blog, “Six ways…

  • 6 Ways To Ace Your Life Insurance Medical Exam

    SelectQuote
    10 May 2012 | 8:40 pm
    The results of your Life Insurance physical have a big influence what rate you’ll pay.. Here are some easy ways to make sure you do your best. Drink 8 or more glasses daily for at least two days before your exam. Avoid eating or drinking anything except water for 8 to 12 hours before you’re tested. Schedule the exam the morning in your home or office — wherever you’re most relaxed. Being relaxed will help lower your blood pressure. Another way to lower your blood pressure is to have the exam technician take it last, after you’ve answered all the health questions, given a urine…

  • Suze Orman on “Life Insurance”

    SelectQuote
    8 May 2012 | 1:09 am
    The following except is from a Suze Orman column in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, May 23, 2007. As for other ways to protect yourself and your loved ones against loss, one of the easiest is to make sure you have Life Insurance. Although there are many kinds (such as whole or universal life), the only type you need is Term Insurance, because it’s simple and affordable. Other plans include investing components, but you’d do better to buy the cheaper Term policy and invest on your own.  As its name implies, a Term policy is one you buy for a set time period tied to a specific…

  • In a hurry for Life Insurance? Hate needles? We Have Good News

    SelectQuote
    3 May 2012 | 7:06 pm
    A highly rated Term Life Insurance company now offers up to $300,000 in coverage and, if you qualify, you can have your policy approved in just 24-48 hours without a Medical Exam. This convenience will probably cost you more than regular Term Life Insurance. Just how much more — and how much Life Insurance you can get — depends on your age, gender and other factors. According to Life Insurance Company that issues the policy, “The price of the product reflects a very convenient, fast application process. Getting a policy depends on your answers to a health questionnaire.” An easy way…

  • What Are Life Insurance rates based on?

    SelectQuote
    30 Apr 2012 | 7:23 pm
    Life insurance premiums are as individual as your fingerprint. They’re based on your “risk profile” which is measured for the most part by your: Age. The younger you are, usually the lower your price Tobacco Use — cigarettes or other nicotine products past or present Health status. Height, weight. Have serious health issues? Gender. Women generally get lower rates than men of the same age because statistically, women live longer Family medical history of parents and siblings Lifestyle. Are you a pilot? Skydiver or scuba diver? The other important thing you need to know is that each of…
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    Car Insurance Champs

  • High Risk Auto Insurance –How To Spot It?

    Christine Casker
    13 May 2012 | 7:04 am
    It may happen anytime that a motorist falls into the high-risk driver category. The car insurance system works on the basis of estimation. Insurers are determining the likelihood of a driver to file a claim. Being a high-risk driver means higher premium prices since the chances to file a claim is higher. However, it is [...]

  • Auto Insurance And Points — What Are They?

    Christine Casker
    8 May 2012 | 2:43 pm
    The car insurance system works on the basis of estimating the likelihood of a driver to file a claim. Each company uses a different formula to calculate this risk and that’s why their premium rates usually fluctuate. However, they all take into consideration the same factors. One of the most influencing criteria is driving record. [...]

  • How To Get The Best Price From A Car Insurance Company?

    Christine Casker
    3 May 2012 | 6:22 am
    There is no company that could offer the best prices for all the drivers when it comes to car insurance. Nonetheless everybody could find some appealing policies if they shop around. The rate is determined by the possibility for you to file a claim. This is something that all the insurance companies handle differently. In [...]

  • Price VS. Quality In The Car Insurance Options?

    Christine Casker
    1 May 2012 | 12:26 pm
    Although they are quite expensive, it is a must to have car insurance. In the majority of the cases people are trying to make economies, but in order to do so they need to do a lot of research. In the majority of the cases there are a lot of options regarding the amount of [...]

  • How to find a Cheaper Car Insurance?

    Christine Casker
    13 Apr 2012 | 7:41 am
    Vehicle owners are always looking for affordable car insurance premiums but a cheap insurance is not always the best one. It is recommended to research the market and take educated decisions when choosing car insurance. These days it is important to have a policy that offers sufficient protection. Picking additional insurance options to provide adequate [...]
 
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    Insurance Thought Leadership

  • Leap Year: Season 1, Episode 8 - Five Roads

    hunter.hoffmann@hiscox.com
    16 May 2012 | 10:33 am
    Jack has a plan to win the competition and save his friends' startups. The problem? No one trusts him, no one likes him. Special guest star Julie Warner. Hiscox Commentary On Small Business Insurance Forgiveness, teamwork, unity. Great qualities for anyone in life and in business. But, are these the same characters we've been following all season or has the Leap Year world suddenly turned upside down? They'll all have to really work together to make sure they are ready in time for the $500,000 prize. They'll also need professional liability insurance to protect their new company once they…

  • A Workers’ Compensation Guide to Employee Benefits

    hunter.hoffmann@hiscox.com
    15 May 2012 | 2:39 am
    The recent proliferation of employee benefit group captives has pulled together two sets of people in the insurance industry that have traditionally been in separate silos — "benefits people" and "Property & Casualty people". These two worlds have collided as benefits captives pull from two fairly distinct skill sets. My own experience was largely with Property & Casualty captives until about a half decade ago where it began to lean increasingly towards the benefits side. If you've spent time on 'both sides,' you've probably realized how different the two worlds are — ranging from…

  • Subpoena The Stars:  The Tricks Of The Copy Service Industry

    hunter.hoffmann@hiscox.com
    11 May 2012 | 11:02 am
    Last week, I was in the process of finalizing some miscellaneous tasks before a recent trip out of State to visit some clients. One of the last pieces of mail I pulled from my in-box to read was a stack of six subpoenas from Aquarius Duplication*. They were seeking records from locations that our office had subpoenaed just a few months earlier. Our prior subpoenas had been served on opposing counsel, with a card that gave him the option to request copies of all records at our expense. It was never utilized. The attorney had not contacted us regarding service of these records. The applicant…

  • Leap Year: Season 1, Episode 7 - Corporate Cupid

    hunter.hoffmann@hiscox.com
    11 May 2012 | 1:56 am
    Derek gets slapped with a lawsuit and seeks help from his attorney Josie Lanning (special guest star Julie Warner). Jack loses his only client and most of his friends. Hiscox Commentary on Small Business Insurance In this episode we find out that Derek stole the server and Scarlett threatened to sue Jack after she found out about his double-dealing. These might not be typical situations, and Derek's actions would not be covered under an Errors and Omissions policy, however there are plenty of cases where errors and omissions insurance (professional liability insurance) will provide small…

  • Cumulative Trauma - The “Wearing Out” Disease

    hunter.hoffmann@hiscox.com
    9 May 2012 | 4:10 pm
    Christine Baker, the new California Director of Industrial Relations (DIR), has hit the ground running. She recently announced a series of statewide fact-finding meetings with the intent of hearing from all sides of the workers' compensation community. I was able to attend the Los Angeles session and listened to severely injured workers relate how poorly the system has provided for them. There were also comments by insurance company claims professionals relating stories about how convoluted the system really is. We heard from healthcare professionals on the abuses they are seeing under the…
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