Author: Farkas Laura

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave top crash-test scores in front-end, side and rear tests to the 2009 Ford Escape, 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and 2008 Nissan Rogue, reflecting an overall improvement in safety in small SUVs during the past decade. The institute’s president, Adrian Lund, said the Escape, Tiguan, Outlander and… Continue reading Industry Safety Group Gives Top Scores to Four SUVs

Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Monday in Florida to deliver a speech at the Veterans of Foreign War Convention and, in the midst of Fay’s foray into the Sunshine State, stated that he sympathizes with homeowners battered by soaring insurance costs, but he was not prepared to endorse a national risk pool as a… Continue reading McCain Advocates Regional Alliance for Hurricane-Prone Areas

Fifty-four percent of all homeowners surveyed by HomeInsurance.com acknowledged that they didn’t know “much at all” about their home insurance policies.    “The reason people need to understand their homeowners insurance is because it’s the only way to know if you have the right amount of insurance and the right type of insurance,” said Carolyn… Continue reading On-line Survey: More than Half of Homeowners Not Familiar with What’s Covered in their Policies

According to a report released Tuesday by Moody’s Investors Service, despite poor performance in the capital markets, European insurers have shown relatively strong financial results in the first half of 2008. Moody’s said that the sector remains relatively robust overall with no credit rating impact to date for European insurance companies due to their positive… Continue reading Insurers in Europe Weather Capital Markets, Show Financially Strong Results for First Half of ’08

According to a survey released on Wednesday by the Commonwealth Fund, an increasing number of adults in the United States struggle to pay their medical bills, forced to dip into their savings accounts, home equity and credit cards to meet rising health care costs.    An estimated 72 million adults under age 65 have difficulty… Continue reading Survey Says: Adults Burdened by High Medical Bills

Effective Oct. 1, 2008, the Workers Comp rate in Delaware will decrease an average of 11.57%, according to an order on Tuesday by Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn. Employers in the state will save a total of at least $14 million as a result of this decrease, said Denn. The recent workers comp rate reduction in… Continue reading Delaware Sees Additional Workers Comp Rate Decrease

Property insurers have taken a break from writing policies in Florida’s Broward and Palm Beach counties in the wake of tropical storm Fay, putting a temporary stay on home sales.    The state’s largest property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., stopped accepting new policies or allowing changes to existing ones on Sunday evening when news… Continue reading Insurers Take a Pause from Writing Property Insurance in Wake of Tropical Storm Fay

Due by quarter’s end, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s success in repaying $223 billion of bonds may determine whether they can avoid a federal bailout. According to figures provided by the government-chartered companies, Fannie has about $120 billion of debt maturing through Sept. 30, while Freddie has $103 billion. Rising borrowing costs and evidence that… Continue reading Fannie and Freddie Could Avoid Fed Bailout if Billions in Bonds are Repaid

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million, comprising approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population. With an aging population boom, Prudential Financial, Inc. has issued a report entitled “Long-Term Care Cost of Care,” a resource for consumers seeking information… Continue reading Long-term Care Costs on the Climb, Finds Pru Study

Doctors and health care professionals at an Alabama fertility company have discovered that Honda Manufacturing of Alabama refuses to offer Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) coverage for same sex couples. Karen Hammond, MSN, CRNP, of Alabama Fertility Specialists says of Honda, “Since their Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama policy offers ART benefits, it is extremely… Continue reading Automaker Equipped with Discriminatory Insurance Practices