Vetoes of Two Comp Bills in Hawaii Stick

The Hawaii Legislature was unable to muster the necessary votes to override Gov. Linda Lingle’s vetoes of two workers compensation bills that would have guaranteed uninterrupted medical treatment for injured workers and restricted the rulemaking authority of Hawaii’s director of labor and industrial relations. Among other things, Senate Bill 1060 would have limited an employer’s… Continue reading Vetoes of Two Comp Bills in Hawaii Stick

AIA Study Finds Including Windstorm Insurance Could Double NIFIP’s Deficits in One Year

Gov. Marc Racicot, president of the American Insurance Association (AIA), sent a letter on Wednesday to Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), sharing with him the analysis of an AIA-commissioned study to examine the effects of including windstorm insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as proposed by the “Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2007 (HR920).”… Continue reading AIA Study Finds Including Windstorm Insurance Could Double NIFIP’s Deficits in One Year

AIA Calls for Wisconsin Auto Bills to be Defeated

The American Insurance Association (AIA) is urging Wisconsin lawmakers to defat two bills would make it illegal for carriers to provide their customers valuable information after a car accident. In a statement made by John Birkinbine, AIA Assistant VP, Midwest Region, “These bills are anti-consumer. Direct repair programs provide consumers with quality, efficient and convenient… Continue reading AIA Calls for Wisconsin Auto Bills to be Defeated

Comp Reforms in NY to Save $1B Annually

According to the New York State Department of Insurance, as a result of reforms to the state’s workers comp statute enacted earlier this year, employers will save about $1 billion in workers compensation insurance premiums during the upcoming fiscal year. New York State Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo ordered a 20.5% rate decrease for the fiscal… Continue reading Comp Reforms in NY to Save $1B Annually

Allianz Looking to Increase Profits in Growth Markets by 10%

Europe’s largest insurer, Allianz SE, said it aims to increase profit and revenue in growth markets such as China and India by at least 10% annually. According to management board member Werner Zedelius at a conference held in Munich today, the carrier plans to increase net income from those markets including Russia from 539 million… Continue reading Allianz Looking to Increase Profits in Growth Markets by 10%

LA Governor Signs Legislation for Homeowners Discounts

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco signed into legislation a bill introduced by the state’s House Speaker Joe Salter requiring insurance companies to give discounted rates to homeowners who build or renovate their homes to meet the new statewide building code or retrofit the structures to lessen the chances of storm or hurricane damage. Although the bill… Continue reading LA Governor Signs Legislation for Homeowners Discounts

ISO Estimates Carriers to Pay $2.18 Billion in Second-Quarter Cat Claims

According to a preliminary analysis by ISO’s Property Claim Services (PCS) unit, P/C carriers in the United States are expected to pay homeowners and businesses an estimated $2.175 billion for second-quarter property losses resulting from a total of six catastrophes in 25 states. This amount ties the record for the second-lowest number of catastrophes in… Continue reading ISO Estimates Carriers to Pay $2.18 Billion in Second-Quarter Cat Claims

Insurer Looks to Reward Healthy Employees

UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest insurer, has begun to offer new policies to midsize employers that reward individuals for health results. These new policies are currently available to employers in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado, and the company may launch them nationwide in 2008.     “We’re going to reward individuals for health results, not… Continue reading Insurer Looks to Reward Healthy Employees

European Commission Adopts Solvency II Proposal for EU Insurers

The Solvency II proposal that would bring new risk-based capital regime for European insurers and reinsurers was accepted by the European Commission yesterday. The regime is expected to be fully implemented by 2012. The Comité Européen des Assurances, which represents European insurers and reinsurers, said it welcomed the initiative which it said would modernize solvency… Continue reading European Commission Adopts Solvency II Proposal for EU Insurers

Disaster Reinsurance Prices “Better than Expected”

At an industry conference held in Berlin on Monday, PartnerRe CEO Patrick Thiele announced that U.S. catastrophe reinsurance prices held up better than had been expected during critical contract renewal discussions. The renewal discussions were held in May and June, when many insurers with exposures in the hurricane-prone southeastern United States renew their annual risk… Continue reading Disaster Reinsurance Prices “Better than Expected”