Alliant Names Jennifer Baumann General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Alliant Insurance Services, one of the nation’s largest independent insurance brokerage firms, has named longtime in-house counsel Jennifer Baumann General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Baumann takes the reigns of the firm’s national legal strategy following a decade-long tenure as the firm’s Assistant General Counsel. “Jennifer has a deep expertise and long track record of success… Continue reading Alliant Names Jennifer Baumann General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

U.S. Commercial Rates Up 2% in 2018

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The U.S. commercial insurance composite rate increased on average 2 percent over the course of 2018, according to MarketScout. In its latest report, the Lloyd’s Coverholder and MGA for U.S. insurers said the composite rate for the U.S. commercial market also nudged up 2 percent in the fourth quarter. MarketScout said quarter-by-quarter the composite rate… Continue reading U.S. Commercial Rates Up 2% in 2018

Companies Couldn’t Fire Workers for Off-Hours Marijuana Consumption Under Proposed MA Law

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It’s legal for adults 21 years and older to smoke marijuana in Massachusetts. It’s also legal for employers to fire workers for testing positive for pot use — even though they aren’t impaired at work. Seeking to bring workplace law into the era of recreational cannabis, state Senator Jason Lewis plans to introduce legislation next… Continue reading Companies Couldn’t Fire Workers for Off-Hours Marijuana Consumption Under Proposed MA Law

Cigna’s Algorithms Aim to Predict Opioid Abuse

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Cigna Corp. is using artificial intelligence to predict whether patients might abuse and or overdose on prescription opioids as part of the company’s commitment to reducing the substance’s use among its consumers, said Mark Boxer, executive vice president and global chief information officer. Cigna’s proprietary algorithms are aided by the use of machine learning, a… Continue reading Cigna’s Algorithms Aim to Predict Opioid Abuse

Commercial Lines November Renewal Rates Experience Mixed Changes: IVANS

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IVANS, a division of Applied Systems, today announced the November results of the IVANS Index, the insurance industry’s premium renewal rate index. For the first time this year, rate changes are split evenly with an uptick in premium renewal rate across Business Owners Policy (BOP), Commercial Property and Umbrella, while Commercial Auto, General Liability and… Continue reading Commercial Lines November Renewal Rates Experience Mixed Changes: IVANS

McClelland & Hine, A Division of Worldwide Facilities, Announces New Director of Business Development

McClelland & Hine Managing General Agency, a division of Worldwide Facilities, is pleased to announce the hiring of Micayla Brooks as Director of Business Development for the San Antonio Branch office. Micayla is a 2002 graduate of Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with concentration in Public Relations and Marketing.… Continue reading McClelland & Hine, A Division of Worldwide Facilities, Announces New Director of Business Development

CoverWallet Launches Cutting-Edge InsurTech Platform for Commercial Insurance Exclusively for Agents

CoverWallet, the leading insurtech company that makes it easy for small businesses to understand, buy, and manage insurance online, today announced CoverWallet for Agents, a dedicated platform for insurance agents. Through the technology platform, agents benefit from a fast, simple, and efficient way to provide commercial insurance to businesses, with a single point of entry… Continue reading CoverWallet Launches Cutting-Edge InsurTech Platform for Commercial Insurance Exclusively for Agents

WCRI Study: Ambulatory Surgery Costs Lower than in Hospital Outpatient Departments

The payments for similar knee and shoulder surgeries performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) were lower compared with hospital outpatient departments in many study states, with few exceptions, according to a new FlashReport from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). “Some studies indicate that ASCs provide care that is less expensive than services provided in… Continue reading WCRI Study: Ambulatory Surgery Costs Lower than in Hospital Outpatient Departments

As Insurance Market Cycle Evolves, Carriers Must Review Underwriting Strategies: Guy Carpenter

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Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, a leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies has completed its annual review of property & casualty (P&C) results and found that insurers’ operating environment today is very different than just a few short years ago. Formerly stable lines produced significant… Continue reading As Insurance Market Cycle Evolves, Carriers Must Review Underwriting Strategies: Guy Carpenter

DOL Plans to Tackle Overtime and Joint Employer Issues in 2019

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) says it intends to unveil new overtime and joint employer rules in the recognizably near future. On Oct. 17 the department issued its fall regulatory agenda—not necessarily out of a public-spirited desire to be transparent, but because, as is the case with other federal regulatory agencies, it is required… Continue reading DOL Plans to Tackle Overtime and Joint Employer Issues in 2019