Insurance news

• Magna Carta Cos. Appoints Yang as VP, Chief Actuary in New York

  08-01-2015 22:48
  
  Magna Carta Cos. in New York has appointed Grace H. Yang as vice president and chief actuary. She will join Magna Carta’s senior management team and report directly to Chairman and Chief Executive Office Andrew L. Furgatch. Yang is a …
  The article Magna Carta Cos. Appoints Yang as VP, Chief Actuary in New York appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Alliant Insurance Services acquires American Benefits Consulting

  08-01-2015 22:36
  Specialty insurance broker Alliant Insurance Services Inc. said Wednesday it has acquired employee benefits consulting firm American Benefits Consulting L.L.C.
  
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• Insurance Industry Placing More Emphasis on Compliance - Wall Street Journal (blog)

  08-01-2015 22:24 via blogs.wsj.com
  
  Wall Street Journal (blog)
  Insurance Industry Placing More Emphasis on Compliance
  Wall Street Journal (blog)
  A recent survey from PwC showing 86% of insurance industry executives saying their companies have a chief compliance officer–well above the 69% for respondents in all industries–suggests the industry is becoming more focused on mastering the ...
  
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• Congress Renews Post-Terrorist Attack Insurance Payments - NPR

  08-01-2015 22:21 via npr.org
  
  NPR
  Congress Renews Post-Terrorist Attack Insurance Payments
  NPR
  A program that grew out of the Sept. 11 attacks became the very first bill to pass in the new Congress. It cleared the Senate overwhelmingly Thursday, a day after passing in the House. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program — known as TRIA — guarantees ...
  House passes terrorism insurance billThe Hill (blog)
  Senate renews terrorism insurance programUSA TODAY
  Terrorism insurance bill passes quickly after Tom Coburn's exi
  
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• House votes to ease ACA employer requirements

  08-01-2015 22:15
  (Reuters) — The Republican-led House of Representatives voted on Thursday to ease the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's health insurance requirements for employers by approving the first of an expected series of bills aimed at weakening...
  
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• Google Wants to Sell You Auto Insurance - Wall Street Journal (blog)

  08-01-2015 22:02 via blogs.wsj.com
  
  Wall Street Journal (blog)
  Google Wants to Sell You Auto Insurance
  Wall Street Journal (blog)
  Google is plotting a move into auto insurance in the U.S., including a comparison-shopping site from which users would also be able to buy policies, an industry analyst says. Forrester Research FORR -0.80% analyst Ellen Carney wrote in a blog post ...
  
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• Marsh & McLennan Agency acquires The Benefit Planning Group

  08-01-2015 21:40
  Marsh & McLennan Agency L.L.C., a subsidiary of Marsh L.L.C., on Thursday said it has acquired Durham, North Carolina-based employee benefit consulting firm The Benefit Planning Group Inc.
  
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• Obama, in Bid to Ease Home Buying, Cuts Mortgage Insurance Rate - New York Times

  08-01-2015 21:01 via nytimes.com
  New York Times
  Obama, in Bid to Ease Home Buying, Cuts Mortgage Insurance Rate
  New York Times
  Speaking in Arizona, a state that was hit hard by the country's mortgage crisis, Mr. Obama said his decision to lower insurance rates on federally issued mortgages would make purchasing a home cheaper for hundreds of thousands of people across the ...
  
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• Senate passes TRIA, sends bill to Obama's desk

  08-01-2015 20:45
  After a year-long effort and multiple setbacks, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act program has passed both chambers
  
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• Senate Passes TRIA; Bill Goes to President Obama’s Desk

  08-01-2015 20:36
  
  Today the U.S. Senate followed the House and voted to overwhelmingly reauthorize the federal terrorism reinsurance program that had been allowed to lapse. The vote was 93-4 in favor. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives had voted 416-5 to renew …
  The article Senate Passes TRIA; Bill Goes to President Obama’s Desk appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• The 12 building blocks of impactful leadership

  08-01-2015 20:17
  Mario P. Vitale, CEO of Aspen Insurance, has some suggestions for what makes a strong leader.
  
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• Senate approves federal terrorism insurance backstop

  08-01-2015 20:16
  
  The Senate on Thursday followed the House of Representatives’ lead by approving legislation that would reinstate the federal terrorism insurance backstop through the end of 2020.
  
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• American Apparel sets policy banning supervisor/worker office romances

  08-01-2015 20:06
  American Apparel Inc., whose founder, Dov Charney, was fired in December after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple female employees, has issued a code of ethics that prohibits romantic relationships between workers and their supervisors.
  
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• IICF Targets $250K to California and Colorado Charities

  08-01-2015 19:57
  
  The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation is awarding $254,000 in grants to 29 local nonprofits in California and Colorado for the kickoff of 2015. The causes supported include child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, education and health and human services. 2015 Western …
  The article IICF Targets $250K to California and Colorado Charities appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Paris police officer killed in shootout as 'Charlie Hebdo' massacrists still at large

  08-01-2015 19:48
  In today’s incident, an unarmed policewoman was killed and a traffic agent was injured after an assailant shot them with a pistol and an automatic weapon. The attacker remains at large.
  
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• Florida judge rules insured does not bear burden of proving sinkhole loss

  08-01-2015 19:40
  Does the burden of proving that damage was caused by a sinkhole fall on the policyholder or the insurer?
  
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• Agents need strategy that responds to direct sales, changing consumer behaviors

  08-01-2015 19:35
  Agents place their No. 1 priority on retaining and servicing customers, an Accenture survey reports, but these priorities may show a disconnect with the reality of the new competitive, digital landscape.
  
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• Farmers Files Suit Against Multiple N.Y. No-Fault Medical Providers

  08-01-2015 19:33
  
  Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance Group announced that Farmers Insurance Exchange, one of the insurers comprising Farmers Insurance Group, and affiliates have filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court of New York against more than six New York no-fault medical …
  The article Farmers Files Suit Against Multiple N.Y. No-Fault Medical Providers appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• What is the most crucial goal for supply chains?

  08-01-2015 19:32
  How a little resiliency can go a very long way.
  
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• Widow of health care worker who died of hepatitis C due workers comp benefits

  08-01-2015 19:26
  The widow of a heath care worker who died from complications related to his hepatitis C is entitled to benefits despite the fact that the man received a blood transfusion in 1970 that his employer argued could have given him the disease, the Missouri...
  
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• Health insurance may muddle tax time for some - USA TODAY

  08-01-2015 19:26 via usatoday.com
  
  Cache Valley Daily
  Health insurance may muddle tax time for some
  USA TODAY
  Federal officials and private tax preparers started offering consumers tax filing help Thursday as the first tax deadline that involves health insurance looms in April. About 75% of taxpayers will only have to check a box saying they had health ...
  Utahns can resolve to get health insurance, says nonprofitCache Valley Daily
  Need Help Navigating Health Insurance Query On Tax Returns?Patch.com
  Obamacare Enrollment 2015 Fac
  
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• Family pays $125000 for man's life-changing treatment that insurance wouldn't ... - Fox17

  08-01-2015 19:13 via fox17online.com
  
  Family pays $125000 for man's life-changing treatment that insurance wouldn't ...
  Fox17
  GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– Cory Smallegan, a promising singer, was auditioning and made it through the first round of American Idol when he suddenly began to lose feeling in his legs. After months of testing, in January of 2011, Smallegan was diagnosed with ...
  
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• Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance adds pollution coverage

  08-01-2015 19:03
  Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, a unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has expanded its U.S. casualty liability products to include pollution coverage.
  
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• Vermont Traffic Fatalities Down 38% in 2014

  08-01-2015 18:59
  
  Preliminary reports show that Vermont traffic fatalities declined 38 percent in 2014 to the lowest number since World War II. The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance says 43 people died on the state’s roadways last year, down from 70 in 2013. …
  The article Vermont Traffic Fatalities Down 38% in 2014 appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Ballinger on Growth, Professionalism in Texas Surplus Lines Market

  08-01-2015 18:55
  
  Phil Ballinger retired at the end of December 2014 as executive director of the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLSOT), a post he’s held for more than two decades. During his tenure at SLSOT, the organization has been recognized …
  The article Ballinger on Growth, Professionalism in Texas Surplus Lines Market appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Honda to pay $70 million for failure to report deaths, injuries

  08-01-2015 18:50
  (Reuters) — Honda Motor Co. has agreed to pay $70 million to the U.S. government in penalties for failing to report hundreds of injuries, deaths and other consumer claims involving its cars, transportation officials said on Thursday.
  
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• Pennsylvania Store Manager Robbed at Gunpoint Wins Workers’ Comp

  08-01-2015 18:47
  
  Is being robbed at gunpoint in a Pennsylvania state liquor store an “abnormal working condition” or not? Since 2008, Gregory Kochanowicz has claimed it is, and now that the Commonwealth Court agrees, he’s due to receive $727 in weekly workers’ …
  The article Pennsylvania Store Manager Robbed at Gunpoint Wins Workers’ Comp appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• American European Group Hires Livaich to Lead AE Specialty Unit in N.J.

  08-01-2015 18:47
  
  American European Group Inc. has hired Peter J. Livaich as senior vice president of its managing general agency subsidiary, AE Specialty Inc. Livaich will have overall leadership responsibility for Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based AE Specialty. AE Specialty is a newly-formed …
  The article American European Group Hires Livaich to Lead AE Specialty Unit in N.J. appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Kansas Woman Sues Wal-Mart over Injuries from Black Friday Sale

  08-01-2015 18:43
  
  A southeast Kansas woman who says she was trampled at a Wal-Mart store on Black Friday in 2013 is suing the retail giant, claiming it did not do enough to protect her or make it clear to customers that so-called …
  The article Kansas Woman Sues Wal-Mart over Injuries from Black Friday Sale appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Lawsuit Filed Against Texas Senior-Living Complex After Deadly Fire

  08-01-2015 18:23
  
  More than 20 residents at a senior-living complex where a deadly fire occurred have jointly filed a negligence lawsuit in Bexar County against the management company and its owners. The plaintiffs are seeking at least $1 million in damages for …
  The article Lawsuit Filed Against Texas Senior-Living Complex After Deadly Fire appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• More Earthquakes in Oklahoma in 2014 than in Past 30 Years

  08-01-2015 18:21
  
  Officials say Oklahoma had more earthquakes last year than in the past 30 years. The U.S. Geological Survey says 567 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 or greater were registered in Oklahoma, making it the most seismically active state in the …
  The article More Earthquakes in Oklahoma in 2014 than in Past 30 Years appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• 10 Quakes Recorded in North Texas over 2-Day Period

  08-01-2015 18:20
  
  A cluster of small earthquakes has rattled a Dallas-area city over a two-day period. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the temblors in the Irving area, including two in the morning on Jan. 7. No major damage or injuries have been …
  The article 10 Quakes Recorded in North Texas over 2-Day Period appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Study uncovers the proven, most effective way to improve claims outcomes

  08-01-2015 18:12
  It's true, there is a strong link between staff supervision and effective cost containment.
  
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• FHA to lower cost of mortgage insurance - CNNMoney

  08-01-2015 17:58 via money.cnn.com
  
  CNNMoney
  FHA to lower cost of mortgage insurance
  CNNMoney
  In an effort to make owning a home more affordable, the Federal Housing Administration will dramatically cut the costs associated with the mortgages it backs. Premiums for FHA mortgage insurance, which is designed to protect the agency in case a ...
  How the FHA insurance-premium cut will impact housingMarketWatch
  FHA to lower mortgage insurance feesLos Angeles Times
  Obama's Phoenix housing speech: Lower mortgage insuranceazcentral.co
  
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• Marsh Agency Acquires North Carolina’s Benefit Planning Group

  08-01-2015 17:55
  
  Marsh & McLennan Agency has acquired The Benefit Planning Group Inc., a Durham, North Carolina-based employee benefit consulting firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1991, The Benefit Planning Group (BPG) specializes in employee benefits and insurance …
  The article Marsh Agency Acquires North Carolina’s Benefit Planning Group appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• After Quakes, Inspecting Roads, Trains And Insurance Policies - KERA News

  08-01-2015 17:49 via keranews.org
  
  KERA News
  After Quakes, Inspecting Roads, Trains And Insurance Policies
  KERA News
  Some insurance companies will attach an earthquake coverage rider or endorsement to a homeowner's policy. Mark Hanna with the Insurance Council of Texas says it's rare in Texas, not known as a hot spot for earthquakes. The premiums may not cost much ...
  
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• Risk management group offers coverage for operations in war zones

  08-01-2015 17:47
  
  A consortium of international risk management experts has launched a risk mitigation, emergency response and insurance program designed for organizations that deploy personnel to war zones.
  
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• Risk management group offers coverage for operations in hostile environments

  08-01-2015 17:47
  A consortium of international risk management experts has launched a risk mitigation, emergency response and insurance program designed for organizations that operate in hostile or complex environments.
  
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• Americans gaining confidence as job market strengthens

  08-01-2015 17:47
  An improving job market is the driving force behind a rebound in American consumer confidence that will probably help propel faster economic growth in 2015.
  
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• Allied World Commences In-House Trade Credit Insurance Platform

  08-01-2015 17:46
  
  Allied World Assurance Company Holdings AG announced the commencement of its in-house trade credit and political risk insurance platform with the completion of its previously announced acquisition of its former program administrator, Latin American Underwriters Holdings Ltd. LAU has underwritten …
  The article Allied World Commences In-House Trade Credit Insurance Platform appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• RSG’s Global Special Risks Launches Underwriting Facility for Upstream Energy Risks

  08-01-2015 17:27
  
  Ryan Specialty Group’s Global Special Risks (GSR), a subsidiary of RSG Underwriting Managers, LLC, has launched a new binding authority facility for the Upstream Solutions Energy Package, which provides products for oil and gas operators and non-operators of North American-based …
  The article RSG’s Global Special Risks Launches Underwriting Facility for Upstream Energy Risks appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Davis Johnson Appointed Chief Communications Officer at Hamilton Insurance

  08-01-2015 17:23
  
  Hamilton Insurance Group, the Bermuda-based holding company of property casualty reinsurer Hamilton Re and the organization’s U.S. property casualty insurance operations Hamilton USA, announced Wendy Davis Johnson has been appointed to the position of chief communications officer. Reporting to Hamilton …
  The article Davis Johnson Appointed Chief Communications Officer at Hamilton Insurance appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Traffic Deaths in Nevada Up In 2014, But Down From Peak

  08-01-2015 17:21
  
  The number of people who died in crashes in Nevada went up in 2014 compared with the year before, but it’s still down significantly from its peak in 2006, according to state data released this week. The Nevada Department of …
  The article Traffic Deaths in Nevada Up In 2014, But Down From Peak appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• Whole Foods Recalls Cookie Platters Sold In 4 Western States

  08-01-2015 17:17
  
  Whole Foods Market has voluntarily recalled several sizes of assorted cookie platters due to undeclared nut allergens. The company said Tuesday that one illness has been reported. The platters sold at stores in Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii and Nevada have …
  The article Whole Foods Recalls Cookie Platters Sold In 4 Western States appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• How States Rate on Insurance Regulation, 'A' to 'F' - Insurance Journal

  08-01-2015 17:17 via insurancejournal.com
  
  How States Rate on Insurance Regulation, 'A' to 'F'
  Insurance Journal
  Vermont gets a grade of “A+” and California and North Carolina get grades of “F” in the annual report card on state insurance regulation issued by the free market think tank, The R Street Institute. The 2014 Insurance Regulation Report Card judges how ...
  
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• Uber Drivers Issued Citations in Idaho City

  08-01-2015 17:16
  
  Two drivers for the ridesharing company Uber that Boise, Idaho officials say failed to have commercial transport service driver’s licenses but picked up passengers have been cited. City spokesman Mike Journee told KTVB-TV that code enforcement officers used the ride-hailing app …
  The article Uber Drivers Issued Citations in Idaho City appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• How States Rate on Insurance Regulation, ‘A’ to ‘F’

  08-01-2015 17:07
  
  Vermont gets a grade of “A+” and California and North Carolina get grades of “F” in the annual report card on state insurance regulation issued by the free market think tank, The R Street Institute. The 2014 Insurance Regulation Report …
  The article How States Rate on Insurance Regulation, ‘A’ to ‘F’ appeared first on Insurance Journal.
  
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• United Airlines attendants claim fired over their security concerns

  08-01-2015 16:53
  (Reuters) — A group of 13 flight attendants say they were illegally fired by United Airlines after refusing to fly on a Hong Kong-bound plane last July that had a “threatening” message scrawled under its tail engine, according to a...
  
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• Bank of America shifts compliance team to risk oversight group

  08-01-2015 15:59
  (Reuters) — Under pressure from its U.S. regulator, Bank of America has shifted its compliance group from its legal department to its risk oversight group, a source familiar with the matter said.
  
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• Insurance, business leaders urge Senate action on TRIA renewal

  08-01-2015 15:45
  A broad coalition of business and insurance groups has written the Senate urging swift passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015.
  
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