Insurance news

• 13 Indictments Handed Down in Massive Workers’ Comp Fraud Scam

  28-01-2016 23:19
  
  An investigation into what’s being called one of the largest cases of workers’ compensation health care insurance fraud in California Department of Insurance history led to 13 indictments announced today against seven Southern California-based medical professionals. This is the second …
  
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• Dutch college town brings out driverless buses as EU mulls rules

  28-01-2016 20:46
  - Driverless microbuses started serving the college town of Wageningen, Netherlands, in the first open-ended test in Europe of automated public transport on city streets.
  
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• Post-Blizzard, N.J. Gov. Apologizes to Official for ‘Crazy’ Comment

  28-01-2016 18:59
  
  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he personally apologized after calling a New Jersey shore official a “crazy mayor” and forcefully rebutted critics who suggested the state hasn’t done enough to help residents dealing with the aftermath of …
  
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• NYC Flood Defense Barrier Remains Years Away

  28-01-2016 18:43
  
  After ocean waters poured into lower Manhattan during Superstorm Sandy, experts began dreaming up a solution: a U-shaped barrier of earthen berms, walls and gates that would keep floods out and the nation’s financial capital dry. Now, more than three …
  
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• Most Dangerous Cities in U.S. Ranked by Crime Data

  28-01-2016 18:26
  
  East St. Louis, Illinois and Camden, New Jersey rank first and second in an annual ranking of the country’s most dangerous cities. New Orleans ((70), Philadelphia (65), Miami (63), Washington, D.C. (35) and Baltimore (19) are on the list but …
  
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• Hot, Wet Air May Cause Southwestern Oregon Flooding

  28-01-2016 17:38
  
  The National Weather Service says warm, moist air from the jet stream could cause flooding in southwestern Oregon. The Mail Tribune reported that meteorologist Charles Smith of the NWS Medford office says the weather system will cause about 1.3 inches …
  
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• Colorado DOT to Post Traffic Death Tally Signs to Boost Safety

  28-01-2016 17:36
  
  The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin using electronic signs along highways across the state to post a weekly tally of year-to-date traffic fatalities. The Denver Post reported the tally, which will be posted each Wednesday, will be paired with …
  
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• Oregon Resident Files Class Action Against DraftKings, FanDuel

  28-01-2016 17:34
  
  An Oregon resident has filed a class-action lawsuit against two daily fantasy sports sites, claiming the businesses are operating illegal online sports betting. The Oregonian reported that Polk County resident Brandon Peck filed the suit in federal court in Portland …
  
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• EPIC Makes Crow Vice President, Hospitality Practice Leader in West

  28-01-2016 17:14
  
  EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has named Renee Crow vice president and West region hospitality practice leader. Crow will be responsible for further developing a unified approach to serving hospitality clients across the West region and nationally. Crow will be …
  
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• Moody’s, S&P Release Ratings for AIG After Strategic Plan Outlined

  28-01-2016 17:13
  
  American International Group Inc., which activist investor Carl Icahn is pressuring to divest assets, had the outlook on its credit rating changed to negative from stable by Standard & Poor’s after the insurer announced plans to sell a stake in …
  
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• Moody’s, S&P, A.M. Best Release Ratings for AIG After Strategic Plan Outlined

  28-01-2016 17:13
  
  American International Group Inc., which activist investor Carl Icahn is pressuring to divest assets, had the outlook on its credit rating changed to negative from stable by Standard & Poor’s after the insurer announced plans to sell a stake in …
  
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• Kellar Named Workers’ Comp Director at Louisiana Workforce Commission

  28-01-2016 17:08
  
  Sheral Kellar has been appointed director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration at the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Kellar, a licensed attorney with more than 25 years of experience in labor, employment and workers’ compensation law and most recently the …
  
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• California State Fund to Roll out New Medical Provider Network

  28-01-2016 16:58
  
  State Compensation Insurance Fund will soon transition to a new outcomes-based medical provider network following a California Division of Workers’ Compensation approval of the new MPN called the State Fund MPN by Harbor Health. State Fund said it is transitioning …
  
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• Ace Westchester’s Rubel: Future Trends and the Insurance Industry

  28-01-2016 16:50
  
  What will the insurance industry be like in 15 years? The future will arrive whether the industry is ready or not. And while even so-called experts are no better than the average person in predicting it, what’s most important about …
  
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• Virtual Insurance Agent Insurify with License Plate Quote Feature Raises $2 Million

  28-01-2016 16:35
  
  Consumers will soon be able to simplify the buying of auto insurance by snapping a photo of their license plate and texting it to a phone number provided by the new site, Insurify.com, which will then generate price quotes. The …
  
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• Record Western Wildfires a Contrast in Otherwise Quiet Year for U.S. Natural Disasters

  28-01-2016 16:01
  
  It was a relatively quiet year for natural disasters – except for those living in the Western U.S. Property data provider CoreLogic today released its annual Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis. The report shows “a continued trend of fewer …
  
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• Frozen Seafood Distributor Faces $115K for Safety Violations in Texas

  28-01-2016 15:52
  
  Named a “severe violator” by federal safety officials, a frozen seafood distributor operating a plant in Brownsville, Texas, has been hit with $155,000 in fines over workplace safety hazards. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for 11 …
  
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• Lawsuit Seeks Replacement of Lead Pipes in Flint, Michigan

  28-01-2016 15:40
  
  Environmental and civil rights groups are asking a federal judge to order the prompt replacement of all lead pipes in Flint’s water system to ensure residents of the Michigan city have a safe drinking supply. A lawsuit seeks an order …
  
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• Texas Governor Seeks Federal Disaster Help after Tornadoes

  28-01-2016 15:36
  
  Gov. Greg Abbott has requested a federal disaster declaration for some Texas counties after deadly late-December blizzards and tornadoes. Abbott on Jan. 26 announced the request for individual assistance for people in Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Franklin, Rockwall and Van Zandt …
  
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• Bill Would Clarify South Dakota’s Workers’ Comp Law

  28-01-2016 15:32
  
  A bill introduced in the South Dakota House would clarify state law on when part-time employees injured on the job should also receive workers’ compensation benefits for their other part-time positions. The proposed legislation stems from a 2015 state Supreme …
  
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• New Travelers CEO Schnitzer Stresses Continuity, Innovation in Earnings Call Debut

  28-01-2016 14:08
  
  The Travelers Companies held its first earnings call under new CEO Alan Schnitzer on Jan. 21 with the property/casualty carrier’s executives putting forth a message of continuity and normalcy, even in the face of a fast-evolving market. Schnitzer, formerly head …
  
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• Dutch Finance Minister Rules Out Sale of ASR Nederland as Parliament Backs IPO

  28-01-2016 13:57
  
  Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem ruled out a private sale of ASR Nederland NV, the insurer nationalized during the financial crisis, as parliament signaled its support for an initial public offering of the asset. Dijsselbloem reiterated his plan to hold the …
  
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• MetLife CEO Raised Possibility of Breakup in 2014

  28-01-2016 13:40
  
  MetLife Inc., looking to avoid tougher oversight, was examining options for a breakup or restructuring of the firm 14 months before announcing this year that it’s considering a sale, spinoff or public offering for part of the domestic retail business. …
  
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• Dealing with the rising costs of car crashes

  28-01-2016 13:30
  
  Insurers offer solutions to address factors — such as El Niño and legalized marijuana — that are driving claims.
  
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• Ask powerful questions to increase client interaction

  28-01-2016 13:15
  
  If you want to truly engage a prospect or client, instead of talking, it is actually more critical to listen.
  
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• 10 Workers’ Compensation issues to watch in 2016

  28-01-2016 13:00
  
  From the election to changing claims models, there is a lot that is bound to affect the Workers' Compensation industry this year.
  
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• Liberty Specialty Markets Enters Chinese Market via Lloyd’s China Platform

  28-01-2016 12:53
  
  London-based Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), which is part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has joined the Lloyd’s China platform. LSM’s Underwriting Division of Lloyd’s Insurance Company (China) Ltd. (LICCL) has appointed Eve Li as its first representative in Beijing, China. …
  
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• Allied World Appoints Herron as VP in Australia Professional Liability Team

  28-01-2016 12:13
  
  Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings announced that Michael Herron was appointed vice president, Professional Liability – Allied World Global Markets. Based in Sydney, Australia, Herron will be responsible for the growth and development of the company’s Australian professional liability business. …
  
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• M&A to Intensify as Insurers Hunt for Top-Line Growth: Willis Towers Watson

  28-01-2016 11:58
  
  The competition for attractive assets will intensify in the next three years as the majority of insurers (82 percent) plan to acquire, while only one-third intend to divest, according to a survey of senior insurance executives conducted by Willis Towers …
  
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• Gasoline Imports Easier to Insure than Crude Exports in Post-Sanctions Iran

  28-01-2016 11:14
  
  Major oil firms and trade houses are gradually resuming energy trading with Iran but efforts remain very cautious and often face huge legal obstacles, meaning a post-sanctions return to full-scale activity will take weeks if not months. Trading sources told …
  
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• Senators say fixes to disability insurance not enough - The Hill

  28-01-2016 11:02 via
  The Hill
  Senators say fixes to disability insurance not enough
  The Hill
  Two senators are urging the chamber's finance leaders to make fundamental fixes to disability insurance. Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are asking for reforms to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) that will protect ...
  

• Chubb CEO Greenberg Blames Brazil’s Leaders for Exacerbating Economic Woes

  28-01-2016 10:43
  
  Evan Greenberg, the chief executive officer of Chubb Ltd., said Brazilians can blame their country’s leaders, and not just a commodities slump, for the nation’s woes. “The economic environment, the political environment, is very tough,” Greenberg said Wednesday in a …
  
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• Norman-Spencer Agency Adds Workers’ Comp Coverage to Ready Mix Program

  28-01-2016 10:00
  
  The Norman-Spencer Agency, Inc., a national insurance provider and program administrator, has added workers’ compensation coverage in selected states to its Ready Mix Program designed for companies that manufacture and transport ready mix concrete to construction job sites. The new …
  
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• Insurance claims settlement: Understanding the numbers - Business Standard (press release) (registration) (blog)

  28-01-2016 09:19 via
  Forbes
  Insurance claims settlement: Understanding the numbers
  Business Standard (press release) (registration) (blog)
  The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai) annual report of 2014-15 reveals interesting numbers for the policyholders and potential buyers of life insurance policies. While insurance behemoth, Life Insurance Corporation of ...
  The Hows And Whys Of Life Insurance For ChildrenForbes
  How to Make a Life Insurance ClaimNerdWallet (blog)
  Health insurance mar
  

• Health insurance fines loom as deadline nears - The Denver Channel

  28-01-2016 08:09 via
  The Denver Channel
  Health insurance fines loom as deadline nears
  The Denver Channel
  Copyright 2016 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 2016 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or ...and more »
  

• Puno Joins Safety National Re Professional Liability Treaty Team

  28-01-2016 07:52
  
  Safety National Re announced it has added Charles Puno as vice president with a specialty in professional liability treaty reinsurance. He is based in Indianapolis, Ind. With over 25 years of industry-related insurance and reinsurance experience, Puno brings an extensive …
  
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• Lockton Adds Canale as Producer in Kansas City

  28-01-2016 07:37
  
  Insurance broker Lockton has hired Rich Canale as a producer in its Kansas City, Mo., office. Canale specializes in employee benefits, bringing a holistic, consultative approach to clients’ programs. He comes to Lockton from Unum, where he spent more than …
  
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• BHSI Launches Life Agent & Broker Dealer Professional Liability Coverage

  28-01-2016 06:49
  
  Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has launched life agent & broker dealer professional liability insurance and named Atea Martin as head of claims. Underwriting of the new line is overseen by Paul Humel, AVP, Financial Institutions, Executive & Professional Lines. …
  
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• Alteris to Offerage Cover for Mutual Water Companies in California

  28-01-2016 06:41
  
  Alteris Insurance Services Inc. announced it will serve as insurance administrator for the newly formed CalMutuals Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA) working with nonprofit water systems in California. The new program will work in partnership with the California Association of …
  
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• Alteris to Offer Coverage for Mutual Water Companies in California

  28-01-2016 06:41
  
  Alteris Insurance Services Inc. announced it will serve as insurance administrator for the newly formed CalMutuals Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA) working with nonprofit water systems in California. The new program will work in partnership with the California Association of …
  
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• Survey: Natural Gas Production in West Virginia Surpassing Expectations

  28-01-2016 06:28
  
  A single Ohio County, West Virginia Marcellus Shale well yielded enough natural gas in 2014 to provide electricity for 24,315 homes, according to new numbers released by the West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey. There’s also plenty of what industry …
  
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• FEMA to Provide Additional $10M in Aid to South Carolina Flood Victims

  28-01-2016 06:18
  
  South Carolinians who were originally refused help following last October’s historic floods will be getting about $10 million in aid. The State of Columbia reports that the money became available through a program in which Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster …
  
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• Florida Officer Convicted of Taking Bribes in Illegal Towing Scheme

  28-01-2016 06:09
  
  A former Miami-Dade County police officer has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in an illegal towing scheme. News outlets report Yuri Millan admitted he took kickbacks from tow-truck operators Oriel Ugardes and Jose Guim in exchange for information on stranded …
  
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• A.M. Best Revises Outlook for South Carolina’s Greenville Casualty

  28-01-2016 06:05
  
  A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of B- (Fair) and the issuer credit rating of “bb-” of Greenville Casualty Insurance Company (Greenville) (Greer, SC). A.M. Best said the revised outlook …
  
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• Three men sentenced in motorcycle insurance fraud - Las Vegas Review-Journal

  28-01-2016 05:34 via
  Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Three men sentenced in motorcycle insurance fraud
  Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Three men were sentenced to at least a year in prison and ordered to pay $10,500 in restitution and investigative costs after they hid a motorcycle so they could report it stolen and reap its value in insurance, the Nevada attorney general announced ...and more »
  

• Counties struggling with insurance rate hike - Alamogordo Daily News

  28-01-2016 05:01 via
  Alamogordo Daily News
  Counties struggling with insurance rate hike
  Alamogordo Daily News
  In this file photo, Otero County Commissioner Ronny Rardin listens to New Mexico Association of Counties representatives speak about their organization. (Photo: Jacqueline Devine/Daily News). CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE.
  

• Bush talks basis points at Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines - DesMoinesRegister.com

  28-01-2016 04:28 via
  DesMoinesRegister.com
  Bush talks basis points at Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines
  DesMoinesRegister.com
  Jeb Bush was in the weeds and in his element at a mid-afternoon town-hall meeting with insurance company employees on Wednesday. Standing before a 250-strong crowd of white-collar workers, the Republican presidential candidate confidently sprinkled ...
  

• Some choosing penalty fees over health insurance as open enrollment deadline nears - KRNV My News 4

  28-01-2016 03:51 via
  KRNV My News 4
  Some choosing penalty fees over health insurance as open enrollment deadline nears
  KRNV My News 4
  RENO, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) — In the biggest gambling state in the nation, health insurance is also a game of risk. "I mean, insurance is a gamble." Matt Law is an insurance broker at Health Benefits Associates. "It's based on risk. We don't know ...
  Health insurance deadline Jan. 31The Herald Bulletin
  January 31 Health Insurance Deadline LoomsKOLO
  Healthcare navig
  

• Sunday is final deadline to sign up for health insurance - Billings Gazette

  28-01-2016 02:32 via
  Billings Gazette
  Sunday is final deadline to sign up for health insurance
  Billings Gazette
  With just a few days remaining until Sunday's deadline to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, regional officials are encouraging Montanans to make sure they're covered. "If people don't jump on this opportunity, it's unlikely ...and more »
  

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