Archive for April 2009

Ten Ways To Save Real Money on Homeowners’ Insurance

Apr 13th, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

How can you do you save some money? By reading the following tips: RAISE YOUR DEDUCTIBLES. Many people have the frame of mind that, in the event of a loss, they want to pay a little as possible. While this does make sense, looking long term, the average person files a claim once every 13 […]



Tips for getting catastrophe insurance

Apr 13th, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

(CNN) – The 10 most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history all have occurred in the last decade. These catastrophes have resulted in insurance companies having to cover losses averaging $10 billion each year since 1989, compared with just $2 billion yearly from 1980 to 1988. With the potential catastrophe payouts insurers face far exceeding […]



Life Insurers May Finally Get Access to Bailout Funds

Apr 9th, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

Life insurers, which have come under financial strain in recent months amid as their capital levels have declined and credit markets have frozen, may soon be eligible to receive government bailout money. A financial industry source close to the TARP process told FOX Business that the Treasury Department would give money from the Troubled Asset […]



Tennessee Auto Insurance Basics

Apr 9th, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

The Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law was enacted in 1977 and covers the minimum auto insurance required in Tennessee. Basically it requires minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 for 2 or more persons and $15,000 for property damage. This is found in Section 55-12-102 . In my opinion those limits are horribly outdated and […]



Results Not Yet Seen for Mexico’s Insurance for the Poor

Apr 8th, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

(HealthDay News) – Mexico’s Seguro Popular, which aims to help 50 million uninsured Mexicans get access to health insurance, preventive medical care, treatment, drugs and health facilities is not yet showing concrete results other than reaching its target population, according to an article published online April 8 in The Lancet.



Bill banning bonuses for denying insurance claims is killed

Apr 7th, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

Colorado lawmakers have killed a measure that would prohibit insurance companies from giving bonuses and incentives to adjusters and other employees for denying claims. The legislation, Senate Bill 103, sponsored in the House by Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, was postponed indefinitely by the House Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 7-4 Monday.



Insurance Regulators Consider Reducing Reliance on Rating Firms

Apr 3rd, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

(Bloomberg) – U.S. state insurance regulators may reduce their dependence on firms including Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service, saying they are looking into ratings “shortcomings.” The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has assigned a group to explore “the reasons for recent rating shortcomings” and “the problems inherent in reliance on ratings,” the group […]



A.M. Best Places Ratings of Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited Under Review with Negative Implications

Apr 3rd, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

(Business Wire) – A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited (AEGIS) (Hamilton, Bermuda) under review with negative implications. These rating actions are due in part to the unexpected 30.0% decline in surplus as of December 31, […]



21st Century Cuts Jobs, Closes Offices to Curtail Expenses

Apr 3rd, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

21st Century Insurance, a subsidiary of American International Group Inc., is closing four offices and laying off about 7% of its work force to “control expenses,” said AIG. AIG spokesman Peter Tulupman said the decisions also were made because of decline in premium but it has nothing to do with the company’s financial strength. Shortly […]



Auto Club Insurance Association Acquires MEEMIC Insurance Company

Apr 3rd, 2009 | Category: Insurance Today

(PRNewswire) – Auto Club Insurance Association, a Dearborn, Michigan-based insurer (ACIA), is pleased to announce it has acquired MEEMIC Insurance Company (MEEMIC) and its insurance agency affiliate, MEEMIC Insurance Services Corporation. The acquisition is expected to provide both companies with further access to complementary, highly attractive market segments, a platform for growth in other states, […]