First 100 Children at Miami Zoo to Receive Free Passes

(BUSINESS WIRE) – GEICO will be handing out free passes to the first 100 children who come to the Miami Metro Zoo on Saturday, Jan. 31 to help celebrate the one year anniversary of GEICO’s traveling gecko exhibit.

The live gecko exhibit is part of an ongoing GEICO and AZA nationwide conservation campaign. The tour features the giant day geckos, one of the largest of all geckos, which are native to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands. The GEICO Gecko costume character will also appear at the zoo each weekend during through March 1. Read more…

Two days after State Florida’s Insurance said it wanted to pull out of Florida, the state’s insurance commissioner says he’s issued a subpoena requesting detailed information about the company’s Florida property insurance policyholders.

The subpoena is requesting names, addresses, policy types, policy limits and premium information for each of State Farm’s Florida policyholders. Read more…

(BUSINESS WIRE) – The Insurance Research Council (IRC) recently reported that by the year 2010, nearly one in six drivers across the United States will be driving without auto insurance. Travelers (NYSE: TRV) is reminding consumers that dropping auto insurance coverage is illegal in most every state and could mean financial disaster for families. The company suggests reviewing all insurance coverages to make sure you’re properly protected against uninsured motorists and use the opportunity to talk to an agent about smarter ways to save on insurance costs. Read more…

(PRNewswire via COMTEX) – Survey of auto repair facilities shows significant differences in repair quality, speed, and customer experience Caution! Not all insurance companies are the same when it comes to fixing your car! In a blind survey of 50 New Jersey auto repair facilities performed by USA/Direct, an independent research firm, High Point Auto Insurance was shown to be superior to State Farm, USAA, GEICO, and Progressive. Read more…

Today, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, an incentive competition conducted by the X PRIZE Foundation, praised President Obama’s plan to allow states to regulate automobile greenhouse-gas emissions and to expedite countrywide regulations for increased fuel efficiency standards.

“We share President Obama’s goal to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency standards, and commend him for moving swiftly on these important issues,” said Cristin Lindsay of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, a competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel efficient vehicles. “Through this competition, we will stimulate innovation and show that the targeted fuel efficiency standards are possible.” Read more…

(BUSINESS WIRE) – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company is urging customers to take steps now to prevent potential damage from extreme winter weather conditions. With several weeks of winter weather ahead for many parts of the country, there is still ample opportunity for property owners to take preventative action that could save money and avoid frustration.

“As the freezing and thawing of the winter season progresses, there are preventative steps property owners can do to protect their investment from damage by freezing pipes and ice jams,” said Ken Enscoe, Nationwide’s director of catastrophe claims operations. “Even in the middle of winter, there are some simple things you can do to lessen the chance of a claim.” Read more…

Saying its finances are weakened, State Farm’s Florida unit wants to get out of the business of property insurance in the state.

The company, Florida’s largest private insurer of homes and condos with 1.2 million policies, wants to keep only auto insurance, it said in a statement. Other State Farm units would still sell life, health and other financial services, it said in a statement. Read more…

(Kansas Insurance Department) – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger’s office said it helped thousands of Kansas consumers settle disputes with their insurance companies in 2008, recovering more than $13.6 million in insurance claims for policyholders.

The recoveries are funds returned to policyholders through settlement of claims disputes with insurance companies, based on inquiries and formal complaints filed with the department. These monies are above and beyond what companies had offered consumers to settle the claims.

The department recovery total was the second highest in the past five years.

Although the number of complaints increased slightly from 2007, Praeger pointed to a general downward trend as evidence that consumers are more educated and companies are more mindful about how claims are handled.

(BUSINESS WIRE) – GEICO has good news for motorists in the Peach State: a new auto insurance rate plan that will save Georgia drivers money. The rating plan is already in effect for new policies and will be effective Feb. 8 for renewal policies.

“On average, current GEICO policyholders will receive a 2.3 percent decrease for the same coverages,” said Dina Pon, assistant vice president with underwriting responsibilities for GEICO’s Southeast operations. “The changes for new business customers will make GEICO’s auto policy rates in Georgia even more competitive for consumers. This is especially true because some other companies are raising their auto insurance rates in Georgia at the same time we are lowering ours.” Read more…

(Hartford Business Journal) – Despite a 90 percent decline in profits through the first three quarters of 2008, property and casualty insurers have outperformed several other financial sectors, according to Bob Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute.

Hartwig, who delivered a state of the insurance industry address at the state Capitol last week, said property and casualty insurers have coped with the crisis better than banks thanks to more successful risk management policies and lower leverage. Read more…