Recently added articles from Business Insurance:
Momentum builds on health reform; Leaders in Congress press for early vote on system overhaul.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: JERRY GEISEL The drive to enact sweeping health care reform is about to kick into high gear. This week, at least one congressional panelthe Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committeeis set to begin debating a reform bill, while other committees ...
Shareholders vote down Max/IPC merger deal; Rejection opens door for Validus, other bidders.
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: COLLEEN McCARTHY Shareholders of IPC Holdings Ltd. last week voted against a planned merger with Max Capital Group Ltd., bucking management's recommendation and opening up the possibility of a hostile takeover by rival bidder Validus Holdings Ltd. The ...
Renewal, changes likely on block exemption.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Europe's Block Exemption Regulation as it applies to insurance pooling arrangements likely will be renewed, but it appears the section allowing cooperation on standard policy conditions will be allowed to expire, insurance market representatives said ...
Reality checks: Contestants win benefits.(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Does participating in a reality show based on seduction grant contestants the right be treated as employed workers entitled to fringe benefits such as overtime? According to a recent BBC report, a French court says reality show contestants enjoy such treatment. The ...
Market Moves.(Galileo Weather Risk Management Advisors L.L.C)(Hiscox USA has opened a new office in Miami)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Galileo purchased from insurance company NEW YORKThe founders and principals of Galileo Weather Risk Management Advisors L.L.C. have purchased the company from the Hamilton, Bermuda-based White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. As part of the buyout, Galileo's founders ...
Redbird mad over fake tweets.(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Twitter has everyone aflutter, particularly for celebrities who can be impersonated on the micro-blogging service. Tony La Russa, manager for the St. Louis Cardinals, found out firsthand just how easy it is to be impersonated. Someone decided to "tweet'' under the manager's ...
Up Close Comings & Goings; DANA DRAGO.(Interview)
Jun 15, 2009 ... NEW JOB TITLE: Boston-based senior vp and general distribution manager for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.'s Middle Market. PREVIOUS POSITION: Boston-based vice chairman of Consumer and Business Banking for Providence-based Citizens Financial. GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: ...
Employers need to be involved with reform.(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... The rubber is about to hit the road in the drive to enact health care reform legislation. At least one congressional committee this week will begin debating and soon will vote on a health care reform bill. If the process seems fast, that's because it is. By ...
Patience is a virtue for health reform advocates.(Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act )(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... THE DECISION OF Senate leaders to devote their energies to health care reform for the next few weeks means many other critical issues, notably financial services regulatory reform, will be put on hold in that chamber. While delay on regulatory reform is somewhat disappointing, particularly ...
Web site tries to downgrade rating agencies.(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... It's been called a financial crisis, a credit crisis, a meltdown, or just a flat-out mess. With AAA-rated companies being crippled by debt and some dissolving completely, Jesper Andersen and Toby Segaran thought there had to be a better, more accurate way of discerning a ...
Insurance reform delay not so bad: Observers; Congress' focus on health care reform may mean it can deliberate more thoughtfully.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN Even though health care reform has emerged as Congress' No. 1 issue over the near term, advocates of insurance regulatory reform aren't overly concerned that their issues will languish on the legislative back burner for long. In fact, some ...
Global firms consider additional cover for overseas execs; Local regulations, increase in lawsuits trigger change.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: ZACK PHILLIPS Risk managers for U.S.-based multinational companies with directors and officers in foreign countries increasingly are considering buying D&O liability insurance for individual countries, rather than relying on their global D&O liability policy, say ...
IRS issues more guidance on COBRA premium subsidies; Elected officials, military reservists qualify for payments.(Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: JERRY GEISEL New guidance from the Internal Revenue Service answers more questions that have been raised about the federal COBRA premium subsidy. Under that subsidy, included as part of a broader economic stimulus bill President Obama signed in February, the ...
Air France crash may drive up rates; Loss adds pressure to already firming aviation market.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: ZACK PHILLIPS The fatal June 1 crash of an Air France flight may cause further price increases in the aviation insurance market, although it is too early to say for sure, according to observers. Air France Flight 447 disappeared from radar amid tumultuous ...
Maryland regulator set to consider compulsory broker pay disclosure; New York still mulling similar move one year after public hearings.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Maryland Insurance Commissioner Ralph S. Tyler last week said he is considering mandating producer compensation disclosure in the state and soon will invite interested parties to discuss the issue with him. The move comes nearly one year after ...
PUSH BEGINS.
Jun 15, 2009 ... Key issues for employers in health care reform legislation * Will employees be allowed to opt out of employer plans and into a public plan? * Will employers be mandated to offer ...
Mixed opinions on XL/Berkshire agreement; Berkshire unit to back XL's Side A D&O liability policies.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS XL Capital Ltd.'s announcement last week that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will back its insurance policies protecting corporate boards and executives could fuel further doubts about XL's financial strength, some observers believe. Others, ...
In Brief.
Jun 15, 2009 ... Hartford to raise funds; CEO Ayer will retire Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. said it plans to raise up to $750 million by periodically selling shares of its common stock. The insurer also formally announced it would receive $3.4 billion from the U.S. Treasury ...
Ozzy bites head off former bandmate.(Brief article)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Ozzy Osbourne isn't paranoid, he's just a little worried, or maybe just a little ticked off. Mr. Osbourne, front man for heavy metal band Black Sabbath and reality television star, sued former Black Sabbath guitarist and band mate Tony Iommi, accusing him of taking wrongful ...
Retail health clinics may be a passing fad.
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: Joanne Wojcik As Joni Mitchell once sang, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone.'' I finally got the chance to visit a retail clinic in a neighborhood grocery store and now I'm learning they may be nothing more than a passing fad. Even ...