Insurance

Oriental Insurance

2011-04-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

Oriental Insurance

The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd

The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd was established at Mumbai on 12th September 1947. The Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Oriental Government Security Life pledge Company Ltd and was constituted to involve made known General Insurance business. Its controller personnel is situated at New Delhi having 26 Regional Offices and near 900+ operating Offices in a variety of cities of India. The Company has overseas operations in countries Nepal, Kuwait and Dubai. The bring in Premium all through 2008-09 time stood at a fine whole of Rs. 4077.90 crores. The Company is not single IT friendly, other than furthermore equipment savoir-faire. The Oriental Insurance Company has been enjoying the highest rating as of leading Indian credit rating agencies CRISIL and ICRA and has been rated equally B++(Very Good).

Health Insurance Products include:-

- Bhavishya Arogya

- Gramin Accident Insurance

- assemble Insurance Policy

- party Mediclaim Policy

- Jan Arogya Bima

- Universal Health Insurance Scheme

Johnson Insurance

2011-04-12T23:01:00.000-07:00

Johnson Insurance

Medical Travel, Medical Tourism Interview by means of Keith Johnson - self-determining Insurance Broker

Keith Johnson has been an self-determining insurance broker for ended 25 years, working specifically in the self funded industry. Recently he took approximately time to speak by means of me in this area his contemporary trip to Korea.

"When I grasped the the makings with the intention of Medical Tourism has - here are enormous ramifications here, - I at once began working to promote Corporate Medical Travel/Medical Tourism to equally a lot of self funded plans sponsors equally we may possibly."

Keith introduces the thought of Medical Tourism to corporate America realizing with the intention of a tourism element is vacant to befall a great deal other striking to a corporation as it is self- funded.

Here are two ways for a corporate entity to provide benefits to their employees, from side to side a fully insured program such equally Blue thwart otherwise a self- funded program where the corporate entity decides to get on a great deal of the expose in insuring its personnel.

By means of a fully insured program the insurance carrier, such equally Blue thwart administers the benefits program and the corporation pays money on a monthly basis for them to do with the intention of.

In a self- funded program, as a replacement for of paying premiums they are able to deposit money in the bank and shell out party claims themselves. Since self funded programs can befall re- insured, they be inflicted with a graze off point for all claim, other than they are motionless vital to shell out up to the reinsurance limit for those equally well equally for the total assemble.

For a company with the intention of is self- funded, Medical Tourism is fantastic. These companies are able to save enormous amounts of money, so Keith is attracting the appeal of a lot of companies with the intention of are self- funded. Actually generous corporations don't be inflicted with reinsurance at all; they solely shell out one claims outright. Ended 70% of all corporations are self-funded, Ford and Chrysler for model. Mega conglomerates are near permanently self- funded. It is as you create looking at companies under 500 employees with the intention of the numbers energy down to 50% being self - funded and companies while businesses by means of under 100 employees are typically by a fully-insured benefits program.

In October of 2009, Keith accompanied Jeff transporter and litigate Hart to Korea on a tour to make famous prospective clients by means of Korea's exceptional health care system, along by means of a assemble of other influential insurance brokers, benefit consultants and health care plan sponsors (employers).

The assemble toured six Korean facilities in Seoul, a city by means of a population of ended 10 million people. Keith continuously found himself impressed by the high degree of equipment and the quality of together facilities and the care existing.

"The accent they placed on robotics was exceptionally impressive and the hospitals themselves were state of the art. I furthermore felt with the intention of the pride of ownership with the intention of the physicians articulated was extremely telltale. It was extremely a great deal on par by means of one gift in the United States."

Keith continues to educate companies in this area the giant benefits to them in utilizing HealthGlobe to facilitate medical tourism for themselves and their employees; and HealthGlobe continues its mission to discover the best and generally reasonably priced health care for its clients.

Peter Propp is the Chief Marketing detective for HealthGlobe. He believes strongly with the intention of Medical Travel is an valuable trend, other than solely a solution for the wants of companies and those, other than a method to highlight approximately of the inherent issues by means of the healthcare system in the United States.

Boat Insurance

2011-04-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

Boat Insurance

Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Boat Insurance otherwise Yacht Insurance source

Solely to get on to guaranteed with the intention of you be inflicted with covered all the de rigueur particulars in buying your yacht insurance otherwise boat insurance, not more than are the top 10 caring questions you may ask the boat insurance and yacht insurance providers previous to you irrevocably sign up by means of them:

1. What is the degree of coverage to the guests sailing in my boat?

Uncommon boat insurance and yacht insurance policies be inflicted with uncommon degree of coverage for your passengers. Here are persons with the intention of differentiate passengers and crews. Opt for the boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance policy with the intention of gives similar coverage to the full people on board your boat.

2. How a great deal of the equipment in my boat/yacht is covered by this boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance policy?

Be acquainted with carefully what equipment and substance in your boat are covered by the insurance policy. This want help you save a good amount of money, especially if you be inflicted with a unadorned boat similar to a dinghy, otherwise can help you as of losing a great deal of your investment if you be inflicted with a luxury yacht.

3. Is here a "new for old" cover in your boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance policy?

This earnings with the intention of your insurance source want fully cover and shell out the damaged cut of your yacht/boat while other may single shell out the depreciated value otherwise following hand value of the equipment.

4. Is here a damage limit in your yacht insurance otherwise boat insurance policy?

Previous to you sign up by means of a boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance source, get on to guaranteed with the intention of their policy does not impose a damage limit to your yacht/boat. Here are other insurance providers with the intention of fit a ceiling for the amount of damage cost incurred by your yacht otherwise boat. This earnings with the intention of you want be inflicted with to shell out for all the damages incurred with the intention of is higher than the ceiling the boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance source forced.

5. What are the damages covered by the insurance policy?

Study the insurance policy meticulously and check if the earnings of moving similar to your ad is covered by the boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance policy. Check furthermore if your policy want cover damages caused by natural disasters similar to hurricanes, tsunamis and tropical storms.

6. Is the boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance source flexible sufficient to get on to a "custom made" policy?

Be acquainted with how a great deal your insurance source is willing to proffer solely to come across your personal wants. Arrange your possess insurance package and check made known which yacht insurance otherwise boat insurance source can accommodate your requirements.

7. Is your yacht/boat covered must a catastrophe strike while it is anchored otherwise in a reduce?

Here are boat insurance and yacht insurance providers with the intention of include in their policy coverage of the damages incurred while your boat/yacht is not sailing. This coverage is dependent on the location of the insurance source. Approximately boat insurance and yacht insurance providers furthermore offer seasonal limits for this type of coverage.

8. Does your boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance policy offer legal protection?

Opt for an insurance policy with the intention of offers a thorough legal protection. This helps you get claims must boat collisions and accidents leave the people in it injured.

9. Does your insurance policy offer third-party liability?

Having a third-party liability earnings with the intention of your boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance source want cover the damages your boat/yacht may cause on other watercrafts. Good insurance providers offer this coverage.

10. What is the boundary of coverage as you sail in foreign countries?

Uncommon countries be inflicted with uncommon sailing regulations. If you plan to do a cruise, get on to guaranteed with the intention of you are aware of the coverage of your boat insurance otherwise yacht insurance policy previous to you sail in foreign countries.

Reliance General Insurance

2011-04-12T22:45:00.000-07:00

Reliance General Insurance

Bike Theft Insurance Claim - Reliance General Insurance

Hello,

I had a bike (TVS Apache RTR - 160) insured by means of reliance general insurance.I had lost my bike on 15/11/2009.At once i had filed a justification on this at virtually by police station (Madivala - Bangalore).I had informed in this area the similar to insurance personnel,an detective came and took the particulars of FIR imitation and surveyed the place.With with the intention of i was to waiting to receive the crash as of Police stating non traceable(C- Report).I got this by 5th November2010.With with the intention of the insurance people told me to get a imitation as of RTO personnel stating this theft has been informed to them.

I went to RTO and submitted the suggestion epistle along by means of FIR imitation,C-report.They had acknowledged the similar and agreed me the imitation on 7th Jan 2011.At that time I went to the insurance people,other than they denied to get the ID for claim stating the time has been elapsed for claiming.At that time they to told me provide a ask for epistle to their company stating in this area the delay happened and ask for to think my claim.I had provided with the intention of on 10th Jan'11.Other than motionless currently here is thumbs down one response as of the insurance company.When I call them, they want say want revert in 1 week other than motionless currently here is thumbs down proper response as of them.

I would ask for to gather in a line a complaint hostile to this and help me in getting the claim.

Regards

Sathish Kumar.R
98448 44288

AMI Insurance

2011-04-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

AMI Insurance

Quake-hit AMI insurance bailout may possibly cost $1 billion

The Government announced now it would get on to $500m unfilled to troubled Christchurch insurer AMI.

The Government had indicated it may be inflicted with to inject up to $1b into AMI to help cover claims for the February 22, 6.3 magnitude earthquake.

AMI has inveterate it has greater claims cost than it is covered by reinsurance.

AMI chief executive John Balmforth understood the company had so far expected 12,000 claims by means of an estimated cost of $664m for the earthquake.

Its reinsurance cover for the following shake is $600m.

''It's a query of how a lot of claims are motionless outstanding vacant forwards,'' Balmforth understood.

''We would wish generally of the claims are in other than they do get time.''

Balmforth understood AMI had not yet spent the estimated $664m of cost as of the expected claims for February 22. Settling them would get a link of years.

The lofty uncertainty ended cost was whether ground had to befall remediated.

The February shake furthermore predestined with the intention of approximately houses with the intention of were to befall repaired with September 4 currently strength be inflicted with to befall rebuilt at a greater cost.

''That want determine if we want require bonus capital.''

AMI is New Zealand's second-largest residential insurer, by means of 485,000 policyholders and 1.2 million policies across the country.

It has other than 85,000 policyholders in Christchurch, by means of 225,000 policies - otherwise in this area 35 for every cent of the residential insurance market in the city.

The company had been able to soubriquet the volume of claims as of the September 4, 7.1 magnitude shake and was well covered by reinsurance for with the intention of.

It had expected 14,000 claims at an estimated cost of $450m for the September shake by means of persons covered by $600m in reinsurance.

Balmforth understood he had expected single one deal with as of a competitor to buy AMI Insurance.

He did not first name the company, other than listed New Zealand insurer Tower has signalled its appeal in acquiring AMI.

"It's too ahead of schedule for us to comment, other than we would befall interested [in a deal]," understood Tower assemble administration director deprive Flannagan.

"Their business is extremely compatible by means of ours, and in a lot of ways here would befall a ration of upside in my check over. I be inflicted with oral to the [AMI] chief executive [John Balmforth] earlier this week, other than they are choosing to energy a uncommon path at the second."

Coto Insurance

2011-04-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

Coto Insurance

Coto Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

At this time information of Coto Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. :

Take up:
30212 Tomas Suite 110
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Tel: (949) 858-7200
Fax: (949) 858-7301

Web Site:
Http://www.Cotoinsurance.Com

Friend:
Victoria Gunvalson - President

Business create appointment:
12/1/1990

Company ID:
100049858

Nature of Business:
The company's business is provide for Financial and Insurance Services, specializing Health and Life Insurance, lengthy term care insurance and annuities insurance.

If you aspire conception other information in this area "coto insurance", you can look for otherwise visited correlated site information in our site at this time.

Auto Insurance Bids

2011-04-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Auto Insurance Bids

Bid Farewell to Your doubts by means of Non title-holder Auto Insurance

Planning for a fun-filled trip in a on loan car? Non title-holder auto insurance is the prime business you require to plan previous to you can commence to plan your clothes! It is a known detail with the intention of driving to a variety of destinations is an integral fraction of our lives. Accidents, too, cannot befall neglected at all. Each one understands with the intention of driving involves a splendid amount of expose by means of the always growing traffic on the active streets. A lot of a times, while borrowing a vehicle as of supporter otherwise nearest and dearest you ensure with the intention of complete care is taken. However, the probability of an accident cannot befall auto insurance bids completely denied. Thumbs down topic how dear you are to your supporter, paying the bills for the damage is amazing thumbs down one loves!

What if you are provided by means of complete coverage of the accident? Sounds appealing and relieving? Well, this kind of insurance policy offers you the benefit of claiming insurance for the vehicle with the intention of you do not possess! If you are by now feeling secure in this area the total business, at that time here is other for you. This insurance not single covers the damage to the vehicle other than furthermore give you medical insurance, in justification here is an injury. If you are the kind of person who tends to rent a car frequently, this insurance is amazing with the intention of you should grab and fetch the benefits.

A further foremost class of people who can beyond doubt benefit as of the insurance is the people who are into driving vehicles professionally for a company otherwise an party. In this kind of job, the frequency of driving is extremely high. At the similar time, the exposure to high expose of accidents is inflated. Non title-holder auto insurance plays a noteworthy role in justification of one disaster. Dealing by means of the penalty in such a circumstances is a great deal smoother by means of the insurance and medical coverage benefit you get. It is real with the intention of one wants to befall exceptionally cautious while driving a vehicle, whether it is your possess otherwise an important person else's However, a auto insurance bids policy similar to this can prevent you as of getting into a forceful spot.

If your life revolves around renting otherwise borrowing cars and driving them for a variety of reasons, investing into this kind of insurance policy can stay you free of doubts. Although it may not befall one of the generally standard insurance policies amongst the surplus of the insurance correlated to automobiles, it serves a splendid function and is one of the generally essential rudiments in today's life. Thumbs down topic how secure you are equally a driver. It can befall an important person else's fault with the intention of can cause approximately serious damage to the vehicle.

Prevention is permanently improved than cure. Opting for the policy is a extremely sensible decision to save physically as of shoveling made known enormous amount of money. If you are hearing in this area this policy for the initially time, it is not your fault as generally of the companies dealing by means of insurance do not highlight the non title-holder auto insurance and its benefits. Equally an party involved in driving cars with the intention of do not be in the right place to you, result made known other particulars in this area such policies is beyond doubt your job. Principal a peaceful life and consent to the title-holder of the car breathe quietly too!

Grange Insurance

2011-03-01T00:03:00.000-08:00

Grange Insurance

A Look at Grange Homeowners Insurance

Grange homeowners insurance was established in 1935 in Columbus, Ohio. For ended 70 years, the insurance agency, known for its automobile coverage, has been single-minded t- help consumers receive competitive homeowners insurance coverage. Based made known of Columbus, Ohio, Grange is a billion dollar company with the intention of offers auto, life, and business protection in addition t- homeowners insurance. The company is a presence in together rural and urban areas.

Equally a $1 billion insurance source, the insurance company bases its accomplishment by means of their drive t- build relationships one customer at a time. This represented in a number of ways:

- The agency specializes in the stretch of responsibility Business (EODB�)
- Multiple insurance products
- Easy service

Consumers and policyholders can expect t- befall covered by the following:

- Weather correlated losses
- Fire and smoke
- larceny
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Other perils otherwise accidents

People can als- count on them t- be acquainted with with the intention of their home is their biggest investment and a essential t- living. Knowing with the intention of consumers and policyholders must not agonize in this area the safety of their home, Grange carries bonus coverage with the intention of is not normally covered by other homeowners insurance companies. This added significance of security is why consumers stay appearance t- Grange and why policyholders take up again t- d- business by means of them.

Other shape of insurance Grange carries are:

- Business
- Life
- Automobile
- Motorcycle
- Rental
- Condo
- Boat
- Other insurance coverage

The makings policyholders and consumers want discover Grange almost anywhere in the Eastern United States. Claims can befall made 24-hours a time. Payments are made online otherwise by mail. Grange als- partners by means of self-determining agents for your convenience.

Chartis Insurance

2011-03-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Chartis Insurance

Chartis insurance auction Airbus A320 - price, particulars

Chartis Insurance, an insurance company is selling the Airbus A320. The Chartis Insurance Auction of the Airbus A320 is scheduled to aim at 430pm ET, progression 27, 2010. A akin junked Airbus A310 was sold for $2.6 million dollar.

The newest news is Chartis Insurance, an insurance company is selling the Airbus A320. The Chartis Insurance Auction of the Airbus A320 is scheduled to aim at 430pm ET, progression 27, 2010. The auction want befall managed by Dan Aker of Chartis Insurance.

The Airbus A320-214 was continue flown by Capt. Chesley 'Sully' Sullengerger. The famous smooth with the intention of is up for auction had landed safely on the Hudson waterway, continue January 15,2009 with a flight of birds had disabled its engines. The miracle smooth become worldwide standard and gained popularity with the pilot saved all 155 passengers on board.

Chartis Insurance, a subsidiary of Insurance giant AIG is holding the auction of the aircraft which is relentlessly water damaged, has 2 missing engines and cannot take wing.

NY placement quoted a notice as of the Chartis Insurance adage with the intention of the aircraft suffered brutal bird strike event ensuing in water emergency landing. The notice added, brutal water damage right through airframe. Impression damage to underside of aircraft.'

Chartis Insurance is taking care of the smooth which is at a salvage yard in Kearny, New sweater ' it furthermore useful a deterioration inhibitor continue summer.

The price and cost of the recycled aircraft varies, so it's tricky to estimate the price A320 aircraft would influence at the auction. However it is reported with the intention of a akin junked Airbus A310 was sold for $2.6 million dollar.

The stipulations of sale for the Airbus: Equally is/where is. Under equipment damage is the notation destroyed. Thumbs down engines are built-in also.

Aarp Health Insurance

2011-02-28T23:54:00.000-08:00

Aarp Health Insurance

In this area AARP Health Insurance for Young Adults

Friendship for the Advancement of Retired personnel (AARP) was ongoing near 50 years past by Dr. Ethel Andrus in 1958. The non-profit organization give services and benefits with the intention of primarily focus on people 50 years old and up. AARP has approximately 40 million members right through the United States, the constituency of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Equally confirmed on its authoritative website the organization's mission "is to improve the quality of life for all equally we age, leading clear social exchange and delivering value to members from side to side information, advocacy and service." Benefits this non-profit organization provide its members include: Discounts on travel prices and retail products, advocacy around issues impacting seniors, information together on and offline and community services such equally driver training. Yet, AARP offers health insurance benefits for other at that time senior citizens. The organization furthermore offers health services and benefits by means of sound firms for young adults. To get benefit of these health insurance programs young adults, personnel younger than 50 years, want require to become frequent members of AARP.

Frequent Memberships
Equally an frequent member, you can get benefit of AARP's dental insurance program which is existing to members of all ages. The dental program is provided by Delta Dental Insurance Program. Other than 140,000 dentists are in the program which allows members to frequently stay their current dentist as they sign up for the program. The dental program is administered in more than a few states in the United States. To think it over if your state participates in the program, you can visit the provider's website. Here are two dental plans you can point out as of in the program depending on the type of coverage you aspire. Together plans provide coverage for services counting diagnostic and preventive care, oral surgery, starting place inland waterway and filings. Deductibles are $50 and $100 a time depending on the plan you excellent.

Idea and Prescription Discounts
Bonus health insurance coverage for young adults includes lengthy term care insurance, idea and prescription discounts. Here is a $19.95 once a year fee to participate in the prescription discount program. Walgreens Health Initiative administers this discount program with the intention of allows young adults to receive their prescriptions from side to side the mail if they point out to do so. To think it over the savings for a fastidious prescription, young adults can look for the administrator's site. For idea, savings for young adults are at 30% for eyewear and 20% for contacts. Companies participating in the program are Pearle idea, Lens Crafters, Sears Optical and JCPenney Optical.

Fitness Programs
Young adults can furthermore save on fitness programs at Curves, Gold's aerobics studio and ACE. Here is a 20% savings off Gold's aerobics studio membership fees and a 15% savings off the expenditure of a personal teacher. Members can save $100 off Curve's enrollment expenditure.

Easy Access to Medical equipment
AARP frequent members, persons under 50 years of age, can get benefit of medical supply services which allows members to refill their medical equipment without leaving the comforts of their home. Membership in Medicare is vital to participate in this program.

Assemble Health Insurance
The state with the intention of you live in may provide bonus benefits for being an AARP frequent member. You strength furthermore befall able to participate in assemble health insurance programs existing by AARP. If you are the partner of an AARP satiated member, you can get benefit of AARP's health insurance plan existing from side to side Aetna. Dependent children of satiated AARP members may furthermore get benefit of the organization's premiere health insurance plan. If you are a young adult, to befall eligible for this premiere health insurance program you should befall the dependent of a satiated AARP member linking 19 and 24 years old, unmarried and a satiated time student.

Social Insurance Number

2011-02-28T23:49:00.000-08:00

Social Insurance Number

Why Do You require a Social Insurance Number with Landing equally a New Immigrant?

With getting the praise of your stable position application and having the documents stamped for you and your dependents, it is time to learn other in this area settling in Canada. You require to be acquainted with what you be inflicted with to do with landing in Canada equally stable inhabitant. Settling in a new country may befall challenging and you may feel scared and lonely other than here is so a great deal to do in the ground of opportunity. This may befall the time with the intention of is satiated of adventures, assembly new people and early a new life in new country.

As you ground equally stable inhabitant in Canada, you require approximately valuable IDs with the intention of you be inflicted with to apply for. Social Insurance number (SIN) is one the valuable IDs with the intention of you should apply. You require your SIN card to bring about in Canada. Without social insurance number (SIN) you are not eligible to bring about in Canada. It tells the government who is earning money, paying taxes, by government services such equally employment insurance benefit. In Canada, it is illegal to bring about without a social insurance number (SIN), and you want befall asked by employers, government agencies. Still as you commence a bank account you want require it. Your children do not require to be inflicted with a SIN card except they get old sufficient to wok. However, you may apply for them anytime. You do not be inflicted with to shell out one fee for applying the SIN card.

Your SIN card has extremely insightful information. You should call proper establishment to if it is lost otherwise stolen. You may energy to Service Canada focal point otherwise call them to notify in this area your card. You should not produce you social insurance number (SIN) to people other than government agencies and genuine employers. You should not it on Job Application shape otherwise enter it on your resume otherwise cover epistle. You should furthermore not produce it to one person who may look good to get you job. It is attached to a ration of personal information, so it is exceptionally valuable to stay it confidential and in secure location.

You may energy to your community Service Canada focal point for an application shape otherwise you can download it as of the Service Canada website. If you apply at Service Canada focal point, you require to get your first ID by means of you. You require these ID to verify your identity. You can aid your stable inhabitant Card otherwise confirmation of Landing equally ID of waterproof. If you are applying your social insurance number (SIN) by mail, you be inflicted with to mail your first ID of identity along by means of your concluded application shape. Service Canada want hurl your first ID back with verifying your identity. Federal government operates Service Canada Centers. It is the place where you apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN), and Employment Insurance Benefit (EI) otherwise get information to discover a job.

In conclusion, SIN card hold your confidential information with the intention of is exceptionally insightful. You should befall extremely cautious as giving your social insurance number (SIN) to somebody. Your identity can befall stolen and can befall abused by those and organizations. You must produce it to single government otherwise employers with the intention of you can trust. It is valuable with the intention of you get your social insurance number (SIN) equally soon equally you arrive in Canada equally landed immigrant since you can not bring about otherwise apply for bring about without it.

Rsa Insurance

2011-02-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

Rsa Insurance

RSA want fail to attend 2010 profit target with U.K. Snowstorm

LONDON (Bloomberg)—RSA Insurance assemble P.L.C., the United Kingdom's biggest publicly traded nonlife insurer, understood it want probably fail to attend its underwriting profit target for 2010 with the coldest U.K. December for a century caused a spike in claims.

Losses in November and December want befall in this area £142 million ($225.4 million) higher than usual, leading to weather- correlated claims for 2010 of in this area £255 million other than the habitual level, London-based RSA understood Thursday in a statement. The shares dropped equally a great deal equally 2.6% in London trading.

The insurer's combined ratio, otherwise claims and expenses equally a percentage of premiums, want befall linking 96.5% and 97% for 2010. RSA understood in November it intended to come across its 95% target for the time. The decrease an insurer's combined ratio, the higher its profit as of underwriting.

RSA, the U.K.'s fourth-biggest home insurer, understood £110 million ($174.6 million) of the superfluous losses came as of its home market, where it expected in this area 8,000 claims for burst water pipes, all estimate an mean of £6,700 ($10,636). The remainder of the losses came as of the company's money-making property and auto policies. The steady furthermore had higher-than-average losses correlated to cold weather in Scandinavia and Ireland.

RSA expects to placement an operating profit of linking £600 million and £630 million ($952.4 million and $1 billion). The company's operating profit was £777 million ($1.23 billion) in 2009. RSA was furthermore hurt by in this area £30 million ($47.6 million) of claims as of the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile earlier this time.

"This is a sturdy upshot in what has been an exceptionally tough time for the industry, counting the European freeze and Chilean earthquake in the initially quarter and the coldest December in the U.K. For 100 years," chief executive Andy rush understood in the statement.

The company want stick to its plan of increasing the dividend in line by means of the U.K. Inflation rate, it understood in the statement Thursday. The shares fell 1.2% to 133.2 pence in London.

Freeway Insurance

2011-02-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

Freeway Insurance

Freeway insurance policies are well-located equally well equally valuable. They not single guard you other than furthermore your property as of awkward happenings. Equally people are realizing the substance of this insurance, the price of acquiring the similar is increasing too.

Freeway insurance is well known in the world of insurance. You would befall served still at in the dead of night hours on weekends and this is indeed amazing with the intention of hardly any insurance companies would provide you. In justification of one problem, you can call them up anytime on a toll-free number and befall surplus poised with the intention of here is an important person to attend you. It is fast popularity especially amongst drivers all ended the world since it forms an reasonably priced option in the world of automobile insurance.

It has high-risk indemnity to offer in seats similar to Arizona and California. The services include automobiles, sufferer and fire. However, equally an authorized broker, Freeway insurance facility not for one fastidious company other than for equally a lot of equally thirty best carriers of insurance as long as outstanding coverage. The policies of these selected insurance providers are existing by Freeway and at the similar time, you can be inflicted with the benefit of choosing multiple policies. Hence, Freeway handpicks these policies and insurers so with the intention of you get a large variety of prices, plans, payment alternative, deductibles and benefits to point out as of.

Freeway insurance is a source of high-risk coverage and this sets the company apart as of the others. A lot of an insurance source is known to turn down suitcases demanding high-risk insurance. For occasion, in California, a high-risk driver is one who:
- Has not attained the age of eighteen
- Has had a floating driver's license
- Owns a car of high performance class
- Has tickets for multiple speeding
- Has been involved in numerous accidents in course of the continue three years
- Has been convicted in charge of drunk driving.
Freeway however, specializes and give coverage under such circumstances.

Approximately of the generally ordinary coverage and benefits existing by automobile Freeway insurance are:
- Liability of in person injuries caused to you in an accident
- Liability of damages to someone's property equally a upshot of your accident
- Injuries caused to you by approximately uninsured motorists and drivers
- Payment of medical expenses
- Payment for damages to vehicles for accidents other than collision
- Payment for damages equally a upshot of collision of vehicle
- Payment of towing expenses incurred with an accident
- Payment of car renovate expenses with accident

Aami Car Insurance

2011-02-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

Aami Car Insurance

The substance of car insurance must not befall underestimated. The concord of mind with the intention of car insurance want buy you is beyond price. Above and beyond the concord of mind with the intention of you want get as of owning car insurance, here is the satisfaction of knowing with the intention of you be inflicted with adhered to a mandatory law. Generally countries currently be inflicted with mandatory laws with the intention of require with the intention of the title-holder and driver of a car involve car insurance.

Here has been approximately research conducted with the intention of indicate with the intention of one of the challenges of raising children now, is the parents having to chauffer the children around to a variety of activities. This has caused stresses with the intention of spill ended to the driver's behavior in a unenthusiastic method. If, equally a mother you decide you want consent to the children drive themselves to their activities an actions with the intention of you must be acquainted with with the intention of young driver accidents are greatly cut-rate (almost by a third) if the young drivers participate in training with the intention of goes further than solely what is looked-for to get their license.

AAMI is an insurance company with the intention of is based in Australia and offers wide-ranging car insurance with the intention of covers you for not single damage to your car other than covers one damage with the intention of may befall cause to the property of others. At AAMI they understand what it is to befall without you car due to an accident. In order to relieve a stressful circumstances they try to get you back and driving equally quickly equally doable.

AAMI offer a lot of benefits by means of their wide-ranging car insurance at a extremely competitive cost. At AAMI you can get on to a scale of how a great deal you aspire to shell out and how a great deal you aspire to save solely by unreliable your surplus. If you point out a higher surplus your insurance premium want befall decrease.

AAMI car insurance company is a believer in rewarding secure drivers and decision secure drivers by means of bonus benefits. The rewards are awarded on the basis of the number of consecutive years you be inflicted with been in the program and you want wait in the program equally lengthy equally you do not get on to an accident claim. The awards include: Discounts on your premium; cut-rate surplus; and the benefit of a car rental.

Moneysupermarket Car Insurance

2011-02-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

Moneysupermarket Car Insurance

Knowing how to discover car insurance can decrease together your law and your blood pressure. Get your time and read up on the process previous to you create. A not enough time currently want get on to your decision in the prospect easier.

One of the best ways to discover the best deals on car insurance is to get equally a lot of quotes equally doable. You'll require to be inflicted with your information equipped, counting your driver's license number, car information, VIN number, and your bank information if the vehicle is financed.

You'll require to be acquainted with what equipment your car has. Do you be inflicted with anti-lock breaks, an alarm system, otherwise airbags? These diplomacy can mean discounts, so get on to guaranteed you be acquainted with what alternative your car has. The easiest method to decrease your car insurance price is to get a car alarm otherwise other anti-theft device. It want befall worth the investment.

Some time ago you be inflicted with your lists and background research, you can create shopping for on-line quotes. The internet is a blessing for bargain shoppers. As a replacement for of having to call all agency, you can get multiple quotes on-line for comparison. You can straightforwardly tidy made known the generally expensive quotes and focus in on three otherwise four.

Some time ago you be inflicted with your catalog of quotes, it's time to verify the authenticity of the agencies. Simply look for for your agency on one of the a lot of sites dyed-in-the-wool to ferreting made known scams. If they are not legitimate, get them off of your catalog. If they are legitimate, fit the quote aside for additional analysis.

Amazing to stay in mind as shopping for insurance is with the intention of if a deal seems too good to befall real, with the intention of probably earnings it is. By no means bound on the initially offer you think it over since it seems too good to pass up. This is one of the initially notification signs with the intention of the offer is a scam.

If you stay on this guide, you must discover a hardly any good offers to compare. Look at the existing coverage and think it over which one suits your wants the best. Approximately companies offer discounts otherwise special programs with you've been by means of them for a particular amount of time. Get on to guaranteed you think these prospect benefits previous to you get on to your decision.

Axa Car Insurance

2011-02-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

Axa Car Insurance

Axa car insurance site offers 90% no-claims discount

Insurer launches preside over web sales in the wish of attracting the safest drivers

Axa has become the newest insurance company to launch a website selling preside over to customers. And it is in suspense to beguile the safest drivers by means of the look good of a most 90% no-claims discount which, it claims, is the highest in the market.

It has traditionally sold from side to side brokers alongside its Swiftcover brand, and is shamelessly targeting middle-aged drivers of low-performance cars who are generally likely to be inflicted with a claims-free earlier period. Policyholders furthermore get a courtesy car "whenever they are without a car following one convincing claim for accident, fire and theft", not solely while their own is being repaired.

Claims can befall tracked, and amendments made to the policy, at one time via the website. Its target market is persons around 45 and upwards. It has a most age for new customers of 80. The company says motorists by means of a reduced amount of than eight years driving experience are three times other likely to be inflicted with together been trapped driving under the influence of drugs otherwise alcohol, otherwise convicted of treacherous driving in the continue time. Veteran drivers, it says, are furthermore a reduced amount of likely to be inflicted with been trapped by a movable phone while driving, and five times a reduced amount of likely to be inflicted with been fined for driving without a seatbelt.

Tina Shortle, marketing director for Axa Insurance says with the intention of at a time as prices are rising sharply in this market, "we felt drivers by means of a proven track confirmation deserved more". The authoritative launch on Monday want befall backed by a £10m marketing campaign.

This week, custodian Money road-tested the website and found with the intention of, while it wasn't the cheapest, it was competitive. The website is certainly well-designed, and we got a quote in a hardly any minutes a great deal faster than a lot of of its rivals.

However, while the Brignalls and their old Toyota estate looked, on paper, to befall in its target market, Axa's quote disastrous to undercut our existing insurer the Co-op.

We shell out £218 a time, while Axa wanted almost £270, although it may be inflicted with been deposit off by my job. Insurers don't commonly similar to journalists. Furthermore, equally we crash on this leaf, premiums are marching upwards.

Here are a hardly any things we didn't similar to. The policy involuntarily includes legal expenses cover at £24 a time, which was tricky other than, eventually, doable to untick. European cover higher than three days expenditure other it's free by means of the Co-op. The breakdown cover is cheaper if bought elsewhere.

New insurers look after to offer low premiums as they initially create trading to pull towards you a generous customer corrupt. Axa want befall featuring on the aggregator websites such equally Confused.Com, which are permanently worth read-through at renewal time. Other insurers to furthermore get quotes as of include the Co-op and NFU Mutual.

Marsh Insurance

2010-07-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Marsh Insurance

Marsh Appoints Elizabeth Francy Demaret equally Multinational Client Service Director

Marsh, the world's leading insurance adviser and expose advisor, now announced the appointment of Elizabeth Francy Demaret equally administration Director and Multinational Client Service Director.

Inside this newly produced role, Ms. Demaret want bring about with Marsh's dyed-in-the-wool multinational specialists inside ended 100 countries to ensure with the intention of "one team" delivers insurance solutions and service excellence to Marsh's multinational clients. She furthermore want supply equally the liaison linking Marsh's international arrangement and insurance markets worldwide to hold up Marsh's client relationships and to ensure the manner of speaking of the public, information, programs and tools pro all clients, in any case of size.

Ms. Demaret joins Marsh with other than 20 years of experience working with foremost insurance organizations. Generally recently she was with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Where she served equally administration Director, International Services.

"We are delighted to salutation Elizabeth Demaret to Marsh equally Client Service Director pro Multinational," understood reel Allen, President of Marsh Multinational. "Her a lot of years of experience of administration adviser networks globally want allow us to accelerate our diplomacy to realize flawless client service on behalf of our generally complicated clients, inside an increasingly trying comprehensive marketplace."

Ms. Demaret want befall relocating to New York as of Chicago and want crash to Mr. Allen.

Department of Insurance

2010-07-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

Department of Insurance

Farmers Insurance to Provide Rebates Under Agreement with California Department of Insurance

Car insurance customers inside California want befall eligible to receive one-time, 10 percent insurance plan premium rebates under an agreement reached linking the California Department of Insurance (DOI) and Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance.

Farmers Insurance announced now with the intention of approximately of its car insurance customers inside California want befall eligible to receive one-time, 10 percent insurance plan premium rebates under an agreement reached linking the California Department of Insurance (DOI) and Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance.

Equally a upshot of the agreement jointly announced by the California DOI and Farmers Insurance, current customers of the Farmers Insurance Exchange, whose car insurance policies renew linking July 15th, 2010 and January 15th, 2011, want befall eligible pro a one-time, 10 percent insurance premium discount. Discount checks, which would mean in this area $50 for every insured vehicle, want befall mailed to eligible Farmers Insurance Exchange customers inside February 2011. The Farmers Insurance Exchange insures in this area 640,000 vehicles inside California. California consumer groups furthermore participated inside the discussions, which led to the agreement to come forth the rebates.

Inside California, Farmers Insurance protects other than 2 million vehicles inside two companies, the Farmers Insurance Exchange and Mid-Century Insurance Co. The Farmers Insurance Exchange insures an estimated 640,000 vehicles of the other than 2 million vehicles, while Mid-Century Insurance Co. Insures in this area 1.4 million vehicles inside California. (Farmers Insurance customers now insured by Mid-Century Insurance Company are not fraction of the agreement and, hence, not eligible pro the one-time, 10 percent insurance premium rebates).

The agreement linking the California DOI and Farmers Insurance brings the Farmers Insurance Exchange into satiated compliance with the California DOI's car Rating Factors (ARF) regulations. (Mid-Century Insurance Company is already inside compliance with the ARF regulations). The agreement, inside effect, brings balance and uniformity to Farmers Insurance pricing and coverages across its two California car insurance companies. Equally a upshot of the agreement, customers inside the Farmers Insurance Exchanges want ultimately receive the same premium price organize equally Mid-Century Insurance Company customers currently receive. The 10 percent, one-time rebates pro eligible Farmers Insurance Exchange customers, who renew their policies linking July 15th, 2010 and January 15, 2011, is an effort to at once match the premium pricing pro customers of the two companies.

"This agreement with the California Department of Insurance enables Farmers Insurance to streamline and balance our pricing, product and coverage offerings inside California pro the benefit of our customers and our agents," understood Jeff Dailey, President of private shape pro Farmers Insurance.

"Farmers Insurance is satisfied to bring these rebates to our Farmers Insurance Exchange customers and we promote persons customers to visit with their community Farmers agents to review their current insurance protection. Farmers Insurance is proud to offer regular coverage and pricing to all of its California car customers from side to side this agreement," Dailey added.

Dailey thanked the Department of Insurance and other parties involved inside the negotiations pro their collaborative hard work inside success an agreement with the intention of is inside the best interests of California insurance consumers.

"As a customer-focused company inside a highly competitive affair, it is imperative with the intention of we are straightforward to sort out affair with and with the intention of we offer our customers the generally competitive and striking prices and products equally doable. This agreement with the Department of Insurance positions us accordingly pro the benefit of our customers," Dailey added.

Farmers is a trade first name and may refer to Farmers assemble, Inc. Otherwise the Farmers Exchanges, equally the justification may befall. Farmers assemble, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services assemble. The Farmers Exchanges are three joint insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), counting their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers assemble, Inc. And its subsidiaries. Pro other in rank in this area Farmers, visit our Web site by www.Farmers.Com.

Combined Insurance

2010-07-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

Combined Insurance

Law to consent to insurers advertise ULIPs lacking SEBI okay

NEW DELHI: A law was introduced inside parliament to allow insurers to advertise unit-linked insurance diplomacy (ULIPs), lacking seeking the capital markets regulator's praise.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the insurance valve had safe and sound horns on who must standardize ULIPs, mutual back instruments with an added life cover, agreed the products combined insurance and funds.

The law want seek to formalise an earlier presidential announce which permitted such sales.

Chubb Insurance

2010-07-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Chubb Insurance

Chubb Upgraded to Neutral

We are upgrading our recommendation on the shares of the Chubb Corp. (CB) to Neutral as of Underperform. We believe the company is poised to benefit reasonably as of the established rate background inside its CPI segment and the gradual decline inside renewal inside its other segment, CCI. The underside line is furthermore poised to benefit as of the aggressive split repurchase with the intention of remains a priority pro management.

All through the following quarter results released on July 22, 2010, return came inside a fifty pence piece yet to be of the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Results were, however, decrease than $1.49 earned inside the prior-year quarter. The year-over-year decline was primarily due to privileged cataclysm losses.

The quarter proverb a setback inside trend inside net premiums on paper inside the company's money-making Insurance segment, which reported a flat tire premium; this was the initially calculate since the initially quarter of 2008 with the intention of the segment did not crash a premium decline. Not single was its renewal exposure decline of 1% inside the US the smallest weekly decrease since the fourth quarter of 2008, it was an enhancement ended the 3% decline inside the following quarter of 2009.

Above and beyond, the CPI segment evidenced clear trends and exposures. Endorsement endeavor was clear pro the initially calculate since the third quarter of 2008. However, the modest rate improvements veteran recently is being hassled by competitive forces. Hence we believe a extremely modest growth is feasible inside premiums on paper inside 2010. Management has raised its guidance pro 2010 net premiums on paper to flat tire as of a decline of 2% previously.

Chubb furthermore remains well capitalized by the insurance company level inside reference to the smallest risk-based capital requirement. Its debt to whole capitalization ratio stands low by 20%. Moreover, the return to fixed charges ratio stands sturdy by 10x. Above and beyond, Chubb has increased its dividend payment all through the initially quarter 2010, marking the 28th consecutive dividend boost, a continued indication of its financial strength and resilience inside a cyclical industry.

Tome regard for every split has developed by a 5-year CAGR of 9.8%. Inside addition, the company actively participates inside split repurchases. Management expects to complete the new authorization by the aim of 2010, agreed its solid balance sheet. It expects 2% decrease split count compared with 2009 levels, hence boosting the underside line.

Other than while Chubb maintains a liquid and high-quality investment portfolio, investment performance has deteriorated inside the contemporary quarters due to decrease yields. We anticipate a subdued investment performance, agreed the low appeal rate background with the intention of want take up again pro a great deal of 2010. All through the following quarter, management understood with the intention of it expects net investment income to decline 1% compared with 2009 levels.

Chubb is furthermore poised to benefit as of more financial strength ratings of 'A++', 'AA', 'Aa2' and 'AA' by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's, Moody's Corp. (MCO) and Fitch Ratings, correspondingly. The Chubb Corporation's senior debt is designated 'A+' by Standard & Poor's and 'A2' by Moody's. All through progression 2010, A.M. Best affirmed its ratings on the company and acknowledged its sturdy affair nitty-gritty.

Chubb has furthermore been exposure favorable loss capital inside contemporary years since 2004. This reflects management's prudent loss reserving practices, favorable operating performance equally well equally continued underwriting profitability. Vacant forwards, we expect the company to take up again with the same trend agreed its prudent and disciplined reserving practices.

Aviva Life Insurance

2010-07-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Aviva Life Insurance

Aviva Life Insurance highlights expense of childcare

Childcare expenditure can befall hugely expensive pro single parents, according to a expressive as of Aviva Life Insurance.

Louise Colley, controller of protection marketing by the organisation, explained with the intention of approximately public are cancelling their life insurance to save money, other than this may possibly aim up being counterproductive if "the most terrible must happen".

She prominent with the intention of paying childcare expenditure and still having sufficient money to live on can befall hugely trying pro a lot of parents.

Ms Colley understood: "The penalty of having thumbs down cover inside place can befall enormous - especially pro a family tree already relying on solely lone income."

Aviva Life Insurance in print investigate screening with the intention of four inside ten families believe with the intention of it is not worth together parents working some time ago here are two children to look with, equally childcare expenditure are so expensive.

The company furthermore recently prominent with the intention of the babyboomer generation is soon to secure retirement, other than a lot of of them sort out not appear to befall aware with the intention of their savings may not allow them to live the life they had intended.

National Insurance Card

2010-07-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

National Insurance Card

Running an expat newspaper taking part in Argentina

Sean O'Hare interviews Kristie Robinson, the expat who co-founded an English newspaper taking part in Argentina on a financial plan of merely £3,500.

The indication to agree up a newspaper taking part in Buenos Aires came, unsurprisingly, taking part in a pub. Four drinks to the good and 26-year-old journalists Kristie Robinson and Lucy Cousins might see to it that definitely veto wisdom why it would fail. The information with the purpose of it still sounded akin to a good indication the following day of the week convinced them they were on to something.

'We were fresh, foreign and female with with the purpose of crazy mix of wild optimism and naivety. Taking part in information it was probably the optimism and naivety with the purpose of got us from end to end it,' reflected Kristie, without hesitation 31, acknowledging the challenges with the purpose of faced them since they agree up their problem taking part in a disgracefully macho city, originally with veto working visas before officially permitted credentials.

Contained by 10 weeks of new taking part in Buenos Aires and with a financial plan of £3,500, the put together owned the paper's trade name, had in print a sufficient amount make a copy to fill their firstly 16 folio edition and sold three adverts to cover the cost of the firstly 2,000 make a copy print run of The Argentimes, a free English language newspaper aimed next to fresh British and American expats and educated fresh Argentines.

'Having previously worked concurrently next to an English language newspaper taking part in Bolivia we understood the complete process of getting a paper not at home taking part in South America and were convinced we might figure out the same taking part in Buenos Aires, where the simply competition was on or after the Buenos Aires announce, a paper with the purpose of still kept four pages a week in support of the shipping news. I mean who reads the shipping news?" held Kristie, a Liverpool university International Relations and Spanish graduate on or after Warwickshire.

With the help of a web developer ally back taking part in London, The Argentimes website launched all together, while a photographer ally who merely happened to be alive planning a sabbatical to South America agreed to join the team and take the pictures.

'We had veto overheads so in attendance was veto real stress. Although we were living sour our savings and weren't earning a wage, the paper was paying in support of itself. Our back home was our department and we sold advertising to the hostels, hotels, bars and restuarants, knowing plump well they wanted the custom on or after the fresh group evaluation our paper. A colour paper with supplementary pages was supplementary desirable to advertisers, so like five editions we had increased the print run to 5,000 copies, apiece with 24 colour pages," held Kristie.

'We got taking part in touch a chord with the UK and American universities with the purpose of presented Spanish and newspaper journalism degrees and agree up an internship programme, ensuring all six months before so we had a new wave of enthusiastic, aspiring journalists who not simply wrote except plus took turns taking part in handing the paper not at home taking part in the streets and to our advertisers next to hotels and bars."

Everything was available well until Lucy unfaltering, like six months, to call it a day of the week. Despite sounding akin to a good indication back taking part in London, the veracity of running a newspaper and acting since writer, editor, salesperson and troubleshooter was proving too a large amount in support of the native Australian, who packed her bags.

Solitary and without hesitation single-handedly running a growing editorial team of interns and a little commission-based advertising team on or after the front room of her borrowed San Telmo dwelling, Kristie began to consider the officially permitted allusion of the paper's existence.

Argentine law requires problem owners to control a D.N.I card (equivalent to the British National Insurance card) before an Argentine native since the company president, so she set taking part in a vexed call to an Argentine businessmen she had met while networking taking part in London.

She held: 'I remember calling and saw: 'My partner has merely not here, I am running this phenomenon illegally, the powers that be won't dedicate me a piece papers and remain important me to marry an Argentine to solve the catch. I don't be familiar with who to trust.' By a stroke of break he set me taking part in touch a chord with his ally taking part in Buenos Aires who happened to be alive a little problem investor. We met, I trusted him the minute and taking part in return in support of shares taking part in the paper he legitimised the problem."

Apart on or after the out of the ordinary dispute with the printers who were often on smash into, the paper went on or after strength to strength. 16 of the UK's top universities and several American universities were distribution students not at home to Kristie's front room department where they would encounter to discuss story ideas, employment the supercomputer and phone line and churn out the fortnightly newspaper with the purpose of dealt with a host of topical social and opinionated issues, since well since reviews and skin tone on the most recent melody, arts and rage trends.

By the finish of 2008 Kristie was approached by data lines Rivadavia media company with a £50,000 offer in support of 80 for each cent of the newspaper. Kristie and her partner would keep hold of a stake, she would remain to edit the paper and plus receive a salary on or after the media company and a new department. She normal, although not with no reservation.

'The information with the purpose of we would lose our sovereignty since a paper was challenging to swallow, yet though I was promised in attendance would be alive veto editorial interference. What did you say? Swung it was the panic about of the impending decline. Ahead of the offer came taking part in we were warned 2009 would be alive a real struggle and with the purpose of the paper might operate under as advertisers were likely to pluck out not at home due to the depression taking part in tourism', she held.

Since is collective taking part in Argentine problem, the £50,000 was to be alive paid taking part in monthly installments finished two years. On Christmas Eve 2009 and merely solitary day into paying sour the agreed sum, data lines Rivadavia handed the paper back to Kristie saw it veto longer wanted it.

'In order to shield ourselves, we had a clause in print taking part in to the contract with the purpose of held if Rivadavia defaulted on two consecutive payments it would lose ownership to us. We didn't expect them to employment it to their pro,' held Kristie.

Without hesitation, along with a invite set of circumstances to fight with data lines Rivadavia, Kristie has her old paper back, albeit under its new choose, The Argentina on your own, and the challenge of result new advertisers. Until so therefore it desire exist solely online.

She held: 'In lots of ways it worked not at home well - I old my salary to disburse sour a number of debt and acquisition myself a number of furniture, we survived the decline and without hesitation I persuade to regenerate my entrepreneurial spirit. It wouldn't be alive Argentina if it was all plain sailing.'

Alfa Insurance

2010-07-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Alfa Insurance

As of Wallace to Riley: Longtime officially authorized adviser is equipped to retire

Ex- Gov. George Wall'ace was famous pro his mid'dle-of-the-night phone calls to personnel members, acquaintances, re'porters and others. Understanding Wallis got lone of persons calls, a link of nights with Wall'ace was voted to his histor'ic fourth stretch equally administrator inside 1982.

"He understood, 'I aspire you to occur to Montgomery and befall my officially authorized adviser,'" Wallis understood.

By the calculate, Wallis had a confidential law do inside Bir'mingham. He told Wallace he would need a month otherwise two to close up his personnel and get on to the move.

Wallace told him: "I'm discussion in this area aptly away."

It was a Thursday and Wallis was inside Montgomery by Monday selection Wallace with the transition.

Almost 20 years with Wall'ace concluded his continue stretch, Wallis returned to the gover'nor's personnel and pro the earlier period six years was officially authorized adviser to Gov. Dip Riley. The 68-year-old Wallis has currently retired with a career with the intention of furthermore built-in serving equally chief operating detective of Alfa Corporation and Alfa Insurance assemble.

He is currently looking forwards to costs other calculate by Lake Martin and on a till inside Perry district, roving the world with his wife, Bonnie, and following the University of Alabama foot'ball team.

"We're not vacant to fail to attend one family games this time," Wallis understood.

Until his retirement, he was lone of the hardly any public re'maining inside leadership posi'tions inside condition government with the intention of had served inside a top posi'tion pro Wallace, who fin'ished his final stretch inside 1987 and died inside 1998.

Inside an interview with the Associated Press, Wallis understood he believes Riley want befall remembered equally Alabama's best administrator since of a calm down other than steady leadership stylishness with the intention of helped the condition make from side to side tricky fiscal era and emergencies such equally Hurricanes Ivan and Ka'trina and the current Gulf smear with oil spill.

Wallis furthermore had praise pro Wallace's fourth stretch, which came with he had re'pudiated his segregationist beliefs with the intention of were landmarks of his fiery ahead of schedule administra'tions. The final stretch furthermore came with a would-be assas'sin missing him paralyzed and inside a wheelchair pro the continue 26 years of his life.

Wallis understood it was furthermore im'portant to Wallace with the intention of he befall indifferent as of one of the dis'tractions with the intention of raised ethical questions inside his ahead of schedule stipulations.

Inside their initially private assembly with Wallis became officially authorized adviser, he understood Wall'ace told him, "Protect me as of my family tree and my close advisers as of the earlier period." Wallace's younger brother, Gerald, came under fre'quent analysis pro maybe by condition government pro private profit.

Riley was quick to compli'ment Wallis pro his bring about su'pervising myriad complicat'ed and now and again controversial officially authorized issues, counting the governor's ef'forts to push to down electronic bingo operations and the set'tlement of a number of long-running lawsuits, a lot of dat'ing back to Wallis' initially stretch equally officially authorized adviser otherwise earlier.

"Ken did a fantastic vacancy and was really an asset to my administration and actually to the full condition. All through his calculate equally my officially authorized adviser, we were able to terminate a lot of costly lawsuits hostile to the condition with the intention of had been vacant on pro years and years," Riley understood. The suitcases built-in law'suits ended mental health services, the state's system of teacher difficult, and hir'ing discrimination.

Riley described Wallis equally "unselfish, dyed-in-the-wool and a gentleman of integrity."

All through Riley's adminis'tration, Wallis was renowned pro his cool under fire. He would often appear by crowded legislative commit'tee meetings to defend the governor's positions and now and again occur under in'tense questioning, and occa'sionally heated evaluation, as of veteran lawmakers. Wallis permanently stood his ground, maintaining his composure and not appear'ing to befall upset. Often with the meetings, Wallis would befall seen inside the statehouse corridors discussion good-naturedly with the same lawmakers.

Wallis understood he learned how to stay his cool all through his days equally an attorney inside Birmingham.

"You can't afford inside the courtroom to lose your tem'per and energy rancid the soubriquet. It hurts you with together the mediate and jury," Wallis understood.

Elvin Stanton, who was George Wallace's chief of personnel all through his continue stretch inside personnel, understood it was with the intention of calm under fire with the intention of made Wallis so effectual equally a officially authorized advis'er.

"One of his best attributes was his disposition and significance of hilarity. He was a moderat'ing voice," Stanton understood. He understood he hates to think it over Wallis leave condition government.

"It's the state's loss," Stan'ton understood. "I talked to him for a short time in this area running pro at'torney all-purpose. I believe he would get on to a splendid attorney all-purpose."

Cgu Insurance

2010-07-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Cgu Insurance

Cgu Insurance

Comprehensive Indemnity plc Announces Management Consolidation of Penn-America and United National

Comprehensive Indemnity plc (Nasdaq: GBLI) now announced the consolidation of its producer binding authority businesses, United National assemble and Penn-America assemble, under a ordinary management organize. Matthew B. Scott, who is now President of the Penn-America assemble want furthermore take upon yourself the Presidency of the United National assemble and want deal with together Penn-America's all-purpose agent relationships and United National's specialty program administrators. This exchange is effectual at once. With this exchange J. Scott Reynolds, who held the spot of President of United National assemble, has missing the Company. "We thank Mr. Reynolds pro his service to the Company and fancy him well inside his prospect endeavors", understood Larry Frakes, President and Chief Executive detective of comprehensive Indemnity plc.

"In bringing the two organizations collectively under ordinary leadership, we want befall able to other efficiently capitalize on the synergies these akin businesses provide us", added Mr. Frakes. "Matt has made a good vacancy inside commencement the process of realigning our infrastructure, products and services pro our Penn-America producers and their clients. I expect him to take up again these hard work while bringing the same expertise and enthusiasm to the United National team and their specialty program administrators".

Mr. Scott tied United America Indemnity, Ltd. ("UAI") inside October 2007 equally sub- President of affair Development of Diamond condition assemble and was promoted to Senior sub- President of sufferer Brokerage of Diamond condition assemble inside April of 2008. Inside June of 2009 he was promoted to President of Penn-America assemble. Former to unification UAI, he served equally an executive inside the Strategic Markets element of fair Mountains' subsidiary, OneBeacon Insurance Company. Mr. Scott began his career inside 1986 by Sigel Insurance assemble, where he was ultimately appointed sub- President, Sales. Inside 1998 he tied CGU Insurance Company equally sub- President, Specialty affair Development. CGU Insurance Company was acquired by fair Mountains' Insurance assemble inside 2001. Mr. Scott previously served on the Board of American wedding anniversary Insurance Company, a fair Mountains' company. He expected his single of Arts as of Franklin & Marshall College and his Master of Science inside Insurance Management as of Boston University.

Aflac

2010-07-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Aflac

Aflac chief executive won't lay rancid workers

Maybe Aflac must tone down the duck's quack since it seems soft equally feathers as it comes to layoffs.

Hardly any companies inside this time and age can say they haven't had vacancy cuts all through this fiscal fix. Still fewer can say they've by no means laid rancid employees.

Other than since its founding 55 years past inside Columbus, Aflac has managed to dodge chopping heads inside the U.S. And Japan, where it sells supplemental health insurance.

'I believe vacancy security enhances the productivity of your employees,' chief executive Dan Amos told me all through a contemporary interview. 'You can't be inflicted with your sensitivity and soul inside it if you're apprehensive in this area your vacancy.

With the intention of mind-set is a prime wits Aflac has consistently made lists of top seats to bring about. It furthermore scores distinguished on diversity.

With discussion to a lot of CEOs pro this discourse, I can say with the intention of Amos is inside a minute underground on the layoff come forth. Companies be inflicted with been cold expenditure - and employees be inflicted with been the foremost victims.

What's other, a lot of CEOs believe it's valuable to reward employees with shell out increases - still if with the intention of earnings laying rancid other workers than would befall de rigueur if shell out was frozen.

Other than Amos, who's been chief executive pro 21 years, is not inside with the intention of camp. He chooses to freeze merit increases to dodge layoffs. Aflac has a merit freeze inside place aptly currently.

To befall rational to companies inside a lot of other industries, Aflac does not be inflicted with to contend with the boom-and-bust cycles faced by construction, car, airline and other businesses. Aflac's rate of plan renewals is positively predictable by 88 percent, Amos understood. With the intention of allows pro effectual planning to dodge seesaw hiring and firing.

There's lone other strategic come forth on which Amos, 58, may befall inside the underground - international extension.

Inside the early-to-mid 1990s, Amos sold otherwise clogged operations inside a half-dozen countries where Aflac was floundering to focus on the U.S. And Japan.

Now, in this area three-fourths of the company's $18 billion inside revenue comes as of Japan, where Aflac has a 25 percent invasion rate amongst households. Inside the U.S., where the company calculates invasion differently, it's 6 percent amongst businesses.

So Amos, by smallest amount pro the foreseeable prospect, is planning to stay pushing inside persons markets, where he sees bounty of room pro growth.

By the method, the duck - and how Amos chose to aid it - has been answer to together revenue and return growth ended the years.

As the public notice campaign ongoing a decade past, Aflac's first name was renowned by single in this area 10 percent of U.S. Consumers. Amos had to get on to a answer decision: Aid the duck pro lone sole function - brand recognition - otherwise aid it to accomplish two goals - brand recognition and rising an understanding of the company's complicated supplemental insurance.

Amos chose to energy with a singular focus of getting its first name made known here. Now it's renowned by 94 percent of Americans. As with the intention of number secure 90 percent in this area five years past, the ads ongoing to layer inside other definition of the insurance product.

My takeaway as of Amos is focus, focus, focus. Focus on employees. Focus on promising markets. And, of way, focus on your brand.

The motto on Amos' desk: 'the duck stops at this time.'

Unemployment Insurance Extension

2010-07-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

Unemployment Insurance Extension

Unemployment Extension 2010: Hr 4213 unemployment extension repayment checks to create appearance

Unemployment Extension 2010: Hr 4213 unemployment extension repayment checks to create appearance extremely soon to public who be inflicted with praise to receive the assistance. Pro around 2.5 million American it brings wish and aid

Pro the benefit of out of work public inside America an unemployment extension repayment be inflicted with been standard by the assembly and the board. Equally the midterm elections are to befall held inside November, this want befall a fraction of a top campaign come forth.

Household voted 272-152 to hurl the repayment extension to the fair household pro President Osama's signature. However the argument ended the cost the legislation equally well equally the condition of the nation's nation would not occur to an aim.

A conflict linking the view of Republicans and Democrats was continued so far. Democrats blamed Republicans with the intention of they were gradual otherwise not interested inside validation of this extension. "The household acted inside May, other than pro six weeks board Republicans blocked unemployment insurance," understood sales rep.

Sander Levin, D-Mich. He chairs the group. He furthermore understood."They stood not on the side of, other than inside the method of millions of Americans."

However Republicans be inflicted with been constant inside continuing on increasing deficits. Sales rep. Charles Boustany, R-La understood, The other side says with the intention of these unemployment repayment stretching to almost two years are looked-for and should befall added to the $13 trillion debt, still equally they aver their trillion-dollar stimulus preparation has been a accomplishment by creating millions of jobs.

Kwik Fit Insurance

2010-07-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Kwik Fit Insurance

Kwik Fit Insurance recognised pro employee repayment

Insurance mediator Kwik Fit Insurance's bend programme won the prize pro generally effectual repayment Strategy (for organisations with other than 1000 staff) by the Employee repayment Awards, the single event inside the UK with the intention of focuses in the lead the rewards and repayment existing by employers.

The steady was praised pro by its deal with to repayment to tackle the challenges of acquiring and retaining the best personnel, cold back on absences and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Assemble administration Director Brendan Devine has understood with the intention of the decision reflects the splendid attention to point the steady pays to ensuring with the intention of its personnel take pleasure in a lucky working background.

Devine added with the intention of since the bend programme was introduced absences and personnel income be inflicted with been near halved.

Inside addition, recruitment expenditure be inflicted with fallen substantially, equally other preside over applications are made due to word of backtalk.

The judges were surprised by the extensive nature of Kwik Fit Insurance's on-site facilities, counting a nursery, aerobics studio and private teacher, equally well equally pool tables and game consoles.

The decision is not the initially the steady has expected pro its sturdy performance inside employee relations; it furthermore won the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commendation decision as of The Scottish Centre pro Healthy Working Lives earlier this time.

Disability Insurance

2010-07-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

Disability Insurance

Disability Insurance Services Surpasses 500,000 DI justification Count

Disability Insurance Services, a leading brokerage inside the disability insurance arena, announced now with the intention of it has surpassed 500,000 disability insurance suitcases. The accomplishment is the upshot of a steadfast stanchness to provide insurance brokers and affiliates with industry-leading tools, practices and technologies with the intention of help curve DI opportunities into successes.

"We've invested a splendid deal of calculate and money into tools with the intention of help brokers succeed," explains Dan Steenerson, president of Disability Insurance Services. "The half-million achievement demonstrates with the intention of our carrier relationships are solid and our sales arrangement sees the regard of our solutions and is benefiting as of our highly urban end-to-end suite of services."

Disability Insurance Services' wide-ranging instrument kit includes sales scripts, essential how-to articles, adviser notebook assisted marketing (BCAM), a refer to engine and comparison instrument, plus Wednesday Webinars, a new program designed to stay producers on the cold advantage of the disability insurance industry. An extensive and well-built company portfolio provides access to all the foremost disability insurance carriers inside lone well-located place, and an innovative refer to analyzer instrument makes it straightforward pro brokers and their clients to straightforwardly identify the best coverage by the best price.

"This is solely the commencement. We look forwards to building in the lead our achievement equally insurance brokers, financial advisors and working Americans be converted into other educated in this area the need pro pay packet protection," says Steenerson.

Gerber Life Insurance

2010-07-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Gerber Life Insurance

Gerber Life Insurance the Best Low Cost Life Insurance unfilled

You don't be inflicted with to be inflicted with a six-figure income by approximately swagger corporation inside order to care for your family tree with the best life insurance policies unfilled. As a replacement for, you solely be inflicted with to sort out a not enough investigate, consider total life insurance vs stretch life insurance and compare life insurance tariff previous to making your decision.

Despite being a leader inside having the best policies pro juveniles, Gerber Life Insurance furthermore offers policies to somebody of one age and inside one stage of life. They be inflicted with lengthy specialized inside as long as these low cost life insurance policies pro families on a restricted financial statement. Their specialties include outcome total life insurance, adult stretch life insurance and adult total life insurance, amongst a lot of others.

Gerber Life Insurance has been offering coverage pro ended 40 years. They are highly-reputable and well-financed and be inflicted with a preparation with the intention of want fit into one financial statement, counting their Grow-Up preparation, which insures the life of a childish outcome until they are 21 with a guaranteed fixed rate with the intention of doesn't boost all through the life of the plan. By 21 years old, the outcome can at that time decide if they aspire to take up again with the total life insurance plan, otherwise consider other alternative and compare life insurance tariff.

The company was formed inside 1967 inside an attempt to provide the best life insurance policies unfilled by expenditure with the intention of were exceptionally competitive. The preparation worked, equally the company has since developed to be converted into lone of the top direct-response marketing insurance companies and a leading producer of juvenile life insurance.

Gerber Life Insurance, which is a fully-licensed source of life insurance with the intention of operates right through the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, has built a sturdy reputation equally a source of juvenile life insurance. Could you repeat that? A lot of public don't realize, however, is with the intention of Gerber Life Insurance in fact has alternative pro public of each age, each condition of life and of each financial need with the intention of range as of universal life insurance coverage to disability insurance. Inside addition, the company prides itself inside offering its guaranteed life insurance by competitive pricing. It's straightforward to think it over the benefit of having Gerber befall your source if you simply compare life insurance tariff.

Previous to making your final decisions, it's furthermore best to converse in with a qualified life insurance expressive otherwise an estate attorney to decide could you repeat that? Best fits your needs and persons of your family tree. Other in rank in this area Gerber is straightforwardly unfilled anywhere on the Internet, other than here is thumbs down better place to make it as of than frankly as of the company.

Caravan Insurance

2010-07-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Caravan Insurance

Static Caravan Insurance alternative pro Caravan Owners

Static caravan insurance as of NACO provides a range of repayment with the intention of may possibly resolve a lot of of the troubles with the intention of caravan owners are facing now.

Essex, United Kingdom, 14th July 2010 A growing number of public looking pro static caravan insurance be inflicted with been extremely disappointed by the level of cover and service provided by their insurance companies. A great deal of the trying arises due to approximately insurance companies viewing static caravan insurance equally being akin to family insurance, whilst others check over it equally an extended version of traditional caravan insurance. Combining all of the difficulties of a tender vehicle with all the difficulties of insuring a family static caravan insurance has missing a lot of caravan owners unhappy and facing a range of problems lonely.

Fortunately, here is an alternative inside the affect of NACO, the National friendship of Caravan Owners. NACO provides static caravan insurance, other than since it is owned and run by persons surrounded by the caravan affair here is a splendid deal other on offer to static caravan owners than a straightforward yet wide-ranging insurance plan.

Pro members of NACO looking pro caravan insurance a range of bonus repayment are unfilled counting a specialist team of advisors who can help with a large range of queries and questions concerning to issues which relate frankly to static caravan ownership. Additionally a website unfilled to members includes a wealth of advice and answers to a lot of of the questions asked by members counting promotion a caravan, export a caravan, insuring a caravan and issues concerning to ownership, ground civil rights access civil rights and such similar to. Members can furthermore benefit as of free placement of advertisements to help with promotion caravans. Pro static caravan insurance, it makes significance to energy to the expert pro advice you can trust and insurance you can count on.

Pro other in rank in this area NACO, the services they offer otherwise to discover made known other in this area static caravan insurance, visit http://www.Nacoservices.Com/ .

In this area NACO

NACO is the National friendship of Caravan Owners having the skill to provide a large range of services and repayment to members, counting wide-ranging static caravan insurance.

Friend:
NACO Services restricted
NACO Leisurefame household
37 Clacton street
St. Osyth
Essex
CO16 8PA

Touchtone phone: 01255 820321

National Insurance Contributions

2010-07-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

National Insurance Contributions

Tariff impression on consumer budgets

The things of the emergency financial statement want befall felt adversely by generally households and consumers inside the UK, a leading economics assemble has predicted.

Capital Economics estimated with the intention of disposable incomes want decline by 1 for every cent then time, the initially decline since 1982.

By 2015, the combined '40 billion of tariff increases and costs cuts fit made known inside the Chancellor's financial statement want be inflicted with seen 8 for every cent whittled as of the mean household income.

Capital Economics understood with the intention of 2011 would befall the toughest time, incoming equally it does on the back the boost inside storage bin as of 17.5 for every to 20 for every cent.

If the facts curve made known to befall accurate, it may possibly occur equally a blow to the government's hopes of a confidential sector-driven recovery.

Vicky Redwood, a senior economist by Capital Economics, commented: 'Consumers visibly stomach to befall amongst the biggest losers inside the fiscal squeeze.'

The reserves own facts forecast the shortage cold measures would cost the top 10 for every cent of households '1,600 inside two years' calculate, with mean earners bringing up the rear linking '300 and '600, and the poorest '180.

Other than Capital Economics has a a reduced amount of optimistic check over and has calculated with the intention of tariff hikes by themselves want lessen mean household budgets by '550 then time.

Ms Redwood added: 'We expect overall real household disposable incomes, with inflation, to increase by 0.5 for every cent otherwise so this time, previous to falling by 1 for every cent otherwise so inside 2011 and flatlining inside 2012.

'This would befall the tightest squeeze on incomes since the mid-1970s, as real incomes fell by almost 3 for every cent inside 1976 and 1977. And if we are aptly inside thinking other fiscal tightening is yet to occur, the squeeze may possibly curve made known to befall worse.

'Although the financial statement controlled overall tariff rises of '8.2 billion, households' taxes rose by near '11 billion to help shell out pro cuts inside corporation tariff and the increase inside the threshold pro employers' national insurance contributions.

'The fiscal squeeze want condemn consumer costs to a period of extraordinary weakness.'

Endsleigh Car Insurance

2010-07-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Endsleigh Car Insurance

Endsleigh Car Insurance - lone amongst the extremely best and Acknowledged Car Insurances You must Discover

With so a lot of cars on the thoroughfare currently you must possess noteworthy car insurance. Car Insurance is a form of protection regarding your household inside the event of a fender splurge otherwise perhaps one sort of accident. Here was the calculate when you veteran bring about from side to side tower of strength to create to discover the sort of insurance a person wanted inside a price you were maybe willing to shell out otherwise come across the expense of to shell out pro. Currently there's thumbs down a ration other running otherwise still costs hours on-line tiresome to discover an ideal refer to with regard to car insurance. Currently we be inflicted with public with the intention of run quotation system businesses with the intention of may discover a person the level of car insurance you aspire. These public in fact produce estimates regarding low-cost car insurance.

Endsleigh is lone such organization as of which you want make regarding forty car insurance schemes. These are excited to supply pro you the kind of car insurance you want need. These are amongst the estimate systems businesses with the intention of can discover inexpensive however dependable car insurance and so they check their own companies to the car insurance with the intention of want fit an party.

This cannot get on to lofty difference inside justification you are a new car title-holder, veteran car title-holder, otherwise still if you are simply an important person with the intention of wants low-cost car insurance, Endsleigh can discover this pro you personally. The total quotation system takes just a second other than the final results are ordinarily dependable.

Along with Endsleigh services you want make car insurance which includes an upgraded car which is a standard stipulations inside the insurance plan. Furthermore with an Endsleigh source you want make a price reduction pro one time you may not get on to a condition with the intention of want boost around 60 6 %. Protection is in fact significant and provides vital products pro all form of scenario and guarantees vehicle repairs regarding 5 years.

Endsleigh strives to sort out the extremely best since of its customers and pro with the intention of wits Endsleigh want discover the extremely best car insurance refer to it actually is your car insurance and study the car insurance online supplies pro from side to side theUk companies. Here isn't one lengthier foundation to shell out extended hours looking pro apposite car insurance since here is Endsleigh to sort out it inside your justification inside a hardly any minutes.

New York Life on the prowl to buy mutual fund companies

2009-11-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

life insurance

New York Life Insurance Co. is looking to acquire one or more fund companies, according to one of the company's top executives.

“We are looking for a firm with about $15 [billion] to $25 billion with funds that have strong track records,” said Chris Blunt, executive vice president in charge of retirement income security.

“There are a few good institutional boutiques that would be great.”

The goal of the purchase would be to boost the assets the firm's MainStay Funds, which now hold $25 billion, Mr. Blunt added.

Since the economic downturn began last year, a number of distressed financial institutions have sold off portions — or in some cases all — of their money management operations.Even though asset valuations have come up, many boards still want to sell their funds and focus on their core businesses, Mr. Blunt said.

“Our fund complex makes very little money,” he said, explaining why buying another firm would make sense. “We are right at the break-even point and buying a fund business would contribute to our bottom line.”

The firm has no timetable for when it would make an acquisition, but Mr. Blunt says it is in talks with a number of firms.

New York Life, he said, is also in discussions to team up with another fund company to help with distribution or product development.

“The advantage of partnering with a big money manager is speed to market,” Mr. Blunt said.

On the distribution side, New York Life would benefit from working with a firm that has more of a presence in the independent broker-dealer market, he said. “Right now our fund business is wirehouse-oriented and we could use more on the independent side of the business,” he said.

The firm is also planning to roll out a couple of new variable annuities in 2010, although Mr. Blunt wouldn't elaborate on those plans.

Term Life Insurance Is A Necessity

2009-11-16T14:39:00.001-08:00

life insurance

Many question whether life insurance is necessary, and whether the cost is justified. If you have to work to sustain an income, chances are you need term life insurance. Life insurance is required by those who have a desire to provide money to their heirs, but who do not have a substantial estate. The independently wealthy may not require a life insurance policy, however many independently wealthy people do maintain life insurance policies.

"The focus of purchasing a term life insurance policy is to provide a financial benefit to the people you care about after you die. This benefit can be designed to pay debts of the policyholder, funeral expenses, or to simply provide a sum of money to the beneficiary", said Vince Bagni of Paramount Life Insurance, your source for FREE life quotes.

FREE TERM LIFE INSURANCE QUOTES

If your spouse and/or dependents rely on your income, life insurance can be designed to replace that income in the event of your death. This income replacement can be tailored to last for a limited period, which can end when children are mature, or it can be designed to last a spouse for a lifetime.

Funeral costs can be a significant expense to leave your family when you die and life insurance can provide protection for your family members. Leaving your family with the burden of paying for your funeral expenses when you die may become a significant burden if you are the sole wage earner, and if there are little savings to carry the family through after your death.

Joint debt between spouses can be one of the most devastating financial problems after the death of a family’s primary income earner. If the income is cut off, debt payments will not be able to continue which can result in repossession, foreclosure and bankruptcy. Life insurance can ensure that debt payments for joint debts such as mortgages, auto loans or credit cards can continue, or better yet, a life insurance settlement can pay off all existing debts to eliminate the financial risk associated with debt.

There are no legal requirements for life insurance. In many cases, guaranteed issue life insurance quotes are recommended by lenders when giving a loan. These policies are afforded without the need for a medical exam, and dollar for dollar, they are often quite expensive compared to a typical term life insurance policy.

There are no legal requirements that a person obtain life insurance, and there are also no legal obligations for insurance companies to provide coverage, except as outlined by the Civil Rights Act.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFE INSURANCE TODAY

You can inquire with a life insurance broker, a financial advisor or an attorney as to whether life insurance quotes or a policy is necessary. You could also check with your state insurance regulatory body to see if there are any laws that affect the need for life insurance. The best way to find out if you need life insurance is to ask the people who depend on you and your income to sustain their current standard of living. Your opinion on whether you should purchase a life insurance policy matters less than the opinion of your spouse or children regarding this question.

Genworth Financial Companies Introduce a New Breed of Life Insurance

2009-11-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

life insurance

Genworth Financial, Inc., (NYSE: GNW) announced today the introduction of Colony(SM) Term UL, a new breed of universal life insurance that is very competitive with term life insurance. Colony Term UL is designed to address the same financial security needs of the term life buyer. It provides affordable coverage for specified durations of 10, 15, 20 or 30 years, maximum issue ages five to 15 years higher than in typical term life products, and the benefit of premium payment flexibility available in universal life insurance. The product will be underwritten by Genworth Life Insurance Company and Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company.

"We saw the need for a next-generation life insurance product - one that combines the affordability of term with the flexibility of universal life - so we created an attractive new option for consumers," said Buck Stinson, president of Insurance Products for Genworth's U.S. Life Insurance companies.

Six out of every 10 Americans with incomes between $50,000 and $250,000 do not own individual life insurance and one-third of those who do own life insurance admit they currently don't have enough coverage, according to the LIMRA's 2009 study, Is There Magic in the Middle Market? "Clearly, there is a great need and opportunity to offer consumers a product that meets their financial security needs at prices they can afford," continued Stinson. Colony Term UL will be highly competitive with term insurance for face amounts below $1 million and remains competitive for face amounts up to $5 million.

"For distributors wondering if this product can help them profitably grow their businesses, the answer is an emphatic yes," Chris Grady, president of Distribution and Marketing for Genworth's U.S. Life Insurance companies. It's a simple sales process with no illustration required. Using Genworth's Life Quick Request service platform, distributors and agents will benefit from cost savings, faster cycle times, and a higher placement ratio, helping them to sell more in less time. In addition, Genworth is becoming significantly more competitive in underwriting decisions through its innovative 360o LifeView(SM) underwriting program, while maintaining a long-standing reputation for strong mortality experience.

"Bringing together a product with competitive premiums, simplified service transactions and enhanced underwriting will allow distributors and agents to tap into the underserved middle and emerging affluent market -- offering access to a new revenue stream and helping consumers prepare for a financially secure future," Grady concluded.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a leading Fortune 500 global financial security company. Genworth has more than $100 billion in assets and employs approximately 6,000 people with a presence in more than 25 countries. Its products and services help meet the investment, protection, retirement and lifestyle needs of more than 15 million customers. Genworth operates through three segments: Retirement and Protection, U.S. Mortgage Insurance and International. Its products and services are offered through financial intermediaries, advisors, independent distributors and sales specialists. Genworth Financial, which traces its roots back to 1871, became a public company in 2004 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, visit Genworth.com. From time to time Genworth releases important information via postings on its corporate website. Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information is found under the "Investors" section of Genworth.com.

All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

All products and their riders and benefits are subject to their policy forms and to state availability and issue limitations. Colony(SM) Term UL: Policy Form No. ICC09GA1002 or GA1002-0709 et al. (Genworth Life & Annuity); Policy Form No. ICC09GL1002 or GL1002-0709 et al. (Genworth Life).

Colony(SM) Term UL NY: Policy Form No. GY1002-0709; available only in New York (Genworth Life of New York). Only Genworth Life of New York is licensed to conduct business in New York.

Top insurer plans IPO in first half of next year

2009-11-16T14:36:00.001-08:00

life insurance

Samsung Life Insurance, Korea’s largest life insurer by assets, said yesterday it would go public on the Seoul stock market in the first half of next year, joining a growing number of life insurers here preparing to float their shares after government restrictions on doing so were eased two years ago.

The insurer said the IPO would help “improve our corporate transparency and expand our capital base,” the company said in a statement yesterday. The statement revealed that the insurer recently started due process, including reviews on listing requirements, with an eye to kick off the IPO in the first half of next year.

The move comes at a time when a growing number of Korean life insurers are taking the plunge onto the market, hoping to win some breathing room to take full advantage of their rapidly growing assets.

For decades, life insurers had been unable to list their shares here because of a longstanding debate over whether their policyholders would be entitled to dividends if they did. Some local civic groups argued that life insurers with listed stocks should pay dividends not just to shareholders but also to clients, since policyholders’ premiums form the basis of the insurers’ profits.

But the debate finally came to an end in 2007, when the government ruled in favor of the insurers, giving them the green light to raise capital on the stock market.

Tong Yang Life Insurance was first out of the gate, floating shares on the main Seoul stock bourse in October. Korea Life Insurance, one of the top three life insurers here, and Mirae Asset Life Insurance, a midsize player, hired several stock brokerages in Korea and abroad to arrange their upcoming share sales, which they hope will take place in 2010.

Samsung Life had total assets of 121.6 trillion won ($105.4 billion) as of the end of its 2008 fiscal year, and several Samsung Group subsidiaries and companies controlled by the conglomerate’s founding family members have stakes in the insurance giant. Former Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee has a 20.7 percent stake in Samsung Life, followed by 13.6 percent held by Shinsegae, 13.3 percent by Samsung Everland, 4.8 percent by CJ Cheiljedang and 3.2 percent by CJ. The Samsung Foundation of Culture and the Samsung Life Public Welfare Foundation also hold 4.7 percent stakes each.

“If Samsung Life goes public, financial companies that have a stake in Samsung Life and other CJ subsidiaries will heavily benefit from it,” said Lee Sang-hoen, analyst at Hi Investment & Securities.

Health Care Reform Likely to Include More Taxes for Many Americans

2009-11-16T14:35:00.000-08:00

health insurance

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama had one central message to middle-income Americans: no new taxes. And since taking office, the president has repeatedly pledged not to raise taxes on families making less than $250,000 a year.

But as a massive health care reform bill inches closer to reality, middle-class Americans, as well as high income earners, can expect some sort of increase in what they pay into government coffers, say Republican critics and some fiscal watch dog groups.

The Senate Finance Committee health care reform bill, which could hit the Senate floor as early as this week, would impose new taxes on insurance companies, drugmakers and medical device manufacturers.

It would also impose a 40 percent tax on the portion of insurance premiums exceeding $8,000 a year for individuals and $21,000 a year for family plans. That tax would be imposed on insurance companies, though it would likely be passed on to consumers, including many middle-income families, say experts.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was considering a proposal to increase the Medicare payroll tax on high-income workers to help offset the costs of providing health insurance to millions of Americans.

But several Democratic senators are urging Reid to propose extending the Medicare payroll tax to income other than wages, such as capital gains, dividends and rental income. Democrats say that could generate revenue from wealthy households who often get a greater share of their income from sources other than wages.

Some Republicans and Wall Street investors say tapping into high-end earners and capital gains will soak the rich and hurt an already ailing economy.

"Could there be a more efficient way to kill our halting recovery from recession than to have Harry Reid plot in secret to raise taxes?" says Donald Luskin, chief investment officer at Trend Macrolytics LLC. "Have we learned no economic lessons from the Depression?"

The recently passed House bill would impose a 5.4 percent income tax on individuals making more than $500,000 and joint filers making more than $1 million.

The top income tax rate is 35 percent. If existing Bush-era tax cuts expire in 2011, as President Obama has called for, the top rate would grow to 39.6 percent. The new health care tax would further increase that to 45 percent. The House bill would also impose a 2.5 percent tax on the sale of medical devices.

Paying a Fair Share

The House bill would raise $460 billion over the next decade from new income taxes that mostly target the wealthy.

"The public pretty much thinks the richer people in America ought to pay their fair share," says House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told ABC News last week. "They don't think they're paying their fair share."

But Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska says he'll vote to block any health care bill that looks like the bill passed by the House. "The costs are extraordinary associated with it," he told ABC News. "It increases taxes in a way that will not pass in the Senate. I won't vote to move it."

The House GOP bill, which was rejected a week ago, had no new taxes. Republicans would get savings by capping medical liability awards, stepping up efforts to fight Medicare and Medicaid fraud, and setting up an approval process for generic versions of high-tech drugs.

All of the health care packages are expensive. The House bill is projected to cost $1.2 trillion over 10 years and the Senate Finance Committee bill is projected to cost $829 billion. Taxes will increase if any of the plans are enacted, say experts.

According to a report by the Tax Foundation, a tax research group based in Washington, D.C., wealthy taxpayers in 39 states could pay a top tax rate higher than 50 percent by 2011.

The report combined states' average local tax rates, top state and federal rates with the 2.9 percent Medicare tax and the proposed 5.4 percent health surtax.

Also possibly adding to middle-class tax burdens is a provision in the House plan that requires all Americans to have health insurance.

Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees, and both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defy the government's mandate.

"If you choose not to get insurance, you get hit with an excise tax," says Luskin of Trend Macrolytics LLC. "Which is a fancy way of saying a fine or a penalty."

For low-income Americans, the bill would provide subsidies for buying insurance if they don't receive it through an employer. It would also create a federally regulated insurance exchange where individual Americans could shop for coverage.

"There are harmful taxes and taxes that aren't as harmful," says Gerald Prante, a senior economist at the Tax Foundation. Prante says ultimately the final health reform bill will raise taxes on the general public.

"Taxes are necessary evil to finance governments."

Health Benefits Direct Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

2009-11-16T14:34:00.001-08:00

health insurance

Health Benefits Direct Corporation (OTCBB: HBDT), a leading technology innovator in the marketing, sales and administration of a range of insurance technology products, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

During the third quarter, the Company continued its previously announced restructuring activities. As part of these restructuring efforts, in the first quarter of 2009, the Company ceased selling health and life insurance products to individuals and families and disposed of a significant portion of its agency business, which is now classified as discontinued operations in the Company's financial statements.

Third Quarter Highlights

-- Revenues from continuing operations of $1.5 million, compared to $1.4
million in the third quarter of 2008. The increase was due primarily to
increased InsPro Technologies (formerly Atiam Technologies LLC) revenues
from ASP, maintenance and licensing agreements.
-- Operating expenses for continuing operations of $3.7 million, compared
to $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2008. The increase was primarily
attributable to an increase in InsPro staffing and technology consultants
to support current client requirements and growth plans.
-- Net loss from continuing operations of $2.2 million, compared to $1.7
million in the third quarter of 2008. This increase is consistent with the
Company's strategy to enhance InsPro Technologies' capacity by increasing
expenditures for marketing, sales, infrastructure and product development.
-- Total net loss from continued and discontinued operations of $1.4
million or ($0.03) per share, compared with total net loss of $1.7 million,
or ($0.04) per share in the third quarter of 2008.

"We continue to make progress with our initiatives to further align our operations and cost structure with our promising technology business," said Anthony Verdi, Acting Principal Executive Officer of Health Benefits Direct and Chief Financial Officer. "We realized an $800,000 net gain from discontinued operations in the third quarter as we continue to reduce expenses that are not essential to our core technology business.

"In conjunction with our plan to continue to invest in our promising subsidiary, InsPro Technologies, we are working on obtaining additional financing through a rights offering of up to $8 million, which will give all of our shareholders the opportunity to participate in an equity investment in the Company on the same economic terms as our private placements in 2008 and 2009," Mr. Verdi concluded.

About Health Benefits Direct Corporation

Through its subsidiary, InsPro Technologies, Health Benefits Direct offers InsPro software, an internet-based marketing and administration system used by Insurance carriers and Third Party Administrators. Through its subsidiary, Insurint Corporation, Health Benefits Direct provides a proprietary, professional-grade, web-based agent quote engine portal that aggregates real-time quotes from more than 100 health insurance carriers, life insurance carriers and carriers of related insurance products. www.healthbenefitsdirect.com

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the growth potential of our technology platforms and obtaining additional financing through a rights offering to fund our operations. Forward-looking statements provide Health Benefits Direct's current expectations or forecasts of future events. Moreover, Health Benefits Direct cautions readers that forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including risks described in Health Benefit Direct's most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on Health Benefits Direct's website at www.healthbenefitsdirect.com. These documents are also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Health Benefits Direct does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in expectations.

Experts Split Over How Public Health Insurance Would Affect California

2009-11-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

health insurance

Although supporters of a government-run public health insurance option say the proposal could improve health care quality in California, others say the plan likely would have higher premium costs, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Proponents

Supporters say California's relatively limited health insurance marketplace could benefit from greater competition. Although the state currently has five major insurers, Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente control about three-fifths of the state's health insurance market, according to the American Medical Association.

Newly elected Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), former California insurance commissioner, said a more competitive health insurance marketplace could motivate insurers to improve their business practices so they do not lose members to the public plan.

Lucien Wulsin -- a health care attorney and director of the Santa Monica-based Insure the Uninsured Project -- said a government-run plan also could experiment with different incentive models and spur innovation in the health care system.

Other experts note that California has a large pool of residents who might seek coverage under the public plan. The state currently has 6.8 million uninsured residents and 2.7 million residents who purchase coverage on the individual insurance market.

Skeptics

Other analysts say relatively few Californians would seek coverage under a government-run plan because it might have higher premiums than private health plans.

The Congressional Budget Office predicts that fewer than one million Californians would join the public plan. The office said the option is likely to attract less healthy residents, who could drive up overall premium costs.

A government-run plan also might have difficulty securing lower premiums because the House bill (HR 3962) would require the plan to negotiate payments with hospitals and physicians, instead of tying payments to Medicare rates. Experts say some health care providers might choose not to participate in the public plan if they are dissatisfied with the proposed payment rates.

Patrick Johnston, president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, said the House's public insurance option likely would have only a modest impact on California.

Other observers note that it remains unclear whether final health care reform legislation will include a public health insurance option (Zapler, San Jose Mercury News, 11/15).

Come Medicare Part D time (which is now), don't feel daunted -- help is at hand

2009-11-16T14:32:00.000-08:00

health insurance

Already the clock is ticking down toward the end of the enrollment -- and re-enrollment -- period for Medicare Part D. It opened Sunday and will end Dec. 31.

Need help figuring out what your drug needs are? We'll be offering advice in the Health section soon. In the meantime, here's an earlier guide to help you sort through your options...

GETTING STARTED

New to Medicare Part D? Start at www.medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (633-4227) for a compendium of all things Part D.

Part D veteran? Head right to plan comparisons at Formulary (Drug) Finder. This option lets you compare the premiums, deductibles and drug co-pays for plans in your area. Be forewarned: The task is tedious.

WHO CAN HELP

My Medicare Matters, offered by the National Council on Aging, presents the very complex Part D information in simple terms and divides it into digestible chunks before sending you off to the next section.

The Medicare Rights Center, an advocacy group based in New York and Washington, D.C., offers Medicare Part D telephone counseling at (800) 333-4114 -- with plenty of advice on the website.

California Health Advocates is a nonprofit Medicare education and advocacy group with advice perhaps most useful, our earlier report said, for already-Medicare-savvy beneficiaries and caregivers.

The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program offers one-on-one counseling on Medicare, managed care and long-term care. A call to (800) 434-0222 is routed to the closest office.

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health, an advocacy group, can answer questions about Part D benefits for Spanish-speaking beneficiaries. Call (866) 783-2645.

Abortion Rights Groups Mobilize Against Stupak Amendment

2009-11-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

health insurance

Abortion rights advocates are ratcheting up their pressure on lawmakers to drop the proposal added to the House health care bill that would restrict health insurance coverage for abortions.

The Center for Reproductive Rights is launching an ad campaign today to emphasize that, if the Stupak amendment were to pass in the final health care bill, millions of women could potentially lose the coverage for abortions they currently have in their health care plans.

The group is running an ad online and on cable markets in the Washington area, leading up to the abortion debate that is sure to spring up in the Senate.

The so-called Stupak amendment would prevent women who receive federal subsidies for health insurance from purchasing plans that cover abortion. It would also explicitly ban abortion coverage from the government-run plan, or "public option." It would also essentially prevent private insurers from selling plans on the national health insurance exchange that cover abortion.

In other words, women who intend to use government subsidies for health care costs could be forced to switch plans. Additionally, if a woman's employer were to start offering coverage under the national health insurance exchange, she could potentially have to switch plans.

"Anti-choice forces in Washington are trying to use this important moment of health insurance reform to expand restrictions on abortion coverage in private insurance plans," Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup told CBSNews.com. The extent of the amendment's impact on coverage is surprising, she said.

"People who have terminations in the second trimester because of fetal abnormalities are also not going to be covered, and that's going to be stunning to people," Northup said. "This is a wake up call for pro-choice Americans."

Abortion rights advocates say the amendment has galvanized their supporters. To prove that, NARAL Pro-Choice America today delivered a petition with 97,218 signatures to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, asking that he leave the Stupak amendment out of the Senate bill. Working with state affiliates and other progressive partners, NARAL collected the signatures in 72 hours.

"America’s pro-choice majority is speaking up loudly and clearly," NARAL President Nancy Keenan said in a statement. "As the fight for health reform moves forward, we are making sure Sen. Reid and his colleagues understand that adding the anti-choice Stupak-Pitts language to the Senate bill is not an option."

NARAL is also launching this week a set of automated calls in 17 states that will allow NARAL supporters to connect with their senators with the touch of a button. The organization is also engaging its e-mail network of half a million supporters to rally opposition to the Stupak amendment. NARAL will be communicating with all 100 senators in the upcoming weeks, NARAL Communications Director Ted Miller told CBSNews.com.

Planned Parenthood is also engaging its supporters online, rallying support on progressive blog networks and via social networking. It is planning a national "day of action" for December 2.

Health Reform: More on the Wrong Way Cost Curve

2009-11-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

health insurance

In my Newsweek column this week ("Obama's Malpractice: Why the health-care bill isn't reform"), I argued that-contrary to the Administration's claims-none of the various proposals now floating around Congress would reduce future budget deficits or the rapid rise in national health spending. Quite the opposite: the proposals would probably increase both deficits and national health spending. Now comes Richard Foster, chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency, making the same points with a lot more detail. In a study published after my column was written, Foster estimates that H.R. 3962, which passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 7, would raise national health spending by about $289 billion from 2010 to 2019. He also casts considerable doubt on whether the "savings" in Medicare that are used to pay for expanded insurance coverage would actually materialize; if not, the expansion of health-care would lead to higher federal budget deficits.

By Foster's estimates, H.R. 3962 would substantially reduce the number of uninsured Americans, from a projected 57 million in 2019 to 23 million. Most of the newly-insured would receive coverage under a liberalized Medicaid, the joint federal-state program aimed at the poor; many others would entitled to federal subsidies to buy insurance on "exchanges" where a number of insurers would offer competing plans. The costs of the expanded coverage would total about $935 billion over the 2010-2019 decade (some other non-insurance provisions would add slightly to costs). Meanwhile, "savings" mainly from Medicare would cover slightly more than half those costs. High taxes, not included in Foster's analysis, would pay for most of the rest. (Though Foster's office is an arm of CMS, it provides independent analyses of proposals and costs.)

But, Foster says, many of the Medicare "savings" may be "unrealistic." Reimbursement rates for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and other health-care providers would be reduced from existing law. The assumption is that these providers would become more efficient and, therefore, could survive without the higher payments. This could be wishful thinking, Foster suggests. Providers that depend heavily on Medicare "could find it difficult to remain profitable and might end their participation in the program (possibly jeopardizing access to care for beneficiaries)." In that case, Foster indicates, Congress might reverse some of the reimbursement reductions leading to "significantly smaller actual savings." Budget deficits would increase correspondingly.

Small Businesses Face Health Insurance Rate Hikes in Massachusetts

2009-11-16T14:29:00.000-08:00

health insurance

Some commentators have called the Massachusetts health reform plan adopted a few years ago "Obama-like." But health reform in the Bay State has not meant the end of insurance premium woes for small employers. The Boston Globe reports that small business insurance rates are jumping by the double digits.

At a time when both the state and the nation are struggling to rein in health care costs, many small businesses in Massachusetts say they’re receiving the largest premium increases in years for their Jan. 1 renewals. Insurers in September said they expect to raise premiums an average of 10 percent next year, but some employers are facing increases that are double or triple that - or even higher.

While all of the state’s health insurers have been jacking up rates for small businesses, which lack the negotiating might of larger enterprises with hundreds or thousands of employees, some of the steepest increases have been coming from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The Boston insurer, the state’s largest, has in the recent past offered lower base rates than many of its rivals.

One possible cause? The state's universal mandate has forced high-cost individuals into small-business insurance plans.

Trauma patients without health insurance are much more likely to die

2009-11-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

health insurance

A new study shows the odds of dying from a traumatic injury soar for the uninsured. ER physicians say they're surprised by the findings.

Patients who lack health insurance are more likely to die from car accidents and other traumatic injuries than people who belong to a health plan -- even though emergency rooms are required to care for all comers regardless of ability to pay, according to a study to be published Tuesday.

An analysis of 687,091 patients who visited trauma centers nationwide between 2002 and 2006 found that the odds of dying following an accidental injury were almost twice as high for the uninsured than for patients with private insurance, researchers reported in Archives of Surgery.

Trauma physicians said they were surprised by the findings, even though a slew of studies had previously documented the ill effects of going without health coverage. Uninsured patients are less likely to be screened for certain cancers or to be admitted to specialty hospitals for procedures such as heart bypass surgery, for example. Overall, about 18,000 deaths each year have been traced to a lack of health insurance.

But insurance status isn't supposed to be a factor for trauma patients. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, passed by Congress in 1986, guarantees that people brought to emergency rooms get all necessary treatment no matter what kind of insurance they do -- or don't -- have.

The research team from Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston used information from 1,154 U.S. hospitals that contribute to the National Trauma Data Bank. The team found that patients enrolled in commercial health plans, health maintenance organizations or Medicaid had an equal risk of death from traumatic injuries when the patients' age, gender, race and severity of injury were taken into account.

The risk of death was 56% higher for patients covered by Medicare, perhaps because the government health plan includes many people with long-term disabilities, said Dr. Heather Rosen, who led the study while she was a research fellow at Harvard Medical School.

However, the risk of death was 80% higher for patients without any insurance, according to the report.

The researchers also did a separate analysis of 209,702 trauma patients ages 18 to 30 because they were less likely to have chronic health conditions that might complicate recovery. Among these younger patients, the risk of death was 89% higher for the uninsured, the study found.

Rosen, now a surgical resident at USC's Keck School of Medicine, said the group expected to find at least some disparity based on insurance status. But she said the group was surprised at the magnitude of the gap.

Dr. Frank Zwemer Jr., chief of emergency medicine for the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va., said he was "kind of shocked. "

"We don't ask people, 'What's your insurance?' before we decide whether to intubate them or put in a chest tube," said Zwemer, who wasn't involved in the research. "That's not on our radar anywhere."

The researchers offered several possible explanations for the findings. Despite the federal law, uninsured patients often wait longer to see doctors in emergency rooms and sometimes visit ERs at several hospitals before finding one that will treat them. Other studies show that, once they're admitted, uninsured patients receive fewer services, such as CT and MRI scans, and are less likely to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

Patients without insurance may have higher rates of untreated underlying conditions that make it harder to recover from trauma injuries, the researchers said. They also may be more passive with doctors and nurses since they don't interact with them as often. All of these factors could influence whether a trauma patient is able to recover from his or her injuries.

But the link could also be coincidental, the authors acknowledged. Perhaps the hospitals that have fewer resources at their disposal also happen to see the most uninsured patients, they said.

The types of injuries may differ too, Zwemer said. Gunshot and stabbing victims were much more likely to die from their wounds than other trauma patients tracked in the study. These people are generally uninsured, but the type of injury -- not insurance status -- is the reason for their higher fatality rates, he said.

More research is needed to figure out whether lack of insurance actually harms trauma patients or whether the data simply reflect a correlation, said Dr. A. Brent Eastman, chair of trauma at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

The issue is particularly relevant as Congress and the Obama administration weigh various measures to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, he wrote in a short critique that accompanied the study. More than 45 million Americans lacked health insurance in 2007, and another 10 million people will join their ranks over the next decade, according to government estimates.

"Being uninsured is an overriding problem in our healthcare system and is why we need healthcare reform," Eastman said.

AP Poll: Americans fret over health overhaul costs

2009-11-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

health insurance

WASHINGTON — It's the cost, Mr. President. Americans are worried about hidden costs in the fine print of health care overhaul legislation, an Associated Press poll says. That's creating new challenges for President Barack Obama as he tries to close the deal with a handful of Democratic doubters in the Senate.

Although Americans share a conviction that major health care changes are needed, Democratic bills that extend coverage to the uninsured and try to hold down medical costs get no better than a lukewarm reception.

The poll found that 43 percent oppose the health care plans being discussed in Congress, while 41 percent are in support. An additional 15 percent remain neutral or undecided.

"Well, for one, I know nobody wants to pay taxes for anybody else to go to the doctor — I don't," said Kate Kuhn, 20, of Acworth, Ga. "I don't want to pay for somebody to use my money that I could be using for myself."

There's been little change in broad public sentiment about the overhaul plan from a 40-40 split in an AP poll last month, but not everyone's opinion is at the same intensity. Opponents have stronger feelings than do supporters. Seniors remain more skeptical than younger generations.

The latest survey was conducted by Stanford University with the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

When poll questions were framed broadly, the answers seemed to indicate ample support for Obama's goals. When required trade-offs were brought into the equation, opinions shifted — sometimes dramatically.

In one striking finding, the poll indicated that public support for banning insurance practices that discriminate against those in poor health may not be as solid as it seems.

A ban on denial of coverage because of pre-existing medical problems has been one of the most popular consumer protections in the health care debate. Some 82 percent said they favored the ban, according to a Pew Research Center poll in October.

In the AP poll, when told that such a ban would probably cause most people to pay more for health insurance, 43 percent said they would still support doing away with pre-existing condition denials, but 31 percent said they would oppose it.

Costs for those with coverage could go up because people in poor health who'd been shut out of the insurance pool would now be included, and they would get medical care they could not access before.

"I'm thinking we'd probably pay more because we would probably be paying for those that are not paying. So they got to get the money from somewhere. Basically I see our taxes going up," said Antoinette Gates, 57, of Atlanta.

The health care debate is full of such trade-offs. For example, limiting the premiums that insurance companies can charge 50-year-olds means that 20-year-olds have to pay more for coverage.

"These trade-offs really matter," says Robert Blendon, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health who follows opinion trends. "The legislation contains a number of features that polls have shown to be popular, but support for the overall legislation is less than might be expected because people are worried there are details about these bills that could raise their families' costs."

If the added costs — spread over tens of millions of people — turn out to be small, it may not make much difference, Blendon said. But if they're significant, Obama could be on shaky ground in the final stretch of his drive to deliver access to health insurance to most Americans.

More than 4 in 5 Americans now have health insurance, and their perceptions about costs are key as Obama tries to rally his party's congressional majority. In the House, Democrats came together to pass their bill. In the Senate, Democratic liberals and a smaller group of moderates disagree on core questions even as Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., prepares to take legislation to the floor.

The poll suggests the public is becoming more attuned to the fact that in health care, details can make all the difference.

For example, asked if everyone should be required to have at least some health insurance, 67 percent agreed and 27 percent said no.

The responses flipped when people were asked about requiring everybody to carry insurance or face a federal penalty: 64 percent said they would be opposed, while 28 percent favored that.

Both the House and Senate bills would require all Americans to get health insurance, either through an employer, a government program or by buying their own coverage. Subsidies would be provided for low-income people, as well as many middle-class households.

And there would also be a stick — a tax penalty to enforce the coverage mandate.

"I think it's crazy. I think it infringes on our rights as a citizen, forcing us to do these things," said Eli Fuchs, 26, of Marietta, Ga.

Among Democrats, only 12 percent oppose the broad goal of requiring insurance. But 50 percent oppose fines to enforce it.

The poll found a similar opinion shift on employer requirements: 73 percent agreed that all companies should be required to give their employees at least some health insurance.

Yet when asked if fines should be used to enforce such a requirement on medium and large companies, support dropped to 52 percent. Uninsured workers are concentrated in small companies.

The poll was based on land line and cell phone interviews with 1,502 adults from Oct. 29 to Nov. 8. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The interviews were conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media. Stanford University's participation was made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a nonpartisan organization that conducts research on the health care system.

Pelosi defends jail time and fines for those without health insurance

2009-11-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

health insurance

The Speaker of the House opines it is unfair for people not to have health insurance and pass on costs of possible illnesses to the rest of us but it is, however, fair for people not to have health insurance and pass on costs of purposeful provision of health insurance to the rest of us.

Jim Cooper, Nashville's Democratic House member, voted for Speaker Pelosi's bill. Someone should ask Representative Cooper what he believes is fair.

Local WA Parents Turn Out For Child Restraint Checks

2009-11-16T14:24:00.000-08:00

car insurance

Twisted straps, seatbelts and tether straps were some of the main faults identified at this year’s annual Kidsafe WA Child Car Restraint Checking Day in Karrinyup.

Perth, WA (Advertiser Talk) 16-Nov-2009 — Kidsafe WA, in partnership with car insurance provider SGIO, checked more than 90 child car restraints as local parents turned out in numbers on Monday, 25th of May at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

Kidsafe WA CEO Sue Wicks said nearly 70 per cent of child car restraints were found to be incorrectly fitted on the day.

Car crashes are a leading cause of child deaths in Australia and 68 per cent of child restraints we checked were either incorrectly fitted or incorrectly in use, reducing their effectivenessParents can reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a car crash by as much as 70 per cent by using a correctly installed child car restraint. When the restraint is not secured by the seatbelt, or the harnessing is not correctly adjusted, it puts the child at far greater risk ofserious injury should an accident occur SGIO Car Insurance is committed to helping develop safer, stronger communities and we encourageparents to contact Kidsafe for information on how to ensure their child restraints are fitted correctly “Car crashes are a leading cause of child deaths in Australia and 68 per cent ofchild restraints we checked were either incorrectly fitted or incorrectly in use, reducing their effectiveness,” she said.

“Parents can reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a car crash by as much as 70 per cent by using a correctly installed child car restraint.”

“When the restraint is not secured by the seatbelt, or the harnessing is not correctly adjusted, it puts the child at far greater risk ofserious injury should an accident occur,” she said.

The trained Kidsafe WA staff who checked the installation of the child restraints on the day also showed parents how to use the seats so that their children were better protected, as well as providing parents with a written summary of the assessments.

Other faults encountered on the day included restraints over 10 years of age, loose harnesses over children and restraints not attached to anchorage points.

SGIO State Manager Colin Tierney urged parents to take steps to ensure the safety of children when travelling in cars.

“SGIO Car Insurance is committed to helping develop safer, stronger communities and we encourage parents to contact Kidsafe for information on how to ensure their child restraints are fitted correctly,” he said.

For more information on Kidsafe WA’s regular child restraint fitting, checking and hire service at their Subiaco centre, contact Kidsafe on (08) 9340 8509 or visit www.kidsafewa.com.au.

About SGIO: SGIO is a leading insurance provider in WA, offering car insurance quotes, motor insurance and more online.

Insurance Australia Limited ABN 11 000 016 722 trading as SGIO For many insurance products a Product Disclosure Statement is available from SGIO which you should consider before making decisions about those products.

Insurance issued by Insurance Australia Limited trading as SGIO 46 Colin St, West Perth, Western Australia 6005 .sgio.com.au

How to Wreck the Economy

2009-11-16T14:23:00.002-08:00

car insurance

"The higher jobless rate could be the new normal" reads the headline of a recent AP report. Further down we read:

"Even with an economic revival, many U.S. jobs lost during the recession may be gone forever and a weak employment market could linger for years."

The report's message is clear. It will be a long time before we recover our former prosperity. Things, in fact, may never be as good as they used to be, at least not in our lifetimes.

the-great-depressionBut how can this be? After all, it is Barack Obama who is in charge. Less than twelve months ago, the Associated Press and the whole of the mainstream media were selling Obama as the one who would speedily solve this nation's economic ills. Obama was presented as nothing less than a national savior who had all the right answers.

Writing at CBS, Bonnie Erbe posted a piece in January titled "The Economy Could Actually Turn Around Under Barack Obama." The piece quoted Jerome Idaszak, associate editor of the Kiplinger Letter, who said: "There's also a new sense of public confidence in Washington. About 70% of Americans say they are optimistic that the Obama administration will be able to spur growth." Michael Hirsh of Newswek showed childlike confidence in Obama's abilities even before he assumed office:

"The new president may think his only task is to rescue the economy. But like FDR, he may have to save capitalism itself."

How do we, then, explain AP's present lack of hope in a better tomorrow? It would seem that they are coming to realize that the Messiah of yesterday is making a mess of things today.

To be fair, Barack Obama has been dealt a difficult hand. He has repeatedly said that this crisis was years in the making and in that he is correct. But it should be noted that it has been brought on by the very policies he subscribes to. This crisis, as almost all other economic crises, has been caused by government. The housing bubble - the bursting of which set things off - was a government creation. Inflated by a combination of unsupportably low interest rates - set by the Federal Reserve - and Congress' misguided desire to increase home ownership among low income people, it was a governmentally-induced phenomenon from beginning to end.

Even though Obama was not a major player when those policies were enacted, they were precisely the kind of measures he has always stood for. After all, he worked for ACORN, an organization which threatened to shut down banks that did not meet mortgage quotas for low income earners. So while it is true that Obama did not personally bring about the crisis, the policies he espouses most certainly did.

political-pictures-hindenburg-blimp-us-economyIn any case, now that Barack Obama is in power he is doing everything he can to drive the economy off the cliff and into the ground. David Horowitz recently made a strong case on Glenn Beck that Obama is a far-left radical who poses a great danger to this country. Nowhere is this more obvious than on the economic front. So ruinous have Obama's actions been that if a Hugo Chavez or some other America hater were given an opportunity to call the shots, he could hardly outdo the president in the destructiveness of his policies. Working relentlessly to impose government control over the American economy and to annihilate the remaining vestiges of the free market, Obama has already wrought untold damage. Nationalizing banks and car companies, debasing the dollar, passing odious business regulations and running up debts that we will never be able to repay are only some of the highlights of Obama's performance so far.

But all this is just the beginning, because still in the works are two monumentally deleterious schemes - Cap and Trade and Healthcare Reform.

The purported aim of Cap and Trade is to eliminate the nonexistent phenomenon of man-made global warming, but its real goal is to put a stranglehold on the American economy. This will be done under the guise of penalizing those who use energy deriving from fossil fuels. It is rightly said that energy is the lifeblood of the American economy. Significantly, Americans obtain 85 percent of it by burning C02-emitting substances, mainly oil and coal, which is why Cap and Trade would have devastating consequences.

According to analysis by The Heritage Foundation, Cap and Trade "promises serious perils for the American economy for the years and decades ahead." It would result in the loss of millions of jobs and it would cut trillions of dollars from America's economic output. Under Cap and Trade the price of gasoline would go up 58 percent and the average household electric rate would increase by 90 percent. Paradoxically, all these immense costs would yield virtually no discernible benefits. More from Heritage:

Climatologists estimate that Waxman-Markey's impact on world temperature will be too small to even measure in the first several decades. The theoretical moderation of world temperature would be 0.05 degree centigrade by 2050.

All this for less than one tenth of one degree, and even this infinitesimal gain only shows up on models that run on most optimistic assumptions. Looking at all the facts, one cannot but conclude that Cap and Trade is nothing other than a stealth move for the economy's jugular.

As far as healthcare is concerned, the president's works are no less destructive. The bill that was passed last Saturday by the House and hailed as a "victory" for Obama contains a provision that would prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage based on pre-existing health conditions. This is the equivalent of allowing people to buy car insurance after their crash their car or buy fire insurance after their house burns down. Highly controversial, this provision was kept on the urging of President Obama who insisted that it be included in the bill.

If you do not believe that an American president would ever force such an onerous requirement on private businesses, you should refer to an e-mail sent to supporters on August 8 by Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod. The first bullet point under the heading "8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage" reads:

Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.

smile-big-brother-is-watching-you-obama-209x300Clearly no insurance company can operate under such a regime and continue as a viable commercial entity. Obama's healthcare "reform" would thus end up driving all insurers out of business and eventually leave the government as the sole provider of healthcare in America.

It should be obvious that the American economy cannot survive the implementation of these odious programs as they would vitiate America's capitalist foundation. This is why the president wants to make their passage his signature achievements.

David Horowitz is all too correct when he writes that Obama's goal is "the systematic transformation of our nation from an open, capitalist society, to a Big Brother-type socialist nation." Obama actions prove Horowitz right almost every day as he takes this country down the sewage tubes of socialism. Despite all his flowery promises, the American people have nothing good to look forward to. The president's media spokesmen know it, and they are dutifully preparing us for the hardships to come.

Buffett’s Berkshire Discloses Exxon, Nestle Stakes

2009-11-16T14:23:00.001-08:00

car insurance

Warren Buffett’sBerkshire Hathaway Inc. disclosed stakes in oil producer Exxon Mobil Corp., candy maker Nestle SA, trash hauler Republic Services Inc. and insurer Travelers Cos.

Buffett’s company had about 1.28 million shares of Exxon, the world’s largest oil company, as of Sept. 30, Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire said today in a regulatory filing disclosing U.S. equity investments. Berkshire held 3.4 million American depositary deceipts of Nestle, the world’s largest food producer, 3.63 million shares of Republic and about 27,000 shares of New York-based Travelers.

Stock picks by Buffett, the second-richest American, are watched by mutual funds and individuals looking for clues about his investment strategy. Berkshire bought about $2.23 billion of stocks in the third quarter, according to a separate filing, the most in a year, and agreed this month to pay $26 billion for the 77.4 percent of railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. his firm doesn’t already own.

“A terrible market or a terrible economy is your friend,” Buffett said at a forum in New York last week, when asked whether the stock market rally was unwarranted, given the recession. “It’s a terrible mistake to look at what’s going on in the economy today and decide whether to buy or sell stocks.” The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to a 26-year high in October.

Soda, Credit Cards

Berkshire’s largest holdings, including Coca-Cola Co. and American Express Co., advanced in the biggest back-to-back quarterly rally in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index in 34 years. The value of stocks held by Berkshire insurance units jumped 20 percent in the three months ended Sept. 30 to about $55 billion. Berkshire’s own shares rose 12 percent in the three months ended Sept. 30, the best quarterly performance since 2007.

Investors mimic Berkshire’s stock picks to duplicate Buffett’s investing success, and an academic study in 2007 found that using the strategy for 31 years would have delivered annualized returns of about 25 percent, double the S&P’s return.

Buffett, 79, makes most of the investment decisions at Berkshire, while Lou Simpson, 72, manages the portfolio for car insurance unit Geico Corp. Buffett has cautioned investors against assuming all changes in the equity portfolio are his.

The U.S. economy returned to growth after its worst performance in seven decades, expanding at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter, according to Commerce Department figures released last month. Government incentives spurred consumers to spend more on homes and cars.

Berkshire is making what Buffett called an “all-in wager” on the U.S. economy with the deal to purchase Fort Worth, Texas- based Burlington. It is Buffett’s biggest acquisition in more than four decades as Berkshire’s chairman.

A Double Mandate For Health Works For Europe

2009-11-16T14:22:00.001-08:00

car insurance

How do most European countries achieve universal coverage?

Most people believe that European countries use the Canadian single payer model to achieve universal coverage.

Most people are wrong.

Only Canada uses that model. Canada actually makes private insurance illegal. Most countries in Europe successfully achieve universal insurance coverage using a mixed model based on a combination of private insurance companies and government programs. Some European countries, in fact, use only private insurance companies, and a couple of European countries who have achieved full universal coverage don't have any government-run insurance program at all.

There are actually hundreds of private health plans of one kind or another in various European countries. Each of those countries has both competing health plans and universal coverage.

So how do all of those countries who use private health plans actually achieve universal coverage?

They basically use a "double mandate." Most European countries mandate that every citizen must buy insurance coverage. They also mandate that every local insurance company who wants to do business in the country must sell coverage to any citizen who applies for that coverage. Health screens are not allowed.

It's a very clear double mandate. Everyone must buy. Everyone must sell.

Each of those countries with a double mandate -- Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, etc. -- collects a portion of each worker's paycheck to pay for the coverage. Payroll deductions are the most common method of funding health coverage in Europe, and employers are definitely part of the health care financing picture in almost all countries.

Most European countries continue to maintain a relationship between jobs and people's health coverage for two main reasons: The number one reason is that jobs are where the money is. Jobs create paychecks, and paychecks are the most common source of revenue used by other countries to pay for people's health coverage.

The second reason countries link jobs and health coverage is that employers often function as "wise" or skilled volume purchasers, and employers in some countries make various decisions and negotiate deals with insurers to help workers get either better coverage or better services from the private insurance plans.

Premium Costs Are Shared With Employers
In most countries, premium cost is shared between employers and employees -- a portion of each worker's paycheck is dedicated to pay for health coverage, and then the employer usually matches some or all of the worker contribution.

As one example, Germany has an 8 percent payroll deduction from each worker. That deduction from each worker's paycheck is matched by an 8 percent contribution from each employer. So, in essence, 16 percent of every German paycheck is spent to buy universal health care coverage.

Germany doesn't have a Canadian-like single payer system. German health insurance is provided by a fairly large number of private health funds. So each German picks a health plan -- or "sickness fund" -- to actually be their personal insurer. Many of the sickness funds are co-op-like entities. Some are for-profit insurers. All are privately run and operated. The whole approach does not look anything like the Canadian single payer system.

Germany has used that model for over 100 years. Bismarck invented it.

Low-income Germans without jobs, of course, have their premiums subsidized by the government.

Because everyone is in the insurance "risk pool" all of the time, Germany doesn't have the problem of people waiting until they are sick and then joining a sickness fund to "use other people's money" to pay for their care.

How well would that model work in the U.S.?

An interesting economic fact is that all "group" insurance in the U.S. already basically uses an approach that operates very much like that European double mandate model. Employers in America buy coverage for an entire group of employees. Every eligible employee in each group is automatically covered as a member of the group. The result is a lot like Europe, one group at a time. There are some exceptions, but everyone employed full time in each employer group is usually in the insurance group, and every group member must be covered by the insurer. Health screens and medical underwriting do not happen within employer groups in America now. More than 90 percent of the people in the United States with health insurance receive their coverage through "groups."

We would be very well advised to take the double mandate risk-sharing business model that works well for Switzerland and the Netherlands, and works equally well today for our group purchasers in the U.S., and use it for all of our people.

Covering everyone is important in both Europe and America because we need to have a broad cross section of people enrolled in order to keep the average cost of care at a level that makes the average premium affordable.

The underlying concept of getting everyone in the risk pool is pretty simple. Automobile insurance would fail as an economic system if car insurers were required to sell instantly to every applicant but people could wait until after their car had crashed before actually buying insurance coverage. People would not pay premiums for car insurance every month if they could simply wait to pay one month's car insurance premium when the accident actually happened and then have the insurance company buy them a new car. Fire insurance would also obviously fail as a business model if the insurance companies only insured burning homes. Everyone who understands fire insurance understands that there needs to be premium paid from quite a few houses that are not burning to put enough money into a pool to pay the expenses of repairing or rebuilding the houses that do burn.

We need to use a European-like double mandate for health insurance in America to get everyone insured and to get everyone in the risk pool.

The double mandate already works fairly well in America for the 90 plus percent of insured people who get coverage through employers.

Let's just finish the job. Let's use a double mandate to enroll everyone in America. No one should ever lose their home in America or be financially ruined because of health care expenses. We need to cover everyone. A double mandate can help make that happen.

Health insurance reform bills from the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will soon be going to a conference committee process. That process should create a blended final bill that will focus some key energy on keeping the average costs of care down by getting as many people in the American risk pool as possible.

If we can't do a pure European style double mandate in America, we should get as close to it as we can.

We should not be too arrogant or too insulated to learn from what works well in other settings and other countries. The double mandate can work well here.

Car insurance cost up 13% on last year, says Sainsbury's

2009-11-16T14:21:00.001-08:00

car insurance

The price of car insurance has risen by almost 13 per cent in the last 12 months, according to Sainsbury's Finance.

The price of running a car has gone up, with car cover now costing an average of £551.74. Tax and MOT costs have seen an increase of 8.45 per cent and 1.69 per cent respectively.

However, while prices have risen for some areas of driving, others have seen a reduction compared to 2008. Fuel and servicing charges have dropped, with petrol prices now 1.22 per cent less than they were a year ago.

Overall, Sainsbury's Finance estimates the average annual cost of motoring to now be £2,338, a figure which excludes the cost of paying for the actual vehicle.

Earlier research by the financial service provider found that reluctance to haggle over the price of a new car could cost consumers a combined total of £229 million in the next six months.

Ben Tyte, car insurance manager for the finance firm, advised drivers that the way to beat the price increases was by shopping around for the best value deal.

Is Permit Insurance Available For Teenage Drivers?

2009-11-16T14:20:00.001-08:00

car insurance

One of the greatest days for a teenager is getting their learner’s permit. It is the beginning of a whole new world of independence and freedom. Unfortunately for parents, it is the beginning of a nightmare; your little baby behind the wheel of a car. Luckily, the law allows for ample practice time on the road before your teen driver is unleashed and free to wreak havoc on unsuspecting drivers. For this critical instruction time, insurance companies offer a special policy for those learning to drive.

What Kind Of Insurance Is There

Car insurance for a learning driver can be expensive to purchase independently but by adding your learning driver onto your existing policy, you could save a substantial amount on premiums. The learning driver will be able to have the same type of insurance policy that you have. By adding them to your existing policy they will be covered in the same capacity that you are. It might even be a good idea to upgrade their coverage to comprehensive and uninsured driver coverage if you only carry liability.

What Can Cause A Policy To Be Voided

Allowing your learning driver to drive without an adult, or the age of 21 in the car can most certainly void the conditions of the car insurance policy. If they were in an accident without an adult present not only could they lose their permit and not get their license until they turn 18, the insurance company could refuse to pay out any money on the policy because the conditions weren’t met. Not only is it dangerous for the learning driver and whomever they are in an accident with, it can also cause your insurance company to drop you from their policy. Leaving you without car insurance. It is important to teach your young driver how to be a responsible and respectful driver.

How a driving conviction hits car insurance

2009-11-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

car insurance

Insurers are turning their backs on drink-drivers with many simply refusing to cover those convicted of driving under the influence.

As we enter the festive period when incidents of drink driving can increase, latest analysis of insurance quotations has shown that those convicted of the offence could be blacklisted by insurers, or else could face swingeing hikes in their insurance premiums.

Comparison website Moneysupermarket.com said that drivers could see their premiums increase from an average of £300 per year to £578 per year – a difference of £278.

However, other insurers will not return a quote at all to drivers if they admit to receiving a DR10 penalty for drink driving.

And some will not insure drivers if they have been handed a driving ban in the last five years.

Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: 'On top of a massive hike in insurance premium costs, any convicted motorist is likely to find themselves with the difficult task of trying to find a provider who is prepared to insure someone with a drink driving conviction.'

According to a recent survey carried out by the Home Office, a staggering one in eight drivers - or 12% - admitted to having driven after drinking what they believed was an 'over the limit' amount of alcohol in the previous year.

Steve Sweeney added: 'A conviction could lead to a £1,000 fine, a 12-month driving ban on their licence, and even a possible prison sentence.

'It is simply not worth taking the risk – the results of doing so can be costly and very damaging.'

Driving age to rise?

2009-11-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

federated insurance

The Government has young drivers in its sights in a battle to lower the road toll, with proposals to raise the driving age to 16 or 17 and extend learner licences.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said drivers aged between 15 and 24 were "seriously over-represented" in crash statistics.

Young people made up 16 per cent of licensed drivers but were responsible for 37 per cent of serious injury crashes. Mr Joyce said the Government could not ignore the statistics. "There are too many young people dying on our roads," he said.

He wanted a package of proposals before Cabinet early next year, including raising the driving age, extending the learner-licence period to 12 months – from the current six-month minimum – and making the test for a restricted licence tougher to encourage 120 hours of driving practice.

The Government will also consider restricting learner and restricted licence-holders from driving high powered or modified cars, and introducing compulsory third-party insurance. Young drivers who breached graduated licences could have their cars impounded.

Waikato Federated Farmers president Stew Wadey said raising the driving age would not be popular with rural families, who lived some distances from schools and services teenagers needed.

Mr Wadey argued rural families would be "penalised for the probably more ill-disciplined driving in the cities that is causing the (crash) statistics". He expected the prospect of a raised driving age would be discussed when the National Council of Federated Farmers meets next week in Wellington. Mr Wadey also stressed there was a need for "more discipline" in driving and road use and "more emphasis placed on parental responsibility."

Roger Leaf, of Hamilton's Black & White Driver Training, believed the learner's licence age should stay at 15. Raising the age to 16 would make no difference and he supported longer, graduated driver-licensing periods, and a tougher test for the restricted licence. "It's something that can't be fixed overnight. I don't have a problem with what they're doing if it reduces the risk of crashes," he said.

Young people spoken to on Hamilton's Te Rapa Rd last night were surprisingly receptive to the prospect of tougher tests for licences.

One 18-year-old man said the restricted licence test was "too easy", and he agreed the period should be extended so young drivers got more experience. He said young drivers needed more thorough training including mandatory driving lessons, and conceded that most young people were "probably not responsible" in cars.

The teens said plenty of their peers did not abide by licence conditions and were reckless behind the wheel.

A 17-year-old man – who admitted he'd previously lost his licence for "a sustained loss of traction" – felt the driving age should stay at 15, but he believed there was a need to extend the learner's licence period beyond 12 months. "The ages should stay the same, but the tests should be better," he said.

"The restricted licence is so easy to get."

Month-End Portfolio Data Now Available for Federated Investors' Closed-End Municipal Funds

2009-11-16T14:16:00.002-08:00

federated insurance

Federated Investors, Inc. today announced that monthly fund composition and performance data for Federated Premier Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: FMN) and Federated Premier Intermediate Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: FPT) as of Oct. 31, 2009 are now available in the Products section of FederatedInvestors.com. To order hard copies of this data or to be placed on a mailing list, call 800-245-0242 x8079, email CEinfo@federatedinv.com or write to Federated Investors, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Floor 23, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222.

Federated Investors, Inc. (NYSE: FII) is one of the largest investment managers in the United States, managing $392.3 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2009. With 150 funds, as well as a variety of separately managed account options, Federated provides comprehensive investment management worldwide to nearly 5,300 institutions and intermediaries including corporations, government entities, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, banks and broker/dealers. For more information, visit FederatedInvestors.com.

What Lies Ahead: Incoming TIA President Outlines Plans for Coming Year

2009-11-16T14:16:00.001-08:00

federated insurance

In the midst of this unprecedented economic turmoil, and with the entire automotive and commercial tire sectors still struggling, there are probably very few people who would look forward to taking the helm of a major tire association.

However, as I assume the presidency of the Tire Industry Association (TIA), I see far more positives than negatives. For starters, being able to take the presidency of TIA from an expert like Dan Beach is a huge plus. He has served the association well over these last 12 months as president. Dan tackled the difficult challenges we faced this past year head-on. His tenacious attitude was well-timed for the association.

I will continue the efforts to push for TIA to lead the consumer education effort mandated by the 2007 Energy Bill, which called for a tire fuel efficiency labeling and consumer education program. As TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield explained in his Aug. 21 comments to NHTSA, dialogue between the tire sales associate and the customer at the point of sale is absolutely critical to the success of any consumer education program. TIA is a world leader in tire service training; we understand tire dealers better than anyone. And no one understands the customer better than our members. Thus, it’s a clear and logical conclusion that TIA is best equipped to handle such an important task. This is my number one goal for my term as TIA president. We have worked hard to earn this opportunity, and I believe that TIA is best suited and most qualified to lead this very important consumer education program.

Another of my goals is to continue the strong member program lineup TIA currently has. As chair of our Member Services & Benefits Committee for the past four years, I have been very much involved in the development of many of these programs. In 2009, TIA added Federated Insurance, Ceridian payroll/HR services, a package shipping discount with FedEx, ContactPoint sales training, and a partnership with Kiely Hines, which offers our members innovative and affordable health insurance.

With the addition of these programs, we have increased the potential savings to a TIA member who uses our programs to more than $27,000 a year. I encourage all of our members to take a look at these programs. They offer real savings that could help them get through these difficult economic times. We are working on a few new and exciting benefits that I hope to announce in the upcoming months.

As I mentioned above, TIA is a world leader in tire service training. This year has proven to be one of the best ever for our training department. We have greatly expanded our CTS and ATS training classes to meet booming demand. We are continuing the success of the TIA TPMS Relearn Chart with an update. We released the first-ever TIA training program for earthmover tires for the OTR industry. This state-of-the-art training program earned a Telly award, which, in the training arena, is the equivalent to an Oscar. And, we have totally revamped our Commercial Tire Service training and certification course.

In the coming year, we are exploring the possibility of updating our very successful Automotive Tire Service program; it may even include the addition of a comprehensive component on TPMS. Even during these difficult times, the smart tire business owners realize the value and importance of TIA training and certification. We continue to train hundreds of automotive, commercial and OTR tire service professionals each year, ensuring that millions of people ride on safe, well-maintained tires.

In addition to our work on the consumer education mandate of the Energy Bill, TIA has also been in the forefront of many of the governmental issues that are critical to the tire industry. We have been very much involved in the battle to prevent punitive tariffs on affordable tire imports from China. Additionally, we will continue our work on Capitol Hill in regards to health care, as it has taken on a whole new level of urgency with the mandate by President Obama to have a health care bill drafted by year’s end. Our work has not been restricted to the federal level. At the state level, we have been involved in several battles, including the one in California to prevent draconian measures against tire dealers from taking effect in respect to the issue of tire aging. We also continue to advocate Right to Repair legislation at the state level. All of these issues will be active in the coming year, and TIA’s members can rest assured that we will continue to vigorously defend their interests.

In terms of TIA’s events, 2009 was definitely a year of change and affirmation. While we made the decision to eliminate the Commercial Tire, Retread and Recycling Conference, our 2009 OTR conference continues to be that sector’s must-attend event.

And, for our Tires, Wheels & Equipment Section of the SEMA Show this year, we’ve made some bold changes. We eliminated the Breakfast with the President, replacing it with a Wine & Cheese Social and Tire Industry Honors, a new event that will honor the legends – both current and past – of the tire industry. This event was my vision, and I created it with the intent for it to quickly become THE place that the entire tire industry comes together to honor those who have made this industry great. We will recognize this year’s Tire Industry Hall of Fame inductees, and, we are excited to announce that all three major tire trade publications – including Tire Review, which will be presenting its Top Shop Award – will also be participating in this event. We have also created an International Roundtable – Best Practices in the Tire Industry & International Review of Industry Regulations.

Our 2010 events are shaping up very nicely. The 2010 OTR Conference will be held Feb. 17-20 at the beautiful Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz. We will have a rare opportunity to be part of a Caterpillar tour to witness OTR equipment in action. Anyone involved in the OTR sector knows this is the must-attend conference of the year. And, we are as committed as ever to maintaining our TWE Section at SEMA. This event remains the most important consumer tire and wheel show in North America, and I encourage everyone to attend.

I will also continue our efforts to effectively communicate with our membership, the media, the general public and the tire industry – both within the U.S. and around the world. We are expanding into electronic communications, such as via our Web site and e-mail. We have begun to “go green” at TIA. Our newsletter – The Business Owner – is available digitally to all members. In addition, with my background in the software industry, I plan on exploring the possibilities that lie ahead for TIA in the social marketing arenas.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that I, along with TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield and the staff and Board, will continue to make TIA the preeminent tire organization in the world. We continue to constantly look for ways to make the association more efficient, more dynamic, more responsive, and an even greater value to our membership.

Business and professional news

2009-11-16T14:15:00.001-08:00

federated insurance

Staff Sgt. Thaddeus Cook was recently assigned to the Air Force recruiting office at 1117 Sixth St. N.W., in Barlow Plaza. Cook will support the Air Force Recruiting Service in Rochester and surrounding communities.

Cook is a recent graduate of the Air Force Recruiting School in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to this assignment, he was a pharmacy technician at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Buckingham earns kudos

Former West Concord resident Traci Buckingham has been named to Crain's Chicago Business' 40 Under 40. The annual list published by Crain's profiles 40 of Chicago's business leaders under the age of 40.

Buckingham is a 1990 graduate of West Concord High School and the daughter of Corky and the late Roberta Buckingham. She is a broker at CB Richard Ellis Inc., and her client roster includes Best Buy, Caterpillar Inc. and IKEA.

RCTC's Mercer wins award

Rochester Community and Technical College faculty member Bonnie Mercer has received a Townsend Developmental College Teaching Award.

John Langan, president of Townsend Press, says Mercer is one of those teachers who "on a caring and steady basis, semester after semester, provide persistent, patient, sensitive and respectful support -- honoring the dignity and humanity of those in their classes."

Mercer will receive a $1,000 award.

Common Ground hires four

Common Ground has hired Doug Schommer as its new community outreach director and named three other new hires.

Schommer has served on the Board of Directors of the Cronin Home since 1999 and currently serves as vice president. The Cronin home, in Rochester, provides residential housing for chemically dependent patients. Schommer also chairs the development committee and has been active in the DARE program in Winona County.

Other new hires at Common Ground are:

• Drew Martin, counselor. A native of Minneapolis and now Rochester resident, Martin has a bachelor's degree in family social science. Having worked in a variety of in-patient and out-patient capacities, he most recently worked three years with the methadone and opiate addiction clinic.

• John Podvin, counselor working with the men's primary program. A native of the Twin Cities and now Rochester resident, Podvin has a bachelor's degree. Most recently, he worked at the Guest House for seven years.

• Megan Blake, dependency technician. She is attending Rochester Community and Technical College to earn a degree in human resources, and she assists with groups and in the business office.

Common Ground, formerly Rochester Behavioral Health Services, has been in business since 2001. It offers a complete range of out-patient treatment options to assist those struggling with alcohol and other drug addictions.

McCabe achieves company presidency

Jeff McCabe has been named president of Spray Control Systems of Blooming Prairie, the parent company of Minimizer.

"We are excited to have Jeff as a member of our team. He brings significant managerial experience and a vision that will positively effect change and growth in the organization," said Craig Kruckeberg, chief visionary officer of Minimizer.

Before joining Minimizer, McCabe was an underwriting manager of the commercial health division of Federated Insurance Cos. He was with Federated for 23 years. McCabe also has 22 years of military service experience as a civil affairs major who regularly traveled overseas with international teams to improve nations.

Minimizer manufactures poly truck fenders, poly toolboxes, customized mud flaps and bracket kits. Family owned and operated for nearly three generations, Minimizer was founded in 1983.

Short takes

• Michael Smith, of Grand Meadow, was selected to attend this year's Northwestern Mutual Forum, held Sunday to Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., in recognition of his outstanding year of performance. Of the company's 7,000 representatives, 235 were eligible to attend.

• The Minnesota Department of Human Services has named Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center's Recovery Partners as a Dual Diagnosis Enhanced program for the treatment of behavioral health disorders. This program is the only one in the state to receive the enhanced classification. Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center treats behavioral health and substance-use disorders for adults, adolescents and children.

• Shawn Buryska was named the top lister and seller for Coldwell Banker Burnet during October. Coldwell Banker Burnet, a leading residential real estate brokerage headquartered in Edina, Minn., serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The company, which was founded in 1973, operates 27 offices and has nearly 2,250 sales associates throughout the market.

• EO Johnson Office Technologies announces Jordan Fredrickson has joined its Rochester office as an account executive. Fredrickson will work with small and medium-sized businesses in the Rochester area. His responsibilities include selling office technology, such as multifunction products, printers, scanners, document management and print management solutions.

Robbery prevention seminar slated

2009-11-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

federated insurance

It's the time of year that robberies at convenience stores usually increase, said Gadsden Police Capt. Jeff Wright.

"It usually starts just before Thanksgiving and goes through Christmas," Wright said.

This year, the Gadsden Police Department is teaming up with the Etowah County Sheriff's Department and the Etowah County District Attorney's office to make all convenience store operators aware of ways to prevent robberies at their businesses, Wright said.

The event will be presented by Rachel Krech, risk consultant with the Federated Insurance Co., Wright said.

The number of crimes such as car break-ins, thefts, burglaries, purse snatchings and robberies usually increases during the holidays, Wright said.

The increase in robberies often is seen at convenience stores and similar businesses.

This seminar focuses on convenience stores, according to Wright.

The seminar will give clerks and owners information to help make the business less prone to robberies and about what to do if the business is robbed, Wright said.

"This is something that has been needed for a long time," Sheriff Todd Entrekin said. "(Gadsden Police) Chief (Richard) Crouch had the idea for this event, and we're glad to be a partner."

All convenience store owners and clerks will be invited, he said.

"It is something we'd like to eventually expand to other businesses," Entrekin said.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Ryan's Family Steak House, 127 River Road, Gadsden.

Tom Johnson Joins New York Life Insurance Company as Head of Business Development for Retirement Income Security

2009-11-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

federated insurance

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
New York Life Insurance Company today announced that Tom Johnson has joined the
company as head of business development for Retirement Income Security, a leader
in providing retirement planning solutions. In this role, he has responsibility
for overall business development of Retirement Income Security products, which
include income and investment annuities, long-term care insurance and mutual
funds, with an emphasis on defined contribution plans and 401(k) rollover
options. Mr. Johnson reports to Chris Blunt, executive vice president in charge
of Retirement Income Security.

"I am very pleased that Tom is joining New York Life. Tom brings a wealth of
knowledge, industry best practices and networks that will help us continue the
momentum we have had since the division`s creation last year, aimed at providing
holistic solutions for advisors to use with their clients that address each
phase of the retirement process," said Mr. Blunt.

Mr. Johnson joins New York Life with 33 years in this industry, most recently
with MassMutual as senior vice presidentRetirement Income, Strategic Business
Development,where he led business development of their retirement income
platform. In addition to over 10 years at MassMutual, he worked at Federated
Investors, Inc. and his family firm, The Johnson Companies.

Mr. Johnson received a B.A from Gettysburg College and completed the Management
Development program at Harvard University. He resides in Hingham, Mass., with
his wife, Joyce Sullivan.

New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the
largest mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the
largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the highest possible
financial strength ratings from all four of the major credit rating agencies.
Headquartered in New York City, New York Life`s family of companies offers life
insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York
Life Investments* provides institutional asset management and retirement plan
services. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products
and services, as well as institutional and retail mutual funds.

Visit New York Life`s Web site at www.newyorklife.com for more information.

*New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment
Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management
LLC.

New York Life
William Werfelman, 212-576-5385
William_Werfelman@newyorklife.com
or
Sloane & Company
John Hartz, 857-598-4779
JHartz@sloanepr.com

Lenoir County arrest reports

2009-11-16T14:12:00.001-08:00

grange insurance

The following arrests were reported by the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office:

Calais Michell Murphy, 21, 1513 Cobblestone Drive, Kinston, Nov. 10, misdemeanor order for arrest/failure to appear/no operators license. Bond: $500. Arresting officer: C. Heath.

Heather Wade Mullins Vandiford, 32, 6333 Bear Creek Estates, La Grange, Nov. 10, misdemeanor failure to appear. Bond: $500. Arresting officer: J. Elmore.

Antony McCarlo Garner, Sr., 35, 211 E. Highland Av.e, Kinston, Nov. 10, misdemeanor assault on a female. Bond: $500. Arresting officer: J. Elmore.

Omar Rashin Suggs, age unknown, 705 Lincoln St., Kinston, Nov. 11, misdemeanor larceny. Bond: None. Arresting officer: S. Mitchell.

Kevin Tyler Fernandez, 17, 1642 Sandy Ridge Drive, Kinston, Nov. 11, misdemeanor harrassing phone call. Bond: Written promise. Arresting officer: M. Manning.

Mickey Shaun Hunter, 26, 2649 Paul's Path Road, Kinston, Nov. 11, felony possession with intent to sell/distribute marijuana, misdemeanor communicating threats, misdemeanor harassing phone calls. Bond: $2,000. Arresting officer: L. McKinney.

Candida Ann Jarman, 34, 2649 Paul's Path Road, Kinston, Nov. 11, felony possession with intent to sell/distribute marijuana. Bond: $2,000. Arresting officer: L. McKinney.

Stuart Bryan Letchworth, 35, Kinston, Nov. 11, misdemeanor resist arrest, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger, misdemeanor fail to report accident. Bond: Written promise. Arresting officer: B. Kordulewski.

Taylor Alan Ipock, 17, 6526 Skeeter Pond Road, Grifton, Nov. 12, misdemeanor no liability insurance, misdemeanor failure to reduce speed. Bond: None. Arresting officer: D. Kennedy.

Bobby Devon Dawson, 28, 709 W. King St., La Grange, Nov. 12, misdemeanor assault on a female, misdemeanor assault on a child under 12. Bond: Amount not listed. Arresting officer: W. Howard.

Battle the Winter Winds by Winterizing Your Home

2009-11-16T14:11:00.001-08:00

grange insurance

Grange Insurance Offers Tips to Keep Families Warm this Season

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With the crisp chill of autumn now in
full effect, homeowners must begin thinking about ways to prepare their homes
for the colder weather that is still ahead.

That's why Columbus-based Grange Insurance has recommended some useful tips to
help homeowners winterize their homes this season.

"Winter is only a few months away, so now is the time to start preparing your
home for the cold temperatures," says Peter McMurtrie, chief claims officer
for Grange Insurance. "With a little planning now, homeowners will find that
battling the cold weather doesn't have to be a six-month struggle."

While planning for winter this fall, consider a furnace inspection before
temperatures dip below freezing. Make sure your furnace is in tip-top shape to
last for the duration of the winter months. By maintaining the upkeep of your
furnace, homeowners can eliminate the possibility of faulty air circulation.
For those using fireplaces, homeowners should ensure that chimney flumes are
free of debris before using the fireplace for the first time. Additionally,
chimney flumes should be cleaned and serviced at least once per year. And to
keep the heat flowing properly through the furnace, McMurtrie suggests
replacing the filters each month. Managing proper filters prevents harmful air
particles from entering your home as warm air circulates.

Homeowners can take winter preparation a step further by also checking
insulation quality around the entire house. It's easy for crevice cracks to go
unnoticed when it's warm during the summer months. But, as temperatures begin
to drop, McMurtrie says homeowners should consider investing in
weatherstripping. This rubber material blocks cold air from creeping
underneath doors and can help consumers save up to 15 percent in heating
costs. By making sure all entry points are properly sealed, you can save money
and keep the house warm.

"Winterizing your home goes beyond just making sure the heat works," McMurtrie
says. "It's about getting the heat inside and keeping it inside."

Keeping the heat inside will help tackle another challenge during the winter
months. Frozen pipes open opportunities for pipe damage, causing homeowners to
deal with an unnecessary expense. But, according to McMurtrie, you can fight
off the freeze by keeping a few things in mind before the cold hits your home.
He recommends draining all air conditioning pipes and outside garden hoses
before the weather gets too cold. Also while outside, any exposed plumbing
pipes should be insulated to prevent freezing. Finally, the furnace should
remain on once freezing temperatures are present. Even if you've left for a
winter vacation, McMurtrie says the thermostat should never drop below 55
degrees.

"Overall, keeping your home safe and calm during the winter months doesn't
have to cause a lot of stress or break the bank," McMurtrie says. "The most
important thing in any type of winter planning is keeping up with the little
things. If you've done that, the challenge of surviving the winter season
won't seem challenging at all."

About Grange Insurance
Grange Insurance, with $2 billion in assets and $1.3 billion in annual
revenue, is an insurance provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network
of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance
protection. Established in 1935, the company and its affiliates serve
policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and
Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.grangeinsurance.com.

BBB 2009 Student of Integrity Award Recipients Announced

2009-11-16T14:10:00.001-08:00

grange insurance

The Better Business Bureau’s Center for Character Ethics announced the 2009 Student of Integrity Scholarship Recipients today at an awards luncheon honoring the ten students. The program, in its ninth year, is open to high school students residing in BBB’s 21 county service area. A panel of business leaders and members of the academic community volunteers judged the entries.

The Student of Integrity Scholarship awards is an annual future workforce recognition program that selects and honors Central Ohio high school students who personify high character through leadership, community service, and overall personal integrity and academic accomplishments.

The ten recipients will each receive a $1,000 scholarship toward advancement of their education. Alyvia Clark of Logan Elm High School was one of the recipients.

Grange Insurance is a proud sponsor of the Student of Integrity Awards and underwrites the scholarships. Grange adheres to several core values, and integrity is one of their guiding principles.

Anti-amnesty theme draws crowd to local event

2009-11-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

grange insurance

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan "Stop the Invasion" and applauding exhortations to "take back our country," opponents of amnesty for illegal immigrants gathered at a Grange hall in Yakima.

About 65 people attended Saturday's event, dubbed "Tea Party Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration," at the Gardner Grange to hear a former U.S. Border Patrol agent speak and write quick letters to government officials.

"We can deal with it (illegal immigration)," Kent Lundgren, founder and past chairman of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, told the audience. "We have lost the will to deal with it."

The event was one of 53 similar rallies held across the country Saturday to speak out against immigration reforms proposed by President Barack Obama's administration. The suggestions include a form of amnesty for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States, as well as promise for tougher enforcement and a streamlined system for legal immigration.

The attendees, some who came from Seattle and Prosser, shared coffee and homemade cookies with a backdrop of patriotic music, including "Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny Cash, coming from speakers hooked to a laptop. Afterward, about 20 or so waved flags and protest signs on the corner of Summitview and 40th avenues.

The rally was organized by several conservative nonprofit groups, Grass Roots of Yakima Valley, Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, Remember Us We the People and Yakima 9/12 Group.

Lundgren, the guest speaker, served more than 30 years in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the precursor to the current Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

To sporadic applause and an occasional "Amen," Lundgren told the audience that amnesty for current illegal immigrants would only encourage more illegal immigration.

What's more, he said, many Mexicans believe the same thing, according to a October Zogby International poll.

In the survey of about 1,000 people in Mexico, about 56 percent of the respondents thought giving legal status to illegal immigrants in the United States would make it more likely that people they know would go to the U.S. illegally.

Lundgren supervised the Yakima immigration office during President Ronald Reagan's amnesty in 1986. He called it a "disaster," leading to new waves of illegal immigrants.

He criticized the govern-ment for not doing enough to track down immigrants who have overstayed temporary visas, local law enforcement agencies for not communicating well with federal immigration agents, and states for issuing fishing and driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

"You don't get anything unless you can prove you belong here," he said.

After the speech, audience members huddled around tables to draft short letters to Obama and U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, urging them to tighten border security, empower local police to enforce immigration laws, and crack down on employers that knowingly hire undocumented workers, among other pleas.

Organizers collected 40 handwritten letters and planned to fax them.

Merle and Dorothy Smith of Selah were among the letter writers.

Merle, 78, said he unknowingly hires illegal immigrants for his small cherry orchard occasionally. He takes down Social Security numbers during his seasonal harvest but can't tell if they're legitimate or not when lining up for work at 5:30 a.m. Months later, he gets a letter from the Social Security Administration notifying him of invalid numbers.

"There's no way to really tell," he said. "I don't think I should have to be the policeman. I got enough problems on my hands that time of morning."

Julie Deramo of Yakima said she is so frustrated by illegal immigration, bank bailouts and other polit-
ical issues that she is considering dropping her Republican Party mem-bership and registering as an independent.

The 40-year-old mother of two and former Marine said, "I have to do something."

Besides immigration, participants spoke in favor of limiting instruction in schools to English only and viewing global warming with skepticism.

All stressed they only opposed illegal immigration, not all immigrants or Mexicans.

"Many of us are already considered racist," said Bob West, chair of Grass Roots of Yakima Valley. "We need to expand our efforts to fight political correctness."

Prince ends two-year drought for Murphy

2009-11-16T14:08:00.002-08:00

grange insurance

It took a little more than two years, but trainer Tim Murphy finally got his first winner on his home track when Prince Of Snippers took out the Southern IML Pathology Handicap (2000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Murphy had been frustrated at his inability to land a winner at Kembla but Prince Of Snippers, having his fourth run at home this preparation, broke the duck for his trainer.

"It's something that you think about because this is where I come to work every morning," Murphy said.

"I got here Melbourne Cup day two years ago and that is a long time to wait (for a winner). I have had a couple of horses ready to win here but something has always gone wrong.

"And the others have won but the right race always seemed to be somewhere else. This bloke is unusual because he has had all his runs here this preparation and we thought he was ready today.

"He is a pretty nice horse and he showed it with that win."

Prince Of Snippers also gave Brett Poulus a much needed boost, as he scored by two lengths from Regal Cat with Emperor's Reign a half-length back in third.

Poulus started his career at Kembla and is working out of Warwick Farm as he makes a comeback to the riding ranks following a back injury and suspension.

"It's tough because you need wins like this to get rides and it is a slow process," Poulus said.

"I'm riding work for a couple of trainers including David Payne and hopefully things are about to pick up."

Another former Kembla-based rider, apprentice Ben Vassallo, had earlier steered the Gerald Ryan-trained Trebbiano to a sit-sprint victory in the Peoplecare Health Insurance Maiden Handicap (2000m).

The three-year-old will head for a spell with a derby campaign likely in the autumn after dashing home in 34 seconds for his final 600m in scoring by two lengths.

He was the first half of a winning double for Ryan, with Reine De Jeu taking out the Lawrence Hargrave Hospital Class 1 Handicap (1300m).

Columbus is home to four of the five honored buildings in the 2009 Design Awards of the American Institute of Architects' local chapter

2009-11-16T14:08:00.001-08:00

grange insurance

The Columbus chapter of the American Institute of Architects announced the winners of its 2009 Design Awards, honoring the work of local architecture firms. In an unusual twist, four of the five top winning buildings are in Columbus.

The group will celebrate the winners at its annual gala tonight at the new Brewery District headquarters of Grange Insurance, which won a merit award.

Honor awards went to the Columbus College of Art & Design's Design Square Apartments, the five-story Downtown building providing housing for CCAD students, and the Cleveland Clinic's Miller Family Pavilion and Glickman Tower, a two-building, 1.3 million-square-foot expansion of the medical facility.

Three central Ohio projects won merit awards.

The William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library renovation added 91,000 square feet and overhauled 215,000 square feet in the library on the Ohio State campus.

Grange Insurance's headquarters expansion was a 274,000-square-foot project that includes many environmentally friendly features.

And the project done for Pistacia Vera renovated a 120-year-old German Village house for use as an artisan pastry kitchen and retail space.

Lipinski votes for health care bill

2009-11-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

grange insurance

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) released the following statement regarding passage by the House of Representatives of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act:

“After a painstaking review of its details, and after I succeeded in adding to it restrictions that will prevent taxpayer funding of abortion, I voted today to move the health care reform bill forward. Although it contains a number of critical reforms that I strongly support – including a ban on discrimination by insurers against people with preexisting conditions – this bill is far from perfect in my view, and it will not become law as it is currently drafted. But today’s vote is only one step in the legislative process, and I will continue to work to improve the measure. If this bill does not improve when it comes back from the Senate, I will vote against it. Back in February, I made the same pledge on the stimulus bill, and when the Senate failed to return a better bill I did not vote for it. We need health care reform, but it must be the right reform. However, if we had defeated this bill today, we would have lost our opportunity to enact reforms we all know are needed.

“I greatly appreciate the thousands of constituents who have contacted me and my office to share their opinion on health care reform. I recognize that people feel very strongly about this issue, as health care is something that affects everyone. Having read the bill and spent hundreds of hours studying the health care system and speaking with experts, I realize that this bill has its shortcomings, but I believe it represents an honest approach to addressing many of the challenges people face under the current system. Too many people are uninsured and health care absorbs too much of working family budgets.

“I am proud to report that as a result of my leadership, the bill includes a strong amendment that will prevent taxpayer funding of elective abortion. I could not support a bill that allowed such funding. For more than three decades, Congress has approved the Hyde Amendment on an annual basis to prohibit federal funding of abortion. But up until today, it was not part of this bill. The amendment that I co-authored and succeeded in adding reflects the Hyde restrictions and constitutes a continuation of the status quo with regard to public funding of abortion in this country. Guiding this amendment to approval was no easy task, but I was able to ensure its inclusion by refusing to bow to pressure on a point of profound importance to me and to the large majority of Americans who believe taxpayers should not be forced to fund abortion.

“As I have said repeatedly, reform must lower the soaring cost of care and make insurance coverage more affordable and accessible for the hard-working, middle-class residents of the Third District. And it must do so without negatively impacting the quality of care people receive and without adding to the already swollen deficits of our country or our State. The Congressional Budget Office says that this bill is fully paid for, but we must make sure that the final bill that comes back from the Senate holds to my commitment that we do not add a penny to the deficit in the long term. If it does add to the deficit, I will oppose it.

“While H.R. 3962 has its problems, it contains a number of provisions that I strongly support and pushed to make sure were included. Together they form a solid foundation on which to build. The bill would prohibit discrimination by insurers based on preexisting conditions – something that, as a diabetic, I know is critical. It would require hospitals to publicly report the prices they charge – an important reform that would help increase competition among hospitals and lower prices. I have fought for such a measure since I introduced my first bill in Congress, The Hospital Price Disclosure Act, which I introduced once again this year as H.R. 2566. The reform bill also eliminates the coverage gap, known as the “doughnut hole,” in the Medicare prescription drug program, and allows the government to negotiate prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients for the first time, helping to lower drug prices for seniors. I have repeatedly supported allowing such negotiation and urged it be made part of the bill. In addition, as I advocated, the bill now takes steps to end the health insurance industry’s exemption from federal anti-trust laws, which could help to increase competition.

“I am also pleased that the House did not adopt the Senate’s proposal to levy an excise tax on middle-class health care plans, which would have aggravated the cost of care to millions of Americans or resulted in fewer benefits in their plans. I also had strong reservations about a public option health care plan based on Medicare rates; this would have hurt seniors’ access to doctors. I am glad that my efforts helped result in the use of negotiated rates in the public option.

“I know that the health care status quo is unacceptable. Soaring premium costs have put health insurance coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. For millions of others, it seems that every time they look up, health insurance constitutes a greater share of their paycheck, leaving them with less money to spend on other necessities. Across the Third District, from Berwyn to Oak Lawn, Bridgeport to Countryside, and Mount Greenwood to La Grange, there are hard-working people who are one illness away from bankruptcy. People facing the extraordinary challenges of battling cancer, heart disease, and many other diseases must not be made to worry about balancing their care against their checkbooks.

“In order to change that, this bill will have to do more to tackle the biggest problem with our health care system: the soaring cost of care. Increases in the underlying cost of care – not just insurance industry greed –lie behind skyrocketing premiums. Since 1980, overall spending on health care has risen on average at almost twice the rate of inflation, and per capita health care spending is nearly double what it was 10 years ago. Our system encourages doctors to prescribe too much, test too much, and treat too much. As a result, insurance is prohibitively expensive, with premiums having more than doubled in just a decade. If we do not lower the underlying cost of care, we will have failed to produce the fundamental health reform America needs.

“There are additional ways that we can reform our health care system so that it works for the well-being of all Americans, not just the profits of the health care industry. Reining in the cost of health care is not an impossible goal. On the contrary, it is an unavoidable task. But it will require taking on special interests and implementing genuine, systematic change. I look forward to continuing to fight for that change, and to making sure high-quality health care is affordable for individuals, families, businesses, and taxpayers. Passing this bill today is a step towards that goal.”

U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski 6245 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60638 (312) 886-0481

www.lipinski.house.gov

XXX

From the Illinois Senate
State Senator Ed Maloney

November 13, 2009

Maloney Attends Conference on Postsecondary Education Access and Graduation Rates

Fargo, N.D. – Earlier this week, legislators and higher education leaders attended the annual policy summit and commission meeting of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) in Fargo, N.D. State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago), Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, joined his colleagues to discuss how to improve postsecondary education access and graduation rates.

“Tight state budgets, 75 million baby boomers moving into retirement, plus the global competition for educated workers make it imperative that we focus on more citizens completing some form of higher education to ensure an educated workforce to drive a successful economy,” stated MHEC President Larry Isaak.

“We must continue to fund higher education,” Maloney said. “Education is one area we simply cannot cut. Businesses value an educated work force, and we cannot afford to hurt Illinois’ economic climate when we’re still struggling with the recession.”

The group addressed how technology and the open source movement is lowering costs, improving learning, and transforming higher education. They also learned about successful degree and course completion initiatives as well as incentives for transfer success.

“I’m very concerned about graduation rates,” Maloney said. “This is the second conference I’ve attended on the topic this fall. Working to improve Illinois college graduation rates is one of my legislative priorities this upcoming legislative session.”

Following the summit, MHEC commissioners and guests gathered for the MHEC annual meeting, where they heard regional and national updates from the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) and the Council of State Governments.

Since its formation in 1991, MHEC has been committed to cost-savings programs, student access and policy research and analysis. The Compact has twelve member states and is headquartered in Minneapolis.

XX

From the Illinois House of Representatives
State Rep. Kevin Joyce

November 13, 2009

Bill to limit the power of Cook County president becomes law

Legislation supported by state Rep. Kevin Joyce during the fall veto session became law on Monday, limiting the power of the Cook County Board President by reducing the amount of votes needed to override his veto from a 4/5 majority to a 3/5 majority.

“One individual should not have so much control over the direction of the county,” Joyce explained. “Our government is intended to be a system of checks and balances, and this legislation eliminates an outdated provision that has prevented progress and increased taxes on Cook County residents.”

House Bill 4625 reduces the override requirement from 4/5 to a 3/5 majority of the total members on the board. This would allow 11 commissioners to override the president’s veto instead of the current 14 of 17. Creating a 3/5 vote to override the county president gives the majority of the board more control without needing an excessive amount of votes to override the president’s veto.

The measure was introduced after the Cook County Board was unable to override the president’s veto of a measure that would roll back the county’s sales tax, which has garnered Cook County the award for highest sales tax in the nation. As unemployment rises, many lawmakers at the local and state levels feel that this tax has been unfair to local residents who can barely keep their heads above water as it is. It is also harmful to county businesses, which suffer when consumers take their business outside the county to avoid the sales tax.

“In the interest of transparency and allowing the will of the people to prevail, I am pleased that this measure is now law. Now the County Board can operate as it is intended to be, a Democratic governing body,” Joyce said. “As we find ourselves in the midst of a national recession, it is important for government to make decisions that will help families put food on the table and pay their mortgage or rent. I hope the County Board can re-visit the sales tax issue and go back to a taxing formula that enables the county to generate needed revenues, but does not hurt county residents.”

House Bill 4625 was signed into law on Monday and takes effect immediately. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Joyce’s district office at (708) 448-3518.

XXX

News from Congressman Dan Lipinski

3rd District, Illinois

Nov. 7, 2009

Lipinski’s Leadership Prevents Taxpayer Funded Abortion in Health Care Reform Bill

As a result of Congressman Dan Lipinski’s leadership, an amendment was added to the House health care reform bill on Saturday to prevent taxpayer funding of elective abortion. Following passage of the amendment, Lipinski hailed its adoption as a major victory for the large majority of Americans who believe taxpayers should not be forced to fund abortion.

“Passage of this amendment, which I co-authored, was a victory for which I fought hard, and which could not have been achieved without real leadership and determination,” Congressman Lipinski said. “For more than 30 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal funding of elective abortions. The amendment to the health care bill adds the Hyde restrictions to the bill, keeping in place the status quo that has long governed federal funding of abortion. Nothing less would have been acceptable to me and to the tens of millions of Americans who share my belief that public funding of elective abortion cannot be tolerated.”

The Hyde Amendment clearly states that no federal funds ‘shall be expended for any abortion’ and that no federal funds ‘shall be expended for health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion.’ As recently as July 24 of this year, the House passed H.R. 3293 – the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill – containing this language. However, the House health care reform bill, H.R. 3962, did not contain the Hyde Amendment as originally introduced, and undoubtedly it would not have but for the effort spearheaded by Congressman Lipinski and a small group of his colleagues.

“The Stupak-Pitts-Kaptur-Ellsworth-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment was a critical addition to the health care reform bill,” Lipinski said. “Had it not been included, taxpayer money would have gone to pay for elective abortions for the first time in recent memory. I could not stand by and allow that to happen, and I am proud to report that my efforts succeeded.”

Hiscox Optimistic on Back of Revived Profits, Says No Extra Pay-outs to Investors

2009-11-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

hiscox insurance

Hiscox seems to be one of the fastest recovering insurance firms as of now, posting profits which have been much better than last year. On the back of this fact, the company has announced that it is completely ready to deal with the 2010 fiscal year, which it expects will be more difficult. Also the company has promised that it would not be handing any extra pay-out to investors.

As confirmed by figures revealed by Hiscox, the company's earnings for the current year's first nine months has seen a whopping 31.7% rise as compared to last year. The insurer now has "good reasons to be optimistic" about the coming times.

So far this year, Hiscox, which mainly deals with internationally traded businesses, has written premiums of as much as 1.2 Billion Pounds, a significant rise from the figure of 920.1 Million Pounds for the same periodlast year.

Chairman Robert Hiscox has asserted that the company is in "good health", while sharing that it has "continued to benefit from solid investment decisions and have maintained growth in (our) most profitable underwriting lines".

Insurance is a "minefield" for event directors

2009-11-16T14:04:00.002-08:00

hiscox insurance

The comments came during a corporate forum hosted by Venues Event Management (VEM) at the St James's Hotel and Club.

VEM chief executive Anita Lowe said: "Insurance is a minefield for event planners and it's becoming more and more important all the time. There's an urgent need for people in the industry to understand it."

Hiscox business development executive Michael Schwoerke, guest speaker at the forum, told event directors from organisations including Bupa and Everywoman that the three core areas of event insurance were cancellation and abandonment, property damage and liability.

Schwoerke said the take-up of event insurance had remained steady in recent months but that the level of cover for each event had decreased.

"What we are finding is that those clients who insured their events in the past are still doing so," he said. "Our book hasn't shrunk as a whole but the events we insure are getting smaller and less lavish. People are tightening their belts but it's something that will hopefully pick up."

Russell Jones launches new venture with insurance company tie-up

2009-11-16T14:04:00.001-08:00

hiscox insurance

Russell Jones & Walker has tied up with insurer Hiscox to launch a business which will provide insurance cover and advice for lawyers and business executives undergoing regulatory difficulties.

The business, which was launched at beginning of last month (1 October), includes two new products called 4Expertprotect and 4Execprotect, targeted at lawyers and business directors respectively. Russell Jones will offer advice and help in relation to financial and regulatory issues such as white-collar crime, with Hiscox providing insurance.

Lawyers and businesses sign up to a package that includes insurance cover from Hiscox and access to two telephone lines - a proactive line for guidance and advice, and a 24-hour crisis line.

The cost of the package - aimed mainly at small law firms and businesses - will start from £645 a year.

The venture was put together by management and regulatory partner Gary Gallen, who joined Russell Jones earlier this year from Andrew Jackson as the firm's first lateral equity partner hire. Advice will be provided by lawyers and paralegals from Russell Jones' Manchester office.

In addition, the firm is working with accountants RSM Bentley Jennison and IT forensic company Sapphire, which will also provide advice.

Russell Jones already owns a number of established brands including Claims Direct, which targets the volume personal injury market.

Hiscox Says Premiums Rise on International Units

2009-11-16T14:03:00.001-08:00

hiscox insurance

Hiscox Ltd., the third-biggest insurer at Lloyd’s of London, said nine-month revenue rose 32 percent on higher international sales.

Gross written premiums were 1.2 billion pounds ($2 billion) for the year to Sept. 30, compared with 920 million pounds a year earlier, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said today in a statement.

“We have continued to benefit from solid investment decisions and have maintained growth in our most profitable underwriting lines,” Chairman Robert Hiscox said in the statement. “Rates are stable and still very healthy in most areas, particularly reinsurance, which accounts for over a third of our business.”

Hiscox, like fellow Lloyd’s insurers Catlin Group Ltd. and Brit Insurance Holdings Plc, has benefited from a benign Atlantic storm season this year and rising rates for catastrophe insurance. Catlin and Brit’s sales both climbed in the first nine months of the year, helped by higher rates for risks exposed to U.S. windstorms, which last year cost the industry $24 billion.

Revenue from the insurer’s U.S. unit, which opened five new offices in the first half of this year, grew 80 percent to 87.2 million pounds, boosted by a weaker pound against the dollar, Hiscox said. Sales in Bermuda advanced 53 percent to 163.7 million pounds.

Lloyd's Of London 3Q Investments Above Forecasts

2009-11-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

hiscox insurance

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Lloyd's of London, which runs the U.K.'s 320-year-old insurance and reinsurance market, said Tuesday that favorable markets helped it deliver modestly better than forecast investment returns in the third quarter, but scope for further gains in the rest of the year is limited.

Lloyd's said assets held after setting aside capital for possible future insurance claims - or the excess of central assets over solvency shortfalls - rose to GBP2.55 billion at Sept. 30 from GBP2.50 billion at June 30.

It added that there were no events in the third quarter that resulted in any material change to the group's expectations for the full year.

Commenting on the investment climate, LLoyd's said the recovery of riskier asset investments like equities continued in recent months while corporate debt has also performed strongly.

Investor demand has been driven by growing confidence that the global economy is on the path to recovery, but also because of the need to move away from very low yields in cash and similar low-risk investments.

Lloyd's isn't publicly traded, though some of its members are listed, such as Hiscox Ltd. (HSX.LN), Catlin Group Ltd. (CGL.LN) and Hardy Underwriting Bermuda Ltd. (HDU.LN).

Hiscox asserts health amid grim 2010 outlook

2009-11-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

hiscox insurance

Hiscox said it was in robust health to deal with what is likely to be a more difficult 2010 and that it would not promise extra pay-outs to investors.

Robert Hiscox, chairman of the Lloyd’s of London and specialist insurer, said that special capital returns to shareholders made sense for some businesses, especially those most focused on Bermuda.

However, he added: “We are still building and investing money in the US but beyond the dividend we are not promising any pay-backs at this time.”

Lancashire, a smaller, Bermuda-focused rival, said last week it would return more than $400m to shareholders after a year that had seen very limited catastrophe losses and strong recovery in investment markets.

Some analysts expect a wave of special dividends and share buy-backs as a result of the reinsurance industry having far more capital in its businesses than was expected a year ago during the depths of the financial crisis.

Mr Hiscox was talking as the company reported 10.5 per cent growth in group-wide new business at constant currency rates for the first nine months.

By far the most improved area was the US, which saw 61 per cent growth in dollar terms, from $83.4m to $133.9m (£80.6m). In sterling terms sales were 80 per cent higher at £87.2m.

Hiscox said on Monday that in spite of the industry’s capital losses in 2008, it had not seen across-the-board premium rate rises as some had expected. However, it added that it had still seen increases of more than 10 per cent across its key reinsurance lines.

“Rates are stable and still very healthy in most areas, particularly reinsurance which accounts for most of our business,” Mr Hiscox said.

However, he added that if the year played out with still low catastrophe losses and no more upheaval in financial markets then he could not forecast that the industry’s performance would be repeated next year.

Thomas Dorner at Oriel Securities said: “Investment returns are very strong and will likely drive strong 2009 profits, although, as Hiscox point out, future returns will come under pressure.”

Separately, Beazley reported gross written premiums up 18 per cent at constant exchange rates, or 45 per cent in sterling, to £861.9m over the first nine months.

Hiscox Event Insurance

2009-11-16T14:00:00.002-08:00

hiscox insurance

0845 213 8440 www.hiscox.co.uk/events Ed Pugh, Sales & Marketing Manager 020 7448 6134 ed.pugh@hiscox.com

What service or product do you offer? Event Insurance - we offer tailor-made cover for event organisers, including cancellation and abandonment, public liability, employers' liability and property cover.

Newest product or service? For event organisers working with a number of exhibitors, we can provide a unique link to our website where exhibitors can purchase their insurance. This protects the event organiser and is also a way to earn revenue.

Hiscox Insurance financial strength rated Excellent by A.M. Best

2009-11-16T14:00:00.001-08:00

hiscox insurance

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSRs) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICRs) of “a” of Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (Hiscox Bermuda), Hiscox Insurance Company Limited (Hisco) (United Kingdom), Hiscox Insurance Company (Guernsey) Limited (Hiscox Guernsey) and Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. (Hiscox US), all operating companies of Hiscox Ltd (Bermuda). The outlook for all ratings remains stable.

In A.M. Best’s opinion, the Hiscox operating entities continue to benefit from the excellent consolidated risk-adjusted capitalisation of the group’s ultimate holding company, Hiscox Ltd. In addition, each operating company has a strong business profile in its respective market, which is enhanced by its membership of the Hiscox group.

A.M. Best expects Hiscox Bermuda to maintain excellent stand-alone risk-adjusted capitalisation, supported by strong financial performance and factoring the likely payment of a significant dividend at year-end 2009. The ratings also reflect A.M. Best’s expectation that the correlation between the reinsurance business written by Hiscox Bermuda and that written by other group companies, particularly Lloyd’s Syndicate 33, will remain strong. This business, together with business ceded from Hisco and Hiscox Guernsey, continues to provide the company with a well established and geographically diverse portfolio.

The ratings of Hiscox Guernsey continue to reflect the explicit support of Hiscox Bermuda, which reinsures substantially all of its gross premiums written in 2009. In addition, the company has an excellent business profile as a specialist underwriter of fine art and kidnap and ransom business.

Hisco is likely to maintain excellent stand-alone risk-adjusted capitalisation in 2009, supported by robust retained earnings. The company’s technical performance is expected to deteriorate in 2009 due to adverse claims experience for its European business. Nevertheless, strong improvement in investment performance is likely to support a modest increase in Hisco’s pre-tax profit from GBP 18.2 million in 2008. The ratings also factor the benefit of reinsurance support from Hiscox Bermuda.

A.M. Best expects Hiscox US to maintain excellent standalone risk-adjusted capitalisation in 2009. In addition, the company’s ratings reflect reinsurance support provided by Hiscox Bermuda and its strategic importance to the Hiscox group in providing access to the U.S. admitted market.

Hiscox works with Bunnyfoot on website redesign

2009-11-16T13:59:00.001-08:00

hiscox insurance

Insurance firm Hiscox has worked with Bunnyfoot to launch its new UK website as it looks to "improve its online performance".

Bunnyfoot was briefed to create an "easy-to-use and maintain site architecture" that would be easy to adapt and roll out across multiple countries.

Mike Beddington, head of online and customer experience at Hiscox, said: “The group online ambition for Hiscox is to move to a model which is consumer obsessed and retail focussed. The new site is live and business results are strong."

Hiscox is now working with Bunnyfoot to tailor its site and buying journey for the American market.

21st Century Holding Co. Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 1.08%

2009-11-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

hiscox insurance

OLDWICK, N.J., Nov 12, 2009 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- CRMH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 817.29 (+1.08%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes rose. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were 21st Century Holding Co. (+10.08%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (+7.87%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were CRM Holdings (-12.16%) and Kingsway Financial Services (-6.41%).

The Global Life Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +2.01%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +1.60%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +1.50%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +1.45%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +1.29%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +1.28%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +1.08%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.94%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +0.92%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +0.88%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.86%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) +0.83%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +0.63%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +0.52%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +0.37%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 748.68 (+0.88%). Leading the AMBUS were 21st Century Holding Co. (+10.08%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (+7.87%). Trailing the AMBUS were CRM Holdings (-12.16%) and NYMagic (-4.09%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 900.54 (+1.50%). Leading the AMBEUR were ING Groep N.V. (+6.60%) and Legal & General Group (+5.53%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Hiscox (-1.59%) and Beazley Group (-1.58%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1152.58 (+0.83%). Leading the AMBAP were Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (+1.39%) and Nipponkoa Insurance (+1.18%). Trailing the AMBAP were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-5.26%) and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (-1.91%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 976.60 (+1.28%). Leading the AMBGR were ING Groep N.V. (+6.60%) and Aegon N.V. (+4.07%). Trailing the AMBGR were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-5.26%) and Continental Reinsurance (-4.97%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1008.50 (+0.86%). Leading the AMBGB were National Financial Partners (+2.34%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+1.25%). Trailing the AMBGB were Advance Create Co. (-1.72%) and eHealth Inc. (-0.88%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 618.09 (+0.63%). Leading the AMBGML were Generali Deutschland Holding (+3.06%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (+2.72%). Trailing the AMBGML were American International Group (-2.23%) and Allianz (-0.16%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1065.13 (+0.52%). Leading the AMBGNL were 21st Century Holding Co. (+10.08%) and PMA Capital Corp. (+5.41%). Trailing the AMBGNL were CRM Holdings (-12.16%) and Kingsway Financial Services (-6.41%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 774.17 (+2.01%). Leading the AMBGL were Investors Heritage Capital Co. (+7.87%) and ING Groep N.V. (+6.60%). Trailing the AMBGL were Industrial Alliance Ins. & FS (-1.72%) and Sun Life Financial (-0.77%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1076.05 (+0.37%). Leading the AMBUPC were 21st Century Holding Co. (+10.08%) and PMA Capital Corp. (+5.41%). Trailing the AMBUPC were CRM Holdings (-12.16%) and NYMagic (-4.09%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 192.28 (+0.92%). Leading the AMBUML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+2.72%) and Unitrin (+2.39%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-2.23%) and Atlantic American Corp. (0.00%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 784.27 (+1.60%). Leading the AMBUL were Investors Heritage Capital Co. (+7.87%) and Phoenix Cos. (+5.52%). Trailing the AMBUL were Sun Life Financial (-0.77%) and Presidential Life Corp. (+0.76%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 827.15 (+1.45%). Leading the AMBULH were Investors Heritage Capital Co. (+7.87%) and Phoenix Cos. (+5.52%). Trailing the AMBULH were Sun Life Financial (-0.77%) and HealthSpring (-0.25%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 871.49 (+1.29%). Leading the AMBUH were Aflac Inc. (+2.14%) and WellPoint (+1.97%). Trailing the AMBUH were HealthSpring (-0.25%) and Humana (-0.24%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 922.83 (+0.94%). Leading the AMBUB were National Financial Partners (+2.34%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+1.25%). Trailing the AMBUB were eHealth Inc. (-0.88%) and AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-0.50%).

Performance rankings of companies in each A.M. Best insurance sector index are published weekly in BestWeek.

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 203 publicly traded insurance companies and brokers. Index values are calculated by Dow Jones Indexes in U.S. dollars. Companies in the A.M. Best stock indexes include insurers and insurance-related organizations with credit ratings from A.M. Best, along with brokers. A.M. Best does not provide investment recommendations. A listing of companies in each A.M. Best Index is available at http://www.ambest.com/stocks.

Torus Appoints Whiting Senior Treaty Casualty Reinsurance Underwriter

2009-11-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

zurich insurance company

Torus, has appointed David Whiting as Senior Casualty Reinsurance Underwriter, with immediate effect. He is based in Bermuda, and takes over responsibility for all of Torus Re's casualty underwriting. Whiting reports directly to Tim Mardon, Torus Re's President and Chief Underwriting Officer.

Whiting was most recently President and CEO of Wind River Reinsurance Company Ltd, Bermuda, where he was responsible for all non-US operations of the group. He has also held senior positions at Swiss Re, Zurich Insurance Group, the Hartford Insurance Group, Tillinghast, Quanta and the Centre Reinsurance Companies.

A mathematics graduate from the University of Waterloo and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Whiting is also a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, the Society of Property and Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) and the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS).

Mardon noted Whiting's extensive experience. He indicated that Torus expects the "current competitive trends in the casualty market" to improve, and that the company, would "be in a position to respond. To this end the unit will be making several further key appointments in the near future."

School head faces 41 counts of graft

2009-11-16T13:53:00.001-08:00

insurance ombudsman

The principal of Abra High School and two others have been indicted for graft for failing to remit premium payments made by the school’s employees to the Government Service Insurance System and Home Development Mutual Fund in 2004 and 2005.

The Office of the Ombudsman recommended the prosecution of Abra High School principal Jose Bermudez, cashier Eleanor Ballesta and bookkeeper Estrelita Lumdang.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer 1 Raquel Cunanan-Marayag has recommended the filing of cases against them: 41 counts of violation of GSIS Act of 1997 for failure to remit the GSIS premium of complainant Amilcare Panelo; two counts of violation of Section 52(g) of Republic Act 8291 for failure to remit complainant’s GSIS loan amortizations; four counts of violation of Sec. 52(g) of RA 8291 for the delayed remittance to the GSIS of complainant’s loan and 11 counts of violation of Sec. 23 of Presidential Decree 1752 (HDMF or Pag-ibig Fund Charter) for failure to remit complainant’s HDMF premium.

The filing of the charges against the respondents before the Sandiganbayan was approved by Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro.

The Ombudsman junked the claim of Bermudez and Lumdang of any responsibility for the alleged non-remittance of GSIS and HDMF premium and GSIS and HDMF loan amortizations. Both said it was not their duty to remit premium and loan amortizations of Abra High School employees to the GSIS and the HDMF.

Marayag said Bermudez as school principal was responsible for monitoring and supervising all the activities of the school, including administrative matters.

On Lumdang, Marayag said her responsibility was not confined only to recording the school’s financial transactions and safekeeping of its financial records, but also of the financial operations of Abra High School.

“Necessarily included in the financial operations of the school is the collection and payment of the amounts due GSIS and HDMF,” Marayag said.

The Ombudsman likewise rejected the argument of the respondents that the delay was due to the unreliability of GSIS records as the reason for the unpaid premium payments generated from the GSIS Data Base which the complainant used as basis of these complaints.

“If it were true that respondents had been consistently paying and remitting complainant’s GSIS premium, then definitely, they have in their records proofs of remittances thereof. However, respondents did not submit any GSIS receipt and the list of employees covered by the corresponding remittance to disprove the data contained in the GSIS Statement of Service without Premium Payments dated July 29, 2005…,” Marayag said.

Without proof of remittances, Marayag said the data contained in the July 29, 2005 GSIS Statements of Service without Premium Payments stands.

Independent SC framework sought

2009-11-16T13:52:00.001-08:00

insurance ombudsman

PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission’s (SC) proposed alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework for resolving retail investors’ disputes with intermediaries should be truly independent unlike existing current mediation and enforcement bodies, say consumer groups and financial industry observers.

Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the framework must include a stringent code of ethics and compliance standards to be adhered to by all officials appointed to the proposed ADR body.

“This will address the perception of independence and must be given utmost importance so the organisation does not repeat the mistakes of many other enforcement agencies. There must be no exception or monetary limitation to limit or prevent cases to be lodged and adjudicated. All officials, full-time and part-time, must not in any way be involved in capital market activities including as directors of the member organisations,’’ he told StarBiz.

Sha’ani added that the framework must mandate a timeline for complaints handling to encourage first-level complaints to be resolved at member level.

All resolutions by adjudication must be binding on members but individual complainants should be free to seek further or higher level dispute resolution avenues, he noted, adding that all decisions must be posted on SC website.

Precedent case decisions must be used to resolve or mediate similar new cases to prevent delays in resolutions as well as to improve the members’ trade practices, said Sha’ani, who is also the National Consumer Complaints Centre CEO.

Consumer Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris suggested appointing an ombudsman instead of setting up a mediation-like bureau to redress investors’ disputes.

The ombudsman, an independent and impartial official who investigates complaints from the public, would have greater creditability as he would have no ties with financial intermediaries, he said.

“One of the reasons the present Financial Mediation Bureau (FMB) has a credibility problem is that its mediators are chosen by the FMB board, where of the nine directors, four are from the banking and insurance industry.

“Board members, in turn, are appointed by FMB members who are all from the banking and insurance industry,” said Idris.

The intermediaries too should have no say in the hiring of the mediator/ombudsman, he said. The FMB is an independent body set up to help settle disputes between customers and their respective financial service providers.

Idris stressed that the services should be free for consumers and suggested ADR have more branches unlike the Kuala Lumpur-based FMB.

A SC spokesman said the commission hoped to set up the ADR framework next year and was conducting various studies for its effective implementation, including the experience of other countries.

MyFP Services Sdn Bhd financial planner and managing director Robert Foo believes that having independent individuals on board will prevent any conflict of interest.

In this respect, there should be very clear internal procedural guidelines about what was a conflict of interest situation and how the mediation procedure should proceed, he said.

There should also be checks and balances in place with regards to who could be appointed as mediators, he added.

Foo believes FMB and the ADR body should merge to become a one-stop centre for all disputes and claims relating to financial products and services.

“To have one for capital market products and another for so-called banking products can be confusing to the public. One should also note that financial products are now blurring the boundaries between normal banking, insurance and investment services and offerings.

“For instance, investment-linked insurance products should come under capital market since they are essentially investment products and yet they are considered insurance products and do not come under SC’s ADR body but under the FMB. They should all be merged,” Foo said.

Another important duty of mediation bureaus was to provide feedback to the regulators to remedy the mis-selling and misrepresentations that constantly occurred in the financial and capital market industry, he said.

The SC should also improve on the type of information available to the public. For example, there is currently no aggregate industry information readily available to gauge whether Malaysian unit trusts have been giving good returns.

Citing some irregularities in the unit trust industry, Areca Capital Sdn Bhd CEO Danny Wong said: “There are quite a number of ‘grey areas’ whereby investors were short-changed by irresponsible players who “churn” funds for commission.

“There are also cases where consumer rights were abused by unreasonable investors such as disputes in acceptance of transaction requests due to incomplete forms or non-receipt of requests through facsimile, the timing for which could create a price difference of the transaction.”

Fortress Capital Asset Management (M) Sdn Bhd CEO Thomas Yong, while advocating the Australian experience where a similar body comprised industry participants, said: “The industry must be convinced that it is always in their interests to have a self-regulatory body to weed out rogue players and ensure all industry interest groups’ commitment to the body.

“Before the body is set up, a proper preparatory work must be done to ensure that the body’s policies are clear and comprehensive.”

Great Vision Advisory Group head of tax and financial consulting Datuk Chua Tia Guan said fair treatment should also be accorded to financial intermediaries in dealing with disputes.

In this regard, he said, the views expressed by the financial service providers must be heard and treated equally as those of the investors.

The mediation procedures and timeline must be clearly spelt out as lengthy mediation process would add to the cost of doing business and unfavourably impact the growth of the financial industry.

A pilot project should be carried out to ensure that the proposed mediation body could operate effectively and efficiently, said Chua.

Insurance companies do pay genuine claims

2009-11-16T13:50:00.000-08:00

insurance ombudsman

Sir, Antonia Senior wrongly depicts the insurance industry as not wanting to pay out on insurance claims and scam customers. This does not represent the insurance industry of today (Opinion, Nov 13).

Insurance companies are in the business of paying out on genuine claims — in 2008 the industry paid out £239 million a day in pension and life insurance claims and £57 million a day in general insurance claims. All our member companies are committed to ensuring that customers take out insurance policies that are fit for their individual needs and that customers are clear about what their policy covers. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) and its members work closely with regulators and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to overcome any issues that arise.

The FOS highlighted in its annual report this year the work that insurers have done to reduce dramatically the number of declined critical illness insurance claims for non-disclosure of medical information. We are campaigning for a change in the tax rules to allow customers to benefit from more timely payments of life insurance claims, which will help low-income households to cope better financially when a loved one dies. Our work on pensions has meant that annuity payments have been speeded up and more people now shop around for the best annuity rate. These are just a few of the recent developments insurers have been involved in to ensure that customers can have confidence in the insurance industry.

Does your insurer provide your medical report?

2009-11-16T13:49:00.000-08:00

insurance ombudsman

Last week, my friend Hemant approached me with a problem which may sound mundane, but caused him a lot of trauma, courtesy an insurance company. Acting on my advice, he bought a term insurance policy as I always thought it was important even though he had an impressive profile -- age 42, high-placed professional in an MNC bank, decent income, good savings, low debt, and to top it all, a fitness buff. Based on this, I had recommended him an amount which ran into crores as sum assured.

So I was surprised when an anxious Hemant called to tell me there was a problem.

Hemant had filled up the form, paid the premium and undertaken a battery of medical tests. Given the size of the policy, he had to answer quite a few questions, besides having the company's personnel visit his office to verify details.

The process was completed smoothly and it was time for him to receive the policy. Then came the shocker, with the insurance company informing Hemant they would be charging him a higher premium. Reason? There were some issues with his medical reports, so he would be required to pay extrato get the policy and the insurer wanted his approval in the matter.

At this point, Hemant was anxious to find out what these health-related issues were, rather than talk about the policy. But when he asked for his medical reports, the insurance company informed him that his medical reports were their property and cannot be divulged. He was aghast.

When Hemant mentioned this to me, I made my research team to do a quick check on the practices followed by various insurance companies in disclosing medical reports to the insured.

They informed me that most companies will provide a photocopy of the medical reports on request, whereas one company was willing to provide copies only to the family doctor named in the insurance proposal form. But the company chosen by my friend was an exception and did not provide reports to the insured at all.

A quick look at the Insurance Act, 1938, showed that Section 51 of the act requires an insurer to supply the "policy holder" with the medical reports. So, legally speaking, Hemant was entitled to a copy of his medical reports after paying a princely sum of Re 1, once he became a "policy holder", which means after he paid the extra premium and took the policy.

In case the company still refused to give him the medical report, he could have to file an official complaint on the insurance company's website. In case that did not elicit any response, he would have to file a complaint with the insurance ombudsman or the alternative grievance redressal mechanism of Irda.

By this time Hemant and his wife were very worried and had decided to repeat all the tests at his cost as he did not want to wait for the insurance company to follow-up on his request.

I told them not to worry much as it was unlikely there would be anything seriously wrong-- if that was so, the insurance company would have declined to issue the policy, rather than charge an extra premium.

I asked him to instead follow-up with the insurance company after he took the policy, since those reports would also serve as a very useful checking point against any reports that he would obtain on his own.It is unfortunate that Hemant had to go through this distressing experience. Let's hope other consumers are spared such an experience.

Protecting the sufferers from being fleeced

2009-11-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

insurance ombudsman

Track record of Insurance Ombudsman across the country augurs well for the protection of consumers' and policy holders' interest. Need is greater awareness among the policy-holders -CK Sardana

Following her husband's untimely death while in service in a colliery, Parvati Devi, a young illiterate woman having two daughters and a son - all below 10 years - became a widow. The death benefit for her amounted to nearly Rs nine lakh, besides a paltry monthly pension of Rs. 1800.

She deposited the entire amount in a leading Public Sector bank. Word spread fast in the insurance circles. A smart agent of a Private Sector insurance company met her, showed lot of sympathy for the loss of her husband and used all marketing and selling techniques. He succeeded in persuading her to withdraw the amount and use that for insurance in his company. The agent assured her that the amount, to be deposited for three years under single premium, will get doubled within three years. Wonderful.

She fell into the trap and complied with all that the agent had told her. No sooner one year was over, she got a notice from the insurance company asking her to pay the premium, every year, for full ten years.

She was shattered and approached the insurance company to cancel the policy and refund the amount. Incidentally that insurance agent was not to be seen anywhere. The company flatly refused to refund the amount. She was in a trap.

Parvati Devi approached Insurance Ombudsman for help. After hearing both the parties at length, Insurance Ombudsman, in charge of MP & Chhatisgarh, directed the company to cancel the policy and refund full amount of premium ie Rs. 8.5 lakhs with 9% interest pa within 15 days.

Like this, there are umpteen number of cases where smart and well-dressed persons, posing to be the only well-wishers of the victims of some tragedies, lure the poor and illiterate persons to fall into their trap by either concealing vital information or misrepresenting the facts.

The Insurance Sector

The Insurance Sector in India, covering both life and general, is the largest sector in the world. It is vulnerable because of very high financial stakes involved. Number of persons taking life and general insurance policies runs into thousands of crores. So is the amount involved.

The insurance business was and is still being controlled and carried out under the provisions of Insurance Act 1938. Life Insurance business was nationalized in the year 1956 followed by General Insurance business which was nationalized in the year 1972.

Nationalization of insurance business was done with the objective of serving the needs of the economy better by securing the development of insurance business in the best interest of the community and to ensure that the operation of the economic system does not result in concentration of wealth to the detriment of the common man.

With the start of the era of globalization and the launch of New Economic Policy in 1990-1991, providing for greater share and participation of the Private Sector in national development, large number of private players, initially from within the country and lately from abroad, entered the insurance, banking and other sectors. Since they had to compete with the well-entrenched Life Insurance Corporation of India and General Insurance Corporation of India, they had perforce to indulge in lot many practices. As times passed, it was found that the consumers, in this case, those taking insurance policies were, in quite a few cases, being fleeced through unscrupulous practices and through misrepresentation and misinformation of vital information to the prospective buyers of insurance policies.

A need was, therefore, felt to have such a mechanism through which the lowest of the low person in the country could be protected from unethical and unscrupulous practices. I have given the example of just one poor illiterate woman, Parvati Devi in detail. Like this, there would be thousands of similar cases of exploitation by the insurance companies who, in their objective of business expansion through any means, exploit the situation in utter disregard of consumers' interest.

Encouraged by the success achieved through the institution of Banking Ombudsman, created by the Government in the year 1995, the Government decided to take concrete steps for the protection of those taking life and general insurance policies.

The Insurance Ombudsman

Following the successful functioning of Insurance Ombudsman in Sweden, the institution of Insurance Ombudsman was created by a Government Notification dated 11th November, 1998 with the purpose of quick disposal of the grievances of the insured customers and to mitigate problems involved in the redressal of those grievances. There are twelve Insurance Ombudsmen at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Cochin, Guwahati, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

This institution is of great importance and relevance for the protection of interests of policy holders and also in building their confidence in the system. The institution has helped generate and sustain the faith and confidence amongst the consumers and insurers. The above example of the protection of Parvati Devi speaks of the positive role of Insurance Ombudsmen.

Powers of the Ombudsman

Insurance Ombudsman has two types of functions to perform (1) Conciliation (2) Award making. He is empowered to receive and consider complaints in respect of personal lives of insurance from any person who has any grievance against an insurer. The complaint may relate to any grievance against the insurer i.e. (a) any partial or total repudiation of claims by the insurance companies, (b) dispute with regard to premium paid or payable in terms of the policy, (c) dispute on the legal construction of the policy wordings in case such dispute relates to claims; (d) delay in settlement of claims and (e) non-issuance of any insurance document to customers after receipt of premium.

Ombudsman's powers are restricted to insurance contracts of value not exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs. He has been empowered to resolve all complaints relating to insurance policy documents, settlement of insurance claims and disputes regarding premium payable/paid, refunds and interpretation of terms and conditions of the policy. The insurance companies are required to honour the awards passed by an Insurance Ombudsman within three months.

The procedure for approaching the Insurance Ombudsman has been deliberately kept simple. Any aggrieved person can complain to him with details of documents and the specific grievance for redressal. The awards are binding upon the insurance companies. If the policy holder is not satisfied with the award of the Ombudsman, he can approach other venues like consumer forums and courts of law for redressal of his/her grievances.

Steady increase in the number of complaints received by Insurance Ombudsmen and their redressal shows that the policy-holders are reposing their confidence in the institution of Insurance Ombudsman. NA Khan, a retired District & Sessions Judge of MP and presently Insurance Ombudsman in charge of Madhya Pradesh & Chhatisgarh said in an informal chat, the track record of Insurance Ombudsman across the country augurs well for the protection of consumers' and policy holders' interest. Need is greater awareness among the policy-holders and recognition of its role by the insurance companies and others involved in this business, he added.

Tools and tips for navigating Medicare open enrollment

2009-11-14T22:10:00.003-08:00

insurance company

Sometimes it seems as if the raging debate about overhauling health-care insurance is filling all the airwaves. Easily lost in this din is that any reform wouldn't take affect until 2013, but Americans need to take steps today to ensure they're properly covered. For seniors enrolled in Medicare, that means reviewing prescription drug coverage, known as Part D, and so-called Advantage plans, private-insurance alternatives to the government-run plan, if they participate in such programs.

Known as open enrollment, the annual process starts Sunday, Nov. 15, and goes through Dec. 31. As in years past, health-policy experts advise older Americans to not assume that their current plan, which may have worked well this year, will be as effective (or even exist) next year. Further, an existing plan could cost more -- much more -- come January.

Choosing a plan can be daunting. That's because unlike open-enrollment for workers in employer-sponsored plans, which may involve just a handful of choices, seniors literally have dozens of plans from which to choose. "That's why people need to shop -- painful as it is," says Bill Vaughan, health policy analyst at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. "It's something people should do each fall."

New data show that shopping during open enrollment saves as much as $2,019 on a package of five common drugs, according to comparisons conducted by CU. Potential savings vary by locale and medication history, so seniors should check new prices.

"Some plans that were good in the past have become pricey bad deals," Vaughan says. "Plans that were so-so before are now big savers." CU notes, for example, in New York state, among 43 plans with comparable data between 2009 and 2010, 28 will go down in total cost, which includes premiums, deductibles and co-pays, and 15 will go up, according to data available at Medicare.gov.

Helpful Resources

The best tool seniors have their at their disposal is the Medicare website, Vaughan says. Seniors who aren't comfortable navigating the Internet may want to enlist the aid of an Internet-savvy youngster. (Seniors can also call 800-Medicare or 800-633-4227.)

Another resource seniors can turn to turn are State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Programs, or SHIPS, says Lee Thompson, executive director at Health Assistance Partnership. Consumers can either call the agency in their state for free advice about choosing a plan or set up an in-person meeting, she says.

One scenario seniors should avoid are insurance company-sponsored meetings, typically held at local diners, which offer information about one company's products and offer to enroll attendees in one of those plans. "We call that a sales presentation," Thompson says. More often than not, such gatherings tend to be biased toward the sponsoring insurer's products.

Such meetings shouldn't be confused with seminars sponsored by SHIPS where all insurers are invited to attend and share information. "Those are educational presentations," Thompson says. "Nobody gets enrolled at them, but you would get a cross-section of plan information directly from the plans."

Making the Choices More Obvious

One step the Obama administration has taken to help seniors in making choices is to require insurers to reduce the number of plans that look similar, says Marc Steinberg, deputy director of healthy policy at Families USA, a health-care advocacy organization. For example, if a company offered four or five plans that were hard to tell apart, it has to merge them to create more distinguishable choices, he explains.

"Clearly, over the last several years there have been too many plans in the market," Steinberg says. Choice is a wonderful thing, but when presented with so many offerings, seniors tend to select names most recognizable to them, he adds. "And that's not necessarily in their financial interest."

When it comes to shopping for Medicare plans, CU's Vaughan concedes, it can be downright tedious. "It isn't exactly fun shopping," he says. "It's not like going out and buying new clothes or something for the grand kids." Indeed, it's not -- it can be a matter of ensuring your well being.

Seniors are advised to protect themselves against high-pressure and misleading sales tactics as annual enrollment gets underway. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind, provided by the New York State Insurance Department:

* Unsolicited contacts are improper: Federal regulations prohibit insurance agents from contacting customers without express invitation. This includes door-to-door sales, unsolicited emails and phone calls.
* Ask a relative or friend to be with you: Selecting an insurance policy can be a complicated process for anyone. It's a good idea to have a relative or trusted friend with you whenever you meet with an insurance agent.
* Medicare has no sales agents: Medicare does not send "representatives" to solicit business. Be especially wary of any salesperson who claims to represent the program.
* There's no free lunch: Federal regulations prohibit the offer of a free meal in exchange for listening to a Medicare Advantage sales presentation.
* Read and understand the policy: Seniors considering changing their Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug plans should be aware that not all policies are the same. They should carefully consider their needs and how a particular policy would meet those needs, making sure their providers accept the plan prior to enrolling.

The Need for Changes in U.S Health Insurance

2009-11-14T22:09:00.001-08:00

insurance company

The United States House of Representatives has passed a health care reform bill for the nation. Now, the bill goes before the Senate for debate, modification and passage or rejection. That there is a need for health care reform no one seems to question. However, the nature of the reform is being hotly debated once again, as it has for many years.

The Health Insurance Company, Kaiser Permanente, publishes a monthly newsletter named, KHN, Kaiser Health News. This month, in conjunction with the LA Times, they discussed the serious issue of health care in the United States. What they had to say was sobering indeed. What they pointed out was that there is not much difference between those who are uninsured and those who are.

How is this possible?

The answer is multi faceted. For example, 1. many people who were insured have lost their jobs, throwing into unemployment without any coverage. In other words, they join the ranks of the uninsured.

Those who remain employed or who find new jobs, discover that their coverage is grossly inadequate if they or an immediate family member develops a catastrophic illness. These are people for whom medical bills are covered by their policy only up to an allowable limit. Because medical costs today far surpass that limit, they find themselves quickly in debt as a result of the illness.

I expect some readers to protest that these people should have saved and invested their money so that they could have paid the balance of their bills. The answer is that many of them did just that thing, paid all their medical bills until the bank account was empty with no further ability to pay.

2. Many others are finding themselves caught in the web of co-pays. As the cost of medical treatment has risen, insurance companies have increased the amount of the bill patients are expected to lay out before they will reimburse doctors and hospitals. At one time, a copy pay for an office visit might have been five dollars per visit. Today, many co pays are as high as twenty to thirty dollars per visit. When you add to that the fact that prescription drugs require another co pay, the entire venture becomes quite expensive. If their is a chronic or catastrophic illness, such as cancer, the results can and do ruin peoples financial well being. By that I mean that people in this category find themselves unable to pay their mortgages and find the banks pushing them into foreclosure. Remember, these are not people who speculated when they bought their homes, nor are they people who became trapped by questionable mortgage companies so that they purchased a house they could not afford. The loss of their homes is due to the advent of a serious medical problem and inadequate insurance coverage.

3. Yet another problem is that, the way the medical system works today is that, if someone has been hospitalized for surgery or some other procedure, the doctors who provide these services send their bills after the hospital charges are paid.

The problem is that this catches many families by surprise. Given a hefty bill from the hospital and having their insurance reimburse for the charges, these people believe all their charges have been paid. Suddenly, they begin to receive bills from doctors they never heard of or whom they incorrectly believed, had been paid. These charges often come to thousands of dollars. Like it or not, these patients remain fully responsible.

Will their insurance pay? Not an easy answer. Here is why:

1. The bills from these doctors must be submitted before a deadline set by the insurance company. If the bill fails to be submitted on time, they will not pay.

2. If the doctors are not in the network of the person's insurance company, the insurance company that the patient has may pay part or none of the bill, depending on how their policy is written.

As Kaiser Permanente and the LA Times jointly point out, the problem is not that these people have no insurance. The problem is that they have inadequate insurance.

In my very humble opinion, I believe we need universal health insurance so that every citizen will be able to feel certain that their illnesses will be treated without the threat of being driven into bankruptcy or homelessness.

What is your opinion?

I want to make two final statements:

1. I invite those who agree and disagree, to submit their points of view. In no way am I attempting to impose my views on those who may disagree.

2. I also invite those of our readers who live in other nations to participate in what I hope will be a good discussion. Our audience extends well beyond readers in the U.S. Therefore, I want invite those who live in other nations and have different insurance systems, to discuss their experiences. Many, but not all of these people come from the UK and Canada. U.S. citizens regularly refer to these two countries when discussing the U.S health care crisis. I am not sure that we in the U.S. have an accurate view of what happens there. Of course, there is also France and many other countries that have medical systems that vary from that of ours.

So, I invite everyone to weigh in on this important issue.

Woman sues after insurance company rejects surgery claim, rescinds her policy

2009-11-14T22:08:00.001-08:00

insurance company

A Loudon woman is suing Celtic Insurance Co., claiming it dropped her coverage when she needed it the most.

Penny Young says the company rescinded her $360-a-month policy in April, four months after she underwent knee surgery, accusing her of "material misrepresentation" on her original application.

Young, 60, said the company refused to pay the claim and demanded repayment of any previous claims since her individual policy went into effect on May 1, 2008.

The company's actions have resulted in about $20,000 in unpaid claims, Young said, and many, many sleepless nights.

She and her husband worried they would be forced to sell their home to pay the medical bills, Young said, adding that they have charged most of her medical payments to a credit card.

YOUNG

"It was devastating," she said of Celtic's decision to rescind her policy. "All of a sudden they weren't paying the claims. It really came to the point of being scary."

According to Young's attorney, Charles Douglas III of Concord, Celtic was engaging in a practice called post-claim underwriting, which is illegal in some states.

But Celtic wants Young's suit dismissed, saying such underwriting is permissible in New Hampshire. The company was simply abiding by state law, according to a motion filed by Manchester attorney Stephen Judge, who represents the company.

In pleadings filed in Merrimack County Superior Court, Celtic said Young acknowledged making material misrepresentations on her application by not fully disclosing previous medical problems. According to Celtic, Young failed to disclose a medical history that included bone loss, ostopenia of the right hip, degenerative disc disease, anxiety, hemorrhoids, and mild glaucoma.

Douglas said Young didn't disclose some past medical conditions because she wasn't asked for that information.

"None of that has anything to do with her knee surgery," Douglas said.

Young, an office manager, did her best filling out Celtic's online application, trying to decipher medical language on the application, Douglas said.

"(Celtic) didn't ask for it," he said of some of the information on Young's medical history, "and they could have received all the data they wanted prior to underwriting the policy. They should make those decisions before they write a policy, not after a claim is made."

Celtic was happy to take Young's money and give her a health-insurance policy, Douglas said, but once she made a substantial claim, the insurer suspended payment and enlisted the help of a data-mining company to come up with whatever information it could use to justify rescinding the policy.

Delayed request

Douglas said it was more than six months after Young's application was supposedly carefully reviewed by Celtic and coverage was in effect that she received a request to authorize an investigation into her medical records dating back to 2005.

According to Young's suit, Celtic hired Management Research Services, a data-mining company based in Wisconsin, to do the records search.

"The timing and manner of MRS's investigation into Ms. Young's medical history is indicative of the practice of illegal post-claim underwriting. Such an investigation into Ms. Young's medical history should have and could have been done prior to Ms. Young's termination of coverage by Harvard Pilgrim and arrival at Celtic as a new policy holder," Douglas wrote in the suit.

Young switched from Harvard Pilgrim because Celtic offered lower rates on single policies and her employer didn't offer group coverage, Douglas said.

Douglas said state lawmakers are unlikely to try to stop insurance companies from engaging in post-claim underwriting because the companies can contribute to their political campaigns.

"This will be the first case to determine if post-claim underwriting is illegal in New Hampshire," Douglas said.

In post-claim underwriting, Douglas said, an insurer knowingly approves an inflated number of applicants to obtain income from new policy holders whose applications are not properly investigated before their approval. Once insured individuals file claims, he said, the insurer tries to avoid paying, and only then conducts extensive post-claim investigations in search of any reason to rescind the policy.

Insurance companies have every right to examine an applicant's medical history, Douglas said.

"What they can't do is wait until there's a claim, then do data mining to come up with something that is not a fraud, but say, 'You didn't tell us this or that' when it is not a material misrepresentation," he said.

Douglas said he wants a judge to certify Young's lawsuit as a class action in the three states where post-claim underwriting is illegal and Celtic writes policies -- Mississippi, California and Wyoming.

"These are folks in the same situation, namely that they have bought the insurance. They thought they were covered, and then have a claim for something that's more than a sore throat, and that's when (companies) do post-claim underwriting," Douglas said.

New Hampshire law

But according to Celtic's motion to dismiss Young's suit, New Hampshire law is on its side.

"The state Legislature has made a clear policy choice to allow insurers to void insurance contracts within two years of their issuance because of material misrepresentations on applications, and even later in the event of fraudulent misstatements."

The New Hampshire Insurance Department backed Celtic.

"Celtic Insurance Co. obtained medical information "¦ that indicates you received treatment prior to the signing of your enrollment card that was not disclosed, for one or more conditions, that had they known of they would have not provided you health insurance coverage," wrote Barbara Anderson, of the Insurance Department's consumer services division, in a letter to Young dated April 22.

Douglas, a former state Supreme Court judge and U.S. representative, criticized the Insurance Department. "They did what they usually do: that is side with the insurance company," he said.

Douglas accused the department of being too cozy with insurance companies it regulates because they fund the department.

That allegation infuriated Roger Sevigny, the state's insurance commissioner.

"I find these allegations offensive because they call into question the integrity of my dedicated staff," Sevigny said.

The 2007 audit by the Legislative Budget Assistant found the department is effectively providing protection to New Hampshire consumers, Sevigny said.

Overall, the department last year recovered $1,224,338 in restitution on behalf of consumers who filed complaints and imposed $1,113,400 in administrative fines and penalties, he said.

And, he added, the Public Utilities Commission, Pease Development Authority, Banking Department, Highway Safety Department, Employment Security, Fish & Game, and the Sweepstakes Commission also are funded in whole or in part by regulated parties.

Sevigny said federal lawmakers are looking into post-claim underwriting nationwide. If health-care reform passes nationally, he said, post-claim underwriting won't be an issue if insurance companies are required to cover everyone.

Young said that what hurt most about having her policy rescinded was practically being accused of lying on her application, which she filled out in the spring of 2008. It was approved as of May 1, 2008, and she had her knee surgery last December.

"As a born-again Christian, it is so important for me to be totally honest," she said. "I had no intention whatsoever of being misleading."

Her health-care provider, Penacook Family Physicians, sent Celtic a letter supporting Young, saying she was an honest woman with only benign diagnoses that presented no significant health risk.

It didn't help. On April 17, Celtic told Young the company was retroactively terminating her coverage and demanding that she repay $1,639.60 -- the difference between the premiums she paid, $4,331.48, and what the company had paid out to that point, $5,971.08

Young, who has found a new insurance company, said her brush with Celtic Insurance Co., has caused her to be circumspect in talking with health-care providers, fearful anything she says can be used against her in the future.

"It's very upsetting. They (Celtic) are so cold-hearted. They are turning people's lives upside down," Young said.

Reforming health care

2009-11-14T22:06:00.000-08:00

insurance company

MASSACHUSETTS HAS some of the best doctors, nurses, and other caregivers in the world. Yet our national health care system costs too much and covers too few. Climbing costs put basic coverage beyond the reach of millions. This is economically unaffordable and a moral disgrace.

Promoting affordable, quality health care has been one of my top priorities as attorney general, and it will be a top priority if I serve in the Senate. National efforts should draw on lessons that we have learned in Massachusetts.

The good news is that our reforms here show that it is possible to provide insurance to almost everyone. We have done so by building consensus with the business community, doctors and hospitals, insurers, and most of all, consumers.

Our state’s experience also raises warning signs. While costs for individuals, employers, and the state spiral upward, cost often does not correlate to quality. National reform must tackle the cost crisis up front. The most effective way to lower costs is through competition that a strong public option will provide.

My office has been involved in health care issues - and we’ve gotten results. We reached a historic $17 million settlement with an insurance company that misled consumers and unfairly denied coverage. We have achieved several record national settlements with drug companies for deceptive marketing and sales, recovering tens of millions for individuals and the state. And we have promoted greater transparency regarding quality, costs, and executive compensation.

Here are the key elements on which I’ll focus as a senator:

Strong public option. A strong public insurance plan would provide choice to individuals, expand access, and lower costs by promoting competition.

Preserving women’s rights. The Stupak/Pitts amendment included in the House health care bill represents an unnecessary, significant step back in women’s rights. It violates the very intent of health care reform by severely restricting access to reproductive health services, especially for low-income women. This amendment represents a false choice. We can and must pass meaningful health reform without compromising women’s access to reproductive care.

Consumer protections. With a requirement that all people obtain insurance, federal and state government must enforce strong consumer protection measures. Insurers must not be allowed to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions or make false marketing promises. Being a woman should never be a preexisting condition. In some states, victims of domestic violence are denied coverage, which is reprehensible.

Cost control. Immediate steps to curb costs include reducing preventable hospitalizations, readmissions, and hospital-acquired infections. We should also encourage standardized billing and claims processing to reduce administrative overhead. We need to focus on prevention and develop better models for primary care. We should close the Medicare Part D coverage gap, and help seniors afford the drugs they need.

Payment reform. Federal reform should look aggressively at ways to reshape the incentives that providers face. Our current fee-for-service models reward hospitals for performing more procedures and tests, not for quality. In contrast, models such as global, bundled, or episodic payments encourage integrated care management and reward providers for better outcomes. That said, I will oppose federal funding cuts aimed at our state’s health care providers, which would jeopardize the progress we have made in covering the uninsured.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare. Health care reform will improve the quality of care in Medicare, reduce costs for seniors, and preserve Medicare for future generations. In the Senate, I will support reform that eliminates excessive government subsidies and results in lower out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs.

Achieving real health reform will take a different kind of leadership than the old partisan fighting we’ve seen in Congress. Massachusetts showed a different kind of leadership in passing health reform three years ago. Senator Ted Kennedy himself was a different kind of leader, and I hope to follow in his footsteps, and work to bring real reform to health care.

Martha Coakley is attorney general.

Freakonomics got super freaky. And super wrong.

2009-11-14T22:05:00.000-08:00

life insurance

SUPERFREAKONOMICS

Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Morrow. 270 pp. $29.99

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner are to blame for the global financial crisis.

See, back in 2005, they wrote "Freakonomics," a wildly successful book brimming with interesting stories about why incentives matter and how actions have unintended consequences. Indeed, incentives do matter, and actions (or publications) do have unintended consequences: Their book made economists around the world more inclined to come up with cute little analyses of the business of being a drug dealer or the impact of a first name on a child's success. And that distracted them, so they didn't notice the giant housing and credit bubbles that in hindsight were plain to see. A global collapse ensued.

That's all nonsense, of course. The forces that led to the current economic troubles were far too big for any one book, or even one current of economic thought, to have caused them. The argument that the Freakonomics guys are to blame for the crisis is provocative and clever and sounds vaguely plausible. It may even contain a kernel of truth. But it fundamentally defies any clear-headed look at reality.

In other words, it's just like many of the anecdotes that fill "Superfreakonomics," the sequel to the original bestseller. The new volume includes sections on the economics of being a prostitute and how the mining of bank data can identify terrorists, and an interesting argument that car seats may not make older children safer than seat belts do. But more than a few parts of the book seem designed to distort reality rather than illuminate it, to elevate the provocative over the true.

Take the chapter that covers prostitution, for example. It spins a nice yarn about Allie, a clever, vivacious woman who went into the world's oldest profession in Chicago for fully rational -- and lucrative -- reasons. Good for her, but this doesn't have much of anything to do with the fundamental reality of most prostitution, in which coercion, violence and desperate addiction to drugs frequently play larger roles than does cost-benefit analysis.
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In another section, the authors theorize that it is more dangerous for a tipsy person to walk any given distance than it is for that person to drive. That would be interesting, if true, and certainly useful information for anyone who has ever stumbled out of a downtown Washington bar a few blocks from home.

The problem is that Levitt and Dubner don't actually have the foggiest idea whether it's safer to drive drunk than walk drunk, as they claim. As my colleague Ezra Klein has pointed out, they don't have data on how many miles are walked under the influence, and so they just assume that people walk drunk in the same proportion that people drive drunk. In calculating the rate of deaths from walking drunk, then, they have the numerator (the number of drunk pedestrians killed each year) but not the denominator (the number of miles walked drunk).

Both of those problems are mild compared with the ones in the penultimate chapter, in which the authors bring their oh-so-clever approach to the climate debate. The standard strategy for preventing potentially catastrophic global warming, one advanced by an overwhelming consensus of climate scientists and environmental economists, is to put in place policies to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide humankind emits. That's apparently too conventional for Levitt and Dubner, who spend the vast majority of their chapter (with time taken out for potshots at Al Gore) examining the work of scientist/entrepreneur Nathan Myhrvhold's crew, a group that is exploring the idea of pumping sulfur into the upper atmosphere and other neat tricks that just may be cheaper, easier ways to combat global warming.

It would be great if one of those schemes turned out to work. Fantastic, even. But Levitt and Dubner seem to simply presume that because one of them might work, Gore et al. are foolish to push to reduce emissions. It is like a family declining to save for college because their 10-year-old Little Leaguer with a decent arm may end up getting a full baseball scholarship.

"Superfreakonomics" is, like the first book, written in a sprightly, easy-to-digest manner. A reasonably quick reader could finish it on a coast-to-coast flight, with time left to watch a movie. But the feeling at the end is about the same as the one after reading a Dan Brown novel or eating a bag of Cheetos. You finished the whole thing but didn't walk away feeling particularly proud of yourself.

To understand the reason, compare the Freakonomics franchise with the work of Malcolm Gladwell, the author of "The Tipping Point" and "Blink." Like Gladwell, the Freakonomists craft books based on research from a wide range of fields -- economics, psychology, biology, you name it -- that are intoxicatingly readable bestsellers. Gladwell has been accused of offering distorted interpretations of various studies to make them fit his broader arguments. But Levitt and Dubner take Gladwellism to its logical extreme: "Superfreakonomics" doesn't really have a broader argument. The authors acknowledge in the opening pages that their book has no unifying theme, beyond the banality that "people respond to incentives."

So instead of offering up a bunch of quirky stories of questionable reliability to make an argument that feels coherent, they offer up contrarianism for its own sake.

Just what you'd expect from two guys who caused the financial crisis.

Neil Irwin covers the U.S. economy and the Federal Reserve for The Washington Post.

Australia's AMP Signs Deal With China Life Insurance

2009-11-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

life insurance

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian wealth manager AMP Ltd. (AMP.AU) Sunday said it has signed an asset management and pensions partnership deal with China Life Insurance Company (LFC, 2823.TW), the biggest listed life insurance company in the world.

The deal makes AMP the first foreign financial services company to agree a memorandum of understanding with China Life, and comes just a week after the Sydney based group made a joint A$12 billion bid with AXA SA (12062.FR) to buy AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd. (AXA.AU).

AMP, which has operated in China since 1997, said the agreement poses "significant" opportunities, though said the quantity of the new business will depend on regulatory changes and agreement with China Life. Craig Dunn, chief executive of AMP, expects China's private pension market to grow by A$1.0 billion by the year 2030.

"We will work closely with China Life to explore opportunities where we can draw on our areas of strength for mutual benefit," Dunn said. Chinese citizens aged 60 or over is forecast to increase by more than 430 million, or 31% of the population by 2050, Dunn said. "This trend has significant implications for the aged care sector and other areas of social infrastructure, areas in which AMP also has an investment expertise," the CEO said.

At the end of June, 5%, or around A$5.0 billion of AMP Capitals funds under management were sourced from Asia. The Asia Pacific region has US$13.6 trillion funds under management in 2008, with Japan's the largest funds management business valued at US$3.6 trillion, followed by Australia's US$1.0 trillion and US$400 million in China.

Investigators Probing Whether Sparkman Manipulated Death Scene For Insurance Scheme: Report

2009-11-14T22:03:00.000-08:00

life insurance

The probe into the death of Census Bureau worker Bill Sparkman continues -- and authorities may now be considering a whole new theory of the case.

Two law enforcement sources tell the AP that investigators are considering whether Sparkman committed suicide, but intentionally made it look like murder in order to allow his son to make a life insurance claim. Most life insurance policies don't cover suicides, at least within a certain time frame after the policy begins.

The son, Josh Sparkman, told the AP that he had found paperwork for the life insurance policy among his father's personal files, but wasn't sure about the amount, or when it was taken out.

There have previously been indications that investigators were considering whether Sparkman committed suicide. But not that he may have manipulated the scene.

Sparkman was found in September, in a remote area of rural Kentucky, with a rope around his neck and tied to a tree, his arms and legs bound, a blind-fold over his eyes, and the word "Fed" written on his chest. Because of those details, there has been widespread concern that his death was an act of anti-government sentiment.

Some conservatives are hailing this afternoon's news from the AP as proof that those concerns were off base. "Do you remember when the Left convicted prominent conservatives, myself included, in the death of the Kentucky census worker in September? I do," wrote right-wing blogger Michelle Malkin, before linking to the AP story and charging that "the criminalization of conservatism continues."

But we're a long way from getting all the facts on this one. So we'll avoid drawing any conclusions before there's an official announcement from investigators.

Rationalising accidental death insurance

2009-11-14T22:01:00.001-08:00

life insurance

Question: In 2003, I bought a life policy at age 62. It included accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D). The basic sum assured was $500,000. AD&D was for the same amount. Two months ago, I became aware that the AD&D benefits expired at the age of 65. That was four years ago. However, I am still paying the premium. I contacted two company representatives by letter and made numerous telephone calls about an adjustment in the premium. I wanted to know also whether I was entitled to a refund for the AD&D. I have received no response. I am hypertensive, work part time on my farm, and am just barely surviving on my wife's meagre pension. Can you please help? - asah_baby@hotmail.com

Answer: My hands are tied. This is because life-insurance contracts can last for many years.

Unlike house or car insurance that runs for 12 months, life-insurance contracts end when the persons insured die, or the premiums remain unpaid for over 30 days.

Bear in mind also that these contracts always favour insurers, not consumers. They are also very difficult to change once the period of insurance begins. Buyers, especially those who purchase life contracts, need to do lots of homework before signing on the dotted line.

Since your contract started over six years ago, I am limited to writing to your insurer.

The company's president informed me by letter dated September 11 that the company had several discussions with you since July 31. Also, that a "written response will be dispatched ... in short order." I hope that by now, you have received, read and, more important, understood the company's letter (which I have not seen).

new policies

Selling new policies is one of the most important functions of the life-insurance business.

If you doubt this, check out the full-page ads of insurers in the Sunday newspapers. They laud the top sales persons. Non-sales staffs are not in the same league as the sales super stars. This probably explains why the company did not handle your complaint more quickly.

Sales persons have financial incentives to sell, not to service existing policies.

I bet that this was the reason why your sales agent was not involved in trying to help with your problem. As one reader - cranb4@hotmail.com - said, "The agent may be good for his company (and himself) but ... not have the interest of his client at heart."

Life insurance plays an important part in the economic affairs of our country. Buyers need to do their homework in order to protect themselves from faults in the system.

The remainder of this article will be used to discuss the other comments made by the company and, hopefully, help other persons to avoid the problem that you wrote to me about.

The policy carries an "embedded accidental disablement benefit for which no additional premium was charged". The author of my 'bible' on life insurance, Joseph M. Belth, says in Life Insurance: A Consumer's Handbook (second edition), that "accidental death insurance is difficult to justify on rational grounds."

It would be more "logical to provide more protection in the event of non-accidental death because a long illness preceding such a death may leave the family in more difficult financial situation than a sudden death from an accident".

Most claims paid by life insurers are due to death by natural causes. Giving free AD&D coverage is not a big deal. I believe the company when it said that your AD&D coverage was a giveaway.

"The AD&D benefit expires at age 65." Nearly all companies that provide 'double indemnity' or AD&D coverage as an extra to their life policies - whether they charge for it or offer it as a freebie - set a maximum age when coverage ceases. That age is usually 65 or 70 years.

The elderly are more prone to dying from complications arising from physical injuries than younger persons.

The request for "the reimbursement of four years' AD&D premiums cannot be accommodated". Your insurer is being reasonable. You received coverage for AD&D free of charge.

You, therefore, are not entitled to a refund when the coverage ceased.

"If you become unable to pay the monthly premium, the life-insurance protection that you have had since 2003 will lapse." This is what the policy says. I suggest that you continue the conversation that you started with you insurer. Do so before you make a decision whether to stop paying the premium.

The goal of that discussion should be to: (a) reassess your family's need for life assurance and (b) determine, assuming that the family has such needs, whether the company has any products that meet those needs at a price that you can afford.

PRINCETON: Pelosi visits UMC, touts health reform bill

2009-11-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

health insurance

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, in a Saturday press conference at University Medical Center at Princeton, urged support for the health care reform bill passed by the House of Representatives' Democratic majority.

Acknowledging that the bill still faces a difficult path in the U.S. Senate and, ultimately, a conference committee, both Ms. Pelosi and Rep. Holt, who represents Mercer County, expressed optimism that some form of the bill's public insurance option would reach President Barack Obama's desk.

Speaker Pelosi, who noted the president's stated preference that any health reform bill provide a insurance for those who cannot get it through their employers, said the public option in the House bill would serve that purpose by creating an exchange in which health insurance could be purchased directly at affordable rates. She argued that the public option would "hold the insurance companies accountable" by offering competitive rates.

Ms. Pelosi was asked about criticism from Republican opponents of the bill who say it will inhibit small business growth and force insurance companies to compete with rates unfairly subsidized by the federal government.

She replied that the bill exempts an estimated "95 percent of small businesses" from providing health insurance while enabling their employees to purchase it on a public exchange. She said that the administrative costs of such insurance will come out of premiums, rather than from federal funds.
"No longer will people be job-locked because for lack of another way to get health coverage," she said, calling health costs "the biggest chain and anvil around the entreprenurial spirit."

Rep. Holt called House passage of the bill, "the largest step yet in history toward providing quality medical care to all Americans" and expressed confidence that the White House would favor key elements of the bill as it moves to the Senate and into conference committee. Citing the state of the nation's current system as making the case for reform, Holt said Americans are "living sicker, dying young and paying more for health care than any of us would want."

The two Democrats briefly toured the medical enter at Princeton, a 308-bed acute care hospital which is part of the Princeton Health Care System and is in the process of building a new home in nearby Plainsboro.

America needs a real health care debate

2009-11-14T21:58:00.002-08:00

health insurance

America wants and needs a debate about health care in the worst way. It's sad to say that's exactly the manner in which the U.S. Senate is going about it.

The so-called "World's Greatest Deliberative Body" may not even take up one of the nation's most pressing domestic issues if Majority Leader Henry Reid can't muster 60 votes this week to override a potential filibuster. That whirring noise you hear? That would be George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson spinning in their graves.

Here's what the Senate should be debating this week: Do Americans have a right to health care insurance, and if so, how does the nation pay for it? Will the current proposals offered by the Senate and the House lower or raise health care insurance premiums? And most important of all, how can the United States regain control of skyrocketing medical costs without curbing the world's greatest medical innovators?

Instead, Americans can expect to hear explanations of the term "cloture," along with weak explanations of why a minority of senators can hold up proceedings on bills of national importance. And even if the Senate does override a filibuster and begin deliberating on health care, the topics most likely to dominate the hearing are abortion, immigration and what appears to be a very watered-down version of the public option.

This failure to focus on the key issues wouldn't matter so much if maintaining the status quo were a reasonable option. But more than 50 million Americans are uninsured, including nearly 200,000 in one of the nation's wealthiest counties — Santa Clara County.

The United States spent $2.4 trillion, or roughly 15 percent of GDP, on health care in 2008, 50 percent more per capita than any other industrialized nation. Spiraling health care costs remain near the top of the list of concerns for the business community, including Silicon Valley. And more than 60 percent of the 1.5 million Americans who filed for bankruptcy in the past year did so because they couldn't pay their medical bills. The majority of them were homeowners and members of the middle class.

The failure to enact health insurance reform must not be an option for Democrats in the Senate. But moderate Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln, Evan Bayh, Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson are lining up with Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman and Republicans to prevent the debate from even starting by mounting a filibuster.

Nelson wants an anti-abortion provision included in the bills being discussed. He's also joining the others in attempts to kill or water down a public option to compete with private insurance companies.

Reid needs to remind senators what's at stake. The list of presidents who have tried to reform health care reads like a who's who in American politics. The House's approval of a bill was the first of its nature in 50 years, and if the Senate effort fails, and history is any guide, it may be years before Congress gets this close again.

This week, the Senate could present one of the most important debates of the last century. It must not let this historic opportunity slip away.

Insurance, cost control, medical information technology

2009-11-14T21:58:00.001-08:00

health insurance

Thoughts on health insurance: Various insurance policies can insure you against different levels of health care needs from catastrophic-only needs to comprehensive health care needs. Policies are so complex that few people buying them feel comfortable comparing one policy against another. Few people I talk to have the knowledge to understand the many types of serious and even rare medical conditions they or their family members might get or the potential costs they could encounter if they got such a diagnosis. Making clear standards for health care insurance coverage would help people compare policies and choose what risks they can bear in exchange for lower cost policies.

The fact that medical costs are the cause of over 50 percent of U.S. bankruptcies indicates that many people had no idea of the potential costs of serious medical conditions and were either uninsured or underinsured. This argument comes up in discussing allowing insurers to sell insurance across state lines. Many states have specific health care coverage standards to ensure people get coverage for the most serious and costly unexpected needs while other states do not.

Where health care dollars go: Health insurance is based on 5-6 people paying into a fund so that 1 person who needs a lot of care can pay for it and the others can be glad their health care costs are minimal. Given that people cannot readily predict who will get serious medical illnesses or conditions, when you buy a policy, you hope you won't really need high-cost services but you buy it to cover the possibility you may be the one to need it. The statistics show that 85 percent of health care costs are needed by a very small 15-20 percent of the population who get very serious acute or chronic medical conditions like cancer, severe heart disease, diabetes, stroke, severe accidental trauma, and rare diseases like multiple sclerosis, kidney failure needing dialysis or kidney transplant, etc. The rest of the people use the remaining 15 percent of health care dollars for preventive and intermittent acute medical care. As the possible treatments for diseases have grown, high-cost pharmaceutical therapies, more detailed and expensive diagnostic tests, complex surgical interventions, high-tech radiation treatments, and growing sub-specialty care have all grown in a system that rewards doing more without having to show that more is better. In addition, despite being the country at the heart of high-tech innovation, we are just now investing in the health IT that will better allow us to fully report and analyze how our various medical interventions impact people's survival, quality of life and length of life.

Does controlling or lowering costs mean rationing? To ensure our businesses remain competitive in a global economy, we need to keep people healthy and do it cost effectively. The continuing rise in every aspect of health care above the economy's growth is unsustainable. Studies, such as the Dartmouth Atlas Study, and studies from other countries with universal access to health care show that Americans pay 2-3 times as much for medical care without improvements in our health. That is sobering as most of us would not pay unnecessarily for any product that did not provide a benefit to us. Without detailed access and reporting on health outcomes, patients and health care providers have not had immediate access to the best information to make decisions with. We have studies to show what works and what does not work for many common and serious diseases, but getting this accurate information to patients and their providers has been challenging before the Internet age. We have many studies showing that many people don't get standard therapies that are known to provide the best outcomes and many others get unnecessary and risky tests, treatments and procedures that don't improve their health. Experts and some model medical clinics have shown that we can expect to save at least 30 percent of our health care costs if we gave better care to people, especially those with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, mental illnesses and prevention for obesity, diabetes, many infections and certain cancers.

When we talk about spending our dollars wisely, this does not require rationing or threatened death panels, but instead requires a common sense approach to ensuring that people get the best proven, coordinated medical care in a timely manner to minimize suffering and disease. We also need to address dollars spent which do not improve our health such as excessive executive salaries, unnecessary health care overhead for paperwork and arguing between insurers and providers, as well as unnecessary testing and legal costs for defensive medicine. Competition is the American way to bring transparency and cost reductions to our market place. Increasing competition with products we can all clearly evaluate can ensure we get the best value for our health care dollar.

Personal medical health information technology could help us lower costs and improve care: With the expansion of health care IT with electronic health records at hospitals, doctor offices, clinics and even Web-based health records available through Google Health and Microsoft Health which will be controlled by individual patients, many more opportunities for each of us to get reliable advice on health improvements are possible, direct to our inboxes! People can monitor their medical, dental, eye and other health care, decide who of their doctors or hospitals or family members have access to which of their health information. The doctors and health care providers can study and advise people by phone, e-mail, send specific information and recommendations tailored to each patient with a goal of improving their total health and not just focusing on one problem in isolation.

The middle class loses

2009-11-14T21:57:00.001-08:00

car insurance

As a political conservative, it is difficult for me to support many of the changes the Democratic-run house and President Barack Obama have brought to the table.

The United States’ health care system has been a debacle since before I was born. I am not a supporter of a national health care system but I am in favor of the government hammering the health insurance system.

I hope the government is not hiding information from us. Health insurance is almost impossible to obtain at a fair cost. I also notice this plan will punish people who do not have health care insurance. There is an interesting bond between insurance companies and the government in this country, whether they want to admit it or not.

I can’t rent an apartment without renter’s insurance, I can’t drive a car without car insurance and now I will be punished if I choose not to obtain health coverage. When does the insurance nightmare end?

I wouldn’t be as upset if insurance rates were lower. I was told by my insurance company that my car insurance rates would go down when I turned 25. My insurance rates have gone up because of the poor economy. My health insurance rates have gone up every year since I began purchasing insurance out of pocket.

Something tells me my taxes will begin to be affected if this bill is enacted. Half of my income goes toward insurance and taxes.

The middle class loses again.

What if government weren't in health care?

2009-11-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

car insurance

After reading the letters to the editor on Oct. 27, I am compelled to write.

One letter writer is talking out of his or her mind here, not wanting the government in health care.

What do these people think Medicare, Medicaid, and TennCare are?

Yes, you still have to pay for it the rest of your life.

Yes, you paid for it all the time you were working and paying taxes.

Should the government not be in the health care business, you and yours would be a burden on society. You cannot have it both ways; wake up; smell the coffee. The "Party of No" is not out for you. It is out for big business and bigger bucks for themselves.

Should Social Security go broke, you can thank the Republicans. They have been trying for years to do away with Social Security.

Thank President Reagan for having to wait past age 65 for full retirement. I have to wait until I am 66 for full retirement benefits or take reduced benefits at age 65.

One more thing, it is not unconstitutional for the government to be in the health care business. It would be a tragic thing for the government not to care about the citizens of this great country.

Harvey D. Boles

Knoxville

Employer mandates

a concern for business

The Nov. 1 guest column, "Economists have it all wrong," accurately notes some of the concerns that businesses have with the increasing number of employer mandates.

Policymakers who favor a requirement that employers provide health care for employees should also recognize the traditional definitions of "small business" versus "large company" aren't always appropriate.

Many small employers have a very high profit per employee. For example, investment firms generate tens of thousands of dollars in pure profit for a single hire.

On the other hand, some large companies employ thousands of workers in entry-wage positions. They operate on low levels of profit per each employee.

A play-or-pay mandate based on the number of employees disproportionately impacts these businesses. A $400 per year per employee health care premium would be less than 2 percent of the profit of a small investment firm but a devastating 20 percent of profits for a casual-dining restaurant.

Kristen Lopez Eastlick

Senior Economic Analyst

Employment Policies

Institute

Washington, D.C.

Republican proposal

backs insurance firms

On Nov. 4, I read in the newspaper that finally the GOP in the House came out with a proposal of health care reform.

It was overdue: Simply dumping on any Democratic proposal was not really helping, and it was suggesting that Republicans liked the health care system the way it is.

Now finally we can compare ideas and proposals, and we can see what side each congressman is on. For example, the Republican proposal allows insurance companies to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, one of the most evil characteristics of the present system, responsible for death or bankruptcy of thousands of Americans.

There is no doubt in my mind that, on this specific issue, Democrats are on our side - the side of 90 percent of the American people - and the Republicans are on their side, the side of the insurance companies' CEOs.

On health care reform this time, the Democrats got it right. Regardless of our own political affiliation, today we should all support the Democratic bills, and call our representative to do so.

We can go back to our own political affiliations when this health care debate storm has passed, and we get our long-waited-for, decent and affordable health care.

Maurizio Conti

Knoxville

Rasmussen better pol

on public health option

I have to wonder why the News Sentinel still bothers with Froma Harrop's columns.

She states Americans favor a public option by nearly two-thirds but uses only a poll by The New York Times/CBS as her source.

Now that is just laugh out loud funny!

The Rasmussen poll has 55 percent against to 42 percent for the public option. Now the Rasmussen poll consistently is the most accurate and was the only poll to call the defeat on Nov. 3 of Jon Corzine in blue state New Jersey correctly.

I think the problem with The New York Times/CBS poll is they may only poll their own declining readership or viewers.

Perhaps the Times poll actually only indicates that even for hard-core liberals, not even two-thirds still support the public option.

Harrop and other liberals must be having a true anxiety attack that this ill-disguised attempt of our rapidly expanding federal government to rip yet another industry from the private sector may actually not come to pass.

John Woodward

Loudon

Bail out Afghanistan

or pay for health care?

So you think the attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon was a national disaster?

Want to see something worse? Open your eyes and look around you.

Do you know any of the 10-15 million Americans who are currently unemployed? Do you know any of the 43 million American adults and children who have no health care insurance because they can't afford it, because they lost their jobs or because their insurance company dropped them?

No problem, right? They can get treatment at a hospital emergency room. Sure, it costs more there, but you and I get to pay for it.

We can't afford universal health insurance, but we can afford to spend over $12 billion a year in Afghanistan for the next 20 years on a country which has been ungovernable for 1,300 years.

Now, you decide. What is the greatest threat to our national health and security? Should we be spending our money in Afghanistan or on our own people here in the U.S. who need jobs, health care and some training for good jobs in the future?

Make up your own mind and then call Sens. Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander and Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. Tell them your priorities for spending our money. Forget about cutting taxes. For every dime you collect, a dollar will disappear elsewhere.

Ten years not spent on Afghanistan will pay for half the cost of 10 years of national health insurance. Would you rather bail out more banks or invest those billions in job creation for people who will actually earn their money here and now.

Gene Bocknek

Andersonville

Puppy mill story

found appalling

I was appalled at reading the story on the puppy mill in Harriman.

What is wrong with the authorities that they had to go there a third time? There should never have been even a second time with what they found the first time. Those poor animals!

The operator needs to be shut down completely and never own another animal.

If the authorities are there for the animals, they are doing a bad job of things.

Deb Sperling

Sweetwater, Tenn.

Take a stand against

credit card greed

I think it's time for America to wake up and take a stand against credit card companies and the greed they represent.

I refer to the way they keep raising the finance charges to our accounts at their discretion, even when you have a perfect credit rating with them.

As long as we allow this to continue, there's no hope for America to ever overcome the bondage we have brought on ourselves by living beyond our means.

As soon as you receive notice of changes in your account, cancel the cards.

Pay them off as soon as possible.

Rip them up; return them; show them you won't be intimidated any longer.

Before credit cards, we had layaway plans. If we wanted something badly enough, we paid for it each pay day until it became ours - no hassle, no finance charges. Sometimes the old ways are best.

If America would take a stand and the banks and department stores that issue these cards faced bankruptcy for their greed, maybe they would think twice before they took advantage of us again.

Ella Mae Hood

Knoxville

Seniors deserve hike

in Social Security pay

I am one of those whiny senior citizens who doesn't get a raise this January.

Could you live on $1,000 a month and pay utilities, medicine, food, gas, insurance and mortgage?

Yes, we did get a raise, but the Medicare payment increase took it.

I have to pay the same for food, clothing, gas, etc., as the person who is making that much a week.

The $250 we got went for car insurance and other things. Yes, gas did go down, but it has gone up again.

As for those of us who don't have a car, we have to pay someone to take us anywhere, so, no, we are not getting a "freebie," as a letter writer called it.

I would like for you to try and walk in our shoes for a couple of months, and you wouldn't be calling us "whiny."

We have worked all our lives and put money into Social Security, so we are not getting anything that doesn't belong to us already.

Charlotte Branch

Seymour

Issue is the cross

on government land

In a letter to the editor Oct. 24, a writer suggested that we should boycott the Olympic Games because of the protest in this country of a cross on government land.

He suggests the protest is against the cross. The argument is not about the cross but where it was placed. Had it been a Star of David, it would have elicited the same response.

The cross being on government land crosses (pardon the pun) the boundary of "separation of church and state." The cross should not be erected on land of a national preserve.

Our Founding Fathers didn't want the government and religion to mix. This protects both parties.

The writer's remark about boycotting the Olympics because of the statue of Christ in Rio de Janerio is just silly and doesn't require a reply. He wants us to make decisions for another country. How arrogant!

It is frustrating that most people don't know the basis of our laws; yet without examining these laws, they make quick and uninformed decisions.

As an example, I have heard people complain that the accused are given too much latitude in their trials. Our laws were set up to protect the innocent, and whether we like it or not, a person is considered innocent until he or she is found guilty through an honest and impartial trial.

If a person doesn't like the laws as they are, then start a movement to change them. Independent opinions are just that - independent opinions.

On this, I support anyone's right to voice his or her thoughts as much as I have the right to dispute them.

James M. Cardwell

Lenoir City

House calls are OK

but won't be enough

I was very interested in the article in a recent Sunday edition about doctors who make house calls.

It sounds like an excellent idea, but the case of the woman who was found to have low blood potassium left me wondering why the emergency room doctors didn't test her for it.

If house calls became standard, how long would it be before equally poor or inexperienced doctors were given this job and their work deteriorated to the current level of emergency-room care?

I have a biased view of emergency room care based on my own experience. Recently I called 911 because I was too dizzy to risk standing up and since several close relatives have died following strokes. I was worried.

I was put in a cubicle and left for over two hours. At one point a very rushed young man in a white coat came in and talked to me for less than five minutes.

I'm not sure why he was so rushed since the emergency room was not busy. I was not given a CAT scan although I found later my insurance was billed for one. Then, when I was finally released, my diagnosis was headaches although I almost never get them and the young man never mentioned them.

Although I was at the hospital where my doctor works, the emergency room does not have access to my records. If I had had repeated TIAs or even a stroke I had recovered from, they would have had no way to know.

Just house calls are not enough, desirable though they may be.

Shirley E. Hastings

Knoxville

U.S. judicial system,

language needs change

The judicial system in this country is in desperate need of revision.

It is outrageous to refer to someone who was personally observed by dozens of individuals as he gunned down a group of unarmed soldiers as a suspect.

He is the perpetrator and should be referred to as such.

And what kind of justice is it when defense counsel at trial is allowed to denigrate the character of murder victims, while the prosecution is prohibited from introducing evidence of the accused's past record.

Yes, the system needs to be changed or else appropriately refer to it as the "criminal protection system."

William G. Phelps

Powell

System for Sale Versus Service for Rent

2009-11-14T21:53:00.001-08:00

iphone insurance

Like many of you out there in IT Land, I am not a member of the Digerati. A long, long time ago--about the time I got married and had better things to do with my money--I stopped being on the cutting edge of personal technology and I started going wicked conservative when it came to my PC, laptop, cell phone, and other gadgetry. This is a theme that will be familiar to many AS/400 shops, particularly those whose machines are paid for and are doing their work, 24x7, without any fuss. If it works, don't spend money.

It is getting close to Thanksgiving, and this essay has a point even if it will ramble on a bit like Alice's Restaurant. I ask you to bear with me. (I'm not tired. Or proud. . . .)

Running my own business has also taught me to be a lot more conservative about technology, too. Although I will say that paying a premium for a good server that you can trust--rather than building servers yourself, as I have done--now makes a lot more sense to me than shelling out cash did a few years back. It is easy to get lost in the weeds when you get involved with designing, building, and supporting your own servers and the applications that run atop them. I have been in the weeds way over my head more than once, and I find this very uncomfortable--even if it is a good (and I think healthy) intellectual challenge for a tech journalist to be in. Running a baby data center taught me things about system administration, security, and power efficiency that would have merely been abstract concepts to me.

One lesson is to respect what that IT departments of the world do for a living. Serving up static HTML pages with some pseudo-dynamic elements and sending out email newsletters is a fairly simple IT job. Complex enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, and customer relationship management are difficult to support, and keeping the n-tier hardware architectures tuned and balanced is no mean feat. Layering on security, compliance, virtual private networking, and mobile computing layers takes a lot of smarts to make it all work properly, and integrating with the increasingly diverse online applications (like Salesforce.com) and now cloud computing takes some smarts.

Suffice it to say that I have a lot of respect for what IT experts do, and I have relied on a few of my own over the years to make IT Jungle possible. And I know that in your data centers and on your corporate desktops (and mobile computing devices of a zillion styles), your job is so much more complex than two decades ago when it entailed buying an AS/400 with its integrated database and RPG compilers and slapping on an MRP II system to run a factory floor and then integrating the MRP system to the accounting and inventory systems. That was easy.

While I am no tech luddite, I have been a cheapskate and I have been as resistant to change as many IT shops can be, particularly in a down economy. But as conditions in my life have changed, the way I want to compute--and where--has changed to. And I think many i shops are facing similar transitions, particularly with the economy being sluggish. We want to do things better as well as cheaper. But change is annoying and risky.

For me, the break point came when my Verizon DSL Internet service started going whacky in mid-October. If I don't have Internet in my office, I can't work. It is even worse that that--if I don't have the Internet to see what I have written in the past about a topic and what other people might have said about a topic, I can't even think properly anymore. Something in the way I do my work (probably because of the sheer volume of stuff I have written) has changed over the past decade. When people ask me what I do for a living, I sometimes joke that I work for the Internet, that what I do helps the people who do IT do it a little bit better, and they all work for the Internet, too. We serve the Internet's needs as much as it serves ours. Even more importantly, the Internet is my extended memory. In 20 years of tech journalism, there is just too much that I have covered to remember it all, and the advent of Google has only made my reliance on the Internet for precise details even more acute. I used to remember damned near every IBM product line and most of the major features, in my head. Not anymore, as Inspector Clouseau would say with his cheesy (well, fromagey) French accent.

So when my DSL went offline and Time Warner was unable to get RoadRunner cable service installed in my office tout suite, I had to resort to my old AT&T Worldnet dialup account to log into the Internet and therefore do my work. This was a very unsatisfactory experience, particularly with Webcasts, WebEx presentations, and large files being a part of my day-to-day life. But I got through and made it work. Then last Friday, something in me snapped, and I suddenly wanted new technology. I wanted handheld and mobile computers that could connect to both WiFi and 3G networks so I would never be left high and dry again, and more importantly, so my computing could reflect my more mobile lifestyle.

I am simply not chained to my desk as much as I used to be, and I need to take my work with me. My kids are at that age (Ellie is 10 and Hank is 8) when they are doing a zillion things, and with my wife, Elizabeth, working down near Wall Street, I am the soccer dad on weekdays while she does the running around on weekends while I work and make beer and various other concoctions. The kids play soccer, are on the swim team, do Taekwondo, and other activities where I am often sitting for an hour or two where I need to be working in the late afternoon or early evening.

I started to think about joining the modern handheld computing age when my 5-year-old phone lost its screen (but still worked as a phone). And for the kids' birthdays over the summer, after Hank put his iPod Nano through the wash, I decided to get them each iPod Touch handhelds so they would each be able to watch movies in the car on long trips and not fight over what might be playing on a portable DVD player. (Which cost as much as one iPod touch for a decent one.) The kids went nuts for these things. And I found myself grabbing one of them when I was in the house to check on college football scores while watching a movie with the wife or reading something online--the Apple software is surprisingly good and intuitive, although I still haven't learned to text message at any speed. (I can type faster than most people with a full-sized keyboard, but my fingers find these small keyboards baffling at the moment.)

I caught the bug. I started talking to all my friends who are members of the digerati about the phones and handhelds they use, and I got a lot of input that lead me to the Apple iPhone, which had just gotten a lot cheaper over the summer. One night when we were out at dinner in Manhattan (trust me, that is extremely rare because who can justify the restaurant and movie and babysitting and cab costs), we walked past the Apple Store in the ritzy SoHo district--where I used to work with Hesh Wiener, as it turns out, as one of his cub reporters--that used to be the SoHo post office. My wife needed a new phone, so I told her she should go in and get an iPhone. She did, and she loves it.

I held back with my trusty and damned near rusty LG phone. I hadn't lost my Internet in the office yet. But I played around with her iPhone, and thought it was pretty slick. You can actually do things with this tiny device. (Yeah, I know, this is obvious, but not until you really see it does it make sense.)

Once my Internet was on the fritz, that was it for me. I was ready to do something and change the way I compute. I have no great love of the old New York Telephone--now known as Verizon as it absorbed a bunch of other telcos Borg-style--but I have to say, the Verizon 3G network really does the job when I am traveling, and I have heard complaints about the AT&T network that has an exclusive deal with Apple for the iPhone. So on Friday afternoon, on a spur of the moment, I became one of the first customers in New York for a Motorola Droid phone using the Android Linux variant and offering a pretty compelling alternative to the AT&T-iPhone combo. Open versus closed platform? It wasn't a huge issue for me, since I have no great love of either Apple or Google. My decision was based on the network and a belief that, in the end, Android will have as many apps as iPhones do. (The ratio is 10,000 to 85,000 right now.)

And while I was waiting for Verizon Wireless to activate the new phone and put my old LG out of commission, I walked over to the Hewlett-Packard Mini 311-1037NR running the new Windows 7 operating system, played around with it for a bit, and then told my sales rep to give me one of these puppies, too.

In my other life as a journalist at The Register, I have actually been covering HP's fall PC lineup and got to play around with this Mini 311 a week before they were launched in mid-September for shipments concurrent with the launch of Windows 7 on October 22. I have a very respectable but old and heavy laptop that I use as my desktop machine, and this week as you are reading this, I am actually at the Supercomputing 09 show in Portland, Oregon. I needed a new, lighter machine for when I am at press conferences and trade shows, and this Mini 311 comes not only with WiFi, but also gets its own cell phone number and lets me use the Verizon 3G network. Basically, now I can work wherever there is a WiFi or cell network.

I am not sure if this is a good thing, mind you, but I know that it is a necessary thing. With two jobs and two kids, that is just the way it is for me.

All of that was a prelude to why I bought what I bought. The HP Mini 311 sells for $399, but with a $40 monthly contract for 3G service (which I will only use when my real Internet is on the blink or when I am at a press conference or at an airport where they gouge you for Internet connectivity), I got the machine for $200, not including a $100 rebate that I will, for once, actually send in. And for the Droid phone, which has a list price of $561, Verizon cut me a deal so I could get the phone for $250 not including a $100 rebate (which I will, again, send in) if I sign up for a two-year Internet service contract. I was thrilled to do so because this is now my new remote reading device, and it cost me only $150. Internet service for the Droid costs $30 for the email and smartphone plan and voice service costs $40. I tossed in an extra $8 a month to get insurance on the Droid, so Verizon will replace it no matter what happens. And both "computers" can be upgraded after 20 months to then-current phone and netbook technology at a substantially discounted price.

I spent $250 up front for $960 in hardware, but ponied up another $960 for 3G service for the netbook and $1,872 for the service on the Droid, which will be paid in monthly fees per my two-year contract. And I didn't bat an eyelash because my life had changed, the hardware prices were low enough to not cause me to freak out, and the services fees only hit once a month. My Road Warrior Computing setup will cost me $158 per month, which is about 50 percent more dough than I might spend for cable TV service, but it lets me work when I need to work and wherever I need to work. What is that worth? Try living with no Internet in your office for more than three weeks and you will find out.

Which brings me back to the beloved AS/400, now the Power Systems i platform. I love the concept of an application platform--this is what made the AS/400 unique, and it is why the machine has embodied in the Power Systems lineup running the i 6.1 operating system. Twenty years ago, the hardware was so expensive that the software platform looked cheap by comparison. With the B Series launch in June 1988, OS/400 cost between $5,500 and $55,000 on B10 through B60 machines; that is a per system charge. The B machines ranged in price between $19,000 and $229,500. The operating system was roughly a fifth of the cost of a base system. That is not the case today. IBM's base hardware prices have gone down some (and a lot if you adjust for inflation), but the company is charging roughly the same prices for i/OS per core on systems with anywhere from 2 to 64 cores. Adjust for inflation, and the software has gotten wickedly more expensive and the hardware has not kept pace with Moore's Law.

Small wonder IBM doesn't want to even try to market the i platform. It's got the pricing pitch all backward.

We all know the i platform has some pretty substantial advantages for running back-end systems, particularly for shops that have a lot of investments in RPG and COBOL applications. I believe that companies will spend lots of money to enhance and extend these applications, if and only if there is some advantage that can be brought to bear. Once you have identified that advantage, then the trick is to make the price more palatable by chopping it up and selling it as a monthly service.

The Smart Business i platforms are, in this regard, a step in the right direction. There is an appliance with an integrated online support for both the device and applications that are sold and certified to be distributed through an online marketplace. But the sticker price on the Smart Cube i systems are still giving people sticker shock because vendors want all the money up front. And the boxes are limited to a fairly tiny system. Forget that. If I had to pay all of that dough for my Droid and Mini 311 devices and their Internet services up front, or waited for a bank and the CFO to come through with a lease or some other financing, I would have never even went to the Verizon store to upgrade my phone, much less signed up for a Mini. Because the costs were perceived to be low, I radically changed the way I do computing in less than 20 minutes. And I made my work situation better at a time when I really, really do not want to spend money.

I am, metaphorically speaking, the quintessential AS/400 shop that has not upgraded for five generations of iSeries, System i, and Power Systems i technology. I think the Power Systems people need to learn a little more from the iPhone and the Droid and the wireless netbook than just to have an application store. Study the economics, look at how the sell works, and revive this i business. Get cheapskates and luddites to spend money, but give them a lot in return so they will actually do it.

Obama’s Malpractice

2009-11-14T21:51:00.000-08:00

medical insurance plans

There is an air of absurdity to what is mistakenly called "health-care reform." Everyone knows that the United States faces massive governmental budget deficits as far as calculators can project, driven heavily by an aging population and uncontrolled health costs. Recovering slowly from a devastating recession, it's widely agreed that, though deficits should not be cut abruptly (lest the economy resume its slump), a prudent society would embark on long-term policies to control health costs, reduce government spending, and curb massive future deficits. The president and his top economic advisers all say this. (Click here to follow Robert J. Samuelson ).

So, what do they do? Just the opposite. Their sweeping overhaul of the health-care system—which Congress is halfway toward enacting—would almost certainly make matters worse. It would create new, open-ended medical entitlements that would probably expand deficits and do little to suppress surging health costs. The disconnect between what Obama says and what he's doing is so glaring that most people could not abide it. The president and his allies have no trouble. But reconciling blatantly contradictory objectives requires them to engage in willful self-deception, public dishonesty, or both.

The campaign to pass Obama's health-care plan has assumed a false, though understandable, cloak of moral superiority. It's understandable because almost everyone thinks that people in need of essential medical care should get it; ideally, everyone would have health insurance. The pursuit of these worthy goals can easily be projected as a high-minded exercise in the public good.

It is false for two reasons. First, the country has other goals—including preventing future financial crises and minimizing the crushing effects of high deficits or taxes on the economy and younger Americans—that "health-care reform" would jeopardize. And second, the benefits of "reform" are exaggerated. Sure, many Americans would feel less fearful about losing insurance; but there are cheaper ways to limit insecurity. Meanwhile, improvements in health for today's uninsured would be modest. They already receive substantial medical care; insurance would help some individuals enormously, but studies find that, on average, gains are moderate.

The pretense of moral superiority dissolves before all the expedient deceptions used to sell the health-care agenda. Obama says he won't sign legislation that adds to the deficit. One way to do this is to put costs outside the legislation. So: doctors have long complained that their Medicare reimbursements are too low; the fix for replacing the present formula would cost $210 billion over a decade, says the Congressional Budget Office. That cost was originally in the legislation. Now it's been moved to another bill, but because there are no means to pay for it, deficits would increase.

Another way to disguise the costs is to count savings that, though they exist on paper, would probably never be realized in practice. The House bill claims reductions in Medicare reimbursements of $228 billion over a decade for hospitals and other providers. But Congress has often prescribed reimbursement cuts that, under pressure from providers, it's later rescinded. Claims of "fiscal responsibility" for the health-care proposals reflect "assumptions that are totally unrealistic based on past history," says David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general and now head of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

Equally misleading, Obama's advisers assert that the present proposals would slow the growth of overall national health spending. Outside studies disagree. Three studies (two by the consulting firm the Lewin Group and one by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency) conclude that various congressional plans would increase national health spending compared with no legislation. The studies estimate the extra spending, over the next decade, at $750 billion, $525 billion, and $114 billion, respectively. The reasoning: greater use of the health-care system by the newly insured would overwhelm cost-saving measures ("bundled payments," "comparative effectiveness research," tort reform), which are weak or experimental.

Though these estimates could prove wrong, they are more plausible than the administration's self-serving claims. Its health-care plan is not "comprehensive" because it slights cost control; and if its spending commitments worsened some future budget crisis, it wouldn't qualify as "reform." It would be a self-inflicted wound.

Health Insurance Reform Could Harm Children

2009-11-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

medical insurance plans

Concerns over the negative impact of health insurance reform on children have been raised recently by child health and industry advocates. One concern is the possible burden on children’s hospitals because of cuts to hospitals, while another is associated with the repeal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Reductions to Children’s Hospitals
The first issue is the $155 billion reduction in federal payments over 10 years which hospital groups agreed to in July. A USA Today (Nov. 6) story reported that the industry’s trade group (National Association of Children’s Hospitals) claims these cuts will have a disproportionate impact on children’s hospitals, resulting in significant reductions in the health services they will be able to provide for children.

The problem is the proposed reduction in federal payments that reimburse hospitals for the care they provide to people who have no health insurance or who are on Medicaid. Children’s hospitals provide services to a greater share of patients on Medicaid than to general hospitals, and Medicaid pays hospitals less than private insurance. Children’s hospitals also have less to gain from an increase in the number of people who will get health insurance under the reform package because most of them already have coverage.

Therefore, hospitals that serve children are lobbying Congress to stop changes to health care that they claim could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. The industry trade group estimates legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee would reduce funding to children’s hospitals by $876 million. The bill in the House would cut it by $395 million.

Elimination of CHIP
Elimination of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is another concern. The health reform bill passed by the House vote would repeal CHIP in 2014 and shift some low-income children into the Medicaid program while others would have to go to private plans that could be most costly and guarantee fewer benefits, noted The Washington Independent.

The reform bill passed by the House expands Medicaid eligibility to 150 percent of poverty and then sends all other children who live above that level to private health insurance plans, the so-called exchange mentioned in the reform package. While Medicaid programs are required to offer preventive care (a plan that includes early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment), the exchange plans do not operate under the same mandate. Thus the families of children who end up with the exchange option will be forced to pay more for less coverage.

Not everyone is behind the drive to end CHIP. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa) has sponsored an amendment to reauthorize CHIP through 2019, and members of the Finance Committee passed the amendment last month.

The future of health insurance reform in America is uncertain. For children who have no direct voice in the matter, the fallout of cuts to health insurance coverage and medical care could have a lasting negative impact on the rest of their lives.