Auto Insurance Bids

Auto Insurance Bids

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Bill Clinton meets with Senate Dems on health

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Former President Bill Clinton knows just how high the political stakes are in the fight to overhaul America's health care system.

His failed attempt to revamp the delivery of medical care contributed to the Republican takeover of the House and Senate in 1994.

Fast forward to 2009, where health care's white-hot spotlight now shines on the Senate. Clinton is still in the picture, and he's expected to speak to Senate Democrats about health care legislation during their weekly caucus Tuesday, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss his schedule.

President Barack Obama wants to sign the legislation into law by the end of the year. But abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil a shaky Democratic effort.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Monday he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal dollars from going to pay for abortions. Nelson is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend.

"I want to make sure something comparable ... is in there," Nelson said.

The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed, on a narrow 220-215 vote. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.

Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.

"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test _ that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.

Senate Democrats will need Nelson's vote _ and those of at least a half-dozen other abortion opponents in their caucus. They face a grueling debate against Republicans who are unified in their opposition to a sweeping remake of the health care system. It's unclear how the abortion opponents would line up; the pressure on them will intensify once the legislation is on the floor.

An intraparty fight over abortion is the last thing Majority Leader Harry Reid needs. Reid, D-Nev., is already facing a revolt among Democratic moderates over the government-sponsored health plan that liberals want to incorporate in the legislation as a competitor to private insurance companies.

Reid, who is himself opposed to abortion, will have to confront the issue directly as he puts together a Democratic bill for floor consideration. The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.

The House bill would bar the new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law.

It would also prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money.

At issue is a profound disagreement over how current federal restrictions on abortion funding should apply to what would be a new stream of federal funding to help the uninsured gain coverage.

AP Special Correspondent David Espo contributed to this report.

Insurance innovation

auto insurance

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner’s decision to allow pay-by-the-mile auto insurance policies to be offered in California is good news on several fronts.

Consumers should like the new rule, which was fine-tuned for more than a year by insurance officials, because it will give them a new option and create competition. MileMeter, which offers policies in Texas in which motorists can buy from 1,000 to 6,000 insured miles, plans to come to California, and other firms are certain to as well.

Environmentalists and commuters alike should like the decision because it will create a new incentive to drive less, cutting pollution and congestion.

People who believe in fairness should welcome this approach as well. There is no reason why insurance should cost more for those whose use patterns are less risky.

But here is where the issue gets a little murky. When it comes to auto insurance, fairness can be defined in different ways. Poizner’s predecessor as insurance commissioner, John Garamendi, pushed successfully to minimize the use of ZIP codes in calculating auto insurance rates. He argued that it was unfair to punish people who live in areas with a greater prevalence of auto thefts and burglaries.

But insurers said with unassailable logic that the cost of an insurance policy should be based on the risk. A strong argument can be made that it was unfair for the state to change risk-evaluation formulas in a way that made vehicle owners who live in safer areas have to indirectly subsidize the cost of insurance for owners living in less safe areas.

An argument can be made as well that Garamendi was playing politics, since his fellow Democrats are concentrated in urban areas where there are typically more auto thefts and burglaries to drive up insurance bills under the old formula.

We wonder if at some point politics won’t factor into pay-by-the-mile as well. A Brookings Institution study suggests pay-per-mile would reduce premiums for 64 percent of California households. Those whose rates go up because they have to drive a great deal because of their jobs or the length of their commute to work or school are likely to feel aggrieved — and some politician will be willing to grandstand on their behalf.

For now, at least, the most credible objections are coming from privacy advocates who worry that allowing insurers to use one of several methods to verify actual car mileage is a scary first step toward a day in which insurers use GPS technology and other electronic devices to track where vehicles go and how aggressively and when they are driven. This isn’t a paranoid fantasy. It is exactly what State Farm, among other insurers,wants to do.

But the state rule bans such tracking of drivers. And by itself, merely allowing insurers to verify mileage isn’t ominous.

The least credible objections come from consumer activists who believe insurance profits might go up thanks to the new rule. Opposing a green, consumer-friendly innovation solely for this reason is bizarre. “Profit” is not a curse word in California. Not yet.

Let Health Companies Compete

auto insurance

I heard on Fox News recently that health insurance companies are not allowed to compete with each other on an interstate basis, unlike life insurance, auto insurance. If the purpose of health-care reform is to make health insurance more affordable, why not just make it legal for them to compete nationwide?

That should lower prices quickly without getting the government involved in running the business. If I have to buy insurance or go to jail, I'll take jail with its free room, board and health coverage.

HUGH SMITH

Lakeland

New York Insurers Say No-Fault Claims are Driving Up Costs

auto insurance

No-fault payments for medical claims by auto accident victims in New York have seen a dramatic increase over the last several years, one industry group says, and the state and insurance companies need to redouble efforts to root out fraud, abuse and other waste to put downward pressure on those costs.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), New York's auto insurers saw their typical no-fault payment for the medical care of accident victims rise by 56 percent to $8,748 per claim in the second quarter of 2009. In late 2004, the average no-fault payment stood at $5,615 per claim.

In a speech to the New York Insurance Association (NYIA) this week, Robert Hartwig, the group's president, said the insurance industry, the New York State Insurance Department, National Insurance Crime Bureau and law enforcement agencies continue to investigate suspicious claims vigorously, but loopholes in the no-fault system make it particularly vulnerable to what he described as "fraud and abuse by a 'no-fault industry' of corrupt medical professionals, attorneys, and street-level criminals who work on their behalf."

"The costs of fraud and abuse of the state's no-fault system ultimately are borne by New York's honest policyholders," Hartwig said. "New York's no-fault claim costs are now the second highest in the country and are 111 percent higher than the U.S. average of $4,152."

Ellen Melchionni, president of the NYIA, a trade group for insurers in the state, called on state lawmakers to reform the New York's no-fault auto insurance system. "There are external forces which drive up the cost of auto insurance in this state which can and must be contained."

No-fault auto insurance denotes any auto insurance program that allows policyholders to recover financial losses from their own insurance company, regardless of fault in an auto accident. The policyholder's no-fault benefit coverage is listed under the personal injury protection (PIP) provision of their policy.

Hartwig said that several proposals have been advanced to combat costs in New York's no-fault insurance system.

One would be to implement medical treatment guidelines for specific auto accident-related injuries to reduce instances of over-treatment or unnecessary treatments. New York's no-fault system is one of the few in the U.S. that allows for insurer payment of medical treatment providers while requiring neither mandatory protocols nor utilization reviews. Hartwig called it a "virtual blank check" that drives up system costs dramatically because the PIP payment ceiling is $50,000.

Another would be to require disputes be resolved via arbitration, he said, which eliminate trial costs for all parties while also expediting claims resolution. No-fault systems were created to avert courtroom battles, Hartwig said, but no-fault cases are clogging New York's judicial system -- especially in New York City

Other solutions include streamlining claims processes, requiring proof of injuries and strengthening anti-runner laws, which would increase penalties for those who facilitate fraudulent insurance claims.

I.I.I. Finds NY's No-Fault Claims Costs Are Rising

auto insurance

Is New York's No-Fault Auto Insurance Crisis Returning?

I.I.I. Analysis Finds Average Cost of No-Fault Claim Has Soared 56 Percent
Since 2004

LATHAM, N.Y., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York's auto insurers saw
their typical no-fault payment for the medical care of accident victims rise
by 56 percent to $8,748 per claim in the second quarter of 2009. This
represents a dramatic increase from late 2004, when the average no-fault
payment stood at $5,615 per claim, according to an Insurance Information
Institute (I.I.I.) analysis.

The insurance industry, the New York State Insurance Department's (NYSID)
Frauds Bureau, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and law enforcement
agencies continue to investigate suspicious claims vigorously, according to
Dr. Robert Hartwig, the I.I.I. president and an economist. Yet loopholes in
the no-fault system make it particularly vulnerable to fraud and abuse by a
"no-fault industry" of corrupt medical professionals, attorneys, and
street-level criminals who work on their behalf.

"In less than five years, New York's auto insurers have seen an extraordinary
56 percent increase in the average cost of no-fault claims, to a great extent
the result of abuse and, sometimes, outright fraud in the system," stated Dr.
Hartwig, in remarks scheduled for delivery today to the New York Insurance
Association's (NYIA) annual meeting in Latham, NY. "The costs of fraud and
abuse of the state's no-fault system ultimately are borne by New York's honest
policyholders. New York's no-fault claim costs are now the second highest in
the country and are 111 percent higher than the U.S. average of $4,152."

"State lawmakers need to make no-fault auto insurance reform a high priority
when they reconvene in Albany for their 2010 session," said Ellen Melchionni,
president of the NYIA. "There are external forces which drive up the cost of
auto insurance in this state which can and must be contained."

The state Insurance Department's Frauds Bureau, in its 2008 annual report,
said that no-fault fraud reports to the NYSID had increased 22 percent since
2006, after the number of these same reports fell 35 percent between 2003 and
2006, Dr. Hartwig observed. Moreover, the Frauds Bureau has significantly
expanded its number of no-fault investigations, its 2008 annual report stated.

The term "no-fault" auto insurance is often used to denote any auto insurance
program that allows policyholders to recover financial losses, such as medical
costs and lost wages, from their own insurance company, regardless of fault.
The policyholder's no-fault benefit coverage is listed under the personal
injury protection (PIP) provision of their policy.

Dr. Hartwig said that several proposals have been advanced to combat New
York's growing no-fault crisis, including:

Institute Medical Protocols/Utilization Reviews: Implement medical treatment
guidelines for specific auto accident-related injuries so as to reduce
instances of over-treatment and/or unnecessary treatments. New York's no-fault
system is one of the few in the U.S. that allows for insurer payment of
medical treatment providers while requiring neither mandatory protocols nor
utilization reviews. This virtual blank check drives up system costs
dramatically because the PIP payment ceiling is a very generous $50,000.

Require Disputes Be Resolved via Arbitration: Implement an arbitration system
to eliminate trial costs for all parties while also expediting claims
resolution. No-fault systems were created to avert courtroom battles. Yet, in
New York, no-fault cases are clogging the judicial system's calendar,
especially in New York City. The city courts are so inundated with no-fault
cases today that they are currently setting trial dates for 2011.

Streamline the Process for Adjudicating No-Fault Claims: Permit parties with
no-fault disputes involving less than $5,000 to submit proof based on a sworn
affidavit from doctors. Under today's system, doctors must appear personally
in court, time which could be better spent treating their patients.

Implement Fair Burden of Proof Requirements: Require that, in order to
establish the plaintiff's right to no-fault benefits, the plaintiff must
produce a witness with personal knowledge of the facts alleged in the
plaintiff's complaint. Furthermore, there should be no presumption of medical
necessity based on documents submitted by non-medical plaintiffs and/or
witnesses who do not have personal knowledge of the facts of the case. New
York's medical treatment providers are required only to submit proof that a
bill was received by the auto insurer to establish entitlement to receive
amounts billed--irrespective of suspicions of fraud or abuse. The burden of
the auto insurers is much higher. They are required to produce in court both a
witness to testify under oath that the claim was handled in accordance with
regulations and a medical expert to testify on the "lack of medical
necessity."

Strengthen anti-runner laws: "Runners" are those who receive a monetary
benefit for facilitating a fraudulent insurance transaction, usually by acting
as a go-between for dishonest policyholders and unscrupulous medical treatment
providers and/or attorneys. The crime is currently a misdemeanor but, if
upgraded to a felony, could provide an added deterrent.

For more information, see Dr. Hartwig's PowerPoint presentation to the NYIA's
annual meeting: New York PIP Insurance Update: Is New York's No-Fault Crisis
Returning?

AARP Set to Endorse House Health Care Bill

aarp auto insurance

The AARP is set to endorse radical Princess Pelosi's health care bill, which tops out at a whopping $1.2 trillion and cuts Medicare benefits to seniors by $500 billion. This comes at no surprise since the AARP has backed most left-wing health care bills, despite even reading them, proving it's about partisan politics and not what is included in the bill. A floor vote on the bill could come as early as this weekend. Included in the bill is a public option, which the American people are largely against.

No Republican's are backing the measure. With yesterday's GOP victories in the New Jersey and Virginia governorships, the crucial blue-dog Democrat vote may be more difficult to get, as they worry about re-election in 2010.

Last minute changes to the bill enhanced the status for government's office of minority health, which were intended to sweeten the deal for supportive lawmakers, including the Congressional Black Caucus. Adding benefits to minorities is crucial to retain their votes in future elections.

There has been a widespread disagreement over preventing federal funding from being used to pay for abortions, which many Democrat's oppose and have signed a petition to remove this from the bill. Pelosi's health care bill will inevitably result in the government takeover of one-sixth of the U.S. economy, which the Obama administration has already done with the auto and banking industries.

The AARP claims to have a split among its members of Republicans, Democrats and Independents. When the health care debate took an intense directional switch a few months back, the AARP endorsed the reform without even reading the bill. This resulted in a significant decline in their membership and proved the hard-left agenda of the senior organization.

So does the AARP care more about its members or its left-wing ideology? Seniors will be hurt the most in Pelosi's plan.

East Pennsylvania Resident Wins $25,000 Toward New Car and Phillies Season Tickets in AutoTrader.com Contest

auto trader

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly Bennett is now the
proud owner of a new 2010 Honda Accord and 2010 Philadelphia Phillies season
tickets as the grand prize winner in the AutoTrader.com Turn 2 Sweepstakes.
As grand prize winner, Bennett received $25,000 toward the purchase of a new
car and season tickets to one of four teams associated with the contest - the
Phillies, the Yankees, the Angels or the Giants. As a resident of Kunkletown,
Penn., and a Phillies fan, the choice of which tickets to snag may have been
easier than which car to pick - but not much.

"With millions of new and used cars listed for sale on AutoTrader.com and
$25,000 to spend, finding just the right car might seem like a challenge,"
said AutoTrader.com Director of Sponsorships and Promotions Don Dixon. "But
with functionality that lets consumers search for cars by make, model, color,
price range, options and many other criteria, AutoTrader.com makes it easy for
every car buyer to find the right car at the right price."

Bennett will take delivery of the car she purchased with her winnings on
Friday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. at Ray Price Honda, located at 410 Analomink Road,
Rt. 447, East Stroudsburg, Penn. The dealership is located at the corner of
Analomink Road/Rt. 447 and Fawn Road. Visit www.raypricehonda.com or call
570-421-2000 for directions. Representatives from AutoTrader.com and Ray
Price Honda will be on hand to celebrate the win with Bennett.

Running from April 15 through September 30 of this year, the on-line
sweepstakes was tied to AutoTrader.com's sponsorship of four major league
baseball teams: the Phillies, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim and the San Francisco Giants. Each market had its own team-customized
version of the game to play. Contestants clicked on panels on the on-line
game board to reveal pictures of players from each team and graphics of
baseball items like a baseball glove and bats. Each image had a duplicate on
the board and players clicked on the board until they matched all the images
or they ran out of time. Throughout the game, contestants had the opportunity
to win instant prizes and submit an entry for the grand prize -- $25,000
toward the purchase of a car and season tickets to one of the four teams for
the 2010 season.

More than 300,000 people played the games during the sweepstakes period and
more than 93,000 people entered for the grand prize.

About AutoTrader.com

AutoTrader.com, created in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is the
Internet's leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information
website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location millions of new cars,
used cars and certified pre-owned cars from thousands of auto dealers and
private sellers and the site attracts about 15 million unique monthly
visitors. Through innovative merchandising functionality such as multiple
photos, videos, detailed descriptions and comprehensive research and compare
tools, AutoTrader.com unites new and used car buyers and sellers online to
improving the way people research, locate and advertise vehicles.
AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The venture
capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more
information, please visit www.autotrader.com.

OnlineAutoInsurance.com Aids as Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements Rise

auto insurance

LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
The struggle of finding cheaper rates continues as certain states such as
Wisconsin and Texas announce an increase in the minimum auto insurance coverage
requirements. OnlineAutoInsurance.com aims to help consumers as it becomes
increasingly important to comparison shop to find cheap rates.

As it is, Michigan residents pay some of the highest premiums in the nation and
raising coverage requirements may lead to even higher costs of insuring. One
method of maintaining cheap car insurance is with the use of
OnlineAutoInsurance.com`s valuable tool which helps motorists pinpoint the
cheapest rates with the ability to compare free quotes from a variety of
reputable insurers.

As of November 1, 2009, Wisconsin raised the minimum required limits of
liability to $50,000 for bodily injury to one person, $100,000 per accident and
$15,000 for property damage which is commonly abbreviated as 50/100/15. This is
substantially higher than the previous requirements of 25/50/10 and in addition,
the required amount of Uninsured and Underinsured motorist coverage will more
than double from 50/100 to 100/300. This will undoubtedly cause a rate increase
and finding lower rates will come down to effectively shopping and comparing
insurers.

Additionally, Texas increased their financial responsibility limits in April of
2008 from 20/40/15 to 25/50/25 which resulted in higher rates and will further
increase liability requirements to 30/60/25 which may also lead to additional
premium hikes. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, "Shopping for an
insurance policy is similar to shopping for any major item. It`s best to compare
companies and products to find the best price, quality, and customer service."

Source: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/pubs/consumer/cb035.html

Due to the low limits currently required by many states, it may just be a matter
of time before more states follow this trend and begin raising requirements and
subsequently auto insurance premiums. With the most effective way to locate
affordable policies being to shop around, OnlineAutoInsurance.com helps visitors
with a fast and efficient way to compare quotes from top rated insurers. In
addition, provided are useful tips for saving, helpful videos, a detailed and
printable list of discounts that may be applied and free quotes with no
obligation to buy.

Ontario Revises Rules to Cut Auto Insurance Costs

auto insurance

Ontario proposed changes to its insurance regulations that would offer drivers basic auto insurance to help lower premiums.

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan today announced 41 reforms to auto insurance in the country’s most populous province to give consumers more choices on coverage.

“This balanced set of reform lays the foundation for an auto insurance system with greater price stability,” Duncan said on the government’s Web site. “Drivers can choose coverage that provides them with the protection they need based on their own preferences and circumstances.”

The changes may help lower insurance rates for drivers after premiums on average rose 9 percent this year, the Toronto Star newspaper reported earlier today.

The proposals would reduce the minimum coverage for medical and rehabilitation benefits, attendant care and deductibles on court-awarded compensation, according to the Web site. Drivers have the option to increase any of the coverage.

The cap for medical and rehabilitation benefits for non- catastrophic claims would be reduced to C$50,000 ($46,540). The changes introduce a C$100,000 optional medical and rehabilitation benefit along with the existing C$1 million optional benefit.

The reforms are based on recommendations provided by the Superintendent of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, and would go into effect by the middle of next year.

What You Don't Know About Auto Insurance

auto insurance

That talking lizard may be on to something. Auto-insurance prices are based on many different factors, so shopping around really could help you save hundreds of dollars.

Your driving record will matter, as well as what car you drive, how many miles you travel each year, the coverage you want and where you drive.

Here are some other factors to consider before you start comparing:

Nearly all insurers look at your credit record because it has proven a strong indicator of how likely you are to file a claim. (In California, such use of credit scores isn't allowed).

Make sure your record is accurate by checking your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com (one report a year from each of the three major credit-reporting companies is free). At ChoiceTrust.com, you can get a free copy once a year of your CLUE auto report, which lists the insurance claims you have filed over the past seven years.

If your insurer raises your rates or penalizes you for your credit score, it should tell you so and give some explanation for the change.

Compare prices both with insurers that sell directly and those that sell through agents. Though agents receive a commission, they aren't always more expensive. In fact, Progressive sells both directly and through agents, and the company says one isn't always cheaper than the other.

Loyalty cuts both ways. Insurance companies want to win new customers, but they also reward you for staying put. You'll benefit if you've been with the same company for five years or more. That's because loyal customers tend to have fewer claims.

Discounts are in the details. Many companies offer discounts for going paperless, setting up direct deductions from your checking account or paying in full instead of monthly. You might get an early-signing discount of as much as 10% if you agree to switch companies a couple weeks before your current insurance expires.

Service matters. Once you identify the best deal, research the company's reputation. Both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power & Associates rank customer satisfaction with insurers. And you can look up complaint ratios at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, at NAIC.org.

-- Karen Blumenthal, The Wall Street Journal
Help School, Help Your Kids

Cash-strapped schools are leaning hard on parents for help this fall. Some 53% of parents plan to volunteer at their children's schools, up from 44% last year, according to a poll of 1,086 parents by Harris Interactive and GreatSchools, a nonprofit parent-involvement group.

Sometimes it's best to volunteer where a school needs you most. But for parents with limited time and energy, which roles deliver the biggest benefit for your kids? And how does the answer to that question change as a student grows up?

Here's what research and experts say:

Elementary School: Volunteer where your kids can see you. "The idea that 'My parent is at school, my parent cares about me,' is so valuable," says Kathy Hoover-Dempsey, associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University. Parent volunteers can get to know teachers, share information, observe the classroom and reinforce lessons at home.

Volunteering outside the classroom -- on the school board or as a PTA officer -- while helpful to the school, has indirect benefits. For small children, Dr. Hoover-Dempsey says, such activities are "going to be out-of-sight and out-of-mind."

Middle School: At this stage, volunteer tasks become more remote from the classroom. And although teens and pre-teens still want their parents involved, their horror at Mom or Dad appearing in the school hallway may lead many volunteers to drop out.

Research suggests that volunteering in middle school helps parents fill the all-important coaching role, guiding kids in picking the right classes and managing big projects. A 2001 study found that children of parents who volunteered in eighth grade were more likely to tackle a tough academic program in high school.

High School: By this stage, kids see school as their territory, not parents'. Research shows parent volunteering has little direct impact on high-schoolers' grades. But staying involved fortifies parent-teen relationships. Running the refreshment stand at football games shows a student that what he or she is doing is worth a parent's time, Dr. Hoover-Dempsey says.

-- Sue Shellenbarger, The Wall Street Journal
What's Not for Dinner?

As business continues to drag at many restaurants, some are creatively cutting costs.

Here are a few tactics to watch out for:

Shrinking snacks: A bowl of nuts at a bar may be complimentary, but don't be shy about requesting refills. Some efficiency consultants say bar operators reduce costs by switching to smaller snack bowls.

Turning off the tap: More restaurants are holding back the tap water, hoping that patrons will pony up for cocktails or other pricey beverages.

Switching ingredients: One restaurant chain swapped pricey scallops with cod on an otherwise shellfish-laden skewer.

Unsweetening: Many eateries try to goose margins by cutting the syrup in their soda machines.

Tea, no twist: A glass of iced tea costs a restaurant less than a nickel, but at about 10 cents a slice, lemons cost more than the drink itself.

-- Neil Parmar, SmartMoney.com

OnlineAutoInsurance.com Helping Californians Find the Right Auto Insurance

auto insurance comparison

Comparison shopping is the most effective way to find the best price on
automobile coverage. OnlineAutoInsurance.com is proud to provide a service
specifically designed to help Californians find the lowest possible rates
available. By providing visitors with instant quote comparisons from multiple
companies, residents have a better chance of saving on policies. The website
also provides valuable resources and tools for effective shopping and a better
understanding on how to choose the right policy.

Like most states, California auto insurance laws have set minimum requirements
for liability coverage. However, the state has one of the lowest limits required
in the country. For this reason, consumers are strongly urged to consider
comparing higher limits when shopping for policies. This can be extremely
beneficial in the event of a traffic accident where the cost of injuries and
property damage exceed the state`s minimum requirements. The minimum legal
coverage may prove inadequate to protect one from having to pay out of pocket to
cover another party`s medical care or repair bills.

The Internet makes it possible for consumers to get several quotes from
different companies all on one website. This sort of side by side comparison
makes it much easier to see the different rates being offered for the same level
of coverage and make an informed decision about what policy to purchase. By
visiting
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0060-information-guides/0010-automobile/Auto-insurance-101.cfm
one will see that the state`s Department of Insurance recommends shopping around
because the laws of the state allow companies to determine their own rates based
on their previous experience and losses. Since no two companies have had the
same loss history, each will quote an applicant differently. This is why it is a
good idea to quote as many companies as possible.

For more information about how California residents can find the right coverage
at the right price, visit http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/california/ for
more details, answers to frequently asked questions, help choosing coverage and
free quotes.

Online Auto Insurance, LLC
John Pirro, 909-912-1855
john@onlineautoinsurance.com

Wawanesa Insurance Selects Guidewire ClaimCenter

wawanesa auto insurance

The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (Wawanesa), which provides coverage to 1.8 million policy holders in Canada and the United States, and Guidewire Software ® , a leading provider of flexible core systems to property/casualty (general) insurers, today announced that Wawanesa has selected Guidewire ClaimCenter ® as its new platform to manage claims for all lines of business: Home, Auto, Farm, and Commercial.

Wawanesa sought

a new core claims processing and management solution to provide the company with a foundation on which to modernize its claim handling processes in order to enhance its customer service offerings and more efficiently operate its claims business. The solution needed to be easy to use, scalable and flexible enough to grow and evolve with Wawanesa’s changing business needs. After a thorough search and review, Wawanesa selected Guidewire ClaimCenter.

“Guidewire’s customer focus, strong industry rating and consistent implementation track record, in both Canada and the United States, really appealed to us,” said Ken McCrea, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. “We are looking forward to the service and operational improvements ClaimCenter will help us realize.”


Guidewire ClaimCenter will help Wawanesa.

- Enhance its customer service capabilities;
- Automate processes for operational efficiency and reduced expense costs; and
- Provide its staff with a modern, easy to use system.

“Guidewire is particularly proud to welcome Wawanesa Mutual Insurance, our sixth Canadian insurer, to our customer family,” said John Raguin, Chief Executive Officer, Guidewire Software. “Wawanesa has a long history of serving customers across Canada and in the United States.

ClaimCenter is an excellent foundation to help them take their service capabilities to new levels.”


Guidewire ClaimCenter is a leading end-to-end claims management system, built from the ground up to meet the specific needs of today’s property/casualty (general) insurers. ClaimCenter’s flexible business rules enable claims organizations to define, enforce, and continually refine their preferred claim handling practices in order to optimize and monitor claim processes. ClaimCenter is in use by insurers of all sizes across all product lines to improve speed and accuracy, reduce loss adjustment expense, and enable proactive management of claims.


About The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company

Wawanesa is a Canadian mutual company owned by its policyholders. It is one of the largest property and casualty insurers in Canada. Wawanesa has a rich history dating back to 1896, when it was founded in the Village of Wawanesa, Manitoba. Today executive offices are located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Wawanesa operates in 9 Canadian provinces and in the states of California and Oregon. It has total assets of $4.7 billion (CDN) and over 1.8 million policies. Wawanesa has 100% ownership of two subsidiary companies; The Wawanesa Life Insurance Company and Wawanesa General Insurance Company (U.S.A.).



About Guidewire Software

Guidewire Software is a leading provider of flexible core systems that enable property/casualty insurers to deliver insurance the way they want to. Guidewire builds high quality software that consistently works as promised. Designed for maximum flexibility and scalability, Guidewire solutions give carriers the capability to deliver excellent service to policyholders and agents and increase market share – while lowering operating costs. The Guidewire Insurance Suite™, consisting of Guidewire PolicyCenter ® , Guidewire BillingCenter ® , and Guidewire ClaimCenter ® , spans the entire insurance lifecycle – underwriting, policy administration, billing, and claims management.

Guidewire is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices in London, Munich, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.guidewire.com : .

NOTE: Guidewire, Guidewire Software, Guidewire ClaimCenter, Guidewire PolicyCenter, Guidewire BillingCenter, Guidewire Insurance Suite, and the Guidewire logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Guidewire Software, Inc.



Diana StottPublic Relations ManagerGuidewire Software, Inc.+1

650 356 4941 dstott@guidewire.com : mailto:dstott@guidewire.com

AARP Auto Insurance

aarp auto insurance

AARP/The Hartford’s auto insurance policies have many of the same provisions as their competitors but also offer three unique features tailored to older drivers.

- 12-month rate guarantee: Most auto insurers can raise rates after six months, but AARP/The Hartford locks in prices for 12 months. This may be useful to older drivers with fixed incomes who want to keep their expenses predictable.

-RecoverCare: Since an older driver in an accident may need a hand getting back on his feet, AARP/The Hartford policies include a $2,500 RecoverCare benefit to pay for necessary help up to six months after an accident. You shell out the cost of things like a cab to the doctor’s office or hiring the neighbor’s kid to mow your lawn. Then you submit the charges to a customer service rep from The Hartford for reimbursement.

- Lifetime renewability: Once you’re an AARP/The Hartford policyholder for 60 days, you generally needn’t worry about losing your coverage just because of a fender bender or two. But although AARP’s TV ads say its auto insurance will never be canceled, the fine print has exceptions: You can be canceled for not paying premiums on time, for losing your license, for getting convicted of driving under the influence, or if a doctor says you’re not capable of driving. What’s more, this provision is not offered in the five states that require elderly drivers to take tests to renew their licenses. (And there’s no guarantee that rates won’t increase, of course.)

Bach thinks these features are “nice to have,” especially RecoverCare. “Out-of-pocket expenses after an accident are always higher than anyone anticipates, so I like that feature,” she says. But she wouldn’t pay extra for these extras. “The auto insurance market is so competitive, I would shop around to see if I could get good service and a better rate before I paid more for those features,” she says.