Business Insurance articles from December 2006

Business Insurance archives from December 2006

Stock Index [11/27 - 12/1].(News)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Up-to-the-minute data for all 82 companies that comprise the BI Stock Index can be found at www.BusinessInsurance.com.

Community Forums.(Opinions)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... A new feature allows risk and benefits management professionals to connect and exchange information at www.BusinessInsurance.com. The BI Community Forums is an easy-to-use discussion board that enables readers to ask questions, exchange ideas...

Online Poll.(Opinions)
December 4, 2006... Online Poll at www.businessinsurance.com To what extent will updated rating agency capital requirements improve insurer security? 54.5% - Significantly 36.4% - Marginally 9.1% - No impact Next week's poll: Does contingent...

On the Web.(News)
December 4, 2006... RISK MANAGER OF THE YEAR' 2007 RMOY nominations are due by Dec. 15 Business InsuranceAEs Risk Manager of the Year' award and the Risk Management Honor Roll' recognize the achievements of risk managers in various industry sectors....

New Orleans flood ruling opens way for more claims; Commercial policyholders could see more Katrina losses covered.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN NEW ORLEANS-A federal judge's refusal to dismiss coverage suits stemming from water damage caused by breached levees in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina may benefit some commercial buyers even though the...

Environmental cover remains a rarity among most eastern E.U. nations; Greatest interest found in Hungary and Czech Republic.(Spotlight: Environmental Risk Management)
December 4, 2006... Byline: RICHARD MILLER As the European Union expands eastward, new member states face the challenge of complying with tougher E.U. environmental standards. Governments, however, are usually able to soften the blow to industry by...

Ancient wiring ignores most common perils.(End Page)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Every day, everywhere, people face the risk of injury or death. So why do we have a hard time distinguishing between high-probability risks and remote ones? Researchers cited in a recent Time magazine article suggest modern humans possess...

GOALS OF PREVENTION.(public health)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... * Encourage individuals to avoid or delay disease by practicing healthy lifestyles. * Identify individuals who could benefit from treatment for a condition about which they are unaware. * Prevent further disability among individuals...

BILL 133 PROVISIONS.(corporate environmental laws)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Bill 133 amended existing environmental protection statutes by strengthening companies' requirements to comply with environmental regulations and penalties for failing to comply. Among key features, the legislation: * Allows companies to...

Ontario's environmental law broadens D&O responsibilities; Penalty calculation regulations move toward finalization.(directors and officers liability insurance)
December 4, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ Companies with operations in Ontario, Canada, have stringent responsibilities under revised environmental laws that are designed to hold them accountable for environmental infractions, thus boosting interest in...

LEGACY of LIABILITIES: A new environment of accountability; Rules boost interest in cover, asset disposal.(Spotlight: Environmental Risk Management)
December 4, 2006... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS ***** Correction: Due to a production error, the ranking on page 11 of this issue should have stated it was of the largest risk management consultants. ***** As companies identify, quantify and report...

Cover pricey and tight in closing hazardous waste, landfill sites.(Spotlight: Environmental Risk Management)
December 4, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH Owners and operators of hazardous waste sites face numerous exposures when shutting down facilities, but finding adequate insurance coverage to help minimize those risks is becoming more difficult, experts say. ...

California employers given guidance on harassment prevention training; Proposed final rules clarify employers' training obligations.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD SAN FRANCISCO-Employers in California have gotten long-awaited clarification of legislation that requires them to provide sexual harassment prevention training, observers say. The legislation, which became law in...

Employers questioned on pandemic drug plan.(Roche Holding Ltd. contract with Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA Some employers preparing for a possible avian influenza pandemic have opted to stockpile antiviral drug Tamiflu, though that approach has raised questions about the effectiveness and appropriateness of that approach....

Slouching can be good ergonomics.(End Page)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Mom doesn't always know best. At least that's the conclusion one could draw from some new research by a team of scientists in Scotland that found-contrary to what mothers have been telling children since the invention of the chair-it's not...

MAJOR ERISA DECISIONS.(Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Timeline of major ERISA decisions made by the federal courts 1989-In Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. vs. Bruch, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that federal courts should review the denial of ERISA health plan benefits only for arbitrariness and...

MEASURING ERM.(enterprise risk management)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... RIMS' Risk Maturity Model assesses seven attributes of an organization that has an enterprise risk management process. Those attributes are the organization's: * ERM-based approach, or the degree of executive support for ERM. That support...

Contingent phaseout likely to court trouble.(Eliot Spitzer said ACE Ltd., American International Group Inc., St. Paul Travelers Cos. and Zurich Financial Services Group no longer pay contingent benefits)
December 4, 2006... NOW THAT ELIOT SPITZER has said four major multiline insurers can no longer pay contingent compensation to agents and brokers in six lines of business, including boiler and machinery, financial guarantee, homeowners and private-passenger auto...

It is time to update FMLA regulations.(Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993)(Brief article)(Column)
December 4, 2006... The Labor Department says a fresh look is needed at Family and Medical Leave Act regulations, and we couldn't agree more. Congress passed the FMLA more than 13 years ago and it took the DOL a couple of years to finalize regulations it proposed...

Bad news sneaks in near end of the year.(Commentary)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Paul Winston What a week for the industry! Just as December arrived, and the end of the year was in sight, along came two developments to spoil an otherwise terrific year for many insurers. First, a federal judge in Louisiana...

High court to rule in pay discrimination case; Pro-worker decision would increase costs for employers.(Lilly Ledbetter vs. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court could burden employers with considerable additional administrative costs if the justices decide that a plaintiff can sue for illegal pay discrimination under Title VII of the Civil...

Hail, hail: The risk's all here.(Tulsa the most hailstorms prone area)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Tulsa, Okla., tops the list as the most hail-prone metropolitan area in the United States, according to hazard mapping company CDS Business Mapping L.L.C. CDS' list of the 10 most hail-prone areas comes from its RiskMeter Online Hail...

Products & Services.(CIGNA Corp. CIGNA Healthcare Group Inc. introducing Fundemental Care)(Darwin Professional Underwriters Inc. introducing lawyers professional liability program)(Victor O. Schinnerer and Company Inc. offering online services)
December 4, 2006... CIGNA launches Fundamental Care BLOOMFIELD, Conn.-CIGNA HealthCare is offering Fundamental Care, a plan that will give employers the ability to provide benefits to employees who are ineligible for or do not have access to traditional major...

Syndicate to cover U.S. catastrophes; Lloyd's unit 4242 to cater to midsize and small companies.(Chaucer Holdings PLC and ICAT Holdings L.L.C. established a syndicate)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON- Chaucer Holdings P.L.C. and ICAT Holdings L.L.C. have established a syndicate at Lloyd's of London to underwrite U.S. catastrophe business for medium and small companies. Syndicate 4242 will have...

Insurers, risk managers object to French disaster pool reforms; Groups say system for disaster claims not in need of repair.(International News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: RICK MITCHELL PARIS-Planned changes to France's natural disaster insurance pool aimed in part at introducing greater competition on rates have drawn criticism from insurers, who say there is no need for a "radical'' reform of the...

Ex-FAI exec sentenced; Unit played major role in 2001 HIH collapse.(HIH Insurance Ltd., FAI General Insurance Company Ltd.'s Anthony Boulden accused for securities fraud)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY SYDNEY, Australia-Anthony Boulden, a former financial controller at FAI General Insurance Co. Ltd., has been sentenced to a term in prison for being privy to the fraudulent alteration of a ledger that had the effect of...

ERISA ruling highlights need to update plan documents; Employers face risk of de novo reviews on benefit decisions.(News)(Employee Retirement Income Security Act)
December 4, 2006... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS DENVER-A health benefits dispute wending through the federal courts underscores that plan sponsors with dated plan documents risk turning over disputed benefit decisions to courts for a full, trial-like review,...

PREVENTION GETS A SHOT IN THE ARM.(National Business Group on Health)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... A new guide from the National Business Group on Health aims to help promote preventive care. Advantages include: Clinical preventive services can help individuals avoid disease altogether (e.g. tobacco use treatment). Preventive...

Errors & Omissions.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
December 4, 2006... A story in the Nov. 13 issue, "Insurers Put Teeth Into Health Care Benefits,'' mischaracterized the changes that Kansas City, Mo.-based Assurant Employee Benefits is making to its offerings. Assurant is enhancing certain services for all...

Reinsurer wordings examined.(contract clauses)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Rupal Parekh NEW ORLEANS-Some reinsurers may be on the hook if a Louisiana district court's decision to allow some claims for Hurricane Katrina-related water damage in New Orleans is upheld. If the decision stands on appeal,...

Willis, Millennium Hilton settle lawsuit over WTC property program; Broker agrees to pay $17.5 million in coverage dispute.(News)(Millennium & Copthorne Hotels P.L.C. cases with Willis Group Holdings Ltd)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH NEW YORK-Millennium & Copthorne Hotels P.L.C. last week said it has reached a $17.5 million settlement with a unit of Willis Group Holdings Ltd. over the handling of its 2001 property program and losses from the Sept....

XL Capital backs up operating units; Cayman reinsurer created to cover subsidiaries' risks.(News)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS HAMILTON, Bermuda-XL Capital Ltd. has set up a Cayman Islands-based vehicle to provide reinsurance for certain XL operating entities. Fitch Ratings last week said it has assigned an A+ issuer default rating to...

In Brief.(Reinsurance Association of America says reinsurance improved markedly)(St. Paul Travelers Cos. plans to stop commercial polcies)(Department of Labor seeks public comment on Family and Medical Leave Act )
December 4, 2006... Reinsurer results improve in period Reinsurers' results for the first nine months of the year improved markedly over last year's hurricane-battered returns, according to the Reinsurance Assn. of America. A group of 23 reinsurers reported a...

RIMS launches online tool to advance ERM; Risk managers welcome program but recognize it has limitations.(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc. introduced Risk Maturity Model for enteprise risk management)
December 4, 2006... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS NEW YORK-Risk managers have a new online tool to help them not only gauge how advanced their enterprise risk management processes are but also to understand how they could be improved. After cursory reviews of the...

Contingents bar sparks agent protest; Latest Spitzer order cuts extra compensation on more products, takes fight to personal lines.(Eliot Spitzer imposed ban on ACE Ltd., American International Group Inc., St. Paul Travelers Cos. Inc. and Zurich American Insurance Co)
December 4, 2006... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS NEW YORK-New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer took aim at the personal lines industry last week as he notified four insurers that, in accordance with their previous settlements, they no longer could pay contingent...

McDonald's gyms aim to stop trend toward Supersize.(End Page)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Kids in need of a little exercise after wolfing down a McDonald's Happy Meal now can hit the gym without even leaving the fast-food restaurant. Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's Corp. opened its fourth R Gym last month-this one in Santa...

Low losses, high rates boost insurer profits; Property/casualty sector sees strong nine-month results.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD A lack of major U.S. catastrophes combined with reserve redundancies and continued hard market rates are leading to strong, if not record-breaking, profitability for property/casualty insurers. Results for the...

Insurers respond to demand for specialty environmental cover; Market is expected to continue to grow up to 10% annually.(Spotlight: Environmental Risk Management)
December 4, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA Companies facing environmental risk management issues are being offered an increasing array of specialized coverages and services by insurers and brokers seeking to customize programs for specific needs, experts say....

NBGH guide emphasizes shift toward utilizing more preventive care; Insurers increasing investments in illness prevention.(National Business Group on Health )
December 4, 2006... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS The National Business Group on Health has released an extensive guide to help employers shift their health plans from emphasizing acute care and medications to focusing more on preventive care. Under the...

On the Web.(News)
December 4, 2006... RISK MANAGER OF THE YEAR[R] 2007 RMOY nominations are due by Dec. 15 Business Insurance's Risk Manager of the Year[R] award and the Risk Management Honor Roll[R] recognize the achievements of risk managers in various industry sectors....

Nomination deadline approaching for Risk Manager of the Year.(News)
December 11, 2006... Business Insurance is accepting nominations of top risk managers for the magazine's annual Risk Manager of the Year[R] award and Risk Management Honor Roll[R]. Anyone involved in risk management for a corporation, financial...

Online Poll.(Opinions)(survey on contingent compensation to insurance agents)(Survey)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Does contingent compensation to agents and brokers benefit insurance buyers? 55.3% - YES 44.7% - NO Next week's poll: Does your company provide the same coverage for mental health care expenses as it does for other medical...

Community Forums.(Opinions)(www.BusinessInsurance.com)(Website overview)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... A new feature allows risk and benefits management professionals to connect and exchange information at www.BusinessInsurance.com. The BI Community Forums is an easy-to-use discussion board that enables readers to ask questions, exchange ideas...

To submit an article for the Perspectives.(Perspective)
December 11, 2006... Send us a letter describing the topic you would like to address. Briefly describe what you want to say in the article. You will receive from us an acceptance or a refusal of your article idea. If accepted, we will respond with comments...

Stock Index [12/4-12/8].(News)
December 11, 2006... Up-to-the-minute data for all 82 companies that comprise the BI Stock Index can be found at www.BusinessInsurance.com. BI Stock Index, BI Brokers Index, BI Insurer/reinsurers Index, BI Managed Care Organizations Index; Percentage change of...

From 'ticking time bomb' to 'manageable challenge'.(Perspective)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Samuel H. Fleet Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the United States, estimates that its unfunded liability for retiree health care is $5 billion-a figure that is roughly 80% of its entire...

Outsourcing of benefits extends beyond administration; Relationships and expertise combine in external partnerships.(Benefits Management)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH More employers are moving away from one-stop, total outsourcing of employee benefits and opting instead to selectively farm out key functions to specialized vendors, experts say. "Benefits administration is a...

FACTS ABOUT SMOKING.(News)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
December 11, 2006... * Men who smoke use four more sick days a year than those who don't smoke; women who smoke use two more sick days than nonsmokers. * 444,000 adults die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. For every smoker who dies, 20 more are ill....

Captive owners urged to draw up response plans for flu outbreak; Pandemic may cause big liability exposures for employers.(News)(disease management)
December 11, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands-Captive owners need to prepare for the eventuality of an influenza pandemic, carefully examining the scope of their insurance coverage, developing a pandemic response plan and briefing...

Event draws nearly 800 captive attendees.(News)(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Gloria Gonzalez GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands-A total of 787 captive owners and service providers attended the 2006 Cayman Captive Forum in Grand Cayman on Nov. 28-30. The conference featured sessions on the state of the captive...

Congressional leaders pledge quick action on terrorism backstop; TRIA extension likely, but permanent fix still faces opposition.(News)(Terrorism Risk Insurance Act)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL and MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Key lawmakers from both chambers of Congress last week pledged to make extension of the federal terrorism coverage backstop-perhaps on a permanent basis-a high priority next year. ...

U.K. issues consultation on E.U. liability directive; Report reviews options for implementing environmental order.(International News)(European Union)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Byline: STUART COLLINS LONDON-The United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has issued its consultation paper on the implementation of the European Environmental Liability Directive (2004/35/CE) in England, Wales...

Exclusive pan-Asia focused reinsurer to open in Singapore; Reinsurer obtained $620 million in capital funding.(International News)(Asia Capital Reinsurance Group)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD SINGAPORE-The first exclusively pan-Asia focused independent reinsurer has obtained $620 million in capital funding and it will open in Singapore, according its investors. London-based 3i, a private equity and...

European insurers and reinsurers prepare for Solvency II; Study reveals firms expect to improve risk management.(International News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD LONDON-European insurers and reinsurers expect to make significant improvements to their risk management capabilities as they prepare for the coming Solvency II directive, according to a study. They are most...

Zurich unit, states finalize settlements to resolve probes; Insurer pledges to pay at least $141.8 million, change practices.(News)(Zurich American Insurance Co.)
December 11, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Zurich American Insurance Co. has finalized settlements with 11 states and the District of Columbia, agreeing to pay at least $141.8 million to resolve allegations of bid rigging, price fixing and...

QB legend joins new team.(End Page)(quarterback Bart Starr joins UnitedHealth Group Inc. UnitedHealthcare)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr has a new job-educating seniors about UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage health plans. The Minneapolis-based health insurer announced last week that the 72-year old Mr. Starr...

Insurers can boost port security: Consultant; Financial incentives needed to help stop terrorist attacks.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The private sector has a key role to play in enhancing port security against terrorism, according to a terrorism and security expert. But "security is seen as a cost, not as a benefit,'' J. Michael...

Dept. of Labor not expected to make FMLA alterations.(News)(Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD While the U.S. Department of Labor is asking for public comment on possible changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act and its regulations, many observers are pessimistic that the department is likely to take...

Glaxo, insurer dispute coverage for Paxil suits; Complaints allege drugmaker tried to curb competition.(News)(GlaxoSmithKline PLC)
December 11, 2006... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD PHILADELPHIA-GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C. is suing one of its liability insurers for denying coverage for a series of disputes in which the pharmaceutical giant has been charged with trying to restrain generic competitors...

Lifted ban doesn't give green light to insurers.(Opinions)(Brief article)(Column)
December 11, 2006... IT MAY BE TRUE that everything is insurable if you are prepared to pay the right price, but the limit to that assertion is becoming more apparent. In some cases, the potential devastation that would be caused by certain actions, such as...

In Brief.(Brown & Brown Inc. will pay $5.8 million to resolve the investigations)(CIGNA Corp. has reached $93 million settlement in class action lawsuit)(Tennessee Insurance Commissioner Paula Flowers resigned)
December 11, 2006... Storm team predicts active 2007 season The follow-up to this year's mild storm season will be an active 2007 season, with 14 named storms expected to form, the forecasting team from the Colorado State University said. The team predicted...

On the Web.
December 11, 2006... RISK MANAGER OF THE YEAR[R] Nominate your favorite risk manager by Friday This is the last week to submit nominations for Business Insurance's 2007 Risk Manager of the Year[R] award and the Risk Manager Honor Roll[R], both of which...

Comings & Goings.(appointments)
December 11, 2006... Brokers: Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has named Dennis Miceli senior vp and employee benefits practice leader in the Denver office. Previously, he was senior vp for Van Guilder Insurance Corp. Also in the Denver office of Willis, Brian...

Insurers investigate medical tourism to save money on care; Questions remain about quality of care in overseas facilities.(Benefits Management)
December 11, 2006... Byline: KAREN PALLARITO Intrigued by the promise of up to 80% savings, many U.S. health insurers are at least investigating the possibility of allowing patients to travel overseas for certain major surgeries such as hip and knee...

Untucked shirt not deemed a blessing of liberty.(Kentucky Department of Parks accused by Roberts and Ward for their work practices)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Park employees do not have a First Amendment right to keep their shirttails untucked, says a Cincinnati federal appellate court that upheld a lower court's dismissal of the suit. The three plaintiffs in Roberts et al. vs. Ward et al., who...

Implant OK doesn't sway wary insurers; Massive past losses seen as deterrent to liability coverage.(News)(ban on medical silicones)
December 11, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA What once caused major waves in the insurance industry barely made a splash last month after the Food and Drug Administration lifted its 14-year ban on silicone breast implants. Despite the FDA's re-approval of the...

Health insurers may not cover implant-related screenings.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Louise Esola It's unclear whether health insurance companies will cover medical complications and monitoring of silicone breast implants after the Food and Drug Administration lifted its 14-year ban on silicone implants last month....

TIMELINE: SILICONE IMPLANTS.(News)(Chronology)
December 11, 2006... 1960s * After years in the making, gel-filled silicone implants are developed in 1961 and introduced to the market, first by Dow Corning Corp. in 1962. Other companies follow. 1970s * Silicone implants are among the most popular...

Multicountry benefits require delicate touch.(Benefits Management)
December 11, 2006... Daunting complexities that are associated with developing any employee benefits program multiply as companies continue to globalize. Different countries' cultures, laws, regulations and health care structures as well as firms' desire to...

Transparency inquiries expand to benefits advisers; Disclosure push expected to open door on how brokers and consultants get paid.(Benefits Management)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Government investigations into intermediary compensation practices, which focused initially on property/casualty placements, have expanded into the employee benefits arena and resulted in divergent industry...

Little Bat of Bethlehem a tale of crisis response.(Commentary)(Editorial)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos In the spirit of the holidays, I bring you a story combining the trappings of the season with a lesson about the importance of adequate crisis response in protecting investments. With-sadly, as the story is from my...

Longer work week may increase proficiency.(Opinions)(terrorism insurance laws)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Normally, it wouldn't be news when the top leaders of an organization announce that it will be imposing a five-day work week. But when the organization happens to be the U.S. House of Representatives and the change is such a departure from...

How not to succeed in business without really trying.(End Page)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Companies beware. These days, corporate scandals can do more than tarnish a company's image and hurt the bottom line. They can get immortalized on stage. "Enron-The Musical,'' a two-act play directed by Mark Fraser, opened this month...

More than 800 attend forum on health, productivity.(News)(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Joanne Wojcik WASHINGTON-More than 800 members of the employer, employee benefits and disability management vendor communities attended the Joint Forum on Health, Productivity and Absence Management in Washington from Nov. 28-30....

Employer group to fund health record sharing effort; Project seen as tool for reducing costs, eliminating errors.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK A group of five large employers is providing millions of dollars in seed money to develop a common technological framework to facilitate the sharing of personal health records over the Internet. Dubbed "Dossia,''...

Employers hope input will fix flaws in leave law; Request for feedback gives companies chance to air concerns.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD The U.S. Department of Labor is likely to get plenty of input from employers and their representatives in response to its request for public comment on the Family and Medical Leave Act and its regulations. ...

Maine claims beer label naughty, not nice.(End Page)
December 11, 2006... If state authorities have their way, Santa Claus won't be seen drinking beer in Maine this Christmas. The state's Bureau of Liquor Enforcement in September denied a Massachusetts specialty beer importer permission to sell its...

U.S. regulations driving centralization of worldwide benefits planning.(Benefits Management)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Benefit managers are scrambling to get a better handle on their international benefit plans in light of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act's financial reporting rules in the United States. To better comply, many companies...

Few employers adopt stop-smoking programs; Sizable cost benefits passed up as smoker absences remains high.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK WASHINGTON-Although smoking is one of employers' priority employee health issues, ranked third behind high blood pressure and obesity according to a National Business Group on Health survey, just 24% of employers...

Multicountry benefits require delicate touch.(Benefits Management)
December 11, 2006... ***** Correction: Due to an editing error, a chart of the world's largest employee benefit consultants in the Dec. 11 issue of Business Insurance listed the incorrect principal officer of The Segal Co. The president/CEO of the company is...

Stock Index [12/11 - 12/15].(News)
December 18, 2006... Up-to-the-minute data for all 82 companies that comprise the BI Stock Index can be found at www.BusinessInsurance.com.

Drug, medical device makers seek risk financing alternatives; Greatest challenges seen in D&O liability and product liability.(Sector Briefing: Pharmaceuticals)
December 18, 2006... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL Premium increases and extensive policy exclusions are driving pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical device companies to search for risk financing alternatives. Adding to the industry discomfort in the...

ADDED FLEXIBILITY.(News)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... How the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 boosts the appeal of health savings accounts Detaches HSA contribution limit from health insurance plan deductible Eliminates HSA-flexible spending account grace period interaction...

London broker seeks support to create pharmaceutical mutual.(Sector Briefing: Pharmaceuticals)(Neil Campbell- JLT Risk Solutions)
December 18, 2006... Byline: ADRIAN LADBURY A mutual insurer could provide the answer to the liability coverage problems of global pharmaceutical companies, according to Neil Campbell, a partner with broker JLT Risk Solutions in London. And the former...