Business Insurance articles from June 2008

Business Insurance archives from June 2008

FM Global releases engineering data online.(Industry News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... JOHNSTON, R.I.-Factory Mutual Insurance Co., which does business as FM Global, is making thousands of pages of previously exclusive loss prevention engineering guidelines available at no cost through its Web site. It's the first time FM...

Industry leaders inducted into hall of fame.(Industry News)(International Insurance Society Inc. adds Patrick G. Ryan, Dominic D'Alessandro and G S. Diwan to Insurance Hall of Fame)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... NEW YORK-The International Insurance Society Inc. has added three insurance industry leaders to the Insurance Hall of Fame. Patrick G. Ryan, founder and executive chairman of Chicago-based Aon Corp.; Dominic D'Alessandro, president and...

WSI launches LiveCat Forecast service.(Industry News)(WSI Corp. and Guy Carpenter and Company Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... ANDOVER, Mass.-Weather information specialist WSI Corp. has developed a new forecasting tool for predicting the path and intensity of hurricanes and tropical storms. The company says its WSI LiveCat Forecast service, developed in...

On the move.(Mark Lyons appointed as chief executive officer of Arch Insurance Group.)(Paul W. Springman appointed as president at Markel Corp. )(LoriAnn Lowery appoited as president at Lloyd's North America)
June 1, 2008... Hamilton, Bermuda-based Arch Capital Group Ltd. has promoted Mark Lyons to chairman and chief executive officer of Arch Insurance Group. Mr. Lyons, who will assume the post July 2, succeeds Ralph Jones, who is retiring at the end of his...

Economic strategies; Insurance industry contends with declining dollar, subprime crisis.(Cover Focus: Emerging Markets & Globalization)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Meg Fletcher The U.S. insurance industry is using a variety of strategies to withstand the global impacts of the declining U.S. dollar and subprime credit crunch, observers say. Some insurers are hedging currency risks,...

U.S. Risk Underwriters releases MedTour Pro.(Industry News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... DALLAS-U.S. Risk Underwriters, a subsidiary of managing general agency and surplus lines wholesaler U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc., has launched a professional liability product for the medical tourism industry. MedTour Pro is designed for...

Zurich rolls out withdrawals cover for product defects.(Industry News)(Zurich Financial Services)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-The North America Commercial division of Zurich Financial Services Group has introduced product withdrawal expense insurance to manufacturers and distributors for both voluntary and government-mandated product withdrawals. ...

PlanSource acquires Enwisen benefits suite.(Industry News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... LOUISVILLE, Colo.-PlanSource, a provider of human resources, benefits and insurance management solutions for small and midsize businesses, has acquired Enwisen Inc.'s communications solution suite for benefits brokers. PlanSource said it...

New product success hinges on more than IT.(Feature: Gatherings)(usage of informaton technology by insuance industry)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Rodd Zolkos LAS VEGAS-Many in the insurance industry are involving information technology in developing new products, an approach that often is worthwhile but sometimes is misguided, according to one insurance industry technology...

Ethical dilemma; NAIC, IIPRC conduct policies raise questions.(Feature: Regulation)(National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission )
June 1, 2008... Byline: Meg Fletcher The National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners and the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission have barred gifts from insurance industry lobbyists, policies that have been both praised and criticized. The...

Moving HQ packs risks, rewards.(Last Word)
June 1, 2008... Decisions about where to locate global and regional headquarters are of paramount importance to insurers. They can have a tremendous impact in creating new marketplace opportunities, boosting profit margins, improving access to capital, and...

Three questions.(Industry News)(InsuranceNoodle Inc.)
June 1, 2008... Since its formation in 2000 as a Web-enabled wholesaler of commercial property/casualty insurance products, Chicago-based InsuranceNoodle Inc. has seen changes in its product mix and insurer relationships as well as a change in ownership. As...

Travel terms and conditions.(First Word)(analysis of growth in air fares)(Column)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Rodd Zolkos I started writing this column during my last trip of the North American insurance industry's spring conference season. Which means, of course, that I started this column as the summer vacation travel season was...

Straight-through processing makes inroads into P/C world.(Tech Focus)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Lindsay Fassett and Jason McDonald A few years ago, the concept of straight-through processing seemed as likely as world peace. Many dreamed about it, but few dared to hope. Actuaries and underwriters fretted over handing over...

Soft market success; AAMGA fosters lean, mean philosophy to maintain profitability.(Feature: Gatherings)(American Association of Managing General Agents)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Rodd Zolkos PHOENIX-As its members address today's market conditions, the American Assn. of Managing General Agents also wants to prepare the sector for challenges to come. Speaking about current market conditions during this...

Ward Group assembling benchmarking program.(Industry News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... CINCINNATI-Consulting firm Ward Group is compiling what it says will be a comprehensive benchmarking program for insurance company finance operations. Cincinnati-based Ward Group said the benchmarking program is being conducted to analyze...

Errors & Omissions.(Correction notice)
June 1, 2008... In the May issue of IF, the "Straight Through'' article contained an incorrect figure for the percentage of Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.'s transactions done on a "touchless'' basis. The correct figure is 35%.

Emerging markets: Risk and opportunity.(Cover Focus: Emerging Markets & Globalization)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Rodd Zolkos Emerging markets offer rich opportunities for many businesses, though with those opportunities come risks that require not only insurance but often specific expertise from the insurance industry to manage them...

It's easier being green; Insurers adopt measures to cope with climate change.(Cover Focus: Emerging Markets & Globalization)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Meg Fletcher Many insurers and reinsurers are adopting ecologically friendly practices to cope with climate change risks. Internally, they are establishing integrated response teams or units, attempting to reduce their carbon...

Industry critical of NAIC's climate risk reporting rules.(Cover Focus: Emerging Markets & Globalization)(National Association of Insurance Commissioners)
June 1, 2008... Byline: Meg Fletcher While many insurers and reinsurers voluntarily are adopting eco-friendly practices, some are criticizing a U.S. regulators' proposal to require each company to answer new mandatory questions as part of its annual...

IN Focus.
June 1, 2008... Whether it's a giant red umbrella or a film on personal responsibility, insurance industry companies take various routes to connect with buyers, establish brand identity and set themselves apart from the competition. Here are several approaches...

Class action legislation gains new life in France; Plan would limit suits to consumer groups and omit punitives.(International News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: ANDREW ROSENBAUM PARIS-An effort is again under way in the French Parliament to institute the use of class action lawsuits in specific circumstances. The main proposal-which takes the form of an amendment to the Law on Economic...

Cooper Gay wraps 'significant' buy.(International News)(Cooper Gay & Co. Ltd. acquiring aerospace, U.K)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-London-based brokerage Cooper Gay & Co. Ltd. has acquired the aerospace, U.K. wholesale and reinsurance business of Heath Lambert Group Ltd. Cooper Gay said it also purchased parts of London-based Heath...

Florida asbestos medical criteria law can't be applied retroactively: Court; Ruling allows claims even if suit not filed before law took effect.(News)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-A Florida appellate court ruled last week that the state's asbestos and silica medical criteria law cannot be applied retroactively to bar suits from plaintiffs who say they suffered injuries...

Insurer wrong to deny cancer treatment cover, Wis. high court rules; Judges say insurer's plan interpretations were inconsistent.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ MADISON, Wis.-A health insurer wrongfully denied coverage for a specialized chemotherapy treatment for a child with cancer, according to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The decision by Touchpoint Health Plan Inc....

States mandate cover for eating disorders; Insurers say conditions rarely excluded.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: KRISTIN GUNDERSON HUNT SPRINGFIELD, Ill.-Illinois lawmakers were expected to give final approval last week to a bill mandating that large-group health care plans cover treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It is the...

Retaliation ruling may spur bias suits; Supreme Court case significantly extends period to file claims.(News)(Case overview)
June 2, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Employers are likely to face more racial retaliation claims under a Civil War-era federal law as the result of a U.S. Supreme Court decision last week, observers say. The 7-2 ruling in CBOCS West Inc. vs. Hedrick...

Tech-savvy Millennials set to change business.(Commentary)(Viewpoint essay)
June 2, 2008... Byline: Rodd Zolkos Over the past few years, as insurers and reinsurers have learned lessons from events like the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and anticipated the possibility of global pandemics, there's been a lot of discussion of...

Cat modelers eyeing climate change debate; Warming trends not yet major factor in models.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN As the 2008 hurricane season begins amid growing attention to climate change questions, catastrophe modelers are working to determine what effect temperature trends will ultimately have on their models. That...

Pension rulings swing to employers' favor.(International News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ TORONTO-Recent Canadian court decisions have given greater weight to the rights of employers in pension disputes, but they may be too late to reverse the decline of defined benefit plans, pension experts say. ...

CANADIAN RULINGS.(International News)
June 2, 2008... Canadian pension cases have evolved from being strongly protective of plan members' rights to recognizing the rights of employers in pension plan management. Case: Collins et al. vs. Pension Commission of Ontario (1986) Court: Ontario...

PBM Express Scripts reaches multistate pact to end switching probes; Joins other PBMs in agreeing to alter business practices.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ ST. LOUIS-Express Scripts Inc. has become the third pharmacy benefit manager in the past four years to settle allegations that the PBM engaged in deceptive business practices related to prescription switching. ...

Hump day worst for on-the-job injuries.(End Page)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... Workers looking for a good day to call in sick might want to pick Wednesday, since it's the most likely day to get injured on the job, according to a study by the Kansas Department of Labor. The department's "2006 Survey of Occupational...

ADEA prohibits retaliation against federal employees.(News)(Age Discrimination in Employment Act)
June 2, 2008... Byline: Judy Greenwald WASHINGTON-The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits retaliation against a federal employee who complains of age discrimination, even though retaliation is not explicitly mentioned in the law, the...

In brief.(News)(H.J. Heinz Co. receiving final authorization from the Labor Department to expand benefit risks)(Oxford Health Insurance Inc. refunding $50 million to small business customers to settle overcharged claims)(Daniel Izard, chief operating officer of Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd retiring)
June 2, 2008... SCIF seeks revised comp discounts California's State Compensation Insurance Fund said last week that a recently filed rating plan would result in a 3.5% reduction in premiums collected for California workers compensation policies incepting...

Judge swats suit alleging injuries from flies in water.(End Page)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... The fly in the ointment of a Canadian man's lawsuit over contaminated bottled water was that he suffered too much. Canada's Supreme Court ruled that Waddah Mustapha can't recover damages for mental trauma he suffered after Brampton,...

Coalition tests program to treat depression; Plan includes doctor rewards, aims to fight major employer cost.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK MINNEAPOLIS-In an attempt to address an estimated $44 billion that U.S. employers lose in productivity a year due to employee depression, Bridges to Excellence this week is launching a pay-for-performance program that...

Readers Choice Awards voting begins.(News)
June 2, 2008... Business Insurance invites its readers to vote for the best overall commercial insurance industry companies in our 2008 Readers Choice Awards. Now in their fourth year, BI's Readers Choice Awards recognize the top-performing companies in...

Mass. uninsured figures tumble due to health care reform; Landmark measure cuts treatment costs through prompt care.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Massachusetts continues to make progress in implementing its landmark health care reform law, even as other states have stumbled in their efforts to enact comprehensive reform measures. The Massachusetts...

Expect the unexpected in managing risks globally; Risk managers agree networking is an asset when going abroad.(News)(Interview)
June 2, 2008... Managing global risks is a tough job that requires careful consideration of local customs. Business Insurance and Business Insurance Europe recently convened a roundtable with three leading U.S.-based risk managers of multinational...

Easing military vets' return; Police officers often undergo post-combat evaluations; experts suggest treating each as unique.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)
June 2, 2008... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL Many U.S. companies have employees returning from active military duty overseas, but law enforcement agencies have additional considerations before putting a police officer back on the job. The prospect of...

Ways to support employees during, after military service.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)
June 2, 2008... Byline: Roseanne White Geisel Law enforcement agencies can ease the transition for returning military combat veterans. The following steps are recommended by Greg Langan, loss control director, public entity and scholastic division,...

Nationwide voted... Sanjaya is safe!(End Page)(advertising campaign of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... Sanjaya Malakar's 15 minutes of fame has been extended. The former "American Idol'' contestant, whose hairstyles got as much attention as his "talent'' during the sixth season of the popular reality television show, is the latest star of...

Congress should pass insurance reform bills.(Opinions)(Viewpoint essay)
June 2, 2008... WHEN CONGRESS RETURNS today from its Memorial Day recess, senators and representatives alike should begin dealing with some unfinished risk management business that could and should be resolved before this Congress becomes history later this...

Market moves.(WellPoint Inc. acquiring DeCare Dental)(Three companies merging to form Arete Partners L.L.C)(Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquiring Specialty Risk Inc.)
June 2, 2008... WellPoint acquires DeCare Dental EAGAN, Minn.-Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. has acquired DeCare Dental, an Eagan, Minn., dental plan administrator that handles 4 million members in 22,000 employer groups. As a result of the...

Challenge sparks creativity; Questions & answers.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)(Sarah Perry)(Interview)
June 2, 2008... Byline: Dave Lenckus Sarah Perry, risk manager for the city of Columbia, Mo., is the incoming president of the Alexandria, Va.-based Public Risk Management Assn. Ms. Perry spoke with Business Insurance Senior Editor Dave Lenckus about the...

Soft P/C prices provide breathing room for now.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)
June 2, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD The soft property/casualty market has been a welcome development for U.S. public entity risk managers affected by the nation's economic downturn. Increased P/C rates "would only double the pain,'' said Kathy...

Why some budgets escape cuts.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... Byline: Judy Greenwald While many public entity risk managers say they're feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, others say it's not materially affected them, at least so far. For instance, the city's management department remains...

Amid labor dispute, Council event likely to be moved from Greenbrier.(End Page)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... For the first time in 95 years, insurance industry executives may not be able to say, "See you at the Greenbrier.'' The annual October gathering of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers and Council of Insurance Company Executives has...

More states passing firefighter comp laws; Public employers say presumptive statutes costly, unnecessary.(News)
June 2, 2008... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Firefighters across the nation are lobbying state legislatures to expand workers compensation protections for illnesses and diseases they say they contract while in the line of duty. Because firefighters put their...

County's wellness program used to curb comp costs.(News)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... Byline: Sally Roberts The Orange County Fire Authority is taking steps toward combating costs associated with California's presumption statue. Under California's Labor code, if a firefighter contracts any form of cancer, heart-related...

Dictating comp cover a misguided effort.(Opinions)(law regarding compensation and benfits of firefighters)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
June 2, 2008... THE INCREASE IN PRESUMPTIVE laws mandating that certain medical conditions affecting firefighters be considered work-related unless proven otherwise is troubling. The well-intended state laws seek to ensure that workers compensation...

Pools retain unique pull despite soft commercial market; Knowledge of public entity risks, stability uphold retention rates.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)
June 2, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN Public entity insurance pools have demonstrated membership stability despite the soft property/casualty market, observers say. Reasons for the pools' staying power include municipal risk managers' search for...

Economic woes squeeze local governments' risk budgets; Amid cost-cutting, some entities consider buying less insurance.(Spotlight: Public Entity Risk Management)
June 2, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Public entity risk management departments face layoffs and budget cuts as the economic downturn that has hit much of the U.S. economy extends to the public sector. In addition to cuts, some public entity risk...

On the web.
June 2, 2008... BI VIDEO RIMS leaders speak about development The Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. recently unveiled a professional growth tool to help members enhance their skills. Members of the RIMS board of directors discuss professional...

Online Poll at www.businessinsurance.com.(Opinions)
June 2, 2008... Are AIG's recent financial results a sign of more trouble ahead? No: AIG is still very strong: 28% No: But AIG has fixes to make: 20% Yes: But it will not get much worse: 23% Yes: The worst is yet to come: 29% Next week's...

'Leaks' of data surge; Canada weighs mandatory breach notification.(International News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ OTTAWA-The number of data breaches in Canada reported so far in 2008 is outpacing last year's figure, with many of the breaches caused by companies failing to take basic steps to protect personal information,...

AMENDED AGREEMENTS.(News)
June 9, 2008... 2005: Leading commercial brokers Marsh Inc., Aon Corp., Willis Group Holdings Ltd. and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. all agree to pay collectively more than $1 billion in client restitution to settle client-steering allegations. The settlement...

NCQA seeks input on wellness plans.(News)(Canada. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act 2000)
June 9, 2008... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK WASHINGTON-The National Committee for Quality Assurance is seeking public comment on its proposal to evaluate corporate wellness and health programs. The program, slated to launch in early 2009, will evaluate...

Coverage for when insurers say 'no'.(End Page)(Swett and Crawford Group introduces a product Claims Dispute Insurance)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... Concerned about racking up big legal bills fighting your insurers over claims? Don't get mad-get...more insurance? That's the idea behind a new offering from Swett & Crawford Group Inc., which last week unveiled a product called Claims...

Dose of reality in fight over fantasy baseball.(End Page)(cases of C.B.C. Distribution and Marketing Inc.)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... A fantasy sports distribution company completed a sweep of Major League Baseball when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case challenging the use of MLB players' names and statistics. Without comment, the justices last week declined...

UP CLOSE Mark Farrell.(Comings & Goings)(Intracorp appoints Mark Farrell as its new president )(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... NEW JOB TITLE: President of Intracorp, a unit of CIGNA Corp., in Philadelphia START DATE: April 7 PREVIOUS POSITION: Vp and senior sales consultant at Commerce Insurance Services Inc. VITAL STATISTICS: B.A. in business...

Big brokers win OK for some contingents; Incentives allowed at newly acquired units.(News)(Aon Corp.and Willis Group Holdings Ltd.)
June 9, 2008... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS NEW YORK-The world's three largest brokers, which ceased collecting contingent commissions as part of their broad compensation settlements in 2005, were given permission last week to accept the incentive payments from...

Accusations against drug wholesaler expand; Alleged co-conspirator receives preliminary approval to settle 2005 class action lawsuit.(News)(McKesson Corp.)
June 9, 2008... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD BOSTON-Pharmaceutical wholesaling giant McKesson Corp. faces widening litigation charging it manipulated prescription drug prices, while its alleged co-conspirator in the scheme, a leading publisher of drug pricing...

Settlement may improve deals for PBMs.(News)(First DataBank Inc. and McKesson Corp.)
June 9, 2008... Byline: Douglas McLeod BOSTON-First DataBank Inc.'s proposed settlement of pharmaceutical price-fixing charges is not likely to produce any immediate savings for health plan sponsors or insurers if approved, but it may lead to...

Hurricane season expected to be active; Above-average storm activity forecast.(News)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN This year's Atlantic hurricane season will feature above-average storm activity, according to reports issued by two forecasters last week. A forecast released by London-based Tropical Storm Risk said this...

In brief.(News)(American International Group Inc. receives inquiries from Securities and Exchange Commission for credit default swaps)(American International Group Inc. to provide ceos Maurice R. Greenberg and Howard I. Smith with legal memoranda)(Compensation Risk Managers L.L.C. surrenders its licence to do business as a third party administrator)
June 9, 2008... SEC, DOJ seeking info on AIG swap valuation American International Group Inc. confirmed a report Friday that it has received inquiries from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice about its valuation of...

U.K. changes pension levy formula; Some employers see big increase in sums paid to government backstop.(International News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: JONATHAN GARDNER LONDON-U.K. employers with defined benefit pension plans are seeing unexpected changes in the amount they pay into the U.K. pension safety net program, due to a change in the way the government calculates the levy....

NAIC calls on insurers to report climate risks; Subgroup working on specifics of proposal.(News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: MEG FLETCHER SAN FRANCISCO-The National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners has adopted a white paper containing a general but still controversial call for U.S. insurers to disclose their climate-related risks. "Global warming and...

Class actions spike with subprime squeeze; Only half of large institutions have Side B D&O cover; many lack self-insurance mechanism.(Sector Briefing: Financial Institutions)
June 9, 2008... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS Large financial institutions have the wherewithal to absorb any losses they suffer in securities litigation related to the subprime mortgage mess despite a lack of commercial insurance and no formal self-insurance...

Hardest hit have toughest time procuring D&O cover.(Sector Briefing: Financial Institutions)
June 9, 2008... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS U.S. financial institutions slammed by huge subprime mortgage-related losses face a severely tightened directors and officers liability insurance market, which has prompted many to go without a key element of the...

Subprime crisis triggers effort to strengthen banking system; Regulators take steps to guard against future problems.(Sector Briefing: Financial Institutions)
June 9, 2008... Byline: ADRIAN LADBURY In mid-April, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the Switzerland-based group that creates standards for the global banking system, announced a series of steps that it hopes will make the banking system more...

Risk management's role in subprime crisis; Questions & answers.(Sector Briefing: Financial Institutions)(William J. Kelly)(Interview)
June 9, 2008... Byline: Dave Lenckus William J. Kelly, president of WJK Advisory L.L.C. of Morristown, N.J., has extensive risk management experience at financial institutions and consulting firms, including the former JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch, Willis...

RIMS heads to Capitol to lobby for reforms; Experts pin hopes on surplus lines measure.(News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Congress may grant risk managers a legislative wish or two yet this year, insurance industry observers say. That's despite a shrinking legislative calendar that calls for lawmakers to be gone most of...

Studio fire sparks business interruption losses.(News)(NBC Universal Inc.)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... Byline: Roberto Ceniceros NBC Universal Inc. has notified several insurers that property and business interruption claims are likely from a June 1 fire that destroyed a soundstage, a New York streetscape used in films and TV shows, most of...

Pregnancy bias law extends to abortion; Woman entitled to hearing on claims: Court.(News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD PHILADELPHIA-The Pregnancy Discrimination Act does grant employment discrimination protection to women who have an abortion, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. In a unanimous ruling in Jane Doe vs....

Comings & goings.(Willis Group Holdings Ltd. appointing Bryan Martin as senior vice president)(Aon Corp. appointing Peter Breitstone as president and chief executive officer of Specialty Product Network Insurance Services Inc)(IMA Financial Group Inc. appointing Therese Carpio as executive vice president)
June 9, 2008... BROKERS Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has made several senior-level appointments: * Bryan Martin has been named senior vp for Willis North America's Surety Practice in San Francisco. Previously, he was senior vp of ABD Insurance &...

HOW THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DIFFER ON HEALTH CARE REFORM.(News)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... John McCain * Would rewrite the tax code to add employer-paid health insurance premiums to employees' taxable income * Advocates providing a refundable tax credit of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to pay for insurance...

Comp fund seeks to reform would-be jackasses.(End Page)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... Sword fights with cattle prods, rolling down a hill in a tractor tire and being flung in a shopping cart across a parking lot are among video entries on the Montana State Fund's No Jack Web site promoting safety in the workplace. A play on...

INSURANCE INDUSTRY REFORM.(News)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... The Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act-H.R. 1065, passed by the house in 2007 Would allow brokers for large policyholders to seek coverage directly from the nonadmitted market, provided the policyholder employs a "qualified risk...

IRS sets penalties for violating HSA contribution regulations; Early withdrawal will result in added income taxes, 10% penalty.(News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Employees who enroll for a partial year in high-deductible health insurance plans linked to health savings accounts and make full-year contributions to the HSAs will face stiff penalties if they drop out of...

Health care debate heads into election; Candidates offer widely divergent plans.(News)
June 9, 2008... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-When it comes to reforming the nation's health care system, the differences in the approaches advocated by the presumptive Republican and Democratic presidential candidates are stark. Sen. John McCain,...

Reservist-FSA measure the right thing to do.(Opinions)(flexible spending accounts)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... IN A SHINING EXAMPLE of common-sense legislative action, Congress last month approved legislation to allow employees in the military reserves to cash in their health care flexible spending accounts when they are called to active military duty....

Campaign statements can be public service.(Opinions)(Brief article)
June 9, 2008... SEN. BARACK OBAMA, D-Ill., performed a public service when his campaign issued a statement criticizing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for opposing the creation of a national catastrophe insurance fund. We call it a public service not because we...