Business Insurance articles from March 2008

Business Insurance archives from March 2008

Data-enabled decisions; Reinsurers making greater use of software to better quantify risks and premiums.(Cover Focus: Reinsurance Technology)
March 1, 2008... Byline: Meg Fletcher ***** Correction: In the story titled "Data-enabled decisions'' that ran in the March issue of Industry Focus, the name of Erie Insurance Group and its location in Erie, Pa., were misspelled. ***** ...

FINITE EXECS GUILTY; Fraud convictions raise questions about potential for new cases.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD HARTFORD, Conn.-Five former executives of General Re Corp. and American International Group Inc. sat grimly in a Hartford, Conn., courtroom last week after a federal jury found them guilty of fraud in helping AIG...

Most offshore domiciles see moderate growth in 2007.(Spotlight: Captive Solutions)
March 3, 2008... 1. Bermuda Captive count: 958 New captives in 2007: 32 Captives closed in 2007: 63 As the longtime captive leader, Bermuda remains the world's largest captive domicile. In 2007, however, Bermuda saw a net decrease in captives...

U.K. quake claims could hit $60 million.(International News)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Sarah Veysey MARKET RASEN, England-Insured losses from the earthquake that struck the United Kingdom last Tuesday could reach 30 million pounds ($59.4 million), according to initial estimates. Catastrophe modeling company Risk...

Italy changes tort law to allow new mass suits; Law not expected to have huge liability impact.(International News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD ROME-A new law in Italy that broadens plaintiffs' access to the courts for class action lawsuits is a toned-down version of the legislation consumer advocates had supported-and not the liability bombshell risk...

Court says Mesirow contingents suit can proceed; State court allows fiduciary duty claim but bars fraud charge.(News)(Mesirow Insurance Services)
March 3, 2008... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS CHICAGO-An Illinois Appellate Court has ruled that a lawsuit against Mesirow Insurance Services Inc. alleging breach of fiduciary duty in connection with undisclosed contingent commissions can proceed. Crystal...

Pension funding revisions proposed; Labor Department considers speeding up employee contribution transfers.(News)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-The Labor Department has proposed a revised rule that would require small employers to speed up the transfer of employee contributions to pension and welfare plans and said it is considering doing the same...

Seasoned owners look to expand range of coverages in captives; Increased benefits business seen as key area for potential growth.(Spotlight: Captive Solutions)
March 3, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ and DAVE LENCKUS Many owners of long-established captives have grown comfortable with expanding the risk profiles of their captives, pulling third-party risks such as employee benefits into their facilities as well...

Health care organizations tap captives to fund safety programs.(Spotlight: Captive Solutions)
March 3, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ Captives have become an important vehicle for health care organizations that are seeking ways to improve patient safety and claims experience. While several health care organizations initially created captives...

Big Apple brings in more fruit to help fight flab.(End Page)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Produce peddler chants of "Strawberries, blueberries, cherries,'' and "Watermelon! Watermelon! Got `em red to the rind!'' may soon be heard again on the most impoverished streets of New York. The City Council voted last week to issue 1,000...

Supreme Court ruling lowers bar for ADEA lawsuits; Justices say claimants' ability to bring bias suits not tied to EEOC's response to filed charges.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-A Supreme Court decision last week that makes it easier for employees to sue their employers for alleged discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act could have been worse for employers,...

N.Y. regulator eyes ways to cut health care costs; Backs prior approval of health cover rate hikes.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ NEW YORK-New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo said he hopes a planned lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group Inc. will lead to greater disclosure of health care reimbursement rates but said other changes are...

Errors and omissions.
March 3, 2008... A story in the Feb. 11 issue, "Nearly One-quarter of Employers Offer Voluntary Life Cover,'' contained two errors. The percentage of employers offering voluntary life insurance was 23% in 2006 compared with 28%, not 22%, in 2002, according to...

Online Poll at www.businessinsurance.com.(Opinions)
March 3, 2008... In the current soft market, how much premium do you plan to fund through a captive? More than usual: 38% About the same: 38% Do not use a captive: 25% Next week's poll: Do you agree with the jury verdict finding the five...

Greater transparency needed to heal industry.(Commentary)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Paul Winston The guilty verdicts in two closely watched trials in recent weeks-one accusing brokers of improperly rigging bids for excess liability insurance programs and the other alleging executives at General Re and AIG...

Sentences depend on calculation of loss.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD HARTFORD, Conn.-The defendants in the General Re Corp. finite trial are facing potentially long prison terms, but how long will depend in large part on a federal judge's view of how much financial damage resulted...

Supreme Court to rule on punitives in Exxon Valdez case; Arguments hinge on whether maritime law allows $2.5 billion award.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court is weighing the question of whether a $2.5 billion punitive damage award stemming from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill should be allowed to stand. The justices last week heard...

Claims event draws 670.(News)(Conference news)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Colleen McCarthy NEW YORK-About 670 people attended the 2008 Eastern Claims Conference in New York Feb 24-26. The event featured discussions on health care claims management, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment,...

Court limits coverage in WTC owner's policy; Rare clause excludes cover for leased properties.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS NEW YORK-In the latest insurance ruling stemming from the destruction of the World Trade Center, a federal judge has barred the complex's owner from tapping its coverage under an unusually constructed policy to fill...

Products & services.
March 3, 2008... AI Risk Specialists offers excess auto liability NEW YORK-AI Risk Specialists Insurance Inc., a wholly owned brokerage subsidiary of American International Group Inc., has introduced LexExpress, excess auto liability insurance developed to...

DEFENDANTS FOUND GUILTY.(News)
March 3, 2008... Ronald E. Ferguson, Robert D. Graham, Christian M. Milton and Elizabeth A. Monrad, guilty on 16 counts: * One count of conspiracy * Seven counts of securities fraud * Three counts of mail fraud * Five counts of making false...

Captives urged to take steps now to comply with Solvency II; Domiciles assess how change in capital requirements may affect different insurance entities owned by E.U.-based parents.(Spotlight: Captive Solutions)
March 3, 2008... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD European captive owners that face big changes in their operations under proposed changes to European capital rules have a chance to smooth the way to the new regulatory environment if they take steps now to...

UnitedHealth wins OK to buy smaller rival; Sierra deal revamped to allay monopoly fears.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ WASHINGTON-UnitedHealth Group Inc. has won approval of its $2.6 billion acquisition of Sierra Health Services Inc. by agreeing to divest a relatively small portion of its business, but future transactions of this...

ACQUISITION APPROVED.(News)(UnitedHealth Group Inc. acquires Sierra Health Services Inc.)
March 3, 2008... UnitedHealth Group Inc. secured approval of its acquisition of Sierra Health Services Inc. with a series of concessions that include its agreement to: * Divest its individual SecureHorizons Medicare Advantage health maintenance...

Onshore domiciles continue to see growth in captives.(Spotlight: Captive Solutions)
March 3, 2008... 1. Vermont Captive count: 567 New captives in 2007: 32 Captives closed in 2007: 28 Vermont is one of the nation's smallest states, but it towers over its U.S. competitors as a captive domicile. Four years after its...

Criminal convictions pose hiring dilemma; Employers must weigh risks to their business of hiring ex-cons to avoid running afoul of bias laws.(News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD An applicant apparently meets the qualifications to be an administrative assistant, but a background check finds a 10-year-old conviction for sexual abuse of a child. Is the employer obligated under law to offer him...

Smaller firms face data theft risks; Hackers try new targets as big companies tighten security: FTC official.(News)(Federal Trade Commission)
March 3, 2008... Byline: COLLEEN McCARTHY NEW YORK-Identity theft and data security breach incidents are on the rise, but many companies are not prepared to deal with this risk, according to an official with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. "This is...

Cat bond deals increase in '07: Study.(International News)
March 3, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD NEW YORK-Catastrophe bonds have become an integral part of catastrophe risk management, with 2007 marking the third consecutive year that cat bond transactions set a record in terms of size and the number issued, a...

Coverage mess doesn't mar Silverstein, Willis relations.(End Page)(services of Willis Group Holdings Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... If World Trade Center developer Larry A. Silverstein was ever upset with Willis Group Holdings Ltd. over the coverage fiasco that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, he appears to have gotten over it. Mr. Silverstein last week...

Prescription fraud losses escalate; Insurers, third-party payers urged to step up efforts against drug abuse.(News)(Coalition Against Insurance Fraud)(Report)
March 3, 2008... Byline: COLLEEN McCARTHY NEW YORK-The illegal use of prescription drugs is reaching epidemic levels and health insurers are only beginning to realize their losses associated with this, according to the author of a recent report by the...

In brief.(News)(Michigan Legislature approves formation of captive insurance companies)(American International Group Inc.)(Peter Zaffino appointed at Guy Carpenter and Company Inc.)(Financial report)
March 3, 2008... Michigan passes law to allow captives The Michigan Legislature has given final approval to legislation allowing the formation of captive insurance companies in the state. The state's Senate last week unanimously accepted a measure the House...

Courts should overturn San Francisco health law.(Opinions)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... THE ARCHITECTS of San Francisco's health care spending ordinance may have thought the measure would reform the system, but at least one provision may result in just the opposite. Under the law, which a restaurant trade group is challenging...

Politician runs into problems over campaign financing.(End Page)(cases of Rick Renzi)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Did a congressman embezzle money from his family's insurance agency to fund his political career? That's a question a jury eventually may get to ponder concerning charges brought late last month against Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., and two...

Viewers say show reneged on deal.(End Page)(viewers file cases against NBC Universal Inc.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... The home viewer Lucky Case Game portion of the popular NBC game show "Deal or No Deal'' constitutes illegal gambling under Georgia law, argue players who want their money back. Michael and Michelle Hardin filed a lawsuit last June against...

States learning the value of welcoming captives.(Opinions)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Not that long ago, a company or trade group operating in the United States had to go offshore to set up a captive insurer. The reason was simple: No state had an attractive captive statute. Those days are gone. Today, the fastest...

On the web.
March 3, 2008... CAPTIVES 2008 Captive Solutions extras online To hear more about the development of captives, listen to podcasts with John Wilson of Three Rivers Insurance Co. and Jack McCarthy of CRICO/Risk Management Foundation. Directories of...

Errors and omissions.(Correction notice)
March 3, 2008... ***** Correction: An item in the March 3 issue misidentified the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf L.L.P. ***** A story in the Feb. 11 issue, "Nearly One-quarter of Employers Offer Voluntary Life Cover,'' contained two errors. The...

Organic grocery chain offers surgery abroad in 'dialogue' with U.S. medical community.(Benefits Management)(Hannaford Brothers Co.)
March 10, 2008... Byline: Roseanne White Geisel Perhaps it's no surprise that Hannaford Bros. Co., the Northeast's largest certified organic grocery chain, is miles ahead of other large companies in offering a medical tourism option in its employee health...

Successful medical tourism rests primarily on design.(Benefits Management)
March 10, 2008... Byline: Roseanne White Geisel Benefit managers can take certain steps to ensure that integrating a medical tourism option into an employer-sponsored health plan is successful and worthwhile. The first step is to "analyze the potential...

Few U.S. employers book passage on the ship of medical tourism; Estimates vary widely on savings achieved by surgery performed abroad.(Benefits Management)
March 10, 2008... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL Despite the cost savings floated by the medical tourism industry, few employers have plunged into the unknown waters surrounding the integration of medical tourism into group health plans. Medical tourism...

Captive owners strongly urged to find their voice in Solvency II; E.C. official: Take part in upcoming quantitative studies.(International News)
March 10, 2008... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD LUXEMBOURG-The European Union's proposed revamp of insurance regulation, as it stands now, is not a captive-friendly framework and captive owners need to raise their concerns with the proposed directive, experts...

Industry veterans open reinsurance brokerage; Fox, Stanard launch Alpha Re to target catastrophe business.(News)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD SHELTON, Conn.-Insurance industry veterans Rod Fox and James N. Stanard have started a new reinsurance intermediary, Alpha Re, Mr. Fox said. Alpha Re, which may change its name later, began operations on Feb 1....

Alert.(News)
March 10, 2008... Business Insurance has learned of instances recently where persons misidentifying themselves as BI reporters have contacted insurance industry executives, seeking information. Questions about BI may be directed to biweb@businessinsurance.com....

On-the-job sleepiness blamed on extra work.(End Page)(surveys of National Sleep Foundation )(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Wipe the drool from your face and shake the dreams from your head: It's time to get back to work. A recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation discovered that 29% of respondents fell asleep or became "very sleepy'' at work in the past...

Franken to pay workers comp fine but keeps right to appeal.(End Page)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Al Franken is both a funny guy and a candidate for the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party nomination for the U.S. Senate. But the "Saturday Night Live'' comedian-turned-politician found himself facing a serious charge last week...

Supreme Court allows Rezulin suit to go to trial.(News)
March 10, 2008... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS WASHINGTON-A divided U.S. Supreme Court last week allowed a group of plaintiffs to sue the manufacturer of the diabetes drug Rezulin in a case that centered on when federal laws supersede state laws. In a...

Medical homes aim to improve delivery of care.(Benefits Management)
March 10, 2008... Byline: Joanne Wojcik The patient-centered medical home is a health management model in which each patient has an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician who serves as their personal "health coach,'' leading a team of medical...

Plans based on incentives.(Benefits Management)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Byline: Kristin Gunderson Hunt Value-based health care benefit plans are designed around offering employees financial incentives and disincentives to encourage healthy behaviors to get the maximum value for every dollar spent. ...

Market moves.(Exante Financial Services changes name to OptumHealth Financial Services)(services of Humana Inc.)(BB&T Insurance Services Inc. plans to acquire Burkey Risk Services )
March 10, 2008... OptumHealth rebrands financial services arm GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn.-OptumHealth, a Golden Valley, Minn., division of UnitedHealth Group Inc., has changed the name of Exante Financial Services to OptumHealth Financial Services. "The name...

Insured losses near $2B from Windstorm Emma.(International News)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Byline: STUART COLLINS BOSTON-Insured wind losses from Windstorm Emma, which tore across parts of Central Europe on March 1, could cost as much as $1.99 billion, with Germany and Austria accounting for more than half the total. ...

Ex-Willis exec accused of stealing $2.2 million; Captive management senior vp faces charges of bank, wire fraud.(News)(Kenneth MacKay was an employee of Willis Group Holdings Ltd.)
March 10, 2008... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS BURLINGTON, Vt.-A former senior vp of Willis Group Holdings Ltd.'s Vermont-based captive management operations was arrested last week on charges that he stole more than $2.2 million from Willis and its clients. ...

Discrimination filings with EEOC the highest since 2002; Race still No.1 issue; retaliation overtakes gender at No. 2.(News)(Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)(Report)
March 10, 2008... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS WASHINGTON-The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in fiscal year 2007 received the highest number of discrimination charge filings in five years, the agency reported last week. The federal agency...

Pilot programs examine medical home concept.(Benefits Management)(UnitedHealth Group Inc.)
March 10, 2008... Byline: Joanne Wojcik Insurers, employer groups and even the federal government have initiated pilot programs around the United States to determine whether medical homes can stem the rising cost of health care. UnitedHealth Group Inc.,...

'Medical home' shifts emphasis to patient-centered care; Approach taps coordinated, comprehensive service delivery directed by a primary physician, who may receive a bonus.(Benefits Management)(International Business Machines Corp.)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK When an IBM Corp. executive suddenly developed chest pain, he made an appointment with a cardiologist, who performed a battery of tests that had inconclusive results except an unidentifiable abnormality in the neck...

Promoting medical consulting programs raises utilization rates significantly.(Benefits Management)(EMC Corp. )
March 10, 2008... Byline: Gloria Gonzalez Employers that actively inform employees about medical consulting benefits have the highest rates of utilization, vendors and benefit managers say. Medical consulting companies offer decision support services...

Returns on medical consulting services worth cost: Employers; Programs help employees make informed health care decisions, avoid unnecessary treatments.(Benefits Management)
March 10, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ Medical consulting companies that advise employees are gaining popularity among benefit managers for their ability to empower employees to take control over health care decisions while avoiding costly, unnecessary...

Shipowner pays $2M to help fund oil cleanup.(News)(Regal Stone Ltd. )(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD SAN FRANCISCO-The insurer of a ship that spilled fuel oil into San Francisco Bay following a November accident has made an initial payment of $2 million in compensation. San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera...

Value-based plans an investment in a healthy workforce; Programs give employees financial incentive to seek preventative services, disincentive to pursue ineffective care.(Benefits Management)
March 10, 2008... Byline: KRISTIN GUNDERSON HUNT Value-based health benefit plans are increasing in popularity, employee benefit consultants say, as medical costs continue to rise and cutting benefits seemingly provides little relief. The burgeoning...

Health insurer payment info sought.(News)(UnitedHealth Group Inc.)(Aetna Inc.)(WellPoint Inc.)(CIGNA Corp.)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW YORK-New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is broadening his investigation into health insurers' practices related to payments for out-of-network services, issuing new subpoenas to several companies seeking...

Weigh Internet sources carefully when hiring.(Opinions)(usage of online social networks by employers)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Mining social networking sites for information on potential employees is another example of how business and pleasure aren't always easily mixed. As we report on page 1, more and more employers are using Web sites such as Facebook and...

Preferential treatment undermines parity goal.(Opinions)(laws of Congress. House regarding mental health services)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... WHILE MANDATED MENTAL HEALTH care benefits parity legislation is probably an idea whose time has come, we don't think the approach favored by some parity advocates is the way to achieve it. As we report on page 1, the House of...

Low-income uninsured bet cover on lottery.(End Page)(Oregon Department of Human Services )(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... It may not be as macabre as Shirley Jackson's legendary short story "The Lottery,'' but the folks in Oregon are using a drawing to decide who will or will not be covered by the state-subsidized health plan for low-income residents. Because...

N.Y. seeks more data on comp payments; Employers may face added admin costs as reforms continue.(News)
March 10, 2008... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS ALBANY, N.Y.-New York employers would face a bigger administrative burden if plans to increase workers compensation claims data requirements go into force, but the changes will make the system more efficient,...

Mental parity bill steps closer to law; Measure would force employers to upgrade health care benefits.(News)(Congress. House)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Federal legislation that would mandate mental health benefits receive insurance coverage equal to other health care benefits is heading to a congressional conference committee, which likely will agree on a...

In brief.(News)(laws and rules of Lloyd's of London)(Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary approves a legislative bill)(tax policy of Internal Revenue Service)
March 10, 2008... Proposed reforms would broaden access to Lloyd's The U.K. government would widen access to Lloyd's of London and allow managing agents once again to own brokers, under a slew of market reform proposals released last week. One proposal would...

Bond insurers playing 'good bank/bad bank'.(Commentary)
March 10, 2008... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD Look out, believers in rational markets, another segment of the financial services industry may be ready to do its impression of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This time it's bond insurers, which have been talking for...

Optional federal charter backers encouraged; Administration becoming convinced of need.(News)
March 10, 2008... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Bush administration appears to be moving toward support of an optional federal charter for insurers and producers, according to the co-sponsor of a House bill that would create such new charters. ...

Assurance motivates 'wang-chungy' culture.(End Page)(Assurance Agency Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Assurance Agency Ltd. tapped a "terrible'' song to make benefits fun for its roughly 185 employees. The Schaumburg, Ill., insurance brokerage chose the 1980s Wang Chung hit "Everybody Have Fun Tonight'' as last year's theme to promote a...

Web-based screening may lead to bias suits; Experts advise caution as employers use sites to vet job applicants.(News)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Employers' growing use of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace to scrutinize job applicants could lead to charges of employment discrimination and litigation, experts warn. Observers say that...

Court rules for employers in retaliation case; Individuals can't be held liable, California court says.(News)(California. Supreme Court)
March 10, 2008... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD SAN FRANCISCO-A California Supreme Court ruling that individual managers and supervisors cannot be held personally liable for retaliation is a victory for employers on several fronts, observers say. The ruling...

Parity bill comparison.(News)
March 10, 2008... How mental health care parity bills differ in the House and Senate Where they agree * Group health care plans could not impose higher cost-sharing requirements for mental health care expenses than for other medical conditions. *...

On the web.
March 10, 2008... BI AUDIO More about "medical homes' available online Dr. Paul Grundy, IBM Corp.'s director of health care technology and strategic initiatives, talks about the concept of medical homes and how they can bring physicians closer to their...

Online Poll at www.businessinsurance.com.(Opinions)
March 10, 2008... Do you agree with the jury verdict finding the five defendants in the General Re finite trial guilty of fraud and conspiracy in a scheme to help American International Group Inc. inflate its reserves? Yes: 63% No: 37% Next week's...

MICHAEL S. McGAVICK.(News)
March 24, 2008... Career highlights March 2008: Named chief executive officer of Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd. 2006: Unsuccessfully ran as Republican candidate for U.S. Senate seat in Washington state. 2001-2005: Served as president and chief...

Corporate risk management team works to settle claims swiftly.(Spotlight: Self-Insurance & Claims Management)(Quality Distribution Inc.)
March 24, 2008... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL Bulk chemical transporter Quality Distribution Inc. has orchestrated its claims management with the precision and timing of a pit crew changing tires on a race car during the Indianapolis 500. The Tampa,...

People knowledge sets the tone; Preparation, regular communication speed resolution of claims.(Spotlight: Self-Insurance & Claims Management)
March 24, 2008... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL A major mistake that a policyholder can make in trying to resolve liability claims is not keeping all relevant parties in the loop. Sometimes, the boundaries of inclusiveness must be extended beyond the...

Rate hikes for specific stop-loss range from zero to 40; Market still competitive for self-funded health plans with good claims history; those with greater risks face higher prices.(Spotlight: Self-Insurance & Claims Management)
March 24, 2008... Byline: LOUISE KERTESZ Self-funded health plans are seeing rate increases for specific stop-loss coverage while the market remains "very competitive'' for employers with the best claims experience, industry experts say. Meanwhile,...

Products & services.(Zurich Financial Services provides political risk insurance)(Travelers Aviation introduced workers compensation program)(service intoduction of Pitney Bowes Management Services Inc.)
March 24, 2008... Zurich policy targets carbon credit projects WASHINGTON-Zurich Financial Services Group is providing political risk insurance for companies that invest in programs to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The PRI coverage for carbon credit...

Business Health Agenda draws 508 to Washington.(News)(Conference news)
March 24, 2008... Byline: Joanne Wojcik WASHINGTON-A total of 508 employee benefits professionals attended Business Health Agenda 2008, the annual meeting of the National Business Group on Health. Session topics at the March 12-14 gathering in...

ERM a way to make sense of the madness.(Commentary)(Bear Stearns Companies Inc.)(Viewpoint essay)
March 24, 2008... Byline: Rodd Zolkos By some scheduling quirk, it's been my good fortune more than once over the past few years to be slotted for one of these commentary pieces in the midst of March Madness, one of the happiest times of year for a college...

Munich Re places $268M cat bond; European windstorm risks shifted to the capital markets.(International News)(Munich Reinsurance Co.)(Brief article)
March 24, 2008... Byline: RICHARD MILLER MUNICH, Germany-Munich Reinsurance Co. has issued a e170 million ($267.7 million) catastrophe bond to transfer European windstorm risks to the capital markets, the German reinsurer said last week. Through Munich...

Consider auditing workers comp premiums; Process ideally includes the policyholder and insurer, could aid corporate bottom line.(Perspective)
March 24, 2008... Byline: Bruce S. Zaccanti and William J. O'Brien Risk managers are under constant pressure to demonstrate that they have scrutinized corporate insurance programs and are providing effective coverage at competitive prices. There are...

When coverage disputes arise, try mediation; Conflict resolution initiative uses a proven, credible process to find a mutually beneficial solution.(Perspective)(International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution)
March 24, 2008... Byline: Harold J. Moskowitz and Nancy L. Vanderlip The International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, based in New York, launched an initiative this year to promote mediation use in policyholder-insurer disputes. This new...

Vendors held to account; Benefit managers seek performance guarantees.(News)(analysis of health care costs)
March 24, 2008... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ Seeking ways to improve the efficiency of health care benefits, benefit managers are requiring health care providers to commit to a range of performance guarantees and customize their product offerings. ...