Business Insurance articles from November 2006

Business Insurance archives from November 2006

Difference makers.(Feature: Giving)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... * ACE Ltd. launched a Global Day of Service to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2005. More than 5,000 employees from 36 countries contributed to more than 170 projects. U.S.-based employees helped students, cleaned parks, sorted groceries at a...

Noteworthy Insurer Web Sites.(Cover: Focus Web Services)
November 1, 2006... Webby Award* Winner State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.'s Now What? at www.nowwhat.com Webby Award Nominees * Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island at www.bcbsri.com * Blue Shield of California at www.mylifepath.com...

Sites to behold; Insurers increase market presence by having a Web site experts in the field consider worth visiting.(Cover: Focus Web Services)
November 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher Insurers' Web sites are making progress in shedding the industry's traditionally conservative image, although they are being challenged by the increasing sophistication of online capabilities and the rising...

Specialty lines' bout; Paired claims managers, underwriters spell victory.(Feature: Perspective)
November 1, 2006... Byline: David Marock A new battlefront is opening up in the competition for U.S. casualty business, and particularly for the complex management liability and professional liability risks often known as specialty lines. The front is claims...

Three questions.(interview with Thomas Upton)(Interview)
November 1, 2006... While the 2006 hurricane season has not lived up to the worst fears of most in the insurance industry, considerable issues remain before property/casualty insurers and reinsurers. Among those keeping the sharpest watch on those issues and their...

Big blog bang, world of opportunity.(growth in usage of weblogs)
November 1, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos It might have been slow in coming, but it seems the world of the insurance industry is finally colliding with the Blogosphere. Given the size of each, particularly the rapid growth of that online realm of those...

In Focus.(Accenture Ltd.)(Affiliated Computer Services Inc.)(Computer Sciences Corp.)(List)
November 1, 2006... As they look for the information technology power they need to do business effectively, many insurance industry companies often find it most efficient to look to outside partners rather than attempting to create systems in-house. Whether it's...

ACORD group streamlines questionnaire.(ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... PEARL RIVER, N.Y.-The ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange is promoting a new questionnaire form to help independent agencies organize data commonly requested by insurers. The new online form, designed to eliminate redundant requests for...

Stable outlook for 75% of life insurers: Moody's.(Moody's Investor Service)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... NEW YORK-Moody's Investors Service Inc. says the stable outlook for its A1 average financial strength rating for the U.S. life insurance industry is supported by such factors as a favorable operating environment, improving national economy,...

BMA outlines transparency recommendations.(Bond Market Association)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... NEW YORK-The Bond Market Assn. has filed a comment letter with the National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners recommending ways for the NAIC's Securities Valuation Office to bring greater transparency to its process of rating hybrid securities....

Bank insurance revenue grows.(Industry News)(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WASHINGTON-U.S. bank holding companies increased their total insurance revenue 1.1% to $21.4 billion in the first half of 2006 from the same period last year. According to statistics from the American Bankers Insurance Assn. and bank...

Mesirow acquires Dann Insurance.(Mesirow Financial Inc acquires Dann Insurance)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... CHICAGO-Diversified financial services firm Mesirow Financial has acquired Dann Insurance as part of its Insurance Services Division. Under the transaction, terms of which were not disclosed, the principals of Dann Insurance-Scott Dann,...

On the Move.(new appointments)
November 1, 2006... Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. has named M. Michele Burns chairwoman and chief executive officer of the New York-based company's Mercer Human Resource Consulting unit. Ms. Burns, who had been MMC's chief financial officer, succeeds Michael...

Social obligations; Industry backs philanthropic causes.(Feature: Giving)
November 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher As the season of giving and receiving begins, some observers are thinking about the insurance industry's special role in society and the obligations and opportunities that flow from it. "It's an altruistic...

Service-oriented architecture bridges the business, IT gap.(Tech Focus)
November 1, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos With their businesses typically supporting multiple products increasingly delivered over a variety of distribution channels-in addition to often having multiple information technology systems in place to support various...

Guidewire clients gain access to safety reports.(Guidewire Software Inc. partnership with Metropolitan Reporting Bureau)(Insurance Services Office Inc. licensing agreement with BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... SAN MATEO, Calif.-Guidewire Software Inc. has entered into an alliance with Philadelphia-based Metropolitan Reporting Bureau to provide Guidewire clients access to the bureau's public safety reports at any point during the life of a claim. ...

The quote.(Industry News)
November 1, 2006... `A good Web site can help an insurance company brand, while a bad one will hurt it.' -William Rice, President, Web Marketing Assn.

Less repetition, more face time.(property and casualty insurance industry's business)
November 1, 2006... Byline: Dan Epstein Can agencies improve operating performance in a softening property and casualty insurance market? A recent property/casualty forecast by Conning Research & Consulting predicted a softening market through 2007, despite...

Zywave's broker tools evolve beyond `gee-whiz presentation'.(Cover Focus: Web Services)
November 1, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos For one Milwaukee-based company, the information technology and Web-based tools it developed to improve its insurance brokerage business and better serve clients proved so valuable that they ultimately took on a...

NIPR@10; Registry strives to be `one-stop shop' of electronic producer licensing transactions.(National Insurance Producer Registry )
November 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher During the past decade, the National Insurance Producer Registry has revolutionized the producer licensing process by harnessing the speed and efficiency of an Internet-based system for producers seeking licenses,...

BI Stock Index.(News)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Stock Index [ 10/30 - 11/3 ]: Up-to-the-minute data for all 85 companies that comprise the BI Stock Index can be found at www.BusinessInsurance.com.

On the Web.(News)(Business Insurance Reinsurance Brokers directory )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... BI DIRECTORIES Reinsurance Brokers directory updated for ae06 The Business Insurance Reinsurance Brokers directory has been updated for 2006 and is available online. Company name and address, 2005 and 2004 gross revenues and number of...

Reinsurers face variety of litigation in early absence of Katrina suits; Lawyers see surge in side agreement, late-notice claims.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)
November 6, 2006... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD Few reinsurance disputes are emerging over Hurricane Katrina losses only a year after the storm came ashore, but cedents and their reinsurers are engaged in a variety of other legal battles-some new and others a...

Reinsurance vehicles differ in design, but all provide form of risk transfer; No single product dominates industry's menu of alternatives.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Reinsurers will turn increasingly to sidecars, catastrophe bonds and industry loss warranties to obtain more capacity, but no single vehicle has taken a dominant position in the alternative sector, say observers. ...

About 1,500 attend 26th annual SIIA gathering.(News)(Self-Insurance Institute of America )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Byline: Michael Bradford PHOENIX-The Self-Insurance Institute of America Inc. spent four days in the desert educating and entertaining its membership. SIIA's 26th National Educational Conference & Expo, held at the JW Marriott Desert...

JLT continues efforts to restructure company; London brokerage combines units, shuffles executives.(International News)(Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C.)
November 6, 2006... Byline: STUART COLLINS LONDON-Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C. has announced further restructuring that includes the formation of a new unit through the merger of its risk solutions business with its Lloyd's of London broker, Agnew...

U.S., Europe debate U.S. reinsurance collateralization rules: Matcham.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)(interview with Dave Matcham from International Underwriting Association)(Interview)
November 6, 2006... Byline: Sally Roberts and Stuart Collins Dave Matcham is chief executive of the London-based International Underwriting Assn. He also is chairman of the reinsurance working party for the international committee at the Paris-based Comit...

European reinsurance buyers to see stable Jan. 1 renewals; Retro capacity crunch seen by attendees at Baden-Baden.(International News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY and RICHARD MILLER BADEN-BADEN, Germany-European buyers of reinsurance can expect "stable'' conditions at the upcoming Jan. 1 renewal, barring any major catastrophes, according to sources at the recent Baden-Baden...

Competition keeping lid on casualty reinsurance rates; Lack of major losses, diversification also a brake on pricing.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)(property catastrophe rates)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD The reinsurance market continues to be bifurcated, with property catastrophe rates still rising while casualty lines continue to experience modest decreases due to competition, observers say. The lack of major...

Risk pro knows value of networking.(Emerging Risk Strategies)(Emerging Risk Strategies)
November 6, 2006... Byline: John J. Hampton Periodically, Emerging Risk Strategies highlights the achievements of a successful risk manager. The story today is of risk manager Susan Meltzer, chairman of the International Federation of Risk & Insurance...

Most HMOs pay some incentives; Rewards based on performance.(News)(JOANNE WOJCIK)(Healthcare Research and Quality)(health plan payments)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Slightly more than half of health maintenance organizations used some form of pay-for-performance in their contracts with doctors and hospitals in 2005, according to a study financed by the Washington-based Agency for...

Cooney out as Max Re chief as finite risk probe reopens.(News)(insurance and reinsurance operations)
November 6, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH HAMILTON, Bermuda-The departure of Robert J. Cooney from the helm of Max Re Capital Ltd. following a reopened probe into the reinsurer's accounting for some finite risk contracts may help Max Re move on from a...

Federal inaction carries a very high cost.(Opinions)(pension plans)
November 6, 2006... IF THERE EVER was an example of the damaging consequences that can result when federal legislators stay on the sidelines on an important employee benefits issue, the controversy over cash balance pension plans is it. The first cash balance...

Overseas relocations create benefits tangle for employers; Care needed to ensure compliance with local requirements.(News)(employers deal with unusual benefits)
November 6, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD PHOENIX-Employers that relocate workers to foreign countries and hire local employees in far-flung locations need to be well-prepared for the complexities of providing those workers with benefits, a human resources...

Self-insurance group steps up effort to expand scope of RRGs coverage; Lobbying to focus on getting go ahead to include property risks.(Self-Insurance Institute of America, risk retention groups)
November 6, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD PHOENIX-Employers will have new opportunities to self-insure property exposures if the Self-Insurance Institute of America Inc. and other proponents of expanding the federal Liability Risk Retention Act have their...

'Some girls take my money'.(Rolling Stones, Rosalie Druyan )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... A dissatisfied Rolling Stones fan who can't always get what she wants is going after what she says she needs: a refund. When the legendary rock band canceled its Oct. 27 New Jersey concert just hours before the show, Rosalie Druyan of...

U.S., Europe debate U.S. reinsurance collateralization rules; Introduction.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)
November 6, 2006... The National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners is expected to decide next month whether state regulators should change the current collateral requirements for reinsurers doing business in the United States. The current dual approach to...

High court considers punitives.(Philip Morris USA vs. Mayola Williams)
November 6, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court may use a tobacco liability case to determine whether due process guarantees allow a jury to levy punitive damages on a defendant for the effects of its conduct on people who are not a...

Call first; eat later.(diet therapy)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Not quite sure whether you're eating right? With the cell phone diet, you can snap a picture of your food-assuming your phone has a camera-and send it as a text message to a nutritionist, who will let you know whether to pick up that fork. ...

U.S., Europe debate U.S. reinsurance collateralization rules: Bennett.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)(Interview)
November 6, 2006... Byline: Sally Roberts and Stuart Collins Steven A. Bennett is assistant general counsel for the American Insurance Assn. based in Washington. Q: What is your position on U.S. regulators requiring unlicensed reinsurers to provide...

REINSURANCE ALTERNATIVES.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Over the past several years, alternatives to conventional reinsurance and retrocessional coverage have emerged and are taking up an increasing portion of the market. The three most popular alternatives are: sidecars, catastrophe bonds and...

Don't assume D&O policy covers individuals' defense expenses.(directors and officers liability)
November 6, 2006... Byline: William A. Boeck In the wake of the scandals involving Enron, WorldCom and other companies, circumstances combined to energize law enforcement agencies' investigation and prosecution of corporate fraud and mismanagement. New...

Lower drug costs may result from CVS/Caremark combination; Deal could lead to more consolidation in PBM sector.(News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ NASHVILLE, Tenn.-The merger of one of the biggest pharmacy retailers and a major pharmacy benefit manager should result in lower prescription drug pricing and may foreshadow a future trend of consolidation in the...

PUNITIVE DAMAGES.(News)(Chronology)
November 6, 2006... Since 1993, the Supreme Court has moved toward restricting what it considers disproportionate punitive damages. 1993: TXO Production Corp. vs. Alliance Resources Corp. The court lets stand a punitive damage award that is 526 times the...

No letup; Cat rates soar despite low losses.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)(property catastrophe reinsurance gets affected by hurricanes)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Despite strong overall reinsurer results and a light U.S. hurricane season this year, there will be no rate relief in property catastrophe reinsurance for primary insurers and risk managers with operations in...

More startups needed? Observers raise doubts; Market practitioners differ on prospects for M&A growth.(mergers and acquisitions)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Business is booming for the so-called Class of 2005 reinsurers that formed in Bermuda in the wake of last year's U.S. hurricanes, but industry observers expect little near-term activity from new entrants or mergers...

MAX RE MILESTONES.(News)(Chronology)
November 6, 2006... July 1999: Robert J. Cooney says he will leave XL Insurance Ltd. to form a Bermuda-based reinsurer. January 2000: Max Re, which raised more than $300 million in capital, opens. November 2004: New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and...

District court judge says cash balance plans are age discriminatory; Employers had hoped uncertainty over after appeals court ruling.(Judge Harold Baer Jr.)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL NEW YORK-The legal status of cash balance pension plans remains far from settled after a federal judge ruled last week that the plans discriminate against older workers. When cash balance plan benefits are...

Ink barely dry on law with a flaw.(End Page)(insurance for tatoo shops and artists)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... An Oklahoma law permitting tattooing doesn't come with any insurance provisions, but does include a $100,000 surety bond requirement-a clause one state Department of Health official referred to as a major flaw in the newly enacted bill's...

Parallel tacks in branding.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... There are plenty of parallels between professional sailing and leading a financial services company, said Jan R. Carendi, member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE, Insurance NAFTA Markets. Both require building a team with the right...

REBEX event draws 370.(News)(Risk Management and Employee Benefits Conference and Exhibition )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Byline: Louise Esola ITASCA, Ill.-About 370 people attended the 2006 Risk Management and Employee Benefits Conference and Exhibition Oct. 26-27 at the Wyndham Northwest Chicago hotel in Itasca, Ill. The event featured 29 seminars,...

Finite deals drop off in number as scrutiny increases; Cedents seek other options to replace structured coverage.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)
November 6, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH Heavy regulatory scrutiny of finite reinsurance products has hampered the popularity of such deals, but they won't disappear from the marketplace completely, industry experts and observers say. Some demand for the...

Vapor intrusion risk may spur trend in costly litigation, new regulations; Evolving problem on risk managers', insurers' radar.(News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA ITASCA, Ill.-Companies and their environmental insurers could get visits from costly old ghosts, as the recent discovery of toxic gases from decades-old chemical spills surface in homes and businesses many years after...

Elections will never be a problem in Winstonia.(Commentary)
November 6, 2006... Byline: Paul Winston From Winstonia's shores, thanks to the broad reach of our satellites, I see that Election Day is here at last for Americans. By the time America reads this, its citizens might already have cast their votes, many no...

Lid on finite coverage coffin nearly nailed shut.(Opinions)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... The departure of yet another insurance industry chief executive at the same time that the company runs into issues over its involvement in the finite risk market (see story, page 1) would seem to be yet another nail in the coffin of what was...

Catlin Group offers $1.01 billion for Wellington Underwriting; Deal one of many acquisitions in the London market.(International News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: STUART COLLINS LONDON-Hamilton, Bermuda-based Catlin Group Ltd. is set to become one of the largest players at Lloyd's of London, following its 532 million pounds ($1.01 billion), offer to acquire Wellington Underwriting P.L.C. ...

UnumProvident, Spitzer, California reach settlement on compensation practices; Insurer agrees to fully disclose how it pays brokers.(Eliot Spitzer )
November 6, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.-UnumProvident Corp. has reached settlements with New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi that will change the ways the disability insurer...

Marsh plans expansion to tap middle market; President to depart as broker shuffles executive suite.(News)(William A. Malloy leaves)(Mark Feuer and Tim Mahoney are appointed)
November 6, 2006... Byline: GAVIN SOUTER NEW YORK-Marsh Inc. announced a series of changes last week including a drive to increase its share of middle-market business and the departure of its president, William A. Malloy. The New York-based brokerage has...

In Brief.(News)(John Garamendi's decision for workers compensation)(Dr. Ewart F. Brown is new premier)(Lockton Cos. Inc. new employee benefits)
November 6, 2006... Insured cat losses drop in 3Q: PCS U.S. catastrophes caused an estimated $971 million in insured property damage during the third quarter of this year, according to a preliminary estimate from the Insurance Services Office Inc.'s Property...

Retrocessional capacity still tight amid light cat season; Nontraditional sources help somewhat but market still tight.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)(Market overview)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD This year's light U.S. storm season will not lead to a dramatic improvement in the availability and price of retrocessional coverage, but it may help, observers say. They note that traditional retrocessional...

Strategies used to avoid potential avian flu also help fight seasonal flu; Series of steps help employers keep common virus at bay.(News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA ITASCA, Ill.-There's a positive side effect for companies now making plans to handle a potential avian flu pandemic: Some of the same steps to avoid spreading a major flu virus among employees, put into practice now,...

Special events create complex risks; All liabilities, security must be considered to secure proper cover.(News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA ITASCA, Ill.-First-place runner Robert Cheruiyot was at the finish line of the 2006 LaSalle Bank Chicago marathon last month when he slipped and fell, hitting his head on the wet, slick ground. After what many...

Misdeeds by directors may not void all cover: Court.(News)
November 6, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN PASADENA, Calif.-Both sides are finding something to like in a federal appeals court panel's decision in a California case involving what directors and officers liability insurance covers in a securities class...

Products & Services.(briefs)
November 6, 2006... Hanover, NER target heavy equipment theft WORCESTER, Mass.-The Hanover Insurance Group Inc. and the National Equipment Register are teaming up to help contractors combat heavy equipment theft. Through the partnership, Hanover will...

Leaseholder can't recover replacement cost of WTC.(World Trade Center)
November 6, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH NEW YORK-The World Trade Center's leaseholder can recover from a group of insurers only the cost of rebuilding the Twin Towers as they stood before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks-not the costs for any...

Hedge funds' involvement in industry likely to continue; Reinsurers, investors see benefits in hedge funds.(Spotlight: Reinsurance: Trends & Issues)
November 6, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Hedge funds' involvement in the reinsurance industry is likely to wax and wane depending upon the investment opportunities presented by the market, say observers. But even if potentially highly lucrative...

On the Web.(News)
November 6, 2006... BI DIRECTORIES Reinsurance Brokers directory updated for "06 The Business Insurance Reinsurance Brokers directory has been updated for 2006 and is available online. Company name and address, 2005 and 2004 gross revenues and number of...

Creditors of failed reinsurer.(News)
November 13, 2006... Byline: Douglas McLeod and Roberto Ceniceros Workers comp policyholders that are creditors in the Hatteras Re liquidation include: * Aramark, which placed its direct workers comp coverage with U.S. units of ACE Ltd. and retained part...

Ballot questions target industry lobbyists.(News)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... Byline: LOUISE ESOLA New voter-approved state regulations in Colorado and Montana will put an end to the revolving door among politicians and the insurance industries they regulate, said Birny Birnbaum, executive director of the Center for...

Airbus, Air France found liable in deadly 1992 crash in France; Criminal court, however, acquits aviation officials and Airbus executive.(Airbus S.A.S., Air France S.A.)
November 13, 2006... Byline: RICK MITCHELL COLMAR, France-A French criminal court last week found Airbus and Air France civilly liable for an airplane crash that killed 87 near Strasbourg in 1992, but it acquitted five former aviation officials and a former...

Defunct reinsurer pursued; Captives seek recoveries for workers comp claims.(News)
November 13, 2006... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD and ROBERTO CENICEROS NEW YORK-Several captive insurers writing workers compensation programs are waiting to see how much they will recover from a Bermuda-based reinsurer that collapsed this summer only two years...

Cutting trans fat won't make fast food healthy.(KFC Corp.)
November 13, 2006... Byline: Sally Roberts There's been a lot of talk lately about trans fat, the chemically altered oil that makes such tempting treats as cookies, crackers, doughnuts and deep-fried foods like french fries taste so good. Trans fatty...

Adding value to communication gets everyone on same page.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... Bosses may want to start "thinking outside the box'' and find new ways to communicate with employees, based on the results of a recent survey. The survey-conducted by London-based market research firm YouGov P.L.C.-culled responses from...

With Segal in the big house, bigger one sold.(Michael Segal, Near North National Group)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... Preservationists, uneasy over the future of convicted Near North National Group Inc. owner Michael Segal's historic 17-acre estate in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, have withdrawn their objections to its sale. U.S. District Court...

Poll results mixed for industry.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... Now that the votes for the midterm 2006 elections have been counted, how did insurance industry-backed candidates for U.S. House and Senate do? According to data compiled by the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics from Federal...

TRIA extension more likely with Democrats in charge.(News)
November 13, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The election of Democratic majorities in the House and Senate could boost the chances of extending the federal terrorism insurance backstop, according to Washington observers. That's certainly good...

Charity begins on the job in vacation donation program; Workers share unused time off to benefit disabled colleagues.(Spotlight: Workers Compensation & Disability Manag)
November 13, 2006... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS AKRON, Ohio-Under an innovative program, employees at FirstEnergy Corp. can donate accumulated vacation time to co-workers who are facing disability-related absences or family medical emergencies necessitating...

Stock Index.(News)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... Stock Index: [ 11/6 - 11/10 ] Up-to-the-minute data for all 82 companies that comprise the BI Stock Index can be found at www.BusinessInsurance.com.

Health benefits measures stymied as Republican backers lose power.(News)
November 13, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Several Republican-backed benefits measures that were supported by business groups likely are dead as a result of the election of a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. In particular,...

Democratic victory has advantages for industry.(Opinions)
November 13, 2006... LAST WEEK'S CONGRESSIONAL elections have created an entirely new environment for risk management and employee benefit issues. For at least the next two years, both houses of Congress will be under Democratic control while the executive branch...

Labor Department issues guidance on ERISA exemptions for HSAs; Bulletin helps resolve issues not addressed in earlier brief.(News)(Employee Retirement Income Security Act)(health savings accounts)
November 13, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-A recent Labor Department bulletin provides long-awaited guidance on how employers can offer health savings accounts without the arrangements becoming subject to stringent federal regulations. Bulletin...

Cover for another type of natural cat.(pilot insurance/conservation scheme )(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... If livestock farmers in northern Pakistan were compensated for the loss of their herds killed by snow leopards, it would reduce retaliatory killings of the elusive endangered feline. That's the premise behind a pilot insurance/conservation...

Dirty dealings on mold.(End Page)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... A Georgia plaintiffs attorney found a way to use his expertise in the relatively new field of mold liability litigation to make money in a very old-fashioned way-through fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern...

Prescription drug plan would ban bulk exports; Proposed regulation in Canada responds to recent U.S. law.(International News)
November 13, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ OTTAWA-Canadian health officials would have the power to ban bulk exports of prescription drugs from Canada under a recently proposed amendment to Canada's Food and Drugs Act. The proposal is a direct response...