According to the insurance brokerage at Marsh & McLennan Cos., American businesses are likely to face higher property insurance rates following the significant losses that insurers faced as a result of the decline of investment income and the natural disasters in 2011. Following a survey performed by Marsh Inc., it determined that over half of the clients in the United States have said that the last half of 2011 included an increase in their cost of property insurance. Among the policyholders who were at the greatest risk of losses from…
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WillisWire report highlights the emerging risks facing the global insurance industry
The global insurance industry has been facing many threats in recent years, the majority of which coming from unpredictable natural disasters. The world is changing at a rapid pace in terms of technology, environment and crime and as each of these fields advances, new threats emerge that could destabilize the industry as a whole. Willis Group Holdings, one of the world’s largest insurance brokers, has launched a new website that seeks to document these risks. The site is called WillisWire and will play host to a number of surveys and…
Read MoreFederal Insurance Office report could have far reaching implications for state-based insurance regulations
The Federal Insurance Office (FIO) is scheduled to release a report at the end of the month that will have a dramatic impact on how insurance regulations are formed in the U.S. The agency, which is part of the Department of Treasury, has been working with insurers, consumer advocates and legal representative to determine how to modernize existing regulations. Insurers are eagerly anticipating the report as it may bring major changes to how the industry operates. The FIO expects that consumers may find favor with the report because it advises…
Read MoreLiberty Mutual Insurance expands new commercial lead umbrella policy form for mid-sized companies
Liberty Mutual Insurance has announced that it has now broadened its new commercial lead umbrella policy form in order to include an endorsement for crisis management in the hopes to provide increased protection for mid-sized organizations against the significant harm that can come from a business crisis. This new endorsement element provides customers with up to 72 hours in which to discover that a crisis has occurred, and then to make their claim, which includes coverage of up to $50,000 for Weber Shandwick support for crisis management. Weber Shandwick, a…
Read MoreLawmakers in Massachusetts approve rate freeze for the state’s unemployment insurance plans
Massachusetts lawmakers have passed a $130 million spending plan this week. The legislation includes a provision that freezes the unemployment insurance rate that businesses have to pay. This is the fourth consecutive year that lawmakers have put a freeze on the insurance rate, hoping to spare the state’s businesses from costly and, at times, excessive rate increases from insurance companies. Legislators believe that the rate freeze will help stimulate the state’s economy, as businesses will be saving approximately $220 per employee on insurance coverage. The nation’s economy is still showing…
Read MoreDepartment of Health and Human Services seizes control of rate review process in Arizona
Arizona insurance companies are falling prey to federal insurance regulators as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seizes control of the rate review process in the state. Last year, federal regulators began reviewing rates proposals from a company that sought approval for a 40% increase. Regulators decried this as one of the most unreasonable rate proposals they had seen since the passing of the Affordable Care Act and have vowed to fully investigate proposals coming from 32 other health insurance companies. Federal regulators will be reviewing any proposal…
Read MoreA.M. Best report shows the potential for growth seen in the Indian insurance market
A new report from A.M. Best, a global insurance rating company, shows that the insurance market of India is poised for major growth. This potential for growth is, however, offset significant challenges facing the insurance industry. The report, titled “Growth Anticipated for Indian Insurers, But Frustrations Remain”, indicates that the nation’s insurance industry will benefit from a growing middle class and economic growth in numerous industries. The report also highlights the shortcomings of the nation’s auto insurance market, which has become quite volatile as more people have begun driving. The…
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