California Insurers Face Allegations of Collusion in Wake of Wildfires California’s fiery start to the year has left a group of homeowners turning to legal action against some of the state’s largest insurance providers. Lawsuits filed in recent months accuse major insurers, including State Farm and Farmers Insurance, of conspiring to push homeowners in wildfire-prone areas toward the California FAIR Plan, a state-administered program meant as a last resort for those unable to secure traditional coverage. The allegations center on unfair business practices and antitrust violations, igniting a broader debate…
Read MoreUber’s Multifaceted Push for New York Insurance Reform
Uber Technologies has embarked on a six-figure advertising marathon in New York, targeting lawmakers to address the tangled mess of the state’s insurance markets. With the insolvency of the city’s largest taxi insurer looming as one of the key culprits, Uber’s campaign is both a strategic and high-stakes move. Here’s what you need to know about this complex dance between tech, transportation, and insurance reform. What’s Driving Uber’s Big Ad Spend? Rising insurance costs have become a thorn in the side of Uber and its drivers in New York, one…
Read MoreNew Tax Proposal Could Change How Life Insurance Companies Manage Their Money
Breaking Down the Proposed Tax Changes A new law called the Secure Family Futures Act is shaking things up in the life insurance world. The aim of this proposed legislation? To modernize how life insurers are taxed on certain types of investments, like bonds. Right now, these investments fall under something called “capital tax treatment.” It’s a complicated rule that limits how much insurers can handle financial losses and reinvest in the economy. The proposed change would simplify things, making these investments taxable under ordinary rules and extending flexibility for…
Read MoreThe Business of Big Rigs: Why Progressive Bets on Commercial Auto
Progressive’s Cargo Plus Endorsement Expands Protections for For-Hire Truckers When it comes to trucking insurance, staying ahead of the curve means listening to the needs of drivers on the road. Progressive Insurance is doing just that with the launch of Cargo Plus, a new endorsement designed to provide stronger, more comprehensive coverage for for-hire truckers. Now available in 42 states, this addition is already making waves in the trucking community. What Is Cargo Plus, and How Can It Help Truckers? For truckers, disruptions like wetness, corrosion, or temperature swings can…
Read MoreState Farm Reports Dog Bite Claims Hit $1.57 Billion in 2024: What’s Behind the Spike
For those of us who share our lives with dogs, they’re more than pets; they’re family. But with that wagging tail and soulful gaze comes a responsibility we often don’t think about until things go sideways. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm, U.S. insurers shelled out an eye-watering $1.57 billion in dog-related injury claims in 2024. Yes, billion—with a “B.” That’s a nearly 19% increase in the number of claims from 2023, and a staggering 48% rise over the past decade. What’s driving this trend, and…
Read MoreWhy UnitedHealth’s Profit Cut Has Everyone Talking
UnitedHealth’s Forecast Shake-up Sends Health Insurance Stocks Tumbling Health insurance stocks took a nosedive this week. The sector was rattled after UnitedHealth Group (UNH), the largest U.S. health insurer, announced a steep cut to its profit forecast for 2025. The unexpected move sent shockwaves through Wall Street, with UnitedHealth’s shares plummeting by about 22% in a single day. Fellow major insurers, like Humana and CVS Health, also saw their stocks slide. But behind the numbers lies a story of increased medical costs, consumer demand shifts, and what this could mean…
Read MoreMassachusetts High Court Sides with Worker in COVID-19 Compensation Case
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has issued a pivotal ruling in favor of Jeff Stacy, a utility worker who contracted COVID-19 while on the job in 2021. This decision reinforces how workers’ compensation law applies to pandemic-related claims, setting a potential benchmark for similar cases across the country. A Utility Worker in the Eye of the Pandemic Storm Jeff Stacy, a lineman for Unitil Corp., found himself at the center of this historic case. While much of Massachusetts was shut down under emergency orders, Stacy’s work was deemed essential,…
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