Latest Business Insurance Headlines

All the headlines from our Business Insurance Topic Page, ordered by recency.

OSHA Identifies 14,000 Workplaces with High Injury, Illness Rates; Letter Looks to Proactive Steps

Mar 10 2005 // Approximately 14,000 employers have been notified that injury and illness rates at their worksites are higher than average and that assistance is available to help them fix safety and health hazards, the Occupational...

Conn. Weighs Employer Health Fund Fee

Mar 9 2005 // Companies in Connecticut with 100 or more employees could be forced to pay a fee to help cover their workers’ health insurance expenses if they don’t already offer coverage, under a preliminary legislative...

Small Business Group Offers Member Discount on Applied System

Mar 8 2005 // The National Federation of Independent Business recently began offering the University Park, Ill.-based Applied Systems‘ agency management system at a preferred rate to its 20,000 insurance agent members. Applied...

Progressive Drives Into S.C. Commercial Auto Insurance Market; Signs 430 Agents

Mar 7 2005 // Progressive Insurance’s Drive Group (Drive Insurance) has announced it will offer its commercial auto product in South Carolina through more than 430 agents. Drive(SM) Insurance is The Progressive Group of Insurance...

Travelers Assists Employers Offering Auto, Home Insurance Benefit from Multiple Carriers

Mar 7 2005 // Travelers is making it easier for companies with more than 5,000 employees to offer a choice of providers for auto and homeowners insurance through payroll deduction. A member of St. Paul Travelers, Travelers has dedicated...

COURT SLAPS SCOFFLAW EMPLOYERS:

Mar 7 2005 // New York State’s highest court has ruled that employers that fail to purchase workers’ compensation coverage cannot use the workers’ comp law as protection against being sued. In reversing a lower court...

IBC Reports 2004 Financials for Auto, Home and Business Insurance Companies

Mar 1 2005 // Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) recently announced estimated 2004 financial results for Canada’s home, auto and business insurance companies. Industry data indicate that in 2004, the industry’s 206 companies...

N.Y. Court Rules ‘No Pay, No Protection’ from Suits Under Workers’ Comp Law for Scofflaw Employers

Feb 24 2005 // New York State’s highest court has ruled that employers that fail to purchase workers compensation coverage cannot hide behind the workers’ compensation protection against being sued by employees. In reversing...

Calif. Small Business Owners Optimistic About Growth, UBOC Survey Says

Feb 23 2005 // Almost 71 percent of California small business owners polled are expecting 2005 to be an overall better year than 2004, according to the fifth annual statewide survey released today by Union Bank of California, N.A. The...

Report: Association Plans Could Harm Small Business

Feb 22 2005 // A new report titled, “Association Health Plans — A Step Backward for Small Employers and Consumers,” maintains that federal Association Health Plan legislation would have devastating consequences for small...

Commercial Insurance Posts Full Year in Soft Market, RIMS Survey Reveals

Feb 21 2005 // The commercial insurance industry experienced a full year of a soft market conditions in 2004, as the last months of the year represented the fourth consecutive quarter of declining prices, according to the RIMS Benchmark...

Ledbetter Confirmed as TWCC Employer Commissioner

Feb 17 2005 // The Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission reported the Texas Senate has confirmed William A. Ledbetter, Jr. to serve as an Employer Commissioner of the TWCC. Gov. Rick Perry appointed Ledbetter to the Commission in...

Commercial Insurance Posts Full Year in Soft Market, Reports RIMS Benchmark Survey

Feb 7 2005 // The commercial insurance industry experienced a full year of a soft market conditions in 2004, as the last months of the year represented the fourth consecutive quarter of declining prices, according to the RIMS Benchmark...

COMMERCIAL AUTO RESULTS TAKE U-TURN

Jan 24 2005 // Commercial auto underwriting results took a U-turn in the right direction from 1999 to 2003, according to a new study by Conning Research and Consulting Inc. The study, Commercial Automobile Markets: Solid Sectors, Worthy...

Employers Must Post Injuries Starting Feb. 1

Jan 17 2005 // Beginning Feb. 1, employers must post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently noted. Employers are only...

Ohio Casualty Appoints Sullivan to Commercial Lines Division

Jan 11 2005 // The Ohio Casualty Insurance Company announced that Michael (Mike) Sullivan, 41, has been named senior vice president of the Commercial Lines Division, effective immediately. Ohio Casualty Corporation is the holding company...

Minn. Workplace Injuries Drop 8.3%

Jan 7 2005 // A recent Minnesota workplace survey shows the state’s injury and illness rate decreased by 8.3 percent in 2003, according to the state’s Department of Labor and Industry. A total of 111,600 nonfatal workplace...

Commercial Property Market Survives Extraordinary and Ordinary Catastrophes

Jan 3 2005 // The commercial property market took a huge hit from four major hurricanes that struck the U.S. mainland this past year. The full effects may have yet to be felt, however, it looks like commercial property insurers came...

Employers Re on CreditWatch Negative

Jan 3 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services placed its “A+” counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Employers Reinsurance Corp., “A-” counterparty credit rating on GE Insurance...

Employees Resist as Employers Push Health Savings Accounts

Jan 3 2005 // New types of tax-advantaged account-based health plans, culminating in the health savings accounts created by Congress last year, could result in major changes to America’s health care financing and delivery systems,...