Latest Carriers Headlines

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

Lack of Demand for Innovation Helps Insurers Avoid Systemic Risk: Report

May 21 2010 // The 2008 financial failure and system breakdown of American International Group Financial Products did not contribute to broader systemic effects within the insurance industry, according to a new financial services think...

Commercial Market to Remain Stable, Challenging for Risk Managers: Marsh

May 20 2010 // Despite the global economic crisis, the commercial insurance market is poised to remain stable through 2010, but new challenges are emerging for risk managers, according to a report issued by insurance broker Marsh. The...

Best Affirms EMC Group’s ‘A-‘ Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive

May 19 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of EMC Insurance Companies...

16 Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurers to Return $9.4 Million

May 19 2010 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has ordered 16 workers compensation insurance companies to return more than $9.4 million in excessive profits to their policyholders. Under state law, workers compensation...

Florida Leaders See Omnibus Bill Stabilizing Home Insurance Market

May 18 2010 // Florida insurance leaders belive that recently passed legislation (SB2044) is a step towards stabilizing the state’s property insurance market that has had been rocked by politics, premiums assessments, company...

Property Insurers Watching Ominous Hurricane Forecasts

May 17 2010 // After significant catastrophe losses in first quarter 2010, U.S. property/casualty insurers and global reinsurers are hoping their balance sheets don’t face further financial risks, even as conditions appear ripe for...

Calif. Agent, Insurer Groups Discuss Homeowners Replacement Cost Regs

May 17 2010 // To alleviate concerns about homeowner under-insurance, the California Department of Insurance has proposed regulations governing standards and training for estimating replacement value on homeowners’ insurance. CDI...

Insurer Won’t Pay Legal Costs in Pennsylvania Webcam Spying

May 17 2010 // An insurance company is balking at paying legal costs for a suburban Philadelphia school district accused of spying on students through laptop webcams. Meanwhile, a lawyer for a student suing the Lower Merion School...

North Carolina Weighs Storm Mitigation Credit Proposal by Homeowners Insurers

May 17 2010 // Insurers in North Carolina are preparing to offer premium credits to homeowners who implement storm mitigation improvements. On behalf of insurers, the North Carolina Rate Bureau has filed a proposal with the Department of...

Mississippi Gets New Property Insurer: Coastal American

May 17 2010 // A newly-formed Mississippi company with backing from a Florida insurer and local private investors including six independent agencies will begin writing homeowners policies on the coast in Mississippi. Gulfport-based...

Florida Lawmakers Pass Omnibus Property Insurance Bill

May 17 2010 // On the final day of this legislative session, Florida lawmakers passed omnibus legislation that aims to bring more control over homeowners insurance costs, raises the state’s minimum capital requirements for...

Arizona Privatizing Workers’ Compensation Insurer

May 17 2010 // The Arizona Legislature has approved a bill to privatize the state workers’ compensation insurer as an Arizona mutual insurance company, beginning Jan. 1, 2013. The State Compensation Fund (SCF) was created in 1925...

Trains, Ships and Trucks

May 17 2010 // Maritime Law May Limit Compensation for Cargo Damages During the Inland Transportation Part of a Journey That Originated Overseas. In disputes regarding damage to cargo transported over land and water, it is important for...

E&O Insights: MGAs Carry a Heavy Errors and Omissions Load

May 17 2010 // Having met the management of many managing general agencies (MGA), and managing general underwriters (MGU), I have been somewhat surprised by their perspective on their errors and omissions (E&O) claim potential. Some...

2010 Super Regional P/C Insurers

May 17 2010 // Demotech Inc. Reveals Leading Multi-State P/C Carriers The original criteria and objective definition for Super Regional P/C Insurers™ was established in the Feb. 12, 2007 issue of Insurance Journal. Prior to the...

Calif. Insurers Agree to Voluntary Sanctions Against Iranian Government

May 14 2010 // California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that 1,010 insurance companies — more than 75 percent of insurers licensed to do business in California — have agreed to forgo future investments in 50...

Florida Insurers Head Into Hurricane Season with Fingers Crossed

May 14 2010 // Florida’s property insurance companies haven’t suffered hurricane losses for nearly five years, but many claim to be losing money even while collecting hefty premiums. It’s a complex paradigm for almost...

Arizona Privatizes Workers’ Compensation Insurer

May 13 2010 // Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law Senate Bill 1045, which repeals and amends state statute, directing the State Compensation Fund — known as SCF Arizona — to privatize and become a mutual insurance...

What Agents Think Makes a Great Insurance Carrier Field Rep

May 13 2010 // Independent insurance agents often rate a carrier with great field representatives higher than others — sometimes elevating them to their “Top 3” carriers. While the performance of insurance company field...

North Carolina Insurers Running Ads Opposing Change to Negligence Standard

May 13 2010 // North Carolina property and liability insurers are taking their case to the public to impede an effort in the Legislature to change how monetary awards are determined when somebody gets hit by a car while crossing the...