Latest Michigan Headlines

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

People and Places

Jul 19 2004 // Wayne Cwik As part of its previously announced management restructuring, Neenah, Wis.-based Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. promoted Wayne Cwik to vice president of actuarial services and JMI Insurance Services. Cwik will...

The Guaranty Fund System: A Vital Safety Net

Jul 19 2004 // Property/casualty guaranty funds were created by state statutes beginning in the late 1960s to protect the public against financial losses to policyholders and claimants as a result of property and casualty insurance...

Losses Drive High Cost of Detroit Metro Auto Coverage, Insurance Lobby Says

Jul 14 2004 // Higher claims frequency and severity make it twice as expensive for insurers to offer full auto and homeowners coverage to residents in metropolitan Detroit than the state as a whole, according to a recent study conducted...

Consumer Groups Knock Mich. Insurers’ ‘Dishonesty’ on Credit Scoring

Jul 5 2004 // Two consumer advocacy groups released a statement criticizing Michigan auto and homeowners insurers for “false statements” about insurance credit scoring and Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed regulation...

PCI: Mich. Scoring Ban Out of Step With Other States

Jun 29 2004 // Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposal to ban the use of credit-based insurance scores for automobile and homeowners insurance is out of step with the 20 states that have adopted a variation of the model law...

RTW Appoints Dye as GM for Mich., Colo. Operations

Jun 28 2004 // Minneapolis-based workers’ compensation insurer and third-party administrator RTW Inc. has appointed Glen Dye as general manager for the company’s Michigan and Colorado operations. Dye previously served with...

MICH. AGENTS URGE ‘NO’ VOTE ON HELMET REPEAL:

Jun 21 2004 // The Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) said that any attempt to weaken or repeal the state’s motorcycle helmet law will increase deaths and injuries for cyclists and raise insurance and medical costs....

Regional Focus

Jun 21 2004 // Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once famously said, “All politics is local.” The same could be said for the insurance industry—insurance coverage is definitely local. In addition, there...

SECURA: Looking to Sustain Hard-Market Success

Jun 18 2004 // The CEO of Appleton, Wis.-based SECURA Insurance Cos., John Bykowski, took some time recently to talk with IJ during the Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin’s annual convention. SECURA has total assets of $406...

Michigan Hearings on Proposed Insurance Scoring Ban Scheduled for July

Jun 11 2004 // Four public hearings on a proposed administrative rule that would ban the use of insurance scoring in Michigan have been scheduled for July, according to the state’s top regulator. Linda A. Watters, commissioner of...

People and Places

Jun 7 2004 // David Walker David Walker of the Hartland Insurance Agency in Hartland, Mich., has been elected state national director for the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). As state national director, Walker will serve...

InStar, MI-Assistant Announce Integration

Jun 3 2004 // Agency-management software maker InStar and Eleva, Wis.-based comparative rater maker MI-Assistant announced that integration between the two systems has been completed. This technology is for agencies utilizing MI...

Claims and Loss History Now Part of MI Rater

Jun 2 2004 // Eleva, Wis.-based MI-Assistant announced the incorporation of loss-history information from previous auto claims into the company’s rating program for agents to properly evaluate and rate auto insurance policies with...

Michigan Agents Urge No Vote on Helmet Repeal

Jun 2 2004 // The Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) said that any attempt to weaken or repeal the state’s motorcycle helmet law will increase deaths and injuries for cyclists and raise insurance and medical costs....

Michigan Senate Takes Up Bill to Keep Insurers From Steering Claims

Jun 1 2004 // Auto insurers could not restrict policyholders from using the repair shop of their choice under legislation to be considered by the Michigan state Senate. Critics say some insurers currently send or direct claim holders to...

ACUITY Adds Credit Capability to MI Rater

May 27 2004 // Eleva, Wis.-based MI-Assistant announced that Midwestern property/casualty insurer ACUITY has incorporated credit report information into the firm’s rating program. This technology eliminates the need for ACUITY...

Michigan’s Granholm Moves to Ban Insurance Scoring

May 17 2004 // When campaigning for her current office, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm made it clear she detested the use of credit in rating and underwriting auto and homeowners insurance policies. Still, that was back in 2002. It was...

Michigan Negotiations on Credit Scoring Apparently in Vain as Gov. Granholm Pushes for Ban

May 16 2004 // Jennifer Granholm When campaigning for her current office, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm made it clear she detested the use of credit in rating and underwriting auto and homeowners insurance policies. Still, that was...

Mich. Governor Moves to Ban Insurance Scoring

Apr 28 2004 // Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state’s top insurance regulator have proposed a rule to completely ban the use of credit-based insurance scoring in the underwriting and rating of auto and homeowners insurance...

AIA, PCI Slam Proposed Mich. Ban on Insurance Scoring

Apr 28 2004 // Two national insurance lobbying groups joined their industry brethren by announcing their vehement opposition to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposal to ban the use of credit-based insurance scoring. Granholm,...