Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Calif. Commissioner Rejects Increase in Workers’ Comp Cost Benchmark
Nov 19 2010 // California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has rejected – for the third consecutive time – a workers’ comp rate filing submitted on behalf of insurers by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance...
Best Affirms Aioi Nissay Dowa ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 18 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A ‘(Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Japan’s Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Limited, both with stable...
Property/Casualty Insurance Premiums Grew Modestly in Q3
Nov 18 2010 // The U.S. property and casualty industry continued to experience modest growth in premiums written while essentially breaking even on underwriting with a calendar year combined ratio of approximately 100 percent, according...
Blue Cross Rate Increase Temporarily Blocked in Michigan
Nov 18 2010 // An Ingham County Circuit judge has stopped Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan from implementing rate increases as high as 66 percent for some seniors. Tuesday’s preliminary injunction also requires a public meeting...
Rate of Nonfatal Injuries, Illnesses for Texas Private Industries Declines
Nov 16 2010 // Private industry workplaces in Texas reported a total of 213,507 nonfatal injuries and illnesses during 2009. The incidence rate of 2.9 cases per 100 equivalent full-time employees is 6 percent lower than in 2008, when the...
Decades of Data Show Troposphere Is Warming Too
Nov 16 2010 // Not only is Earth’s surface warming, but the troposphere — the lowest level of the atmosphere, where weather occurs — is heating up too, U.S. and British meteorologists reported Monday. In a review of...
Best Affirms AXIS Specialty, AXIS Capital Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 15 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of AXIS Specialty Limited (AXIS) and its operating affiliates. Best also...
Reporting Firms Face Risks as U.S. Cracks Down on Medicare, Medicaid Costs
Nov 14 2010 // New Insurance Products Cover Risks Created by New Laws and Regulations The federal government’s crackdown on fraud and errors in Medicare and Medicaid is raising liability issues for firms that specialize in managing...
Growth, Stability and Changes in Store for Long Term Care Market
Nov 14 2010 // With the first of 77 million baby boomers nearing retirement age in 2011, assisted living facilities and nursing home facilities will play a more important role than ever before. About three million Americans will require...
Survey: Private Firms Expect Growth, Employee Theft and Data Breach
Nov 14 2010 // Nearly half (44 percent) of private company executives expect their firms will add jobs by year end, and more than half (54 percent) plan to expand product or service offerings. Another 12 percent of those same executives...
Program Business Stable But Less Profitable: Guy Carpenter Survey
Nov 12 2010 // The current insurance program market is mature and stable, with business estimated at $20 billion, but profitability may be declining, according to a new survey of program administrators and managing general...
Competition Picks Up in Insurance Market for the Rich
Nov 12 2010 // U.S. insurers are targeting the wealthy as one of the few client groups willing to pay higher rates and buy more policies, and competition to serve those people is increasing. From life insurers to property and casualty...
Best Assigns Aioi Insurance Company (China) ‘A-‘ Rating; Outlook Stable
Nov 12 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Aioi Insurance Company (China) Limited, both with stable outlooks. The ratings...
Best Affirms Ratings of Lloyd’s Syndicate 609 (Atrium); Outlook Stable
Nov 12 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 609, which is managed...
Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 570 (Atrium) ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 11 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 570, which is managed...
S&P Raises ProAssurance Rating One Notch to ‘BBB’; Outlook Stable
Nov 10 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its counterparty credit rating on ProAssurance Corp. to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-‘ with a stable outlook. S&P said the upgrade “reflects our...
Best Affirms Hiscox Operating Companies ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 10 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda)...
Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 33 (Hiscox) ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 10 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 33, which is...
Aon Stresses Actuaries ‘Critical Role’ for Emerging Risks
Nov 9 2010 // In its presentation at the 17th General Insurance Seminar at the Gold Coast in Australia, Aon Benfield highlighted the critical role of actuaries in managing emerging risks for the re/insurance industry. “The...
