Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Survey: Tennessee Small Businesses Struggling with Health Insurance Costs
Jul 27 2009 // With Congress debating how to reform Athe nation’s health care system, a new survey report reveals that 79 percent of Tennessee’s small business owners, including the self-employed, are struggling to afford...
S&P Affirms Ratings, Revises Outlook on Fortis, after Amlin Acquisition
Jul 23 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook to stable from negative on Netherlands-based commercial lines insurer Fortis Corporate Insurance N.V. (FCI), and affirmed its ‘A-‘ long-term...
Survey: Buyers Prefer Agents When Purchasing Medical Insurance
Jul 23 2009 // A recent online survey of more than 1,000 consumers found that those who purchased individual medical (IM) insurance through a professional agent were significantly more satisfied with their health plans than those who...
Survey: Illinois Small Businesses Crushed by Rising Health Costs
Jul 22 2009 // Illinois small business owners are being crushed by rising health care costs, and feel left out of the current health care debate in Washington, according to a report recently released by Illinois Public Interest Research...
Louisiana Unemployment Rate Rises; Jobs Increase in Some Sectors
Jul 21 2009 // Louisiana was among the 38 states that recorded higher unemployment rates in June, but the state has experienced job growth during the past year in certain industry sectors. The Louisiana rate of 6.8 percent remains...
Best Affirms Munich Re, Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jul 21 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Munich Reinsurance Company (Munich Re) and its subsidiaries. Best also...
Best Affirms Ex-AIG Personal Lines Company Ratings; Outlooks Stable
Jul 21 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSRs) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICRs) of “a” of the operating insurance units of the former AIG Personal Lines Group,...
P/C Industry Pressured by 2009 Recession; Turnaround in 2011
Jul 20 2009 // Results for the property/casualty industry over the next few years will be driven by the 2009 recession, mixed insurance premium pricing momentum, and modestly deteriorating underwriting results, according to a new...
Survey: Carrier Size Matters But So Do Price, Underwriting and Service
Jul 20 2009 // When it comes to selecting a carrier partner, size matters. But when it comes to ending a carrier relationship, price, underwriting flexibility and service matter the most. That’s according to the survey —...
California Commissioner Rejects Workers’ Comp Bureau Rate Increase
Jul 20 2009 // Citing testimony that self-insured employers have been able to reduce overall workers’ compensation costs, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has rejected the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating...
Recession Increasing Insurance Fraud
Jul 20 2009 // Areas Where Agents Might See an Increase in Fraud Does a bad economy increase crime? According to Mike McKee, senior special agent for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, it’s too soon for statistics to confirm...
Survey: Majority of Consumers Avoid Companies That Expose Their Data
Jul 17 2009 // More than 70 percent of consumers surveyed said they would no longer do business with a company that exposed their sensitive, personal information as result of a data security breach, according to research conducted for...
New York Sees Increase in Insurance Fraud Convictions
Jul 17 2009 // The number of insurance fraud arrests in New York was down very slightly in the first half of the year, but conviction are up, according to a newly updated fraud report by the state’s insurance department. The New...
State Farm Lloyds Seeks Homeowners Rate Increase in Texas
Jul 16 2009 // State Farm Lloyds has submitted a rate filing to the Texas Department of Insurance to increase its homeowner’s insurance rates in Texas by a statewide average of 8.5 percent, beginning Oct. 1 for existing customers...
P/C Industry Pressured by 2009 Recession; Turnaround in 2011
Jul 13 2009 // Results for the property/casualty industry over the next few years will be driven by the 2009 recession, mixed insurance premium pricing momentum, and modestly deteriorating underwriting results, according to a new...
Fewer Drunk Drivers on U.S. Roads; Concern Rises Over Drugged Drivers
Jul 13 2009 // A new roadside survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirms a continuing decline in the percentage of legally intoxicated drivers. In 1973, 7.5 percent of drivers had a blood alcohol concentration...
S&P Raises Validus Outlook to ‘Positive;’ IPC Outlook Stays Negative
Jul 13 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance holding company Validus Holdings Ltd. to positive from stable, and has affirmed its ‘BBB-‘...
G8 Eyes Climate as Summit Includes Emerging Powers
Jul 9 2009 // Leaders of the world’s richest nations and major developing powers meet on Thursday to seek common ground on global warming and international trade, with the poorer countries seeking concessions. U.S. President...
Florida’s Citizens Insurance Proposes to Hike Some Rates, Decrease Others
Jul 9 2009 // After three years of no increases, Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is about to hike premiums up to 10 percent for many of its policyholders, although not for as many as some insurance insiders and...
Highways Deaths Declined in Florida in 2008
Jul 8 2009 // Highway deaths are at an 8-year low in Florida. Also for the first time since 2000, fewer than 3,000 people lost their lives on the state’s roadways, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles...
