Latest USA Headlines
All the headlines from our USA Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Ambassador Bremer Tells Agents Saddam Ouster Was Right to Do But U.S. Troop Levels Were Wrong
Oct 5 2004 // Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, who spent 14 months as head of the U.S. provisional government in Iraq, said he is convinced it was necessary to oust Saddam Hussein, but the United States paid a price for not having enough...
Underinsurance Problem Improves, Says MS/B
Oct 5 2004 // Undervaluation statistics for U.S. homeowners business continue to improve, according to Peter M. Wells, senior vice president of Marshall & Swift / Boeckh (MS/B). MS/B, a provider of building cost data and estimating...
S.C. Car Insurance Rates Outpace U.S. Despite 1999 Deregulation Law
Oct 4 2004 // Insurance rates for drivers in South Carolina have been rising faster than the national average, according to a new report. The state’s drivers on average spent $702.44 for auto insurance in 2002, an increase of 10.4...
Aspen Announces Plans to Expand and Diversify; Best Comments
Oct 1 2004 // Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited announced from its Bermuda headquarters the next stages in the development of its corporate strategy as it expands its business in Bermuda and further diversifies its operations. “In...
Best Downgrades Converium North America Financial Strength Rating
Sep 29 2004 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to “B” (Fair) from “B++” (Very Good) of Converium Insurance (North America) Inc. (CINA) (Fort Lee, N.J.) following the latest announced...
Converium Shareholders Approve Capital Increase
Sep 29 2004 // Swiss reinsurer Converium has passed a major hurdle in its efforts to reestablish the company’s sagging balance sheet as shareholders approved a $422 million capital increase at an extraordinary general meeting...
S&P Affirms Ratings on AXA Run-off Units; Removed from CreditWatch
Sep 28 2004 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has affirmed its “BBB” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on U.S.-based AXA Corporate Solutions Life Reinsurance...
Jeanne Makes 2004 Costliest for U.S. Hurricane Losses
Sep 28 2004 // Hurricane Jeanne, the fourth major storm to hit Florida this year, has caused between $4 billion and $14 billion in insured losses in the state, meaning that 2004 may now be the insurance industry’s costliest year...
S&P Comments on Hurricane Jeanne’s $7 Billion Impact on U.S. P/C Insurers
Sep 28 2004 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a comment on the state of the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry and its short- and intermediate-term prospects in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne, the fourth...
Swiss Re Estimates Hurricane Ivan, Typhoon Songda Claims Around $300 Million
Sep 27 2004 // Swiss Re announced that, based on current estimates, it expects its claims related to Hurricane Ivan and Typhoon Songda to be approximately $300 million before tax. The bulletin noted that these estimates are in addition...
ACE USA Expands DBA Workers’ Comp Coverage; House Named to Lead DBA Product Initiative
Sep 24 2004 // ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of The ACE Group of Companies, announced the expansion of its Defense Base Act (DBA) product offerings. The new coverages includes “risk control and claims management...
U.S. Labor Secretary Notes $10 Million Grant to Assist N.C. Workers Following Hurricanes
Sep 23 2004 // U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao visited Asheville, North Carolina on Thursday to survey hurricane damage and announce a National Emergency Grant of up to $10 million, with an initial release of $3.5 million. The grant...
U.S. Human Services Chief Thompson Hopes ‘Early Offers’ Pilot Will Reduce Medical Error Litigation
Sep 22 2004 // Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has announced an “Early Offers” pilot program aimed at encouraging settlements of patients claiming to have been injured by medical mistakes. HHS...
Lloyd’s Chairman’s Remarks to Houston Forum
Sep 21 2004 // Lloyd’s has released an advanced summary of remarks to be made by its Chairman, Lord Peter Levene, in a speech to Texas business leaders at the Houston Forum Monday night. Lloyd’s said Levene would urge...
A Fresh Look at Rating Territories for Auto and Homeowners Insurance
Sep 20 2004 // Inaccurate Territories and Assignments Hurt Consumers, Agents and Companies Territories offer tremendous opportunities for insurance companies to better segment their book of business, but private passenger auto and...
AIR Releases 2004 U.S. Storm, Terrorism Models
Sep 20 2004 // AIR Worldwide Corp. announced the release of its 2004 U.S. hurricane, earthquake, severe thunderstorm and terrorism models. The updated models reflect the latest scientific and engineering research into these perils, as...
Fiduciary Liability: The Most Misunderstood of Management Exposures
Sep 20 2004 // In the early 1960s, life in the United States was lived at a slower pace. Transportation and communication required more time (and patience) and employees were more inclined to trust employers on issues relating to...
Visitors to U.S. – Health Coverage
Sep 20 2004 // Nuts & Bolts: Florida-based XN Financial Services announced it will offer health insurance products and services to foreign nationals traveling in the U.S. through RCM&D, an Assurex Partner located in Baltimore,...
A Fresh Look at Rating Territories for Auto and Homeowners Insurance
Sep 20 2004 // Inaccurate Territories and Assignments Hurt Consumers, Agents and Companies Territories offer tremendous opportunities for insurance companies to better segment their book of business, but private passenger auto and...
Insurance Industry Hopes to Extend TRIA in Time for 2005 Policies
Sep 20 2004 // But Not Everyone Thinks Renewing the Federal Backstop is a Good Idea Regardless of whether George W. Bush is re-elected or John Kerry moves into the White House, the property/casualty insurance industry appears to have a...
