“The Road Goes Ever On”

When J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of The Lord of the Rings, wrote those words in the ’30s he wasn’t thinking about the place the automobile would eventually occupy in American life. Nor does his saga of Middle Earth even mention insurance! Fortunately we do, as the real world requires a lot more caution than his mythical one.

Next to a house, cars are the most important purchase any American makes, and in this issue Kevin O’Reilly explores the ins and outs of both commercial and personal auto liability coverage. But suppose you’ve got a client who wants to insure a 1957 Ford Thunderbird—Dave Thomas has found some interesting solutions for this expanding market in his article on car collectors auto coverage. Plus Andy Simpson relates the latest twists and turns in the convoluted story of Massachusetts’ auto insurance woes.

Had enough about cars? Try the cycle on for a change. Independent reinsurance broker Benfield says it sees rates holding firm, while the RIMS says they’re coming down. Who’s got the right of it? Maybe they both do, as we discuss what each of their studies on the question found out and whether there may actually be an end to the “hard/soft” market cycle.

Dave strikes again in an exclusive interview with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). A board-certified physician, Sen. Frist gives his views on the current controversies surrounding medical malpractice and health care.

We also offer a rundown on some of the conferences, conventions and meetings taking place around the East Coast this year, just in case you can’t get to Florida.

This is the third eastern edition of the IJ, and judging from the reaction so far, we’ve been welcomed by practically everyone. Thank you; it’s always nice to be appreciated. But we’d like to do even better. Let us know what you think, what really interests you—or what you find really boring—that way we can explore those subjects you have questions about and maybe even find some answers. After all, we hope to travel the insurance road with you for a long time to come.