Daily Headlines: Thursday, October 13, 2011

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October 13, 2011 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National In Few Years, Social Network Data May Be Used in Underwriting The insurance industry is paying increasing attention to what people and businesses post on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter ... 2,100 Jobs Lost in Insurance Industry in August The latest U.S. jobs data show the insurance industry lost 2,100 jobs overall in August. The industry employs some 2,211,000 workers ... U.S. Sanctions BP, Contractors for Gulf Oil Spill The U.S. offshore drilling regulator Wednesday formally issued sanctions against BP and the major contractors involved in the 2010 ... 2 Life Insurers Meet Systemic Risk Criteria Only two life insurers -- MetLife Inc.. and Prudential Financial Inc. -- meet the newly developed requirements to be considered ... Best Affirms QBE’s US Subsidiaries Ratings; Upgrades North Pointe A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to 'A' (Excellent) from 'A-' (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to ... Best Affirms Aspen Specialty, Aspen American Ratings; Outlook Stable A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of 'A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "a" of Aspen ... NIF Group, Ironshore Partner to Insure Health, Human Service Agencies NIF Group, Inc., a program administrator and specialty brokerage firm, joins with Ironshore Programs unit to insure health and human ... NAS Launches Medical Billers, Coders E&O Program NAS Insurance Services has launched a new program for medical billers and coders.  NAS' Medical Billers and Coders E&O includes:  ... Worldwide Facilities Appointed Nationwide Producer for NutraAdvantage Worldwide Facilities, Inc. has been appointed the nationwide exclusive producer for General Star's NutraAdvantage product. The exclusive ... Booming Adult Long Term Care Market's Worries Include Kids, Cuts, Coding A combination of delayed claims, soft pricing, government regulation and cuts, as well as economic issues could be enough to turn the market... More National News East New Jersey Looks to Put a Lid On Its Auto Insurance ‘Pot of Gold’ New Jersey's auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) regulations are due for an update. The state's law requires that the ... Sen. Blumenthal Asks State Farm to Drop Hurricane Deductible for Irene U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called on State Farm Insurance to drop its hurricane deductible for Connecticut residences whose ... Aon Hires Willis Executive to Lead Contract Surety Unit in Boston Aon Risk Solutions appointed Paul Healy as executive vice president and national managing director of contract surety. Based in Boston, ... More East News Midwest RSG Announces New Leadership at ThinkRisk Agency Chicago-based Ryan Specialty Group (RSG) announced leadership changes at ThinkRisk Underwriting Agency, one of RSG's underwriting ... Brock Named Director of Communications at Ohio Insurance Department Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor has appointed Chris Brock the department's director of ... Iowa Council of Insurance Professionals Elects New Officers The Iowa Council of NAIW dba International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP) has elected its representatives for the next term. ... More Midwest News Southeast Florida Weighs Workers' Comp Hike, Cost of Doctor-Dispensed Drugs Florida employers could have to pay more in workers' compensation premiums if regulators go along with a proposed statewide average 8.9 ... New Tennessee Workers’ Comp Exemption Law Takes Effect More people are now eligible to claim exemptions from workers' compensation in Tennessee as a result of a new law that took effect this ... TowneBank Acquires North Carolina’s Stanton Taylor Agency Hampton Roads, Virginia-based TowneBank has acquired the Stanton Taylor Agency, a Raleigh, North Carolina agency that provides insurance ... More Southeast News South Central New Billing, Commission System at Texas Windstorm Pool Starts Jan. 1 The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) will be implementing a new billing and commission system beginning Jan. 1, 2012. In a ... Ex-FEMA Employee Offered Plea Deal in Katrina Fraud Case A former FEMA employee has been offered a plea deal that would resolve charges he helped a government contractor fraudulently obtain a $100 ... Higher Smoking Ban Fines in Louisiana City Apply to Individuals, Businesses Alexandria, La., residents who plan to ignore the city's expanded smoking ordinance better be willing to be a little lighter in the wallet. ... Louisiana Woman Sentenced to 69 Months for Arson Scheme A 30-year-old Reserve, La.,woman has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for her role in 2007 fire at a public housing ... More South Central News West Hardman Joins Beazley with West Coast Business Development Focus Beazley has appointed Lindy Hardman to develop new business and broaden the company's broker relationships on the west coast. Hardman's ... United Valley Insurance Selected to Offer The Hartford's AARP Insurance Program The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., has made its AARP-branded auto insurance program available through United Valley Insurance in ... USG Opens California Satellite Office National wholesaler and managing general agent USG Insurance Services Inc. has opened a satellite office in San Francisco, Calif. The ... More West News International UPDATE: Hurricane Jova Hits Mexican Port; Kills Four; Mudslides in Central America Hurricane Jova flooded the streets of Mexico's main Pacific port with torrential rain Wednesday, inundating popular beach resorts and ... BlackBerry Maker Scrambles to End Global Outage; Repair Damage to Brand The company that makes the BlackBerry smart phone is working frantically to end a three-day global service disruption that has frustrated ... US Congress OK’s Korea, Panama, Colombia Trade Pacts Congress Wednesday approved long-delayed trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama that are expected to lift exports by about $13 ... AIR Analyzes Jova Damages According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide's Dr. Tim Doggett, even though hurricane Jova has weakened to a tropical depression, ... Fairfax Financial’s Hedges Shelter Insurer from Financial Crisis Toronto-based Fairfax Financial, which raked in billions during the 2008 financial crisis by using market hedges, is once again a go-to ... Catalina Holdings (Bermuda) Completes Residential Loss Control Acquisition Catalina Holdings (Bermuda) Ltd announced that following regulatory approval from the Colorado and Hawaii Departments of Insurance, it has ... ACE Tempest Re Appoints Mardon Division President of Bermuda Operations ACE Tempest Re Group has appointed Tim Mardon as Division President of ACE Tempest Re Bermuda. He will have responsibility for all ... Endurance Appoints Lamer to Head U.S. Property Cat Treaty Reinsurance Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd announced that Rene Lamer will assume the role of Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. ... Ratings Recap: HSB (UK), Nissan Global Re, Optima, Hatherley/Park A.M. Best Europe - Rating Services Limited has upgraded the financial strength rating to 'A++' (Superior) from 'A+' (Superior) and the ... Willis Launches Reputation Protection for Hotels In the world of new media where bad news travels fast, food-borne illness or accidents involving guests on site can ruin a hotel's ... More International News Sponsored Content Atlas Announces New Website Redesign and Features San Diego, CA, 10/13/11 - Atlas General Insurance Services announced today the redesigned of the homepage of its corporate website, ... More Sponsored Content Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Thinking Globally, Operating Locally All insurance is regional, according to conventional wisdom, so maintaining strong local... Watch Now Triage Nurses Cut Costs in Workers' Comp What if a business could lower its workers' compensation claims costs by as much as 30... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Value of a NJ IA? Posted: Thu Oct 13 -- I am looking to purchase an IA in NJ and wanted to know what the fair market value would be? I understand thaere are many variables to take... Steve G Should I get Cal. Low Cost Auto Ins. in our office? Posted: Thu Oct 13 -- There are many insurance companies in California that offers competitive auto insurance quotes, and they do come with different discounts to... rooyoo Can you get different rates for same insurer? Posted: Thu Oct 13 -- In my experience, the discretionary credits that carriers apply can be different depending on the agency. The underwriters who I have a good... ocbroker Buying IA - Current Multiplier? Posted: Wed Oct 12 -- I am currently captive and considering the purchase of an established, healthy IA. I know there are a plethora of variables, but given:... ArizonaJenn $1,000,000 in Premium 1st Year - New Venture Limo Accounts Posted: Wed Oct 12 -- The LimoPro program was not discontinued and it is still with one of the strongest markets out there The Hartford (17+ years). The LimoPro... LimoIns. Homeowners w/o Social Security # Posted: Wed Oct 12 -- If you don't have a social security number, you need an ITIN to get a bank account. Generally, you need to file a tax return to get an ITIN.... Detroitgirl Why bother with an agency management system? Posted: Wed Oct 12 -- The problem with most of the systems today are quite simple, they are designed for the office with lots of Agents, multiple locations and... beyert1 Go to Forums Reader Comments The Hartford Plans Staff Cuts; Sells Subrogation Services Unit Trumbull Posted: Thu Oct 6 -- How about it is none of your business how much is too much for ANYONE to make? How about you don't get to tell others what kind of salary... Elizabeth Officials Urged to Keep Minimum Health Benefits Affordable Posted: Fri Oct 7 -- How about not rolling it out? How about defunding it and repealing it and starting over with private market solutions and no government... Longtime Agent Hartford Is Latest Site of Wall Street Protest Posted: Tue Oct 11 -- Right now this is a fun fall picnic. Lets see how committed to the cause the protesters/campers are once its 45 degrees and rainy outside. LaMichael Mississippi Lawsuit Against Bar Over Drunk Driving Death Leads to $15M Judgment Posted: Fri Oct 7 -- Sounds like they should start another group MAUT, Mothers against uninsured taverns. Sad, sad story. Kramer Mass. Agents Gathering Signatures for Insurance Credit Score Ban Posted: Thu Oct 6 -- Is there an ulterior motive here with MA insurance agents trying to keep competiton out of the state by banning use of credit scores? I'm... 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