Heartland Institute releases podcast of interview with I.I.I.’s president; discussion focuses on the big insurance stories of 2010:
I.I.I. president Robert Hartwig’s conversation with The Heartland Institute’s Arin Greenwood, taped on Thursday, December 23, and touching primarily on the top insurance issues of 2010, can be found online at Heartland’s Finance, Insurance & Real Estate News (FIRE) section.
I.I.I.’s president quoted in New York Times stories on auto insurance rate trends, pay-as-you-drive auto insurance policies:
Posted on Friday, December 24, Ken Belson’s ‘Insurance Rate Forecast; Cloudy, Chance of Rises,’ looked at auto insurance premium rate fluctuations nationwide, whereas Roy Furchgott reported on the same day that ‘More Consumers Are Letting Insurers Monitor Their Mileage.’
USA Today cites NICB report, which found New Year’s Day is busiest holiday for car thieves:
USA Today published in its Wednesday, December 29, print edition an article pegged to a National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) report which found more cars are stolen on New Year’s Day than on any other holiday of the year; Christmas Day is generally the holiday that sees the smallest number of thefts. Halloween and the Fourth of July are also popular with car thieves, based on the NICB’s look at 11 holidays.
Los Angeles Times story says Allstate’s Drive Wise program has resulted in premium rate savings of up to 30 percent for Allstate’s low mileage policyholders:
Allstate has initiated a voluntary program that uses a device installed in cars to provide savings of up to 30 percent to low mileage policyholders who drive safely, according to this Wednesday, December 29, Los Angeles Times article. Allstate plans to expand its ‘Drive Wise’ program from Illinois to other states as early as the second quarter of 2011, the story notes.
I.I.I.’s news release on coverage issues potentially arising out of Atlantic seaboard’s snowstorm generates significant media interest:
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore spoke with Smart Money’s Jonelle Marte while also briefing Bloomberg’s Hugh Son, the New Jersey Record’s Richard Newman, National Underwriter’s (subscription required) Arthur Postal, WNBC-TV’s Roseanne Colletti, and NY1, the New York City 24-hour cable news channel, on some of the matters discussed in the I.I.I.’s Monday, December 27, release. The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters did interviews on the same topic with Bloomberg’s James Sterngold, Insurance Journal’s Ken St. Onge, and the Insurance Record’s Glen Hargus. The Sunday, December 26, East Coast snowstorm left more than a foot of snow in multiple states, with New York City recording its sixth-heaviest snowfall on record. In a related development, Adam Cancrynb of SNL Financial (email: acancryn@snl.com, Phone: 434-817-5613) sought the I.I.I.’s input for a story he is writing on the economic impact and insured loss numbers likely to result from the severe snowstorm and heavy winds on the Atlantic seaboard in the days after Christmas.
New York Post says Bloomberg administration wants to know more about pay-as-you-drive auto insurance policies:
The New York Post published in its Tuesday, December 28, print edition a story on the New York City Department of Transportation’s issuance of a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) about pay-as-you-drive auto insurance policies (what they are; how they work), believing their widespread use could reduce pollution and decrease gas consumption in New York City. Progressive received approval from New York State regulators earlier this month to offer usage-based coverage, the first insurance company in the state to do so, the Post story states.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s front-page headline says “No hurricanes, but bigger insurance bills on the way”:
Even though Florida has gone five years without a hurricane, more than 4 million homeowners in the state who have seen their property insurance rates increase and their coverage decrease are about to get hit again because Florida regulators have approved another $718 million in rate hikes, according to a Sunday, December 26, Paige St. John article in the Herald-Tribune. Without mentioning the Herald-Tribune story, the I.I.I.’s Lynne McChristian explained in her Straight Talk blog on Wednesday, December 29, why property insurance rates are rising in Florida.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel finds higher rates, elimination of hurricane discounts, and premiums going to insurer affiliates, were top three insurance stories of 2010:
Reporter Julie Patel canvassed her readers and elaborated on those three issues, as well as three others, in this Tuesday, December 28, House Keys blog entry.
Miami Herald prepping piece on no-fault auto insurance fraud while Vero Beach News Journal is assessing homeowners insurance trends:
The I.I.I.’s McChristian is working closely with the reporters on both stories.
I.I.I. issues release to Florida media on how misrepresentations on policy applications and claim forms lay the foundation for fraud:
The Wednesday, December 29, I.I.I. release offers examples of fraudulent activity in the auto, homeowners, renters, life and workers compensation insurance markets.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution op-ed piece says Georgia’s state Legislature needs to get tougher on drunk drivers:
Emily Clines, executive director of the Georgia affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), pointed out in this Friday, December 24, Atlanta Journal Constitution editorial that 331 people died in drunken driving crashes in Georgia in 2009. MADD will push in 2011 for a new law requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunken drivers—including first-time offenders—with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or greater, Cline writes. In making her case, Cline added that interlocks have been proven to reduce repeat drunken driving offenses by 65 percent.
Alabama Insurance Information Service is formed:
David Colmans of the Georgia Insurance Information Service (GIIS) has announced the establishment of the Alabama Insurance Information Service, which will work with the GIIS.Houston Chronicle says new consortium aims to provide stronger insurance coverage for U.S. deepwater drilling operations amid congressional proposals to boost liability limits:
The Chronicle’s Wednesday, December 22, print edition article says the partnership “brings together reinsurance intermediaries Guy Carpenter and Willis Re as well as Aon Benfield, which will manage the consortium. Munich Re initially pitched the concept.” The initiative is still in its early stages, Aon’s chairman told the Houston Chronicle’s D.C.-based reporter, Jennifer Dlouhy.
Wall Street Journal story on controversial Wisconsin gun shop touches on liability issues:
Four of the six Milwaukee police officers shot and wounded by weapons purchased at Badger Guns in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin, between 2007 and 2009, have filed civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages. Their cases allege that Badger Guns failed to handle gun transactions properly, according to this Tuesday, December 28, Wall Street Journal (subscription required) article.
US News & World Report issues its last print monthly magazine:
The December 2010 issue was the final one in print format. The U.S. News Media Group will continue to publish the usnews.com website and its signature franchises, including its ‘Bests’ rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals and more, according to a letter sent to the magazine’s subscribers.
Life Quotes cites the I.I.I. in its YouTube videos:
Life Quotes is a consumer organization with a significant YouTube channel presence. Three of their recent videos (divorce, auto insurance, lightning mitigation) referenced the Insurance Information Institute as a source.Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company says it will reinsure nearly 34,000 policies issued by Standard Life Insurance Company of Indiana; news prompts dozens of tweets:
All of the tweets referenced this Sunday, December 26, Inside Indiana Business article. Guggenheim’s announcement comes as part of the Carmel, Indiana-based Standard Life Insurance Company’s reorganization, and must be approved by the Marion County Circuit Court.
