To recap the issues raised during this week’s conference call, here are the key media stories we discussed, and the messages we’re conveying.
If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, February 11, please email me at michaelb@iii.org.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES (NAMIC) APPOINTS NEW VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Catherine L. Imus can be reached at NAMIC’s main office in Indianapolis. Her office number is 317-876-4249, and Imus’ email address is cimus@namic.org.
WEATHER CHANNEL REPORTS 20 STATES WERE HIT BY SNOW IN FIRST FEW DAYS OF FEBRUARY
The channel billed it as “Winter Storm Linus” and offered this summary of the snowstorm.
INSURANCE RESEARCH COUNCIL (IRC) SAYS FRAUD AND BUILDUP ADDED BETWEEN $5.6 BILLION AND $7.7 BILLION TO AUTO INJURY CLAIMS IN THE U.S. IN 2012
Put another way, the IRC believes 13 to 17 percent of the total payments made in 2012, under the five main private passenger auto injury coverages, can be tied to claim fraud and buildup.
CBS THIS MORNING BROADCASTS STORY ON ROLE SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYS IN DETECTING INSURANCE FRAUD
Insurance investigators routinely monitor social media websites to combat fraud, according to a CBS This Morning segment that aired Tuesday, February 3.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
Jason Stoogenke, a consumer reporter with WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, is readying an Action 9 segment on how auto body repair shops, and auto insurers, view after-market parts.
David Chen’s New York Times article on disputed Sandy flood claims will likely be published prior to a Thursday, February 19, Brooklyn court hearing on the matter.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
The fatal TransAsia Airways plane crash has been a big topic in social this morning. A video from a driver’s dashboard camera captured the moment the plane crashed into the Taipei River and has been widely circulating on news/media outlet social feeds.
A commuter railroad train’s collision with a car in Valhalla, New York, last night, the deadliest accident in Metro-North’s history, is under federal investigation. On social, people are sharing photos of the crash as well as updated information about this accident.
Nationwide’s commercial on child safety led the social conversation about last Sunday’s Super Bowl advertisements. Their invisible/Mindy Kaling ad earned high marks and, while initially panned in some corners, the child safety ad nevertheless won praise from many commenters.
Finally, another winter storm may be headed to the Northeast. Last week’s severe weather brought record snow to Boston and is also being blamed for 10 deaths nationwide. A quick search of “Winter Storm Juno” on Twitter will bring up images of last week’s snowstorms.
STATES
Alabama
Birmingham’s Protective Life Corp, is now officially owned by Tokyo-based Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Co.
California
The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz is working with Howard Berkes of National Public Radio for a story on workers compensation opt-out provisions as well as Claudia Buck of The Sacramento Bee. Buck is writing about how certain dog breeds raise liability concerns for some home insurers.
Georgia
Uber and other transportation network companies (TNCs) would be required to maintain $1 million coverage for all drivers from the moment a driver accepts a ride request until the time the ride ends, if House Bill 190 were enacted.
Kansas
The Topeka Capital Journal reports companies who conduct hydraulic fracturing operations may be held liable for earthquake-caused damages they cause to neighboring properties.
Louisiana
U.S. Senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy expressed concern about President Obama’s executive order, setting new flood risk management standards for new and/or rebuilt federally funded structures, in or near floodplains.
The state Fire Marshal’s office needs to ensure that buildings housing large numbers of people (e.g., schools, hospitals) meet fire and safety codes, the state’s legislative auditor said.
New York
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the Tuesday evening, February 3, collision between a Metro-North commuter rail train, and a car, at a grade-level crossing in Valhalla (Westchester County). Six people were killed, and at least 12 others were injured.
The Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) proposed budget calls for dropping to $170 million, from last year’s $300 million, the amount of DFS assessments on the insurance industry used for non-DFS purposes. The news comes five years after the insurance industry filed a lawsuit contending this use of the assessments is improper.
Ohio
Insurance Director Mary Taylor, who is also the Lieutenant Governor, ordered all insurers who use “price optimization” techniques to end the practice this year. The Consumer Federation of America applauded the move.
Oklahoma
The Insurance Department’s website features a new online tool to help consumers search for either a lost life insurance policy or an annuity contract.
Vermont
The president approved a major disaster declaration for 10 counties. All of them were adversely impacted by a severe winter storm between December 9-12, 2014.
MEDIA MATTERS
The New York Times reported this week that it has about 910,000 digital subscribers, and expects to hit the one million mark this year.
The I.I.I. is cited regularly in the media as an authoritative source of insurance information. To access the current I.I.I. press clips, click here
For an I.I.I. Blog search, click here.
