To recap the issues raised during last 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 8, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
PROPUBLICA’s AUTO INSURANCE STORY EXPANDS TO FOUR STATES; CONSUMER REPORTS IS WEBSITE’S NEW MEDIA PARTNER
Many of the U.S.’s largest private-passenger auto insurers have been asked to respond no later than Wednesday, February 15, to ProPublica’s findings on their zip-code level rates in California, Illinois, Missouri and Texas.
USA TODAY EXAMINED HOW SNOW, FREEZING RAIN, SLEET AND ICE PROVED DEADLY ON U.S. ROADWAYS
Auto accidents in wintry weather claimed nearly 4,000 lives in the U.S. between 2011–2015, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures cited by USA Today.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Michael Barry was interviewed by USA Today’s John Riley about what first-time homeowners need to know about homeowners insurance.
Bill Rigby is preparing an article for Best’s Review on the growth of the peer to peer insurance business model (e.g., Lemonade).
CAPITOL HILL
The president issued a memorandum asking the U.S. Labor Secretary to review the need for the Fiduciary Duty Rule, which is scheduled to take full effect in April 2017.
The president’s Fiduciary Duty Rule announcement was applauded by the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services committee.
Vizio agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission and New Jersey charges that Vizio installed software on its TVs to collect viewing data without consumers’ knowledge or consent.
STATES
California
The I.I.I.’s Sean Kevelighan is speaking on Thursday, March 30, at the InsurTech Silicon Valley 2017 Summit in San Francisco. To obtain a 15 percent discount when registering for the Summit, use the code SEANK.15.
The I.I.I.’s Janet Ruiz will be discussing the availability and affordability of property insurance at the Tree Mortality Task Force meeting in Sacramento on Thursday, February 9.
Forty people have been accused of participating in an insurance fraud scheme traced to seven auto body shops north of San Diego. Ten different auto insurers may have wrongfully paid out more than $560,000, prosecutors said.
Two men pled guilty in a San Diego federal court to conspiring to destroy their own vessel, a 57-foot boat used for charter sport-fishing trips, in order to collect a fraudulent insurance payout.
Connecticut
Governor Dannel Malloy’s 2018–2019 budget proposal is expected to call for a reduction in the tax rate on insurance premiums, dropping it to 1.5 percent from 1.75 percent for Connecticut-based insurers.
Florida
Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier told the state’s Cabinet yesterday (February 7) that legislators must modify the current assignment of insurance benefits system to hold down property insurance costs.
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is still accepting Hurricane Matthew proof of loss claims but not those related to Hurricane Hermine, the Office of Insurance Regulation announced.
Louisiana
Dozens of individuals were injured and significant damage occurred to hundreds of properties after seven tornadoes touched down in the eastern part of New Orleans yesterday (February 7).
The August 2016 floods which inundated portions of the state were likely stronger than a 500-year event in some places, according to a 36-page report published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Annette Bening has been cast to play former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco in FX’s upcoming Katrina: An American Crime Story. It is scheduled to air in 2018.
Massachusetts
Insurance Commissioner Daniel Judson is stepping down from office effective Friday, February 24. Judson will become president of the Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts.
Former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn and former U.S. Representative Henry Waxman will make a joint appearance in Boston on Thursday, March 2, to kick off the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s annual conference.
Michigan
About two of every five Americans are either very or extremely concerned about a self-driving vehicle’s vulnerability to hacking, the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found.
Mississippi
Residents and businesses in Forest, Lamar, Lauderdale and Perry counties who were impacted by last month’s tornadoes have until March 27 to apply for either a FEMA grant or a Small Business Administration loan.
New Jersey
Cresskill-based RD Legal Funding was sued for allegedly scamming 9-11 first responders and NFL concussion victims “by luring them into costly advances on compensation fund and settlement payouts.”
Oklahoma
Governor Mary Fallin requested a presidential disaster declaration for 10 counties in the northwestern part of the state impacted by the ice storm of January 13–16, 2017.
South Dakota
Federal funding is available to local governments in 20-plus counties for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm during the period of December 24–26, 2016.
Texas
Insurance Commissioner David Mattax was reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott for a term expiring on February 1, 2019.
Vermont
Workers compensation insurance rates are decreasing almost 10 percent for dairy farm employers and 12.3 percent for ski resort operators effective April 1, 2017, according to Governor Phil Scott.
Washington
NBC’s Seattle affiliate broadcast a segment on how a mistake in a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) database report adversely impacted an auto insurance policyholder.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
New Orleans Tornadoes
Yesterday’s tornadoes in New Orleans received heavy pick-up on social media. They struck southeastern Louisiana, injuring 40 people and leaving thousands without electrical power. Follow the National Weather Service at @NWSNewOrleans for updates on the situation, and use the hashtag #NewOrleansTornado to track the conversation.
Southern California Auto Insurance Fraud Ring
The Riverside County district attorney’s announcement, and the one issued by the California Department of Insurance (CDI), has been getting moderate attention. The I.I.I. shared the story yesterday on its social accounts while also highlighting our facts and statistics on insurance fraud. Our social posts were also shared by the CDI and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), whom you can follow on Twitter at @CDInews and @insurancecrime.
Insurance Careers Month – Millennial Videos
The I.I.I. is sharing its “My Career In Insurance” videos as part of Insurance Careers Month. The videos put a spotlight on millennials who have had favorable experiences working in the insurance industry. The I.I.I. posted one of its videos across all of the I.I.I.’s social accounts yesterday, and encourage you to share them with your social audiences. Use the hashtag #InsuranceCareersMonth and #CareerTrifecta to be part of the conversation.
Auto Costs Tool Kit
The I.I.I. released its Auto Costs Messaging Tool Kit on Tuesday. This multimedia kit features the I.I.I.’s extensive editorial content on the topic of auto insurance costs. It is only available to members and housed under the Key Message Points section.
MEDIA MATTERS
Tamron Hall, who had been an anchor for the Today show’s third hour, left NBC last week.
Rebecca Blumenstein, The Wall Street Journal’s deputy editor in chief, is joining The New York Times as a deputy managing editor.
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.
