Obama administration prepares to take over Oregon's broken health insurance ... - Washington Post

Obama administration prepares to take over Oregon's broken health insurance ... Washington Post The Obama administration is poised to take over Oregon's broken health insurance exchange, according to officials familiar with the decision who say that it reflects federal officials' conclusion that several state-run marketplaces may be too ...

4 Ways Hoarding Puts Homes At Risk

Hoarders have another reason to get help: Being a hoarder could hinder the ability to get or keep homeowners insurance. The potential pitfalls in the homes of hoarders — people who can’t stop acquiring items and have a hard time getting rid of their belongings — include fire and injury. As a result, hoarders are at a higher risk in the eyes of a home insurer, says Loretta Worters, vice… Read More »

How Do We Get Into a Group Health Insurance Plan?

My husband and I own a business with just one seasonal employee. We have had to buy high deductible ($7000) insurance for over $700 per month. It has an HSA attached. We have a lawn care business and ATV repair and we also farm. I am a medical transcriptionist at home and work in my church’s office, but we have no benefits. Can we get into a group insurance plan… Read More »

Tips to Buying Homeowner Insurance

An insurance protects an individual and helps him out of an unexpected crisis in life. It’s hard work finding home insurance first , because insurance policies are quite complex for those who are inexperienced in these matters of standards. People who want to buy home insurance for the first time , have to consider that home insurance comes in a variety of shapes and offers. They can range from very… Read More »

Freaky Things Insurance Might Cover

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think about your property insurance very often. It’s common to enjoy the security of knowing your insurance company has you covered. Or does it? Sure, your basic homeowners policy will cover you for the run-of-the-mill stuff like fires (the accidental variety, at least). But what if you have the misfortune of suffering a more unusual type of calamity? In that case, it’s… Read More »

More questions surround Pasco schools life insurance pitch - Tampabay.com

More questions surround Pasco schools life insurance pitch Tampabay.com Under the proposal, private investors would put $400 million into life insurance plans for every school district employee. The investors would get tax-free returns, while the employees' families and the district would get $50,000 each upon the workers ...

As cyber attacks multiply, so do insurance policies that cover damages - Baltimore Business Journal (blog)

As cyber attacks multiply, so do insurance policies that cover damages Baltimore Business Journal (blog) In the wake of high-profile security breaches that have affected major companies and universities, a growing number of firms are pushing a relatively new product for businesses: cyber security insurance. American International Group Inc. is the latest ...

Health care reform stands: How it impacts your coverage

NEW YORK — The Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday to uphold health care reform has widespread implications for both insured and uninsured consumers. Beginning in 2014, uninsured individuals must buy coverage — either on their own, through an employer’s plan or through a health insurance exchange — or else pay a tax penalty. Meanwhile, insured consumers will continue to enjoy key mandates of the law, such as free preventive care and… Read More »

How One State Convinced Its 'Young Invincibles' To Get Health Insurance - NPR (blog)

NPR (blog)

How One State Convinced Its 'Young Invincibles' To Get Health Insurance NPR (blog) A 2008 ad trying to convince uninsured Massachusetts residents to get signed up for health insurance. Sawyer Miller Advertising. Buying insurance doesn't always feel like it makes economic sense, especially for young healthy people. So why are they ...

St. Luke's settles health insurance cases - Kansas City Star

St. Luke's settles health insurance cases Kansas City Star Over the past few years, St. Luke's Hospital refused to accept the health insurance of 930 patients injured in auto accidents. It instead went after higher payments from car insurance settlements intended for the victims.

Skipping Health Insurance Enrollment – Decide Now or Face More Than $95 Penalty

Most uninsured Americans must decide this year whether to obtain a health insurance or just simply face the tax penalty. For some who still don’t know about the penalty, the amount is small at least for this year. However, their decision to skip health insurance can turn into an expensive mistake. Is it Really $95 or More? According to the senior vice president for health policy in Jackson Hewitt Tax… Read More »

How One State Convinced Its 'Young Invincibles' To Get Health Insurance - NPR

How One State Convinced Its 'Young Invincibles' To Get Health Insurance NPR Enrolling in health insurance often doesn't make good economic sense for healthy young people, as they can end up paying a lot for very little coverage. Why are young invincibles still willing to pay? Copyright © 2014 NPR. For personal, noncommercial ...

3 Major Insurance Picks for Value and Recovery Investors - Motley Fool

3 Major Insurance Picks for Value and Recovery Investors Motley Fool Finding cheap value stocks has become more difficult after the market's big 2013 rally. But American International Group (NYSE: AIG ) , Aegon NV (NYSE: AEG ) , and Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW ) still trade for less than book value while having ...

Daughters sue over insurance after murder of Lincoln County woman - STLtoday.com

Daughters sue over insurance after murder of Lincoln County woman STLtoday.com CHARLES COUNTY • The daughters of Betsy Faria, a Lincoln County woman stabbed to death in her home in 2011, are suing one of their late mother's best friends, claiming she defrauded them out of $150,000 in life insurance. The suit, filed April 7, says ...

Is Your Home Underinsured? 8 Keys

After every natural disaster, too many people discover an awful truth: They don’t have enough insurance to rebuild their homes. Nationwide, more than two-thirds of homeowners are underinsured, according to a survey by insurance services firm MSB, by an average of 18%. That means someone whose house cost $200,000 to replace would find herself short by $36,000. Where homes and rebuilding costs are higher, the problem can be even more… Read More »

Alaska USA Insurance Brokers awarded Fireman's Fund Firemark Program ... - Anchorage Daily News

Alaska USA Insurance Brokers awarded Fireman's Fund Firemark Program ... Anchorage Daily News Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska USA Insurance Brokers has been named to the 2014 Firemark Program for personal insurance by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. This elite award recognizes top-performing independent insurance agencies and brokerages.

Why You Need a $100,000 Deductible?

Did you know you can shave hundreds of dollars off your annual homeowners insurance bill by increasing your deductible? We don’t mean just going from $500 to $1,000. Think big. Already have a $2,500 deductible? Then think bigger. Think $100,000. “We have clients with deductibles of $100,000 fairly routinely on $5 million homes,” says Mary Boyd, a senior vice president and the chief operating officer for ACE Private Risk Services.… Read More »

Incentives for health insurance concerns employees - WWLP 22News

Incentives for health insurance concerns employees WWLP 22News Under the Affordable Care Act, companies that have expensive health insurance benefit plans will be taxed 40% starting in 2018. That's why many companies are offering their workers incentives like cash, gift cards, or reduced insurance rates to get ...

Nine things you need to know about unemployment insurance - Boston Globe

Nine things you need to know about unemployment insurance Boston Globe Unemployment insurance helps workers who have lost jobs through no fault of their own. It's particularly vital in difficult economic times, when even well-qualified, highly-motivated job-seekers have trouble finding work. To be effective, though ...

Tips to Buying Homeowner Insurance

An insurance protects an individual and helps him out of an unexpected crisis in life. It’s hard work finding home insurance first , because insurance policies are quite complex for those who are inexperienced in these matters of standards. People who want to buy home insurance for the first time , have to consider that home insurance comes in a variety of shapes and offers. They can range from very… Read More »

Freaky Things Insurance Might Cover

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think about your property insurance very often. It’s common to enjoy the security of knowing your insurance company has you covered. Or does it? Sure, your basic homeowners policy will cover you for the run-of-the-mill stuff like fires (the accidental variety, at least). But what if you have the misfortune of suffering a more unusual type of calamity? In that case, it’s… Read More »

Premium Costs For Public Health Insurance Affect Coverage

Requiring individuals to pay a premium for public health insurance coverage can counteract the coverage effects of expanding eligibility for public health insurance programs to higher income families. That is the finding of a study by a team of researchers from Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and Columbia University published in the journal Health Services Research. “Our findings speak… Read More »

Health insurance dropped after company closes - Chicago Tribune

Health insurance dropped after company closes Chicago Tribune Dunn Safety Products paid 100 percent of its employees' monthly health insurance premiums, and Cain wanted to ensure that the workers were covered for as long as possible, she said. She inquired of the insurance broker whether she could pay the insurer ...

Health care reform stands: How it impacts your coverage

NEW YORK — The Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday to uphold health care reform has widespread implications for both insured and uninsured consumers. Beginning in 2014, uninsured individuals must buy coverage — either on their own, through an employer’s plan or through a health insurance exchange — or else pay a tax penalty. Meanwhile, insured consumers will continue to enjoy key mandates of the law, such as free preventive care and… Read More »

American Health Insurance Marketplace Opens in 2014

For years, the health insurance markets were broken when it came to small businesses. Due to the fact that small businesses did not have as much bargaining power as larger businesses, they were forced to pay an average of eighteen percent more for the same type of healthcare plans that were offered to larger businesses. Not only were small businesses being forced to pay more money, their premiums would skyrocket… Read More »

Top 25 Crop Insurance Writers: SNL - Insurance Journal

Top 25 Crop Insurance Writers: SNL Insurance Journal Allianz SE's Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. fell out of SNL's crop insurance market share rankings in 2013 after ranking fifth in 2012. The company reported negative $211,184 of direct premiums written for crop insurance for 2013, compared to $859.5 ...

Looking at Costs and Risks, Many Skip Health Insurance - New York Times

Looking at Costs and Risks, Many Skip Health Insurance New York Times After seeing television ads for Kentucky's new online insurance marketplace, Mr. Huber, 57, made several attempts to explore the website but found it too complicated. Moreover, his income has dropped in recent years, he said, and he felt certain that ...

Ohio has how many thousands of insurance jobs to fill? - Cincinnati Business Courier

Ohio has how many thousands of insurance jobs to fill? Cincinnati Business Courier “A growing economy and strong demand from Ohio's insurance industry means 26,000 Ohioans have an opportunity to find a good paying job to support their family” said Taylor, who is also director of the Ohio Department of Insurance. “The insurance ...

Car Insurance Overcharges Hit Middle Class Drivers, Study Finds Often ‘High’ And ‘Variable’ Rates

If you live in a middle- or low-income area, you might be paying more than you need to for car insurance. Recent research from the Consumer Federation of America is calling into question the “high” and “variable” insurance rates being charged to middle-class drivers with good driving records. These findings are the end result of a study that fabricated profiles for two hypothetical middle-class people with good driving records and… Read More »

Obamacare pushes health insurance costs up: Where to take your gripes - Los Angeles Times

Obamacare pushes health insurance costs up: Where to take your gripes Los Angeles Times The Affordable Care Act requires that all health insurance meets certain standards, and some plans are going up in cost for the simple reason that they're complying with the law. For more, plus who's taking complaints about such things, check out today ...

Is Your Home Underinsured? 8 Keys

After every natural disaster, too many people discover an awful truth: They don’t have enough insurance to rebuild their homes. Nationwide, more than two-thirds of homeowners are underinsured, according to a survey by insurance services firm MSB, by an average of 18%. That means someone whose house cost $200,000 to replace would find herself short by $36,000. Where homes and rebuilding costs are higher, the problem can be even more… Read More »

Why You Need a $100,000 Deductible?

Did you know you can shave hundreds of dollars off your annual homeowners insurance bill by increasing your deductible? We don’t mean just going from $500 to $1,000. Think big. Already have a $2,500 deductible? Then think bigger. Think $100,000. “We have clients with deductibles of $100,000 fairly routinely on $5 million homes,” says Mary Boyd, a senior vice president and the chief operating officer for ACE Private Risk Services.… Read More »

Buyer Beware: 5 Tips for Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance

Be prepared to pay more for less coverage than you would have a decade ago if you’re shopping for long-term care insurance. While some insurers have left the market altogether, others have hiked premiums, made it harder to qualify for coverage, and eliminated the most generous options, such as unlimited lifetime benefits. Here are tips for shopping in today’s tough market: 1. Don’t delay purchasing long-term care insurance. Apply for… Read More »

Cars With The Highest And Lowest Insurance Rates - Philly.com

Philly.com

Cars With The Highest And Lowest Insurance Rates Philly.com More than a billion dollars is spent each year on advertising that urges consumers to compare their car insurance rates with the hopes of getting them to switch carriers, according to the credit and information management company TransUnion in Chicago ...

St. Paul schools pay more for legal insurance -- lots more - Pioneer Press

St. Paul schools pay more for legal insurance -- lots more Pioneer Press After a string of lawsuits and settlements with students' families and former employees, costs of legal insurance for St. Paul Public Schools jumped almost 280 percent this year. That increase stands out, even amid rising costs for such coverage ...

Freaky Things Insurance Might Cover

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think about your property insurance very often. It’s common to enjoy the security of knowing your insurance company has you covered. Or does it? Sure, your basic homeowners policy will cover you for the run-of-the-mill stuff like fires (the accidental variety, at least). But what if you have the misfortune of suffering a more unusual type of calamity? In that case, it’s… Read More »

Premium Costs For Public Health Insurance Affect Coverage

Requiring individuals to pay a premium for public health insurance coverage can counteract the coverage effects of expanding eligibility for public health insurance programs to higher income families. That is the finding of a study by a team of researchers from Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and Columbia University published in the journal Health Services Research. “Our findings speak… Read More »

Change Your Income, Change Your Health Insurance Plan - NPR (blog)

NPR (blog)

Change Your Income, Change Your Health Insurance Plan NPR (blog) The cost-sharing subsidies can reduce deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket costs for insurance bought on state and federal exchanges, but are only available to people who buy silver-level plans. The tax penalty is designed to encourage people to sign ...

American Health Insurance Marketplace Opens in 2014

For years, the health insurance markets were broken when it came to small businesses. Due to the fact that small businesses did not have as much bargaining power as larger businesses, they were forced to pay an average of eighteen percent more for the same type of healthcare plans that were offered to larger businesses. Not only were small businesses being forced to pay more money, their premiums would skyrocket… Read More »

Obamacare: Michigan attorney general urges stricter requirements for health ... - MLive.com

Obamacare: Michigan attorney general urges stricter requirements for health ... MLive.com LANSING — Michigan's Attorney General is calling on the Legislature to enact stricter requirements for health insurance navigators. The Affordable Care Act provides funding for health insurance navigators, which are people or organizations that are ...

Car Insurance Overcharges Hit Middle Class Drivers, Study Finds Often ‘High’ And ‘Variable’ Rates

If you live in a middle- or low-income area, you might be paying more than you need to for car insurance. Recent research from the Consumer Federation of America is calling into question the “high” and “variable” insurance rates being charged to middle-class drivers with good driving records. These findings are the end result of a study that fabricated profiles for two hypothetical middle-class people with good driving records and… Read More »

Is Your Home Underinsured? 8 Keys

After every natural disaster, too many people discover an awful truth: They don’t have enough insurance to rebuild their homes. Nationwide, more than two-thirds of homeowners are underinsured, according to a survey by insurance services firm MSB, by an average of 18%. That means someone whose house cost $200,000 to replace would find herself short by $36,000. Where homes and rebuilding costs are higher, the problem can be even more… Read More »

Kenya's drought insurance helps Islamic herders - Cornell Chronicle

Cornell Chronicle

Kenya's drought insurance helps Islamic herders Cornell Chronicle ... novel insurance plan developed by Cornell professors. After a dry season that decimated livestock, Kenyan herders recently received some welcome relief familiar to American farmers but far less common in Africa – insurance compensation for their ...

Buyer Beware: 5 Tips for Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance

Be prepared to pay more for less coverage than you would have a decade ago if you’re shopping for long-term care insurance. While some insurers have left the market altogether, others have hiked premiums, made it harder to qualify for coverage, and eliminated the most generous options, such as unlimited lifetime benefits. Here are tips for shopping in today’s tough market: 1. Don’t delay purchasing long-term care insurance. Apply for… Read More »

Troubled Central Basin Water District may lose insurance - Los Angeles Times

Troubled Central Basin Water District may lose insurance Los Angeles Times The Assn. of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority has recommended to its board that it drop the employment liability insurance for Central Basin Municipal Water District, citing the circus-like atmosphere at the agency. The ...

Washington's new health insurance rules don't add up to access (guest column) - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) (blog)

Washington's new health insurance rules don't add up to access (guest column) Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) (blog) More than half a million people have newly enrolled in health insurance in our state. This is cause for celebration. People now have the security of knowing that if they get sick or injured they will not be devastated financially. But insurance and ...

Will the Dependent Coverage Provision Raise Insurance Premiums? - Small Business Trends

Small Business Trends

Will the Dependent Coverage Provision Raise Insurance Premiums? Small Business Trends When the data on enrollees in the federal exchanges is tallied later, the fraction of young people is unlikely to meet the 40 percent target the White House has said is necessary to keep health insurance premiums from rising significantly next year. A ...

Future Shock: Recruiting the Insurance Industry's Next Generation - PropertyCasualty360

Future Shock: Recruiting the Insurance Industry's Next Generation PropertyCasualty360 As fulfilling as it is on multiple levels, a career in the insurance business is not one that most young people intentionally pursue. Ask anyone who's spent more than a few years in the industry and they'll tell you that they fell into it but that they ...

Homeowners insurance in Florida to become more expensive

Florida is home to some of the highest homeowners insurance rates in the U.S. Next week, those rates may reach new heights thanks to the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. News of rate increases coming from the state-run insurer has been circulating for some time, but now the organization’s board of directors seems to be ready to take rate hikes into serious consideration. Executives are currently schedules to meet next… Read More »

Cost of long-term care insurance rising for Oregonians - Statesman Journal

Cost of long-term care insurance rising for Oregonians Statesman Journal The Oregon Insurance Division is close to announcing a plan for how Bankers Life, one of Oregon's largest long-term care insurers, will carry out its order to review past claims and correct practices for future claims. The order was issued Dec. 19 ...

Hurricanes: Tips on Homeowners’ Insurance

Florida’s private homeowners’ insurance market is “the worse it’s ever been” in the past five years according to Michael Letcher, president of the Home Insurance Buyers Guide. “To me, the health of the market isn’t how many policies are available in the private market but what kind of choice does a customer have and what kind of ability do we all have to shop our policies,” Letcher said. Letcher had… Read More »

Premium Costs For Public Health Insurance Affect Coverage

Requiring individuals to pay a premium for public health insurance coverage can counteract the coverage effects of expanding eligibility for public health insurance programs to higher income families. That is the finding of a study by a team of researchers from Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and Columbia University published in the journal Health Services Research. “Our findings speak… Read More »

Property insurance market more stable - The News-Press

Property insurance market more stable The News-Press The Florida property insurance market continues to make great strides forward and, while there is still some work to do, consumers are finding it easier to obtain insurance in the private market and insurance rates are beginning to stabilize. This is ...

Class-action lawsuit over missing insurance coverage gathers momentum - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Class-action lawsuit over missing insurance coverage gathers momentum Las Vegas Review-Journal FILE - This photo of part of the HealthCare.gov website is photographed in Washington, in this Nov. 29, 2013 file photo. Newly released federal figures, as of Nov. 30, 2013, show more people are picking private insurance plans or being routed to ...

Future Shock: Recruiting the Insurance Industry's Next Generation - PropertyCasualty360

Future Shock: Recruiting the Insurance Industry's Next Generation PropertyCasualty360 As fulfilling as it is on multiple levels, a career in the insurance business is not one that most young people intentionally pursue. Ask anyone who's spent more than a few years in the industry and they'll tell you that they fell into it but that they ...

More ‘Activated’ Patients Had Substantially Lower Health Care Costs

When it comes to health care, patients with the motivation, knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health have better health outcomes and incur fewer health care costs. Those are the findings of a study led by Judith Hibbard, a professor emerita in the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon. Hibbard and co-authors found that patients with the lowest level of “activation” –… Read More »

What Causes Car Insurance Rates To Rise?

Nationally, a married couple pays an average of 84 percent more for car insurance after adding a teenage driver to their policy, according to a new report. According to a release, male teenagers cause significantly higher increases than females (96 percent versus 72 percent, on average). The average increase is highest for 16-year-olds (99 percent) and diminishes a bit each year thereafter. A married couple adding a 17- year-old can… Read More »

Car Insurance Overcharges Hit Middle Class Drivers, Study Finds Often ‘High’ And ‘Variable’ Rates

If you live in a middle- or low-income area, you might be paying more than you need to for car insurance. Recent research from the Consumer Federation of America is calling into question the “high” and “variable” insurance rates being charged to middle-class drivers with good driving records. These findings are the end result of a study that fabricated profiles for two hypothetical middle-class people with good driving records and… Read More »

Life Insurance and the 831(b) Captive Insurance Company - Wait For The Test ... - Forbes

Life Insurance and the 831(b) Captive Insurance Company - Wait For The Test ... Forbes There is an old saying about life insurance: “Life insurance isn't bought, it is sold.” The public doesn't exactly clamor to buy life insurance, and if you don't believe me then just try to find a life insurance store at pretty much any major retail ...

Salem native's zombie commerical wins health insurance video contest - NJ.com

Salem native's zombie commerical wins health insurance video contest NJ.com The college senior, who graduates in May, produced, directed, edited, and wrote the video for the IBX contest that was launched to raise awareness about the need for health insurance regardless of age or health status. Poliski took a comedic approach ...

ProHost, XL Group Partner on Restaurant Insurance Package - Insurance Journal

ProHost, XL Group Partner on Restaurant Insurance Package Insurance Journal ProHost USA, a Minneapolis, Minn.-based national program administrator specializing in restaurant insurance for 25 years, announced it is partnering with XL Group to provide packaged insurance coverages for fine dining and family restaurants.

Many like changes to state's health insurance plan - Gainesville Times

Many like changes to state's health insurance plan Gainesville Times 1 with a health reimbursement account as opposed to an HMO, the protests came swiftly, notably in the form of the Teachers Rally Against Georgia Insurance Changes Facebook group. “The changeover did create a few problems for our people,” Sloan said.

New 'must-have' for businesses? Cyber insurance - CNBC.com

New 'must-have' for businesses? Cyber insurance CNBC.com "This is one of the brightest areas of [insurance] growth for many years to come," said Robert Hartwig, president and economist at the Insurance Information Institute. "There's no question that this is a growth area for insurers as it's quickly ...

Buyer Beware: 5 Tips for Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance

Be prepared to pay more for less coverage than you would have a decade ago if you’re shopping for long-term care insurance. While some insurers have left the market altogether, others have hiked premiums, made it harder to qualify for coverage, and eliminated the most generous options, such as unlimited lifetime benefits. Here are tips for shopping in today’s tough market: 1. Don’t delay purchasing long-term care insurance. Apply for… Read More »

Troubled Central Basin Water District may lose insurance - Los Angeles Times

Troubled Central Basin Water District may lose insurance Los Angeles Times The Assn. of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority has recommended to its board that it drop the employment liability insurance for Central Basin Municipal Water District, citing the circus-like atmosphere at the agency. The ...

Insurance tracking device blamed for car damage - KIRO Seattle

Insurance tracking device blamed for car damage KIRO Seattle Progressive Insurance claims their “Snapshot” device tracks driving habits, by recording data when plugged into a car's computer diagnostics system. The data is uploaded to Progressive, and used to determine a driver's risk—and monthly premiums.

Spain Travel Insurance Tips for Hurricane Season

Embassy Contact Information: Americans living in or visiting Spain or Andorra are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid or at the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona, where they may obtain updated information on travel and security within Spain or Andorra. Spain Climate: The months April-June and September and October are the best times to visit. July and August are generally very hot, and… Read More »

Protect your assets with Farmers Insurance and guidance from La Jolla agent ... - La Jolla Light

Protect your assets with Farmers Insurance and guidance from La Jolla agent ... La Jolla Light Farmers Insurance protects far more than its clients' homes and autos; it protects all their assets. “We do this by including liability coverage and umbrella coverage,” said La Jolla Farmers Insurance agent Nigel Mallett. “If we have a liability ...

Homeowners insurance in Florida to become more expensive

Florida is home to some of the highest homeowners insurance rates in the U.S. Next week, those rates may reach new heights thanks to the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. News of rate increases coming from the state-run insurer has been circulating for some time, but now the organization’s board of directors seems to be ready to take rate hikes into serious consideration. Executives are currently schedules to meet next… Read More »

Hurricanes: Tips on Homeowners’ Insurance

Florida’s private homeowners’ insurance market is “the worse it’s ever been” in the past five years according to Michael Letcher, president of the Home Insurance Buyers Guide. “To me, the health of the market isn’t how many policies are available in the private market but what kind of choice does a customer have and what kind of ability do we all have to shop our policies,” Letcher said. Letcher had… Read More »

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Life insurance: Love it or hate it - Monterey County Herald

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Life insurance: Love it or hate it Monterey County Herald Life insurance and annuities enjoy a love/hate relationship within the legal and financial communities. If a young family wants to be sure important income is replaced should the major breadwinner die, a life insurance policy can be the perfect solution.

How New Medical Technology Affects Health Care Costs?

Yearly healthcare spending in the United States is expected to cost $4 trillion by 2015. Health care costs have increased to more than double from just 35 years ago. The fact of this rapid increase has led to much discussion on the cost containment issue and healthcare affordability. The question as to why healthcare spending is rising so rapidly opens a debate on how health information technology affects healthcare costs.… Read More »

More ‘Activated’ Patients Had Substantially Lower Health Care Costs

When it comes to health care, patients with the motivation, knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health have better health outcomes and incur fewer health care costs. Those are the findings of a study led by Judith Hibbard, a professor emerita in the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon. Hibbard and co-authors found that patients with the lowest level of “activation” –… Read More »

What Causes Car Insurance Rates To Rise?

Nationally, a married couple pays an average of 84 percent more for car insurance after adding a teenage driver to their policy, according to a new report. According to a release, male teenagers cause significantly higher increases than females (96 percent versus 72 percent, on average). The average increase is highest for 16-year-olds (99 percent) and diminishes a bit each year thereafter. A married couple adding a 17- year-old can… Read More »

Should You Buy Whole Life Insurance?

Making decisions about life insurance can be complicated for a number of reasons. On the one hand, it’s always difficult to think about the possibility of dying – this psychological barrier to critically examining your insurance needs can be quite substantial for some people. On the other hand, you’re also faced with the additional challenge of comparing all the different types of life insurance products on the market today. The… Read More »

Cyber insurance becoming more mainstream - CNBC.com

Cyber insurance becoming more mainstream CNBC.com Cyber insurance "is by far the fastest growing area of insurance," said Stephen Boyer, chief technology officer and co-founder of BitSight, a start-up that rates businesses' security infrastructure. Read More Cyberattacks get bigger, smarter, more ...

Traveling? Beware These 5 Common Insurance Myths

While travel insurance can’t prevent tragedies such as the one that unfolded Saturday when an Asiana Airlines flight crash-landed at the San Francisco International Airport, it can ease the pain of far more common inconveniences. Travel insurance typically covers the cost of trip interruptions and cancellations, loss of luggage and transportation to medical facilities in the event of an accident. However, your homeowners or auto insurance may already cover a… Read More »

Everything You Need To Know About Rental Car Insurance

Renting a car? Buying the over-the-counter insurance that rental car companies sell could be the dumbest move you’ve made all day. That is, unless it’s the smartest. The question is, are you covered? Too many travelers have no idea, and it’s in that cone of uncertainty that the rental car companies are able to pounce and profit. If you don’t know, for example, what your liability coverage your own auto… Read More »

Young Adults Benefit Financially From Health Reform

A new federal law allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ medical insurance until age 25 has shielded them, their families and hospitals from the full financial consequences of serious medical emergencies, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Examining hospital emergency department use during the first year after the federal Affordable Care Act provision went into effect, researchers estimate that $147 million in nondiscretionary medical care was newly… Read More »

5 Health Insurance Mistakes to Avoid - DailyFinance

5 Health Insurance Mistakes to Avoid DailyFinance The Affordable Care Act brought health insurance to the forefront of the public's collective consciousness, but that doesn't mean we're necessarily any smarter about how we use our policies. Everyone who has health insurance, whether it's from a ...

Head of Monmouth County roofing company admits lying to insurance carrier - NJ.com

Head of Monmouth County roofing company admits lying to insurance carrier NJ.com TRENTON — The president of a Monmouth County roofing company pleaded guilty today to lying to the firm's workers' compensation insurance carrier in order to save on premiums, state authorities said. Charles Kelcy Pegler Sr., 56, of Spring Lake ...

Spain Travel Insurance Tips for Hurricane Season

Embassy Contact Information: Americans living in or visiting Spain or Andorra are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid or at the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona, where they may obtain updated information on travel and security within Spain or Andorra. Spain Climate: The months April-June and September and October are the best times to visit. July and August are generally very hot, and… Read More »

Obamacare Helped Up to 10 Million Get Insurance, Gallup Finds - NBCNews.com

Obamacare Helped Up to 10 Million Get Insurance, Gallup Finds NBCNews.com Obamacare has helped as many as 9.9 million people to get new health insurance, and more than 4 percent of all Americans have gotten health insurance for the first time, according to a new Gallup poll. It's the largest poll yet to assess the effects of ...

Should You Buy Inflation Protection For Long-Term Care Insurance? - Forbes

Should You Buy Inflation Protection For Long-Term Care Insurance? Forbes The issue of inflation protection was just one of the subjects that I, along with financial adviser Michael Kitces and insurance industry spokesman Jesse Slome, discussed on a Wall Street Journal webcast on Monday. The Journal's Anne Tergesen wrote a ...

How New Medical Technology Affects Health Care Costs?

Yearly healthcare spending in the United States is expected to cost $4 trillion by 2015. Health care costs have increased to more than double from just 35 years ago. The fact of this rapid increase has led to much discussion on the cost containment issue and healthcare affordability. The question as to why healthcare spending is rising so rapidly opens a debate on how health information technology affects healthcare costs.… Read More »

Kenyan farmers - The Economist

Kenyan farmers The Economist Mr Mude has developed an insurance model that uses satellite images to assess the impact of drought on the vegetation that camels, cows and goats need to survive. The data allow for the severity of the drought to be factored into the size of the premium.