California exchange insurance rates for 2015 draw mixed reaction - Los Angeles Times

California exchange insurance rates for 2015 draw mixed reaction Los Angeles Times Health insurance rates in California during the initial rollout of the Affordable Care Act were better than expected, helping boost enrollment to 1.2 million people in the Covered California exchange. The exchange estimates it will have signed up 1.7 ...

Homeowners at mercy of insurance companies after tornado - WCVB Boston

Homeowners at mercy of insurance companies after tornado WCVB Boston With no federal assistance available, residents are at the mercy of insurance companies. Sergio Ayala and Nora Fonsecu of Taft Street said they have been told every day the adjuster would be there since Monday's tornado ripped off a good chunk of their ...

Iowa's insurance chief warns drivers over Uber coverage - DesMoinesRegister.com

Iowa's insurance chief warns drivers over Uber coverage DesMoinesRegister.com The state's top insurance chief issued a warning this week aimed at drivers who may be interested in signing up for a popular ride-sharing service that has said it might come to Des Moines. Nick Gerhart, Iowa's insurance commissioner, said drivers ...

Epic Insurance acquires its fourth firm in less than a year - Louisville Business First

Epic Insurance acquires its fourth firm in less than a year Louisville Business First Donald B. Thompson, president of Epic Insurance Solutions, said Benefit Advisors' three-person staff, including president Jim Lawless, will join Epic Insurance's Lexington office. Lawless will remain on staff as an account adviser. The office will have ...

Homeowners Spared Costly Hurricane Deductible

Many homeowner insurance policies have a hurricane deductible based on a percentage of the property’s insured value — typically from 1% to 5%. For instance, a homeowner with a 5% deductible would pay for the first $15,000 of damage on a home insured for $300,000. Although Sandy was designated a hurricane for the majority of time it traveled up the coast, it failed to sustain hurricane-force winds at landfall, so… Read More »

Regions Insurance expanding Memphis office - Memphis Business Journal

Regions Insurance expanding Memphis office Memphis Business Journal As it looks to grow its employee benefits division, Regions Insurance has expanded its Memphis office with the addition of Zalowitz Frisch Benefits Group, a five-person employee benefits and consulting firm. The move brings Regions Insurance's total ...

10 Good Things About Obamacare

Key elements of the Affordable Care Act have been delayed, most notably the mandate that employers with more than 50 employees must offer health insurance in 2014. In the case of the law’s ill-formed, long-term care program, the provision wound up being abandoned. And when it comes to state decisions to expand Medicaid, the law’s provisions have been denied in many states. Opponents say these steps prove the entire law… Read More »

How To File A Home Insurance Claim: Six Tips

Insurers will be dealing with a crush of claims in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy which inflicted billions of dollars in damages. Once homeowners can assess the extent of their personal losses, many will have to brace for another ordeal: navigating the insurance claims process. Preparation and planning well before a storm arrives can help homeowners avoid potential pitfalls. But how they handle the details when it comes time to… Read More »

Federal bill gives boost to UM's chronic care insurance research - Crain's Detroit Business

Federal bill gives boost to UM's chronic care insurance research Crain's Detroit Business Under value-based insurance, employers add specially designed insurance plans to their benefit packages that eliminate or reduce co-payments for proven effective treatments or prescription drugs or medications, said Mark Fendrick, M.D., co-director of ...

UK Launches £10 Million Driverless Car Experiment; This Will Kill Auto ... - Forbes

UK Launches £10 Million Driverless Car Experiment; This Will Kill Auto ... Forbes And gazing into my crystal ball here I would suggest that the two that are going to be ripe for being creatively destructed are car (or auto) insurance as it is currently done and pretty much the whole idea of high speed passenger rail over long distances.

5 secrets to save your teen on car insurance - Fortune

5 secrets to save your teen on car insurance Fortune If you're anything like me, you anticipated the birthday at which your teen was eligible for his (or her) road test with a combination of glee and dread. Glee because – finally – he could get himself to the tutor; she could pick up her little sister ...

Health insurance rates surged this year in California, official says - Los Angeles Times

Health insurance rates surged this year in California, official says Los Angeles Times The cost of health insurance for individuals skyrocketed this year in California, with some paying almost twice what they did last year, the state's insurance commissioner said. But Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones predicted that insurers will ease up ...

On Health Insurance Coverage, the South Really and Truly is the Region with ... - Huffington Post (blog)

On Health Insurance Coverage, the South Really and Truly is the Region with ... Huffington Post (blog) Burwell case have their way, five million or so Americans living in the states whose governments refused to set up state-based Obamacare exchanges will find themselves free of government subsidies to pay for their health insurance premiums. Yay for ...

Analytics Project Wins New Business - CIO

Analytics Project Wins New Business CIO Until recently, the homeowners' insurance underwriting process at CIO 100 honoree Bankers Financial was relatively rudimentary. A potential customer called an agent. The agent asked seemingly endless, sometimes odd questions (“Does your dog bark?

Guns in the Home: How Insurance Works?

While gun control legislation may remain a divisive issue with uncertain outcomes, there are guidelines pertaining to firearms when it comes to homeowners insurance. Most standard homeowners policies cover rifles and pistols if they’re stolen or damaged in a fire, but usually up to a maximum of $2,500, according to Pete Moraga, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Network of California. If you have a large collection of guns or… Read More »

Two Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for Your Next Cruise

As passengers of the Carnival Triumph learned the hard way, having travel insurance doesn’t always pay off. When the crippled ship was stranded at sea for several days, passengers with travel insurance had little recourse. Some are accepting Carnival’s offer of a refund, a free cruise and $500, while a few others are seeking legal recourse. But when life circumstances get in the way, it’s the traveler who really gets… Read More »

Patients Should Be More Involved In Medical Decision Making

A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the level of shared decision making among adult patients who had discussed medical tests, medications and procedures with their doctors was not as high as expected. A national survey was conducted in 2011 by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D., from the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. A cross section of American adults above… Read More »

House Dem: Stop 'Whining' About Cancelled Insurance Plans - National Review Online (blog)

House Dem: Stop 'Whining' About Cancelled Insurance Plans National Review Online (blog) Representative Anna Eshoo (D., Calif.) wants Republicans to stop “whining” about the insurance policies cancelled due to Obamacare regulations. “Your plan is whining. Your plan is suing the president and using taxpayer dollars,” Eshoo said to ...

5 Lies Home Insurance Agents Tell

When misfortunes occur, homeowners who count on insurance to carry them through tough times sometimes get an unpleasant surprise: They don’t have all of the policy protections they thought they had purchased from their agent. Mike D’Arelli, executive director of the American Agents Alliance trade group, urges you to keep your wits while shopping for home insurance. The vast majority of agents are honest, but every profession has disreputable practitioners.… Read More »

Investing in Other Peoples' Life Insurance Makes a Comeback - Businessweek

Investing in Other Peoples' Life Insurance Makes a Comeback Businessweek The buying and selling of life insurance policies is not for the sentimental. It also has its uses. A senior citizen may have a life insurance policy he doesn't want anymore, and research from London Business School suggests that seniors receive four ...

Insurance against high health costs gains popularity as employers self-insure - Boston Business Journal (blog)

Insurance against high health costs gains popularity as employers self-insure Boston Business Journal (blog) As more Massachusetts companies make the switch to self-insured policies, Sun Life Financial is saying that they have seen an uptick in companies looking to protect themselves from high claims. The trend is happening steadily in Massachusetts, where ...

Killeen ISD dealing with increases in insurance costs - Killeen Daily Herald

Killeen ISD dealing with increases in insurance costs Killeen Daily Herald Part of a wave of insurance renewal costs, the Killeen Independent School District could possibly pay more than $400,000 if the district's property at 104 Beeline Lane in Harker Heights is deemed to be more at risk for floods. “Through (this year's ...

New law offers flood insurance relief to Marshfield homeowners - Wicked Local Marshfield

New law offers flood insurance relief to Marshfield homeowners Wicked Local Marshfield “The result would be no remaining debt, but no money from insurance to rebuild or buy a new home, and the only return on your home investment would be the vacant land,” Forman said. “That's the risk, but that only applies if the house is totaled by ...

Couple spends months arguing fire insurance claim - WBAL Baltimore

WBAL Baltimore

Couple spends months arguing fire insurance claim WBAL Baltimore They've been embroiled in a dispute with their insurance company. "It's almost as if they want to wear you down and hope you are willing to settle for whatever they are willing to offer," Gail Waddell told 11 News I-Team reporter Barry Simms. The ...

As Ballet Stretches Her Body's Limits, Insurance Brings Peace of Mind - Kaiser Health News

Kaiser Health News

As Ballet Stretches Her Body's Limits, Insurance Brings Peace of Mind Kaiser Health News Allynne Noelle has had two metatarsal stress fractures, a torn foot ligament, and two broken ribs. Yet, the 32-year-old ballerina considers herself pretty lucky. Noelle says not to be fooled by the graceful movements on stage − ballet is a full-contact ...

7 Travel Insurance Tips for Your Next Vacation

The news of the cruise ship disaster off the coast of Italy was particularly noteworthy for my family. On April 1, we set sail on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. My daughter is already freaking out, and my son is not helping matters. He’s plastered pictures of the Costa Concordia all over the house. One issue the tragedy has brought into focus for us is travel insurance. My travel agent and… Read More »

Which Insurance Dividend Aristocrat Should You Own? - Seeking Alpha (registration)

Which Insurance Dividend Aristocrat Should You Own? Seeking Alpha (registration) Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of risk of a loss from one entity to another in exchange for payment. The concept of transferring or distributing risk was practiced by early Mediterranean sailing merchants (circa 1750 B.C.) who would ...

10 Good Things About Obamacare

Key elements of the Affordable Care Act have been delayed, most notably the mandate that employers with more than 50 employees must offer health insurance in 2014. In the case of the law’s ill-formed, long-term care program, the provision wound up being abandoned. And when it comes to state decisions to expand Medicaid, the law’s provisions have been denied in many states. Opponents say these steps prove the entire law… Read More »

How To File A Home Insurance Claim: Six Tips

Insurers will be dealing with a crush of claims in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy which inflicted billions of dollars in damages. Once homeowners can assess the extent of their personal losses, many will have to brace for another ordeal: navigating the insurance claims process. Preparation and planning well before a storm arrives can help homeowners avoid potential pitfalls. But how they handle the details when it comes time to… 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 »

Must-have forms of insurance for college students - Dallas Morning News

Must-have forms of insurance for college students Dallas Morning News Health insurance: Adult children can generally stay on their parents' health insurance policy until age 26. But check to see whether your plan's network of doctors and hospitals extends to the area where your student will live while at school. Many ...

AAA experts recommend travel health insurance - KERO-TV 23

AAA experts recommend travel health insurance KERO-TV 23 Officials with Omni Family Health say their insurance does international coverage and are currently processing the payment claims. "We've had a lot more questions about purchasing trip insurance and we've also sold a lot more policies in the last week ...

How Priority Mail insurance falls short - CBS News

How Priority Mail insurance falls short CBS News When the U.S. Postal Service advertises that its Priority Mail service comes with $50 of insurance included, you might assume that it comes with, well, $50 of insurance. But that's not always the case, and the National Advertising Division (NAD) has ...

QBE Insurance Slumps on Profit Warning - Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal

QBE Insurance Slumps on Profit Warning Wall Street Journal In a regulatory filing, QBE said its earnings likely fell to about A$390 million in the six months through June from A$477 million a year earlier, while forecasting its first-half insurance profit margin of 7%-8% was below analysts' consensus forecasts ...

Two Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for Your Next Cruise

As passengers of the Carnival Triumph learned the hard way, having travel insurance doesn’t always pay off. When the crippled ship was stranded at sea for several days, passengers with travel insurance had little recourse. Some are accepting Carnival’s offer of a refund, a free cruise and $500, while a few others are seeking legal recourse. But when life circumstances get in the way, it’s the traveler who really gets… Read More »

A Good Travel Agent Can Work Wonders For Would-be Vacationers

Some people spend hours on the telephone-mainly on hold listening to insipid recorded music-while waiting to check an air fare, make a hotel reservation, book a cruise or rent an auto. On the face of it, there`s nothing wrong with planning your own trip and making your arrangements. If you`re an avid do-it-yourself traveler, you certainly can learn a lot about fares, resorts, ships and auto rental companies. For most… Read More »

Patients Should Be More Involved In Medical Decision Making

A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the level of shared decision making among adult patients who had discussed medical tests, medications and procedures with their doctors was not as high as expected. A national survey was conducted in 2011 by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D., from the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. A cross section of American adults above… Read More »

Is Pet Insurance Right for your Four Legged Friend? - KCRG

Is Pet Insurance Right for your Four Legged Friend? KCRG Pet owners love their animals and are willing to go to great lengths to care for them. Last year Americans spent just shy of $56 billion on their pets, about 26 percent of that was for veterinary care. Many pet owners don't realize there is pet ...

10 Tips for Cheaper Home Insurance

In 2009 (the last year the information was available) the average homeowners insurance premium was $880, according to the While you’re forced to pay homeowners insurance, you don’t have to pay top dollar. Now let’s fill out those tips and add a few more: 1. Raise your deductible Raising your deductible is one surefire way to lower your monthly homeowners insurance premium. As Stacy put it: “The more loss you’ll… Read More »

Americans Pass on Life Insurance, Bad for ETFs - ETF Trends

Americans Pass on Life Insurance, Bad for ETFs ETF Trends In the financials space, investors are finding that insurance companies and related exchange traded funds provide less of a safeguard as more Americans forgo life insurance all together. Industrywide sales of individual life insurance plans are down 45 ...

Insurance battle: Should scooters be insured? - WDIV Detroit

Insurance battle: Should scooters be insured? WDIV Detroit A Macomb County man says he's locked in a life or death battle with two insurance companies. And, George Thomas Veness Sr. has already battled to survive for so long. In 2004, he fell of a roof. while on the job, and became paralyzed from the waist down.

7 Travel Insurance Tips for Your Next Vacation

The news of the cruise ship disaster off the coast of Italy was particularly noteworthy for my family. On April 1, we set sail on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. My daughter is already freaking out, and my son is not helping matters. He’s plastered pictures of the Costa Concordia all over the house. One issue the tragedy has brought into focus for us is travel insurance. My travel agent and… Read More »

10 Good Things About Obamacare

Key elements of the Affordable Care Act have been delayed, most notably the mandate that employers with more than 50 employees must offer health insurance in 2014. In the case of the law’s ill-formed, long-term care program, the provision wound up being abandoned. And when it comes to state decisions to expand Medicaid, the law’s provisions have been denied in many states. Opponents say these steps prove the entire law… 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 »

St. Bernard DA's office put $1.9 million in banks without insurance or proper ... - The Times-Picayune

St. Bernard DA's office put $1.9 million in banks without insurance or proper ... The Times-Picayune The St. Bernard Parish district attorney's office deposited more than $1.9 million in banks accounts and investments that were not federally insured or that lacked proper collateral, meaning the cash could be at risk if the banks fail, an annual ...

A Good Travel Agent Can Work Wonders For Would-be Vacationers

Some people spend hours on the telephone-mainly on hold listening to insipid recorded music-while waiting to check an air fare, make a hotel reservation, book a cruise or rent an auto. On the face of it, there`s nothing wrong with planning your own trip and making your arrangements. If you`re an avid do-it-yourself traveler, you certainly can learn a lot about fares, resorts, ships and auto rental companies. For most… Read More »

Ask Carrie: How Much Insurance Do You Need in Retirement? - Parade

Ask Carrie: How Much Insurance Do You Need in Retirement? Parade Insurance needs really are different at different points in life. Some insurance is essential at any age, but some can be just a waste of money. So at your age—and as you approach retirement—this is a great time to take a step back and reevaluate.

Patients Should Be More Involved In Medical Decision Making

A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the level of shared decision making among adult patients who had discussed medical tests, medications and procedures with their doctors was not as high as expected. A national survey was conducted in 2011 by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D., from the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. A cross section of American adults above… Read More »

Government's share of crop insurance costs heading up - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette

Government's share of crop insurance costs heading up Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette After two years of debate, Congress passed a farm bill this year that replaced direct subsidies to farmers with an ever-increasing multibillion-dollar federal crop-insurance program. During that time, at least 80 groups spent more than $50 million in ...

10 Tips for Cheaper Home Insurance

In 2009 (the last year the information was available) the average homeowners insurance premium was $880, according to the While you’re forced to pay homeowners insurance, you don’t have to pay top dollar. Now let’s fill out those tips and add a few more: 1. Raise your deductible Raising your deductible is one surefire way to lower your monthly homeowners insurance premium. As Stacy put it: “The more loss you’ll… Read More »

With Premium Refunds in Process, Washington Criticism of Flood Insurance Ebbs - Insurance Journal

With Premium Refunds in Process, Washington Criticism of Flood Insurance Ebbs Insurance Journal Insurance agent, insurance carrier and real estate lobbyists praised federal regulators in charge of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) last week on Capitol Hill, agreeing that the process of issuing flood insurance premium refunds and ...

Terminating Medicare Consults Linked To A Rise In Total Spending

Getting rid of payments for Medicare consultations frequently billed by specialists was seen to be connected with a new increase in spending during visits to specialists as well as primary care doctors, suggests a new study examining medicare data published in Archives of Internal Medicine. Preceding 2010, Medicare costs for consultations were significantly greater than for office visits that were almost identical in terms of difficulty, and were frequently charged… Read More »

7 Travel Insurance Tips for Your Next Vacation

The news of the cruise ship disaster off the coast of Italy was particularly noteworthy for my family. On April 1, we set sail on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. My daughter is already freaking out, and my son is not helping matters. He’s plastered pictures of the Costa Concordia all over the house. One issue the tragedy has brought into focus for us is travel insurance. My travel agent and… Read More »

Daly Merritt leads growth in insurance - Crain's Detroit Business

Daly Merritt leads growth in insurance Crain's Detroit Business Wyandotte-based Daly Merritt Inc. had the largest percentage growth in revenue of the largest area insurance companies from 2012 to 2013, increasing the bottom line by 55.8 percent. The company's revenue of $10.6 million moved it up to 12th on the ...

Vacation plans got you stressed? Try travel insurance - The Tennessean

Vacation plans got you stressed? Try travel insurance The Tennessean The elements that make travel so enticing — strange lands, unfamiliar cultures and extraordinary circumstances — are the very qualities that can make it risky. Travel insurance can protect you from some risks — illness, accidents, canceled tours ...

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 »

The New Health Care Law: Increases Entrepreneurships and Self- Employment

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) which is believed to create challenges for many businesses can actually benefit a particular group of entrepreneurs. With the health care provided by his company for him and his family, Joshua Simonson was at first reluctant to quit his job at the New Seasons Market, a grocery store in Portland Oregon. He had a pre-existing health condition that prevents him from obtaining insurance in the… Read More »

Homeowners Spared Costly Hurricane Deductible

Many homeowner insurance policies have a hurricane deductible based on a percentage of the property’s insured value — typically from 1% to 5%. For instance, a homeowner with a 5% deductible would pay for the first $15,000 of damage on a home insured for $300,000. Although Sandy was designated a hurricane for the majority of time it traveled up the coast, it failed to sustain hurricane-force winds at landfall, so… Read More »

NC insurance rate changes 'very frustrating,' commissioner says - WRAL.com

NC insurance rate changes 'very frustrating,' commissioner says WRAL.com WRAL's 5 On Your Side has learned most, if not all, insurance companies will send the forms out as customers come up for renewal because they don't feel the state-approved rate increases are adequate. State Farm, North Carolina's second largest insurer ...

A Good Travel Agent Can Work Wonders For Would-be Vacationers

Some people spend hours on the telephone-mainly on hold listening to insipid recorded music-while waiting to check an air fare, make a hotel reservation, book a cruise or rent an auto. On the face of it, there`s nothing wrong with planning your own trip and making your arrangements. If you`re an avid do-it-yourself traveler, you certainly can learn a lot about fares, resorts, ships and auto rental companies. For most… Read More »

Anyone upset about health insurance price hikes? Anyone? - DesMoinesRegister.com

Anyone upset about health insurance price hikes? Anyone? DesMoinesRegister.com After going several years without health insurance, he signed up in March for a Coventry policy that costs him $42.80 per month after the federal subsidies he receives to help cover the cost. He testified that its unreasonable for the company to ...

LR businessman shills for insurance industry-funded attack ad - Arkansas Times (blog)

LR businessman shills for insurance industry-funded attack ad Arkansas Times (blog) But the largest chunk of the money donated to the nonprofit group's advocacy came not from small-business owners, but rather from health insurance companies trying to repeal a health care tax, the most recently available federal tax records show.

10 Tips for Cheaper Home Insurance

In 2009 (the last year the information was available) the average homeowners insurance premium was $880, according to the While you’re forced to pay homeowners insurance, you don’t have to pay top dollar. Now let’s fill out those tips and add a few more: 1. Raise your deductible Raising your deductible is one surefire way to lower your monthly homeowners insurance premium. As Stacy put it: “The more loss you’ll… Read More »

Why some seniors need to own life insurance - Cincinnati.com

Why some seniors need to own life insurance Cincinnati.com I have written extensively in this column about why people own life insurance. In the business setting, life insurance protects the owner from an untimely death of a key person who is essential to the business in terms of generating profits, or it ...

California Car Insurance Rates Vary By As Much As A Third For The Same Driver And Area

We all know that auto insurance rates vary by zip code. But a new study shows that even within the same zip code, a driver could be paying up to a third more than a driver with the same age and driving record depending on the insurance company. Car insurance clearinghouse Carinsurance.com looked at average auto insurance rates for a 2012 Honda Accord for every zip code in the U.S.… Read More »

The Basics of Buying Life Insurance - Wall Street Journal (blog)

The Basics of Buying Life Insurance Wall Street Journal (blog) In general, families need life insurance if they don't have substantial savings and other money on hand to replace the income of a breadwinner who dies. That means most American households are candidates for buying coverage. As insurers try to reverse ...

Travel Insurance Options for the Gulf

It’s time for those hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer again. But if you’re thinking of backing out of that flight to New Orleans, or that beachfront hotel along the Gulf of Mexico, travel insurers likely won’t have your back. Travel insurance is all about disasters conjured up by Mother Nature — that’s why travelers were covered after clouds of volcanic ash over Iceland grounded tens of thousands of people… Read More »

Terminating Medicare Consults Linked To A Rise In Total Spending

Getting rid of payments for Medicare consultations frequently billed by specialists was seen to be connected with a new increase in spending during visits to specialists as well as primary care doctors, suggests a new study examining medicare data published in Archives of Internal Medicine. Preceding 2010, Medicare costs for consultations were significantly greater than for office visits that were almost identical in terms of difficulty, and were frequently charged… Read More »

The New Health Care Law: Increases Entrepreneurships and Self- Employment

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) which is believed to create challenges for many businesses can actually benefit a particular group of entrepreneurs. With the health care provided by his company for him and his family, Joshua Simonson was at first reluctant to quit his job at the New Seasons Market, a grocery store in Portland Oregon. He had a pre-existing health condition that prevents him from obtaining insurance in the… Read More »

Tennesseans get $10 million in insurance refunds - The Daily News Journal

Tennesseans get $10 million in insurance refunds The Daily News Journal "The 80/20 rule is bringing transparency and competition to the insurance market, ensuring that conumers are continuing to receive value for their premium dollars," said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. "Standards like these created under the health ...

Homeowners Spared Costly Hurricane Deductible

Many homeowner insurance policies have a hurricane deductible based on a percentage of the property’s insured value — typically from 1% to 5%. For instance, a homeowner with a 5% deductible would pay for the first $15,000 of damage on a home insured for $300,000. Although Sandy was designated a hurricane for the majority of time it traveled up the coast, it failed to sustain hurricane-force winds at landfall, so… Read More »

NC insurance rate changes 'very frustrating,' commissioner says - WRAL.com

NC insurance rate changes 'very frustrating,' commissioner says WRAL.com WRAL's 5 On Your Side has learned most, if not all, insurance companies will send the forms out as customers come up for renewal because they don't feel the state-approved rate increases are adequate. State Farm, North Carolina's second largest insurer ...

Patients Should Be More Involved In Medical Decision Making

A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the level of shared decision making among adult patients who had discussed medical tests, medications and procedures with their doctors was not as high as expected. A national survey was conducted in 2011 by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D., from the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. A cross section of American adults above… Read More »

Gwinnett man busted on charges of selling bogus insurance policies - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Gwinnett man busted on charges of selling bogus insurance policies Atlanta Journal Constitution Hudgens urges buyers of policies to confirm with their insurance company whether coverage was in force. If a consumer finds that he or she is not covered, they should call the Insurance Department's Consumer Services Division at 1-800-656-2298.

$1.8 million in health-insurance rebates ordered in Iowa - DesMoinesRegister.com

$1.8 million in health-insurance rebates ordered in Iowa DesMoinesRegister.com The rebates, totaling nearly $1.8 million, are going to people whose insurance plans didn't spend as much as required last year on health-care services. The rules, which are part of the Affordable Care Act, require that policies covering individuals or ...

Pros, Cons of Picking Travel Insurance

A close relative dies just before you leave for a Caribbean vacation, and you have to cancel your nonrefundable trip to attend the funeral. Or, you’re hiking in the Alps, have an accident and need to be airlifted off a mountain. These are the types of nightmare scenarios that make even confident travelers nervous. And they’re why travel insurance can be an attractive idea. But whether travel insurance, also called… Read More »

California Car Insurance Rates Vary By As Much As A Third For The Same Driver And Area

We all know that auto insurance rates vary by zip code. But a new study shows that even within the same zip code, a driver could be paying up to a third more than a driver with the same age and driving record depending on the insurance company. Car insurance clearinghouse Carinsurance.com looked at average auto insurance rates for a 2012 Honda Accord for every zip code in the U.S.… Read More »

Travel Insurance Options for the Gulf

It’s time for those hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer again. But if you’re thinking of backing out of that flight to New Orleans, or that beachfront hotel along the Gulf of Mexico, travel insurers likely won’t have your back. Travel insurance is all about disasters conjured up by Mother Nature — that’s why travelers were covered after clouds of volcanic ash over Iceland grounded tens of thousands of people… Read More »

Business Briefs: $5.2M in refunds headed to Pa. insurance buyers - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Business Briefs: $5.2M in refunds headed to Pa. insurance buyers Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pennsylvania health insurance customers will be getting refunds totaling $5.2 million this year from carriers that violated the federal government's prohibition on excessive profits. In Pennsylvania, Golden Rule Insurance Co., Time Insurance Co. and ...

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 »

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 »

Homeowners Spared Costly Hurricane Deductible

Many homeowner insurance policies have a hurricane deductible based on a percentage of the property’s insured value — typically from 1% to 5%. For instance, a homeowner with a 5% deductible would pay for the first $15,000 of damage on a home insured for $300,000. Although Sandy was designated a hurricane for the majority of time it traveled up the coast, it failed to sustain hurricane-force winds at landfall, so… Read More »

Patients Should Be More Involved In Medical Decision Making

A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the level of shared decision making among adult patients who had discussed medical tests, medications and procedures with their doctors was not as high as expected. A national survey was conducted in 2011 by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D., from the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. A cross section of American adults above… Read More »

Friendship man, wrongfully convicted of arson, reaches settlement with ... - Wisconsin State Journal

Friendship man, wrongfully convicted of arson, reaches settlement with ... Wisconsin State Journal A Friendship man wrongfully convicted of arson will be paid an undisclosed sum by his insurance company, which had hired experts used by the prosecution and rewrote their reports. Joseph Awe said Tuesday he was satisfied with the deal, although there ...

RV Insurance Covers Your Home on the Road

If the open road is calling you and a recreational vehicle, or RV, is the way you want to go, it may be smart to hitch on some RV insurance. While some owners opt to cover their RV with an endorsement on their auto insurance policy, insurance companies including Progressive, Nationwide, Geico and GMAC offer specialized RV insurance that resembles a combination of car insurance, home or renters insurance, and… Read More »

Pros, Cons of Picking Travel Insurance

A close relative dies just before you leave for a Caribbean vacation, and you have to cancel your nonrefundable trip to attend the funeral. Or, you’re hiking in the Alps, have an accident and need to be airlifted off a mountain. These are the types of nightmare scenarios that make even confident travelers nervous. And they’re why travel insurance can be an attractive idea. But whether travel insurance, also called… Read More »

Insurers Claim Granny Scooters Must Be Covered—Just Like Cars - Businessweek

Businessweek

Insurers Claim Granny Scooters Must Be Covered—Just Like Cars Businessweek Two insurance companies have made an unusual argument in a Michigan case: They're insisting that the drivers of motorized mobility scooters should be required to get the same insurance as car and truck owners. The case involves the claims of a ...

California Car Insurance Rates Vary By As Much As A Third For The Same Driver And Area

We all know that auto insurance rates vary by zip code. But a new study shows that even within the same zip code, a driver could be paying up to a third more than a driver with the same age and driving record depending on the insurance company. Car insurance clearinghouse Carinsurance.com looked at average auto insurance rates for a 2012 Honda Accord for every zip code in the U.S.… Read More »

DC appeals court strikes down ACA insurance subsidies for federal exchanges - ModernHealthcare.com

DC appeals court strikes down ACA insurance subsidies for federal exchanges ModernHealthcare.com A federal appeals court has ruled the Obama administration cannot subsidize insurance premiums for nearly 7 million Americans, dealing a serious blow to the Affordable Care Act. The administration plans to appeal the ruling to a full panel of the left ...

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 »

FBCSO: 3 arrested in undercover sting for insurance fraud scheme - KPRC Houston

KPRC Houston

FBCSO: 3 arrested in undercover sting for insurance fraud scheme KPRC Houston Ft. Bend County investigators say the case began when agents with the National Insurance Crime Bureau began investigating vehicle accidents where the victims were sent to a Houston chiropractic clinic and then guided to an attorney with ties to the clinic.