Author: H. Cutner

Special Maryland health insurance enrollment period begins to boost coverage

H. Cutner
Maryland health insurance - Doctor

As a state of emergency is declared Marylanders have a new opportunity to obtain a plan. A special Maryland health insurance enrollment window has opened to help uninsured residents of the state obtain coverage for added financial protection against coronavirus (COVID-19). Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange reopened. The Maryland health insurance enrollment window opened back up again to make sure that residents in the state had an extra chance to purchase coverage during this outbreak. Uninsured Marylanders have the opportunity to…

Read More

IIHS calls for driver assistance and autonomous vehicle safety regulations

H. Cutner
Autonomous vehicle safety regulations - Inside of Tesla car

The insurance group says that the GM Super Cruise and Tesla Autopilot require regulatory guidance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is calling for the development of autonomous vehicle safety regulations. These are meant for cars with driver assistance or that are completely self-driving. The IIHS feels that better regulations are needed for Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise. The IIHS, which receives its funding from the auto insurance industry, recommended raised driver monitoring to make certain they remain engaged, restricting the use of the automated and semi-automated systems to…

Read More

Hotels may recoup some coronavirus cancellation losses with parametric insurance

H. Cutner
Parametric Insurance - Hotel

Event organizers have been cancelling and delaying due to fears of COVID-19 spread. Hotels with a new type of parametric insurance launched by Lloyd’s of London last year may fare better than other players in the events industry as coronavirus concerns spread. Other players, such as event organizers, may not fare as well as this coverage won’t reach them. The parametric insurance coverage compensates hotels when there is a drop in revenue per available room below a certain established point due to circumstances that could neither be predicted nor controlled.…

Read More

New Covered California enrollment jumps 41 percent

H. Cutner
Covered California enrollment - Heartbeat - Hands

State officials credit the new individual mandate to the rise in health insurance exchange use. The new Covered California enrollment figures have risen sharply since the state introduced its new individual mandate and offered residents additional subsidies on top of those already provided through the Affordable Care Act. The state implemented new rules for its residents for this year’s open enrollment period. There were 418,000 new people added to the Covered California enrollment during the 2020 open application period. That represents a tremendous increase of 41 percent over the new…

Read More

California eases its health insurance individual mandate requirements

H. Cutner
Health insurance individual mandate - woman receiving medication from pharmacist

State officials loosened the law out of concern that many residents aren’t aware of the fines. Out of concerns that too many California residents don’t understand the consequences of failing to comply with the health insurance individual mandate, the law has been eased. The worry was that many Californians aren’t aware of the fines they face for failing to buy coverage. The health insurance individual mandate is meant to help encourage Californians to purchase a plan. The idea is, in part, to create an incentive to purchase a health plan…

Read More

Unpaid insurance claims leave Puerto Rico with a massive $1.6 billion disaster bill

H. Cutner
Unpaid insurance claims - House damage

The U.S. territory is wrapped in accusations of fraud and lawsuits against home insurers. Cities and homeowners alike are facing widespread unpaid insurance claims following several disasters to strike Puerto Rico. Some claim they’re receiving unfair low payments while others have watched insurers shut down. Fraud accusations and lawsuits are taking flight in every direction as many face unpaid insurance claims following the earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters. Puerto Rico has been struggling with one catastrophe after the next. The island has been struck by hundreds of earthquakes over a…

Read More

Nationwide embraces new insuretech partnerships for commercial telematics support

H. Cutner
Insuretech partnerships - emergency vehicle

The insurance company is working with Azuga and Zubie to power their new initiatives. The commercial insurance group at nationwide has secured two strategic insuretech partnerships. These are meant to help the insurer streamline its coverage options using telematics. Their goal is to launch new and refined fleet management programs for human services drivers. To do this, Nationwide has entered into insuretech partnerships with Azuga and Zubie. These two firms provide trip-tracking and analytics capability support technology. They are playing a substantial role in the insurance company’s Vantage 360 Premium…

Read More