Live Insurance News

Crop insurance placed back in the spotlight following election

November 9, 2012April 30, 2013

Attention for farm bill has become an important target for lawmakers. Now that the election is behind us, crop insurance federal subsidies will return to the spotlight as a major target for lawmakers who are seeking to slash the budget deficit in Congress’s first week of the lame duck session. Experts in agricultural policy feel that this is a typical week following a general election. Many doubt, however, that lawmakers will be able to make their way through the deadlock they have been facing regarding the enacting of a $500…

Illinois health insurance exchange making progress

November 9, 2012November 9, 2012 Nordstrom

Legislators continue to push for Illinois health insurance exchange The Illinois health insurance exchange is on track to comply with federal regulations and deadlines. State officials have been making progress in building the state’s own exchange program, hoping to have one established before being confronted by deadlines from the federal government. Thus far, progress has been modest, but promising. The state is now reviewing five bids from companies and organizations interested in building the exchange program. Legislators are expected to choose one of these bidders within the coming months. State…

Health insurance mandate rejected by Florida voters

November 8, 2012November 8, 2012 Nordstrom

Health insurance mandate shot down by Floridians during election The U.S. elections have come to a close and that has major implications for the U.S. insurance industry. In Florida, voters have voted “no” on an issue concerning a health insurance mandate. Mandatory health insurance has become a controversial issue throughout the country, but many states are beginning to show interest in passing their own mandates rather than allow the federal government to impose one of its own. The federal Affordable Care Act imposes such a mandate on the entirety of the…

Health insurance law secured by Obama victory, but states still in control

November 8, 2012April 30, 2013

The survival of the healthcare reforms may have been ensured, but each state will have a say. The re-election of President Barack Obama has been a major step to keep the federal health insurance reforms in place, but it will still be up to the states to decide how those laws will be carried out. The officials from predominantly Republican states will still have an important say. The reforms to the healthcare systems give state lawmakers the control over whether or not millions of people without coverage will be able…

Auto insurance Proposition 33 rejected by voters

November 8, 2012April 30, 2013

The ballot measure that was designed to allow insurers to offer new discounts has been defeated. Voters in California have now rejected the Proposition 33 auto insurance measure, which was created to give insurers the ability to offer discounts to customers who maintained continuous coverage, but increase the rates for drivers whose coverage history was inconsistent. The current law in the state already allows for loyalty discounts for drivers who remain with one insurer. However, that law also stops those car insurers from using the discounts as a way to…