As auto insurance fraud is thrusted into the limelight by the actions of federal and state regulators this week in New York, the eleven other states that host no-fault insurance laws are taking a hard look at what can be done to make fraud a less serious issue. Florida is currently the leader in terms of auto insurance fraud, much of which is spurred by the state’s no-fault laws. These laws require insurers to pay benefits to victims of car accidents no matter who may be at fault. Like in…
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India seeks alternatives to European maritime insurers as EU sanctions on Iran loom
As the European Union prepares to impose sanctions on Iran and breaks its trade agreement with the nation, the maritime insurance industry is facing a bleak and complicated future. Insurers will not be the only ones to suffer from the move, however, as countries that depend on oil from the Middle East will also feel the impact of the action. Even countries that do not rely on Iranian oil are claiming that the EU’s actions will have a major effect on their economies. Such is the case in India, where…
Read MoreInsurer santalucía trusts SAS® to help address Solvency II and integrate risk management
MADRID – Building on its successful use of SAS in actuarial activities, Spanish insurer santalucía will use SAS Risk Management for Insurance to help meet Solvency II, Pillar I requirements to manage risks and calculate metrics. SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, is a risk analytics solutions leader for the insurance industry. With 370 agencies, 9,000 employees and 7.5 million clients throughout Spain, santalucía chose SAS to undertake multidimensional risk analysis that includes both the standard model approach and the ability to develop integrated internal models in…
Read MoreConnecticut Becomes First U.S. Insurance Regulator to Join International Information Exchange Agreement
Membership Strengthens International Supervisory Cooperation, Promotes Enhanced Consumer Protection Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Thomas B. Leonardi and Peter Braumüller, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), today announced that Connecticut has joined an international supervisory cooperation and information exchange agreement, becoming the first U.S. regulator to gain membership. Connecticut becomes the 22nd signatory of the IAIS Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU), a framework that establishes a formal basis for global cooperation and information exchange among insurance supervisors. Commissioner Leonardi and Chairman Braumüller said Connecticut was…
Read MorePaychex Inc. announces new services for business insurance payments
Leading human resource, payroll, and employee benefit solutions provider, Paychex Inc., has unveiled its new Business Insurance Payment Service, which is now being introduced for Paychex Insurance Agency commercial auto, business owner (BOP), and umbrella products that are sold through Guard Insurance Group, The Hartford, and Travelers Insurance companies. This new service will allow policyholders to choose to have their premiums paid for by Paychex using a monthly pay-as-you-go method that will help to decrease the premium deposit that is generally made up-front. The policyholders will also be able to…
Read MoreNew York regulators to investigate insurer’s rate proposals for accuracy
As complaints regarding insurance rate hikes begin to weigh on regulators in New York, the state’s Financial Services Superintendent, Benjamin Lawsky, has announced a new investigation into the matter. Regulators will be investigating the data submitted by insurance companies to justify their premium increases. The goal is to determine the accuracy of the data that these insurers use. These investigations will work alongside the regular rate review process and insurers will not know when they will be investigated. Lawsky notes that any errors made by insurers in their requests for…
Read MoreAmerican insurance industry feeling the pinch of weak investments and catastrophes
A new report released by A.M. Best Co. Inc., has stated that the unprecedented number of natural disasters, poor returns from investments, and an economy that continued to struggle in 2011, has made it exceptionally difficult for the American property and casualty insurance industry’s commercial insurance and reinsurance sectors to grow and has caused notable hurt to their operating performances. It’s estimated by the rating agency, based in Oldwick, New Jersey, that last year’s underwriting losses from underwriters in the commercial property and casualty sector were approximately $15.2 billion. This…
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