Climate change is often a controversial issue, especially when the federal government is concerned. The insurance industry, however, is beginning to take the matter more seriously, as a new report shows that purely environmental factors may be causing the high costs seen in the health care system. The report comes from the Natural Resources Defense Council, an international environmental advocacy group based in New York. The report suggests that natural disasters that have struck the U.S. in the past decade may be having a significant impact on the health of…
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Liberty Mutual posts Q3 losses due to natural catastrophe and asbestos charges
The Liberty Mutual Group, one of the largest property casualty insurers in the U.S., has posted their third quarter financial report. The report shows that the company has lost millions as the result of natural disasters and a high-profile asbestos lawsuit that was levied against the insurer earlier in the year. Last year, the insurer reported a net profit of $567 million during the third quarter, but 2011 has produced several major natural disasters that have shaken the insurance industry to its core. Liberty Mutual’s losses from catastrophic events for…
Read MoreAIG continues to pay its debt to the U.S. Treasury despite financial turmoil
The U.S. Treasury has received another payment from the American International Group (AIG), one of the nation’s largest insurance organizations. The payment is the latest in a series coming from AIG as part of its massive debt owed to the federal government. To date, the company has repaid $18 billion of the $182 billion provided during 2008’s financial crisis. The company still owes the federal government approximately $50 billion it received from the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program. This week’s payment totaled $972 million. The insurer has been treading troubled…
Read MoreInsurer’s move away from RMS hurricane model amidst controversy
Hurricane risk models were a popular subject for insurers this week during the annual meeting of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Earlier in the year, risk modeling agency Risk Management Solutions (RMS) introduced revisions to its U.S. hurricane model. The changes generated some controversy when they were first announced, but have since become an all-encompassing issue for property insurers in coastal regions. These insurers expressed their discontent for the new model during the meeting, citing multiple factors that have made it more costly to do business in the…
Read MoreCigna purchased HealthSpring Medicare provider in $3.8 billion deal
Cigna, a global health insurance company based in the U.S., has announced the acquisition of HealthSpring, a health insurer specializing in Medicare Advantage plans. Cigna is looking to expand its presence in the Medicare sector as well as its senior care services. The move may be inspired by an aging populace that will soon enter the ranks of seniority, enabling them to take advantage of new insurance plans. The acquisition is priced at $3.8 billion. HealthSprings serves more than 350,000 Medicare Advantage policyholders across 11 states. The insurer also boasts…
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