Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire has now signed a bill into law, which now sets the rules in that state for insurance companies that are readying themselves for the online insurance exchange that is a part of the federal healthcare reform. The exchanges are a part of the President Barack Obama overhaul that began in 2010, and they must be ready to be put into place by January 1, 2014. They are designed to assist both individuals and small businesses to find proper and affordable health insurance coverage. Governor Gregoire…
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California insurance regulators clash with insurers over coverage for small businesses
California insurance regulators are pushing for new legislation that would institute limitations on a controversial form of health insurance that is targeting small businesses. This coverage is a type of self-insurance that is designed for businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Regulators claim that these policies are being used by health insurers to find companies with the healthiest workers, lowering their risk of costly payouts. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is concerned that these policies undermine one of the key principles of the Affordable Care Act: Lowering premiums by allowing insurers…
Read MoreNew York legislators introduce three new laws to combat auto insurance fraud
In the continuing fight against auto insurance fraud, New York legislators have passed three new bills that will impose serious penalties on those committing crimes. The bills were passed by the state’s Senate late last week and will be heading to the Assembly for further consideration. Lawmakers are considering auto insurance fraud one of the state’s most serious issues. According to the Senate, fraud costs the state more than $1 billion every year and deals untold damage to the auto insurance industry. These damages translate into higher premiums for consumers…
Read MoreEU permits some Iran oil insurance until July 1
The European Union has announced that it will allow some insurance for Iranian oil shipments to be exempt from Europe’s trade embargo on crude, when they are headed to destinations other than Europe, and that it will have made its decision as to whether or not coverage will be permitted after that time, by mid May. The EU foreign ministers formed the exemption and the planned review for it at a Brussels meeting that added it to a set of rules about the implementation of the oil ban from the…
Read MoreTips to consider when buying insurance
Regardless of what kind of insurance you require, there are a few things that you should keep in mind before you commit to a certain policy, so that you’ll know that you’ve chosen the right one for you, and at the best price available. Planning is the best thing that you can do to make sure that you have the right amount of coverage, and that you’re paying the lowest rates for that protection. Remember that just because it’s the lowest price, it doesn’t mean that it’s the best policy.…
Read MoreIIHS names 2013 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUV its “Top Safety Pick”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given the highest safety rating to the new compact crossover SUV, the 2013 Mazda CX-5, and has named the vehicle its “Top Safety Pick”. After undergoing the four IIHS tests, the Mazda CX-5 received a “Good” rating each time, which is the highest possible crash safety rating. According to the Mazda North American Operations president and CEO, Jim O’Sullivan, this vehicle is the first from the manufacturer “to receive the full suite of SKYACTIV technologies, which focuses not only on fuel efficiency…
Read MoreRanking the states by the cost of auto insurance coverage
According to the Insure.com study results, which have only just been released, Louisiana is the state in which it is most expensive to insure a vehicle in the entire country, whereas Maine enjoys the lowest insurance rates in the U.S. The average annual cost of insuring a car in Louisiana is $2,536, whereas in Maine the average cost is only $889. The issues that have been driving the rates higher in many states includes the insurance laws within those states, larger numbers of drivers without insurance, the number of different…
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