Force-placed coverage causes probe of New York insurance companies

A closer look into forced placed insurance practices The state insurance regulator in New York is currently performing an investigation as to whether or not the rates for force-placed insurance that are being charged by companies should be deemed excessive, and is requesting data from insurers such as Assurant Inc. The New York Department of Financial Services released a statement that said that it is trying to obtain basis for “consistently high profits” that are occurring at the investors’ and homeowners’ expense. It is also requiring that insurers such as…

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Major Chinese ship insurance company to cease Iranian oil tanker coverage

Commercial insurance market for oil tankers tightens A major insurer of Chinese ships has announced that, starting in July, it will be stopping its indemnity coverage for tankers that are transporting Iranian oil. This has dealt another blow to the tanker companies that carry oil – the main export of Tehran – from the Iranian capital, and has further narrowed the coverage options available in a market that has already been pinched by payment barriers put in place by sanctions in the West. As the number of Western sanctions increase…

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Insurance employment forecast sees 14,000 jobs currently available and 27,000 more this year

GreatInsuranceJobs.com has released a report on the availability of jobs among managing general agents, third party administrators, brokers, and agents, and has determined that there are currently about 14,000 positions open, and that there will be an additional 27,000 jobs available before the end of 2012. The report was based on a survey of those parts of the industry, among which 126 different insurance entities participated across the country. The survey was performed over the phone, and involved five questions about the current and forecasted job availability, in addition to…

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AIG sets sights on Chinese auto insurance market

American International Group Inc. (AIG) has announced insurance news information that it will be joining other insurers, such as Allianz SE (ALV), in entering into the auto insurance market in China after the rules regarding foreign insurance companies are relaxed. These insurers are keen to get in the door as quickly as they can to take their portions of the $50 billion dollar marketplace that exists among the drivers in that country. They are waiting for the upcoming lift on the ban that has been blocking companies from other countries…

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United Nations report stresses the need for action on climate change

Climate change may be a controversial issue in the world of politics, but the insurance industry is betting on dramatic weather becoming a reality in the near future. The belief of the global insurance industry is shared by the United Nations. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released a report concerning climate-related disasters, indicating that all nations will be susceptible to extreme weather. The report is aimed at politicians around the world, stressing the necessity of preparing for future disasters wrought by climate change. The United Nations claims…

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