Despite fears that disaster-prone 2011 will incite higher insurance rates in the future, Allianz, one of the largest commercial insurance companies in the world, says that the toll of the damage caused by natural disasters throughout the year will not prompt widespread hikes in premiums. Jay Ralph, a board member of Allianz in charge of the North American insurance market, spoke with reporters concerning the issue, noting that the excess capacity of the insurance industry is enough to weather the storm without any major changes in policies. However, insurers should…
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New health care rule enacted assigned to oversee insurance industry changes
A major provision of the Affordable Care Act is about to come into play. Beginning yesterday, September 1, health insurance companies will be subjected to stricter scrutiny when it comes to raising premiums. When proposing rate increases, insurers will now have to submit written justification for their want of higher rates. These justifications will be open to the public for the sake of transparency and insurance regulators will be able to reject rate proposals if the justifications are not satisfactory. The new rule is meant to curb the seemingly relentless…
Read MoreAmerican Modern Insurance Group launches new online documentation system
In a move to align itself with new federal health care regulations, the American Modern Insurance Group, a specialty insurance firm focused on health care, has adopted an electronic documentation system. Dubbed “Online Services,” the initiative aims to provide policyholders with easy access to important documents and billing notices online. This is a practice that all insurance companies throughout the nation will have to adopt by 2014, as required by federal regulations. The Online Services program is a fully optional offering from the company, but one the company is keen…
Read MoreDespite unsteady market, insurance companies hold their ground
Insurance companies have been taking action to solidify their cash reserves since the start of the economic crisis, and have been working to decrease the number of high-risk investments within their investment portfolios, for example collateralized debt obligations. According to life insurance analyst Steven Schwartz, from Raymond James & Associates Inc., if they are not capable of borrowing money, holding companies are keeping notably more cash in order to cover their debts. In fact, they are currently holding twice to three times the amount that had been held in past…
Read MoreInsurance and business executives gather in New York City to examine the insurance industry
This week, leaders from the insurance, financial services, legal and media industries gathered in New York City for the annual New York City Dinner at the St. Regis Hotel. The dinner serves a form of intimate conference catering to the executives that run the numerous industries. This year, the event held particular meaning as the leaders of the two most influential and successful insurance corporations spoke about the state of the world’s insurance industry. Lloyd’s of London CEO Lord Pete Levene was joined by Brian Duperreault, CEO of Marsh &…
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