Institute of International Finance warns European Union regarding upcoming changes to insurance and banking regulations

As the European Union seeks to draft new plans governing the investments made by insurance companies, the world’s largest financial institution has voice concern over the initiative. The Institute of International Finance claims that the new rules being weighed by the EU will encourage insurers to seek out riskier investments. Such practice would put the world’s financial infrastructure in a dangerous position, as the assets most often pursued by insurance companies looking to generate major profit are the ones whose failure is disastrous. The EU is looking to change regulations…

Read More

S&P downgrades Californian insurers while Commissioner Jones insists the companies are financially sound

Rating agency Standard & Poor’s seems to be in the grips of a downgrading frenzy as the agency downgrades the credit ratings of five of California largest insurance companies. The move comes on the heels of the agency’s downgrading of the federal government’s credit rating, which sparked controversy throughout the country and drove many businesses to re-evaluate their place in the commercial market. S&P downgrade of the state’s insurers could have major implications for the industry, but Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones says that there should be no doubt about the…

Read More

Researchers find that U.S. insurers pay more for medical care than their counterparts in Canada

Health insurance rates are rising throughout the nation. Insurers are quick to justify these rate increases with the soaring costs of medical care and administration. While the nations insurance regulators are leery of these justifications, researchers at both Cornell University and the University of Toronto say that insurers claims may be accurate. According to a report released from the universities, health insurance administrative costs are almost four times higher in the U.S. than they are in Canada. The report finds that Doctors in the U.S. spend excessive amounts of money…

Read More

New Hampshire insurance regulators battle with non-profit organization over surplus funds from insurance pools

Insurance regulators in New Hampshire have been clashing with a non-profit organization known as the Local Government Center (LGC). The dispute is centered on how the LGC manages health insurance risk pools for state employees and retirees. The Bureau of Securities Regulation has been investigating the operations of the organization and has released a final report regarding the issue. According to the report, taxpayers may be receiving a big refund from the LGC in the coming months. The report shows that the LGC has merged with several smaller corporations in…

Read More

Allstate updates its estimated Q2 losses, up to $2.3 billion

Allstate has announced their latest estimates of their Q2 losses. The prestigious insurer has had a rough year given the frequency and severity of storms and other natural disasters throughout the U.S. Indeed, the entirety of the nation’s insurance industry has been shaken and many now believe that it stands on unstable ground. Risk analysts and insurance officials have speculated that the industry may not be able to withstand another natural disaster without significant financial aid from the federal government. Allstate’s previous estimations of their losses for the months of…

Read More