Americans are only at the beginning of weather related expenses

J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of study that indicated that a sizeable percentage of consumers who are in weather disaster-prone regions do not have adequate home insurance coverage. The United States may be the richest country in the world, but severe weather can still threaten its people and businesses. There are two primary socio-economic issues that impact the amount of economic loss that results from this type of catastrophe. They are: value at risk and population exposure. The 2011 U.S. National Homeowners Insurance Study showed that even…

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Most Asset Based Long-Term Care Purchases Are Over Age 65 – Two Thirds Of New Single-Pay Life+LTC Policy Sales Are Over $100,000

The sale of asset-based long-term care insurance protection grew significantly according to research by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (www.aaltci.org) the national trade organization. According to data gathered from the industry’s leading insurers, premium in 2010 increased 79 percent compared to the prior year. The number of covered lives increased 83 percent. “Asset based or linked products are experiencing growth as they are highly suitable for a very specific consumer,” states Jesse Slome, AALTCI’s executive director. “Financial planners and investment professionals who may not like the more complex…

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Auto insurance anti-stacking language causes disagreements between insurers and lawyers

Following an April vote by Wisconsin lawmakers that permitted the inclusion of anti-stacking language in auto insurance policies, it is anticipated that one of the first acts from the Republican-controlled state legislature will be a decision to permit insurers to disallow policy stacking. The decision in April was made in an attempt to resolve a common battle that was regularly being fought between trial lawyers and insurers. What occurred was the repealing of every element of the “Truth in Auto” law that was passed in 2009, except for the aspect…

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Auto insurance fraud on the rise – a call for serious change in Florida insurance system

Florida continues to combat auto insurance fraud despite new measures introduced to combat the problem. While the number of accidents in the state is on the decline, the occurrence of fraud continues to grow. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty claims that widespread fraud has led to premiums for auto insurance to soar by $900 million since 2008. The mounting problem has lit a fire beneath Governor Rick Scott, who is now petitioning the state Legislature to make changes to both the insurance industry and its regulations to put an end to…

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Agents in Massachusetts push for insurers to discontinue their use of credit score

Independent insurance agents in Massachusetts are looking to bar credit scores from playing a part in the pricing of auto insurance. The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) is leading the charge, hoping to gain enough support from the public and insurance companies to ensure that factors like occupation, education and credit score do not contribute to the overall cost of insurance. Unfortunately, a number of prestigious insurance companies have rallied against the proposal. MAIA holds that auto insurance prices should be dependent upon an individual’s driving record, not their…

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