Live Insurance News

Health insurance policies sold through South Carolina exchange may become more expensive

June 4, 2014June 1, 2014 S.Vagus

Department of Insurance believes that insurance policies will increase in cost next year The South Carolina Department of Insurance has predicted that the four health insurance companies that are selling policies through the state’s insurance exchange will again sell these policies during the exchange’s next open enrollment period. These plans will go active next year, but the agency believes that they will be more expensive than they were during the last open enrollment period. The agency will not know for sure if these policies will be more expensive until later…

Flood insurance continues to cause problems for homeowners and realtors

December 30, 2013December 28, 2013 S.Vagus

Insurance woes continue to mount for many Flood insurance has become a controversial issue in the U.S. The problems the country is facing in terms of insurance coverage are linked heavily to the National Flood Insurance Program. The majority of homeowners throughout the country currently receive their flood protection from the federal program, but the program itself has been crippled by financial calamities that emerged over the past several years. FEMA, which manages the flood program, has been working to resolve these issues while also redrawing its flood maps, and…

Health insurance companies flee South Carolina market

November 29, 2013November 26, 2013 Nordstrom

A dozen insurers opt out of South Carolina small group and individual markets Nearly a dozen health insurance companies are leaving South Carolina, according to the state’s Insurance Department. These insurers are refusing to write new health policies in the state, citing new regulations introduced by the Affordable Care Act. These regulations are placing significant financial strain on some companies and smaller insurers are finding it difficult to comply with some of the federal law’s provisions. As such, pulling out of the individual and small group markets of South Carolina…

Health insurance competition low in South Carolina

November 12, 2013November 9, 2013 S.Vagus

South Carolina health insurance market lacks competition A new report from the American Medical Association suggests that South Carolina may have one of the least competitive health insurance marketplaces in the U.S. The state falls behind Alabama, Hawaii, Michigan, Delaware, and Alaska in terms of a lack of competition in its insurance market. Despite the existence of the state’s health insurance exchange, competition among insurers remains low, limiting the options that state residents have regarding the coverage they have access to. Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts of majority of the…

Tropical Storm Andrea to Make Landfall in Northern Florida

June 7, 2013June 7, 2013 Guest Author

According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, as of the National Hurricane Center’s 11:00 a.m. advisory, Tropical Storm Andrea is moving northeastward at a speed of 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and some stronger gusts. Tropical storm winds extend outward 140 miles but primarily to the east of the storm’s center. The storm is expected to accelerate and continue on a northeast path later today, making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend. Andrea is not expected to intensify further before making landfall and if forecasts hold AIR…

Top cities for vehicle theft named by NICB

January 7, 2013April 30, 2013

Vehicle Theft black friday auto insurance claims

For the second straight year, Fresno tops the National Insurance Crime Bureau list of top cities for vehicle theft. California tops the list… The NICB list states that approximately 761,500 vehicles were stolen in 2011, which was a drop from the year before by a mere 3 percent. These numbers are based on statistics released by the FBI. Fresno was at the top of the list and was not the only city in California to make the top ten. Modesto came in second and Bakersfield was in third, giving CA…

Walmart enters into life insurance business

October 11, 2012 S.Vagus

Walmart teams with MetLife to sell life insurance policies Retail giant Walmart appears to be getting into the life insurance business in Georgia and South Carolina. The company has teamed with New York-based insurer MetLife to begin selling policies in more than 200 stores located in both states. The life insurance policies that will be sold through Walmart are designed to be attractive to consumers looking to find affordable coverage without having to do extensive shopping or rely on plans that may be provided by their employer. Partnership will open…