Property Insurance

A bipartisan, companion Senate bill to the House bill excluding insurance agent compensation from medical loss ratio (MLR) calculations will be introduced in a few days, although the political environment makes its passage uncertain.

Janet Trautwein, CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), said at the organizations conference in Washington, D.C., Jan. 26 that the Senate bill will be sponsored by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Johnny Isakson, (R-Ga.).

Another Republican is expected to sponsor the bill soon, Trautwein said.

The House bill, H.R.

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U.S. property and casualty insurers’ profitability fell to the lowest level since 2008 as losses from natural disasters exceeded gains in sales and investment income.

Insurers posted a 1.9 percent annualized rate of return on policyholders’ surplus, or cushion against unexpected claims, in the nine months through Sept. 30, according to a statement today from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. That’s the lowest since the 1.2 percent return in 2008, when the industry faced losses from Hurricane Ike and on investments.

Travelers Cos. and Allstate Corp. are among insurers raising prices for coverage to boost shareholder returns after claims from storms and low interest rates pressured results. Polic Read more…

A Jacksonville, Fla.-based Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance subsidiary agreed to acquire Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Highmarks Medicare subsidiary.

Diversified Service Options (DSO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and the and the holding company for First Coast Service Options (FCSO), will acquire Highmark Medicare Services (HMS).

Financial terms of the transaction, expected to close by Jan. 1, 2012, were not disclosed.

Both HMS and FCSO will continue to operate as separate, independent organizations, as wholly owned subsidiaries of DSO, officials said.

This change was prompted by Highmarks provider strategy, said David OBrien, executive vice president of Highmark, in a statement.

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Winter RVing is a real treat for those of you who have never tried it, especially in the south where we can enjoy cool weather without ice and snow longer than the rest of the country! It does have its differences, though, so here are some things to keep in mind for cold weather RVing!

The arch nemesis of the winter RV enthusiast? Water. The ace up your sleeve? Warmth! Be sure to address the following moisture issues to keep your RV kicking until spring:

Check the ground under your RV as well as any wet spots around the ceiling. If your RV is leaking anywhere it must be stopped before the cold comes. Frozen water expands and can ruin any area it’s crept into should it get cold enough to freeze.

Protect the pipes. A

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Comparing insurance companies is the best that you can do it reduce your premium at the same time find a policy that suits your situation the best. This is especially important when shopping for life insurance coverage for people over fifty and above. If you have reached the age of fifty and your term life insurance have already expired, you need to consider renewing your policy or look for elderly life insurance options. Of course if you already have an existing insurance provider, it will be easier to purchase your elderly life insurance from them but if they do not offer this policy or they are offering a very expensive option then it is best of your gather more information over the internet where information about life insurances are widely available. Read more…

Sometimes, the vehicle you get from a car dealer just doesn’t fit all of your needs and personal style. It may be impossible to buy the absolute perfect car, and when you can’t, many folks upgrade components. With a new radio here, some chrome rims there, you have a vehicle that truly belongs to you.

Few people are aware of this, but most insurance policies will only cover damage to equipment originally provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle. This means that all equipment that you or others have added to the vehicle after it rolled off the lot is not insured. Suc

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