TweetMost cases of auto insurance fraud are a result of desperation. In 2009, as the recession was ramping up to its worst levels (unemployment climbing toward 10%, auto industry going bankrupt), the National Insurance Crime Bureau tracked the rate of … Continue reading
TweetAn investigation by Bloomberg’s Market Magazine (“Fallen Soldiers’ Families Denied Cash as Insurers Profit, 28July10″) has cast new light on an old life insurance industry practice. Basically, when a claim is filed, the beneficiaries receive something that looks like a … Continue reading
TweetAlthough health care reform has been technically enacted, the laws to really make it happen are still being written. One provision in particular has the insurance companies doling out money to their lobbyists to achieve maximum flexibility in the interpretation … Continue reading
TweetAs the federal health care reform moves forward, insurers are finding ways to insulate themselves against the inevitable redefintion of “business as usual.” In both Florida and Oklahoma (and likely in other states as well) insurers have stopped writing certain … Continue reading
TweetIf you’ve been anywhere near an entertainment report for the last ten days you’re clued in to the “Lindsay Lohan has to go to jail” story. Hats off to the Insurance Information Network of California (IINC) for managing to jump … Continue reading
TweetThe Obama administration is beginning to make steps toward enacting the new national health care laws and insurers are looking for the best ways to both respond to those legal imperatives and to protect their profit margin. The question remains, … Continue reading
TweetEvery now and then folks, you have to go for the strange story. (Bear with me. There will be a point.) A jury in Vermont just awarded a turkey hunter $380,557 in compensation because another hunter fired at him with … Continue reading
TweetThe politics of health insurance continues to plague the Obama administration as the November mid-term elections draw ever nearer. After several months of U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius criticizing insurers for rate increases — even to the point of calling … Continue reading
TweetAnyone who has ever rented a car has debated about whether or not to take out the rental insurance. That’s really not a decision you should make when you’re standing in front of the counter, probably running late, and at … Continue reading
TweetPersonally, I’m never sure how good these studies really are, but InsWeb has put out its 2010 Car Insurance Affordability Index based on the kind of math that makes my numbers-challenged head spin. Basically, they took the median car insurance … Continue reading