Latest Alaska Headlines
All the headlines from our Alaska Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Average Workers’ Comp Rates to Fall in Ark.
Apr 8 2005 // Insurance Commissioner Julie Benafield Bowman announced new workers’ compensation rates, which will take effect July 1, 2005. “I am happy to see that overall rates in the workers’ compensation market...
‘Any Willing Provider’ Bill Passes Ark. House
Feb 24 2005 // Following emotional speeches about a lack of treatment options offered by managed health plans, the Arkansas House of Representatives voted to resurrect the state’s “any willing provider” law and open the...
Ark. House Approves Bill to Ban Credit as Factor in Rating Auto Premiums
Feb 24 2005 // Auto insurance companies would be barred from using credit ratings as a factor in setting auto insurance premiums under a bill passed by the Arkansas House of Representatives, the Associated Press reported. Rep. Rick...
Can it Happen Here’ Tsunamis a Possible Threat to West Coast
Jan 24 2005 // Southeast Asia’s devastating tsunami has left many wondering if the threat could hit close to home. The reality is that tsunamis, in fact, have already made their mark on the West Coast, and the threat still remains...
UnumProvident to Reassess Claims of 2,000-Plus Ark. Insurance Consumers
Jan 7 2005 // Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Mike Pickens announced his state has reached a settlement agreement with UnumProvident insurance companies, which requires a re-evaluation of certain consumer-disputed disability insurance...
Ark. Issues Reminder of Credit Scoring Reports
Dec 22 2004 // The Arkansas Insurance Department recently issued a reminder to property and casualty insurers operating in the state of the requirement to submit a report to the department concerning companies’ use of credit...
People & Places
Dec 20 2004 // Ken Nigohosian The American Agents Alliance Board of Governors announced the selection of Ken Nigohosian as the association’s new executive director. He has worked for Safeco Insurance for 25 years. He began his...
Ten Small Alaska Communities Drop City Insurance
Dec 20 2004 // Ten small Alaska communities have discontinued their municipal insurance because of declining assistance from the state and rising insurance and fuel costs, and another dozen could follow within the next few months, said...
Report Says Ark. Has Fewer Children Without Health Insurance; Lower than National Average
Dec 13 2004 // A new report says the share of Arkansas children not covered by health insurance declined from 19.4 percent in 1996 to 11 percent in 2002—lower than the national average of 12 percent. Rhonda Sanders, director of health...
Ark. Commissioner Warns of Alleged Fraudulent Activity by Unlicensed Company
Dec 8 2004 // Arkansas State Insurance Commissioner Mike Pickens recently issued a warning for consumers to be on alert for potentially fraudulent insurance activity from a company called Nations Hazard Insurance and an individual using...
Bowman Named Ark. Insurance Commissioner
Dec 8 2004 // Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has named Julie Benafield Bowman of Little Rock as the state insurance commissioner. The governor made the announcement during a Tuesday morning news conference at the state Capitol. Bowman will...
McKinney Reappointed to Ark. WCC
Dec 8 2004 // Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee announced the reappointment of Karen McKinney of Little Rock to the state Workers’ Compensation Commission. She will serve until Dec. 5, 2010. She will continue to serve as the...
Ark. Issues ‘Reminder’ on Producer Compensation
Nov 29 2004 // The Arkansas Insurance Department announced it has begun a general investigation of the insurance practices of Arkansas insurance brokers and insurance companies. In light of the recent “bid-rigging”...
Association Not Likely to Push Liability Cap for Nursing Homes in Ark.
Nov 22 2004 // No effort is planned in the upcoming Arkansas legislative session to gain approval for a measure that would limit damages that could be awarded in suits against nursing homes, a top industry official says. A measure to cap...
Association Not Likely to Push for Liability Cap for Nursing Homes in Ark.
Nov 14 2004 // No effort is planned in the upcoming Arkansas legislative session to gain approval for a measure that would limit damages that could be awarded in suits against nursing homes, a top industry official says. A measure to cap...
Ark. Commissioner Says Despite Media Images Good Things Are Happening in Iraq
Nov 11 2004 // Insurance Journal recently had the opportunity to speak with Arkansas Insurance Commissioner and former president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioner Mike Pickens about the time he spent in Iraq earlier...
Ark. Department to Hold Public Hearing on Sex Discrimination in Insurance
Oct 22 2004 // The Arkansas Insurance Department has scheduled a public hearing on Nov. 23, 2004, to determine whether the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner should adopt Proposed Amended Rule and Regulation 19, “Unfair Sex...
Ark. WCC Releases 2005 Compensation Rates
Oct 22 2004 // The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC) recently released its annual revision of Advisory 2000-1, which announces the amounts to be paid to injured workers under the state’s workers’...
Ark. Workers’ Comp Rules Supplement Available
Oct 6 2004 // The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission announced that a 2004 supplement to The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Laws and Rules Annotated, published by LexisNexis, is now available. The 2004 supplement...
North to Alaska
Sep 20 2004 // At press time for this issue of Insurance Journal, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher was in Anchorage, Alaska, attending a meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. He may be enjoying...
