Latest Iowa Headlines

Iowa’s open dialogue and stable environment a ‘draw’ for insurers

Sep 25 2006 // Iowa is perceived by other states as a model in terms of the number of companies domiciled in the state and those wanting to do business there, as well as having a very stable legislative and regulatory environment. But...

People and Places

Sep 25 2006 // Schaumburg, Ill.-based Zurich Insurance recently promoted John LaGrassa to senior vice president and director of ceded reinsurance. In his new position, LaGrassa will be responsible for all of Zurich’s ceded...

People and Places

Sep 25 2006 // Miami insurance agent Alex Soto has been inaugurated as the new president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), with Robert E. Fulwider assuming the office of...

Sep 25 2006 // People Miami insurance agent Alex Soto has been inaugurated as the new president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), with Robert E. Fulwider assuming the office of...

Sep 25 2006 // People San Antonio, Texas-based Southwest Business Corporation announced that Nick Grant has joined SWBC as the chief executive officer of the Property and Casualty Division in the San Antonio office. Grant is responsible...

People

Sep 25 2006 // Miami insurance agent Alex Soto has been inaugurated as the new president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), with Robert E. Fulwider and C. Brett Nilsson assuming the...

In Iowa’s Healing Field, 2,988 Flags Honor Victims of Sept. 11 Attacks

Sep 11 2006 // The rippling of flags and passing traffic were the only sounds heard Friday as people milled about 2,988 American flags, each one representing a person killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Healing Field of...

Miami Agent Soto Sworn in as National Big ‘I’ President

Sep 11 2006 // Miami insurance agent Alex Soto has been inaugurated as the new president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), with Robert E. Fulwider and C. Brett Nilsson assuming the...

Iowa Organizations Push Investment Agenda to Candidates

Sep 5 2006 // Several Iowa organizations are saying they want political candidates to adopt an agenda that encourages investment in renewable energy, education, and health care. Officials from the Center for Energy and Environmental...

Iowa Principal Financial Group Boosts Pay to Outside Directors

Sep 1 2006 // Serving as a board member of insurance and financial services company Principal Financial Group Inc. has become more lucrative. The Des Moines-based company announced this week that it has increased the annual retainer it...

Iowans Among Most Insured in the Nation, Census Data Shows

Aug 31 2006 // Iowa is among the nation’s leaders in having its citizens insured, U.S. Census data released Monday shows. According to U.S. Census figures, the percentage of Iowans without health insurance was 9.1 percent during...

Iowa Lawmakers, Wellmark Want Review of Hospital Construction Law

Aug 16 2006 // Hospital executives should seek approval from state regulators before closing hospitals on Des Moines’ east side and opening new ones in the suburbs, say some lawmakers and officials along with Iowa’s largest...

Iowa Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud

Aug 9 2006 // A Des Moines, Iowa doctor was convicted Monday of seeking reimbursement on medical procedures that were unnecessary or not performed. Dr. Peter Boesen is awaiting sentencing on 82 counts of health care fraud relating to...

Disclosure of Medical Errors Desirable but Difficult, Researchers Find

Aug 3 2006 // Disclosing medical errors made by physicians is extremely important yet often extremely difficult. Two University of Iowa studies examine why this is the case and how increased understanding might help patients, doctors...

Iowa Lt. Governor Launches Senior Fraud Initiative

Aug 2 2006 // Calling the defrauding of seniors a “big business” and a major problem in Iowa, Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson on Thursday announced a new initiative designed to educate older Iowans about investment fraud. The...

Insurance Journal Series ‘The Commissioners’ Presents Interviews with 15 State Regulators

Jul 28 2006 // Reinsurance collateral, natural disaster plans, brokerage compensation disclosure, credit scoring, competition for insurance jobs—state insurance regulators across the country deal with these and many other...

Insurance Journal Presents Video Interviews with 15 State Insurance Commissioners

Jul 27 2006 // Reinsurance collateral, natural disaster plans, brokerage compensation disclosure, credit scoring, competition for insurance jobs—state insurance regulators across the country deal with these and many other...

Hawkeye-Security Offers New Web-based Disaster Planning Tool

Jul 20 2006 // Businesses insured through Des Moines-Iowa-based Hawkeye-Security Insurance, a member of the Liberty Mutual Group, will be among the first in the upper Midwest to use Open for Business, a free, web-based tool that allows...

Insurance, Business Leaders Hold Forum on Keeping Workers in Iowa

Jul 19 2006 // Business leaders expressed continued concern this week that Iowa lacks enough workers to maintain a growing business climate. Business managers, insurance executives, and economic development directors discussed the issue...

London-based Aviva PLC Aquires Iowa’s AmerUs for $2.9 Billion

Jul 14 2006 // Aviva PLC, Britain’s largest insurance company, said Thursday it will take over U.S. life insurance company AmerUs Group Co. in a $2.9 billion deal that will expand the U.K. insurer’s reach into the U.S....