P&C Companies News

Medical Liability Insurer Dropping Rates by 11% in Texas

Austin, Texas-based medical professional liability insurer, Medicus Insurance Company (Medicus) has announced an overall 11 percent rate decrease for its insureds in Texas. The Texas Department of Insurance approved the reduction effective May 15, 2009. Medicus is in its third …

Cat Bond Market Still Seeking Collateral Solution

Insurers are still seeking a universal solution to weaknesses in catastrophe bonds exposed by Lehman Brothers’ collapse, though structural improvements have helped push sales past $1 billion this year. This year’s nine catastrophe bonds have employed innovative structures to neutralize …

North Carolina Coastal Insurance Fix Would Alter Deductibles, Limits

North Carolina legislators started grappling last week with how to beef up the state-created but underfunded insurance program for coastal property, and immediately confronted the possibility that all of the state’s insured property owners could pay more after a catastrophic …

P/C Industry Posts $1.3B Loss in Q1; Combined Ratio Up to 102.2

The property/casualty insurance industry suffered a $1.3 billion net loss after taxes for first-quarter 2009, which constitutes a $9.8 billion adverse swing from the industry’s $8.5 billion in net income after taxes in first-quarter 2008. And reflecting the swing to …

Best Affirms Mitsui Sumitomo’s ‘A+’ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited (MSI). Best also affirmed the FSR of ‘A+’ (Superior) and assigned an ICR …

Lockton Hong Kong Launches ‘After-Event’ Insurance Product

Lockton Companies (Hong Kong) Ltd. announced the launch of the first “After-the-Event Insurance product (ATE) in Hong Kong.” Lockton HK is working in partnership with UK broker TheJudge, a long established broker in Litigation Risk Transfer Solutions. “ATE Insurance is …

Surplus Lines, Reinsurance Streamlining Bills Introduced in Senate

Legislation aimed at streamlining and reducing barriers in state regulation of surplus lines insurance and reinsurance has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. The Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA) of 2009, or S 1363, would create a uniform regulatory …

Louisiana Passes Workers’ Comp Medical Treatment Bill

The Louisiana Legislature passed SB 303, workers’ compensation medical treatment legislation, just before it adjourned on June 25. According to the American Insurance Association (AIA), SB 303 requires that medical treatments adhere to a new treatment schedule and that such …

Congress Told New Consumer Agency Not Needed for P/C Insurance

There is no need for a federal consumer protection agency for property/casualty insurance products, state insurance regulators and insurers told Congress. In testimony before the House Committee of Financial Services on a proposed federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency, the industry …

Best Affirms Wind River Re’s ‘A’ Ratings, Stable Outlook

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Bermuda-based Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiaries. Best also affirmed the ICR of “bbb” of the …