Government News

Missouri Lawmakers Pledge to Aid Businesses in 2011

The Missouri Legislature convened its 2011 session on Jan. 5, 2011, with many new faces, a looming budget shortfall and a pledge from the state’s largest Republican majority to make quick progress on a pro-business agenda. On opening day, the …

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner-Elect Names Staff Members

Incoming Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has appointed 10 members of his staff to lead the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Joining the team are: Mike Rhoads as deputy commissioner of Health Insurance; Denise Engle as deputy commissioner of Workers’ Compensation; Former …

Recent Calif. Regulator Actions Create Insurance Agent/Broker Concerns

Reflecting on Calif. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones’ recent emergency order to enforce medical loss ratio rules requiring insurers to limit the percentage of premium revenue spent on reimbursement for “non-claim costs,” Kevin Baker of San Jose, Calif.-based Suhr Risk Services, …

Calif. Commissioner Asks Blue Shield to Delay Rate Increases

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has called on Blue Shield of California to delay its implementation of a new round of substantial individual health insurance premium increases that would impact tens of thousands of California policyholders. In some instances, consumers …

Economist: Oregonian Insurance Agents Can Expect Unsettling Year

Oregonians should expect a long slow recovery from the recession, and it will be years before the economy returns to pre-recession levels, John Mitchel, an economist and former Western Regional Economist for U.S. Bank, warned insurance agents and brokers in …

NAS Insurance Expands Home Health, Nurse Registry Coverage

NAS Insurance Services has expanded its coverage for Home Health Agencies and Nurse Registries. Rates have also been reduced in these select classes. With the transition to electronic medical records, the healthcare industry is facing increased exposure to privacy breaches. …

ND, SD Auto Insurance Premiums Among Lowest

North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm says auto insurance premiums paid by drivers in the Dakotas remain among the lowest in the nation. Hamm cites a new report issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. He says in 2008, …

Kansas to Receive $500K in AIG Workers’ Comp Settlement

A signed legal settlement with American International Group will net the State of Kansas general fund $500,000, according to Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance. “The AIG settlement for Kansas was part of a nationwide $146 million agreement over alleged misreporting …

Wasson Appointed General Counsel at Central Insurance

Central Insurance Companies, headquartered in Van Wert, Ohio, appointed Christopher E. Wasson as general counsel for both Central Mutual and All America Companies. Wasson will be responsible for all legal matters presented to the corporation. This appointment represents the fourth …

Consensus: Consumer Education Needed to Reduce Disaster Losses

With more than 50 percent of the country’s population living in coastal counties, there is an urgent and extensive need to convince consumers to adopt a long-term view of catastrophic risk. That is the conclusion of a symposium organized by …