Benefits
Marketing Renaissance 2006
The Benefits Marketing Association will be hosting the eighth annual Benefits Marketing Renaissance conference. This will be a spectacular event with 600 attendees and 80 exhibitors representing the top providers of products and services in benefits marketing, and two and a half days of presentations delivered from 40 industry leaders - all set at the fabulous Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Benefits Marketing Renaissance and Benefits Marketing Mania have evolved as the the two leading conferences for professionals involved in the marketing of voluntary benefits at the worksite. Each conference has over 500+ attendees, 70+ Exhibitors, and 30+ presenters. Attendees are either involved in the distribution of voluntary products, or have an interest in developing a revenue stream in this area.
Attendees will make a substantial number of contacts for prospective strategic partnering and gain more insight into benefits marketing best practices. Licensed agents register 2 for the price of 1! Don't miss the Nashville Themed Music at Registration sponsored by Transamerica Worksite Marketing, The Grand Ole Opry "Walk The Supplemental Line" Extravaganza at the Grad Ole Opry sponsored by UnumProvident, or the "Fat Tuesday" Mardi Gras party sponsored by AIG Employee Benefit Solutions. Daily Quote: "All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1740 - 1832)
NEW INSURANCE CASE STUDY! Precision email solutions company, ExactTarget, works with over 3,000 companies including Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its parent company Wellpoint. Read an exclusive case study that discusses how Anthem has used email to deliver personalized, and very profitable, communications to their policy holders and brokers. After you've read the case study, be sure to take advantage of ExactTarget's Referral Program which offers a drawing for Video iPods! "Click here to receive your insurance case study." 1. The Carlyle Group to Acquire MultiPlan, Largest Independent PPO in America; MultiPlan's Top 10 Clients Provide Health Coverage to Over 70 Million Americans NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--MultiPlan, Inc. and The Carlyle Group announced today that The Carlyle Group will acquire MultiPlan, the largest independent PPO in America. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2006. Financial terms were not disclosed. MultiPlan is the nation's oldest and largest independent Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network offering nationwide access to more than 4,200 hospitals, 90,000 ancillary care facilities and 450,000 physicians and specialists. The company's 2,000 clients include large and mid-sized insurers, third-party administrators, self-funded plans, HMOs and other entities that pay claims on behalf of health plans. Mark Tabak, MultiPlan Chief Executive Officer, said, "The healthcare system is in the midst of sweeping change, and in our 35 years we've developed not only a comprehensive suite of healthcare cost management services, but also a transaction and information management engine with the sophistication to embrace the scope, speed and flexibility demands of the country's largest insurers. In Carlyle we have the strategic and financial backing to propel our value even further in support of our clients' and providers' business and growth objectives." PPOs, which are the most common type of health plan used today, offer a provider network and range of value-added services to help employers and other health plan sponsors manage the cost of medical claims. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, spending on healthcare in 2005 will have surpassed $1 trillion in the commercial sector, MultiPlan's target market. MultiPlan offers a full range of medical cost management solutions to a blue-ribbon list of clients, including the national PPO network, specialty networks, negotiation services and electronic claim routing technology. The company's top 10 clients together deliver health coverage to more than 70 million Americans. www.multiplan.com www.carlyle.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 2. Society of Actuaries embarks on unique research around pandemic influenza and the U.S. insurance industry's preparedness Schaumburg, Ill.-The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is beginning research on the possible implications of an avian flu pandemic on the insurance industry. With this study, the SOA expects to provide insight into the potential impact a pandemic could have on life and health insurers. Jim Toole, fellow of the Society of Actuaries and managing director of MBA Actuaries, will undertake the effort. Toole brings his actuarial expertise in risk measurement and management to address the readiness of the insurance industry to face a pandemic. "Advance planning is critical. An insurer needs to do more than just study how a pandemic might affect the amount and timing of claim dollars it pays to its policyholders. It will also need to consider how it will function at unprecedented claim volumes, when as many as 50 percent of its employees are ill or absent providing care for family members. The research will assess the total risk to an insurer, discussing vital considerations for before, during and after an event that might mitigate or exacerbate the consequences of a severe or moderate pandemic," said Toole. Tom Edwalds, fellow of the Society of Actuaries and chairperson of the SOA's oversight committee for this research, believes "the possible effects of pandemic influenza are important to the U.S. life and health insurance industry because it may increase the severity and frequency of the payment of death benefits and medical treatment compared to anticipated, potentially affecting an insurer's or reinsurer's solvency. For actuaries and other risk management professionals examining the risk of pandemic influenza, understanding the potential impact of the event on U.S. mortality and morbidity is critical. We believe this research will be a useful resource for them." Results from this research initiative will be made available during the SOA's Spring Health Meeting in June in Hollywood, Fla. For details on the meeting, visit http://healthspringmeeting.soa.org/. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 3. Bird flu likely to burst out again and again: study Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:17 PM ET - By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bird flu is likely to cross over into people again and again if it ever even once acquires the ability to pass from human to human, experts predicted on Monday. In theory, the virus only has to mutate once, in one person, to spark a pandemic. But the researchers argue that this could happen again and again, in several places around the world. They said even if the current pandemic killing birds passes, no one should breathe a sign of relief because the threat to people will not be gone. "At best, a containment policy will only postpone the emergence of a pandemic, 'buying time' to prepare for its effects," Dr. Marc Lipsitch and colleagues from the Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. Carl Bergstrom from the University of Washington wrote. This is what officials hope they are doing now by culling birds when new outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza occur. Public health experts agree the world is nowhere near ready to cope with a pandemic, but with a few years' preparations, some countries might be. "We argue here that if a single introduction of a pandemic-capable strain is expected, multiple introductions should also be expected," Lipsitch's team wrote in the Public Library of Science Medicine, an online medical journal. "Each containment effort would likely be more difficult than the last as manpower, antiviral stockpiles, and other scarce resources become depleted," they wrote. H5N1 avian influenza has spread in chickens from Korea, across China, south into Indonesia, west across Turkey into western Europe and into the African continent. It has killed or forced the culling of more than 200 million birds in 32 countries and Hong Kong. While it does not easily infect people yet, it has sickened 170 people and killed 92, according to the latest World Health Organization figures. No one can say if or when it would happen, but if H5N1 acquired the ability to pass easily from human to human, it could spark a pandemic that would kill millions or even tens of million within a few short months. TEMPORARY CONTAINMENT Some experts have published theoretical models showing that quick action with antiviral drugs, culling of birds and isolation of cases could quell such a pandemic before it started. But it would require a lot of luck, noted Lipsitch and colleagues -- not the least identifying those cases right away, before they spread the disease. Other experts have also noted this and also said there is no reason to believe that the mutations needed to make H5N1 a human disease would occur only once. Lipsitch's team ran some mathematical models based on known disease outbreaks. Their article, published online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030135, suggests that an H5N1 pandemic could only be contained temporarily. And the longer the virus is around, the harder it will be to stop it from spreading. "Even if each successive containment effort is no more difficult than its predecessor, the chance of at least one failure increases with the number of introductions," they wrote. "Since the last pandemic nearly 40 years ago, we have observed dramatic changes in social and ecological factors thought to facilitate emergence of a pandemic-capable strain," the researchers wrote. "Surging human and bird populations in Asia have increased the frequency of contact between birds and humans -- and these changes might facilitate emergence by permitting 'crossing over' of a mutated avian influenza to humans, or by allowing human and avian influenzas to reassort in the same animal host." © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 4. Firm Offers White Paper on Managing Legal Risks Associated with Outsourcing. The Lawson Firm, a Cleveland-based law firm providing legal and compliance management services to the insurance industry, is offering a white paper examining the business and legal risks associated with business-process outsourcing (BPO) and the strategies used to manage those risks. The paper is in response to recent studies showing that roughly half of all insurers currently outsource one or more business processes, or are planning to do so during 2006. According to firm-manager Scott Lawson, “Increasingly insurers are taking a hard look at the strategic advantages and potential cost savings associated with BPO.” Lawson further notes however that “balanced against those potential advantages are some substantial risks. Given the complexity and long-term nature of outsourcing arrangements, Lawson suggests that, in each case, companies conduct a comprehensive pre-contract review of the myriad operational, legal and compliance issues involved. The white paper is currently available through the firm’s website: www.lawsonfirm.net. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 5. National Atlantic to Assume Renewal Obligations for Block of Hanover Insurance Group's Personal Lines Policies FREEHOLD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--National Atlantic Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: NAHC), a provider of specialized property-casualty insurance products and related insurance services in New Jersey, today announced that its subsidiary, The Proformance Insurance Company, will assume renewal obligations for a block of Hanover Insurance Group's personal lines policies. The transfer will involve approximately 16,000 policies, including auto, homeowners, dwelling fire, personal excess liability and inland marine policies written through independent agents. Under the terms of the transaction, Proformance will offer a renewal policy to all qualified policyholders who will not be offered renewals by Hanover. Each policy will transition on its nominal renewal date over the next twelve months. "We welcome this new group of agents and their customers to our organization," said James V. Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, National Atlantic Holdings Corporation. "This transaction is consistent with our strategic objective of acquiring blocks of insurance business which meet our return-on-equity requirements," he said. The policies being transferred are part of a segment of The Hanover's New Jersey personal lines business that was discontinued beginning in 2002, and represents less than 20 percent of the personal lines business The Hanover writes in the state. The transaction will enable The Hanover to focus its resources on growing its core personal and commercial lines business in the state. The agreement was approved by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance on February 16, 2006. www.national-atlantic.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article
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6. TRAVEL GUARD CLIENT SERVICES OFFERS COMPLIMENTARY VIP PERSONAL ASSISTANCE DURING UPCOMING BMA CONFERENCE Complimentary Travel Service Offered to Benefits Marketing Renaissance Attendees NASHVILLE, TN (February XX, 2006) --- Travel Guard Client Services, a provider of comprehensive travel assistance and concierge services, in cooperation with the Benefits Marketing Association is offering a complimentary VIP Personal Assistance trial membership to all Benefit Marketing Renaissance conference attendees during the conference. “As a conference exhibitor, Travel Guard Client Services, in conjunction with Benefits Marketing Association, is giving attendees and opportunity to utilize this travel and concierge service for free as an additional benefit to attending the conference,“ explained Amanda Trzebiatowski, Travel Guard Client Services. “Conference attendees will have access to a team of assistance professionals who can help with such requests as locating lost or delayed luggage, rebooking emergency or last-minute flight changes, suggesting sight-seeing opportunities and even locating the nearest ATM should they need it. It’s literally having your very own personal assistant to help you no matter where you are.” From February 25th to March 3rd, 2006, conference attendees can simply call Travel Guard Client Services’ VIP Personal Assistance membership hotline at 1.866.877.3244 and mention the Benefits Marketing Renaissance conference. VIP Personal Assistance professionals will also be able to provide callers with the latest updates on weather advisories for Nashville, as well as attend to any personal or travel related requests. Travel Guard Client Services’ VIP Personal Assistance provides members access to 24/7 travel assistance and concierge services from experienced travel professionals, available anytime of day and anywhere in the world. Travel Guard Client Services is a division of Travel Guard International, the nation’s leading provider of travel insurance and assistance services. For more information, call Travel Guard Client Services at 1.866.630.1136, or visit www.TGClientServices.com. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 7. Russia presents “fabulous opportunities” for UK financial services EMBARGO: 13:00, 22 February – “Russia is an understated market with fabulous opportunities for western companies, more so even than China, particularly from the insurance and reinsurance perspective,” Charles Catt, Advisor to the Management Board for Moscow Re, will report on Wednesday. Speaking to a technical briefing convened by the International Underwriting Association of London, representing the City’s largest international insurance companies, Mr Catt will outline the current dynamics of the Russian insurance market, and highlight the potential for UK financial services companies in its evolving market economy. www.moscowre.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 8. AlliedBarton Selects CEI for Fleet Accident Management Trevose, PA, February 20, 2006 – AlliedBarton Security Services, a private security officer services company, has selected the CEI Group, Inc. (CEI) for vehicle fleet accident management services, including repair, glass replacement, subrogation and temporary vehicle replacement. Based in King of Prussia, PA, AlliedBarton Security Services is the largest American-owned security officer services company in the United States. It has more than 38,000 employees in 60 offices serving more than 2,000 customers coast to coast, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies, and operates a fleet of more than 500 SUVs and other vehicles. www.ceinetwork.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 9. NATIONAL STUDY REVEALS SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT OF APPLYING FOR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE AT YOUNGER AGES February 22, 2006 - A new report reveals an important reason for individuals to consider ways to finance potential long-term health care needs while in their 50s. The study conducted by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) examined the percentage of long-term care insurance applicants who qualify for preferred health discounts. “Individuals who are in good health qualify for discounts that reduce the cost of long-term care insurance by 10 to 20 percent each year,” explains Jesse Slome, AALTCI Executive Director. “The savings can amount to hundreds of dollars a year for a couple.” The study examined data provided by eight leading long-term care insurers that represent some 80 percent of new individual policies sold in the U.S. “Consumers understand the risk of needing long-term care at some point in their life as they age,“ Slome notes. “But people often wait too long to plan. Individuals don’t realize that a simple change in their health can cause one to pay more for insurance protection or make you completely ineligible for coverage at any price.” www.aaltci.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 10. CAA Produces Over $326 Million in 2005; AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Combined Agents of America, LLC (CAA) announced it achieved over $326 million in combined property and casualty premiums for 2005 when the board of members recently convened. The 33 member agencies gathered February 8-9 at the Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin, TX. CAA is a managing general agency (MGA) committed to strengthening the independent insurance agency system through profitable growth, quality and service for its member agencies. www.combinedagents.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article
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The #1 Insurance Newsletter In The World 11. BIG “I” ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR CEO PANEL FOR CONVENTION ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 21, 2006—Five top insurance industry leaders will participate in a CEO panel discussion during the closing general session on Friday, April 28, at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s National Legislative Conference & Convention in Washington, D.C., CEOs participating as panelists are: Edward M. Liddy, Chairman and CEO, The Allstate Corporation; Ramani Ayer, Chairman and CEO, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; Paula Rosput Reynolds, President and CEO, Safeco Corporation; Gary R. Gregg, President and CEO, Liberty Mutual Agency Markets; and Michael Browne, President and CEO, Harleysville Insurance. www.independentagent.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 12. Russell Indexes Surpass $3.8 Trillion in Benchmarked Assets; Amount Increases 50% in One Year TACOMA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--Russell Investment Group's U.S. stock indexes now have a record $3.8 trillion in assets benchmarked to them. This milestone accounts for actively and passively managed institutional and retail funds, including exchange traded funds. Russell indexes for the first time account for more than $1 trillion in retail funds benchmarked to them, an increase of $400 billion since last year, as well as more than $500 billion in passively indexed funds. The amount of passively indexed funds has more than doubled in the past three years, increasing from $224 billion at the end of 2002 to $530 billion. www.russell.com/US/Indexes/US/ Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 13. A.M. Best Banking Special Report: Net Interest Margins Remained Stable in the Third Quarter of 2005 OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--Beginning in 2006, A.M. Best Co. initiated analysis and coverage of the U.S. banking industry. To this end, a new series of regular research papers and analytical methodologies will be published. This article is part of a regular series of special reports and highlights the trends of the U.S. banking industry. In spite of rising short-term interest rates, the net interest margin for the U.S. banking industry in the third quarter of 2005 was relatively stable when compared with the prior quarter, dropping by only 1 basis point from 3.51% at June 30, 2005, to 3.50% as of Sept. 30, 2005. Although margins have been under increasing pressure from a combination of rising short-term interest rates and a relatively flat yield curve, the industry has been able to maintain its margins through shifts in the asset composition of the balance sheet and by trying to lock in lower-cost sources of funding. As a result of rising short-term rates, the industry's total interest expense in the third quarter of 2005 was 67% higher than in the third quarter of 2004 at $55.2 billion, while total interest income was 24% higher at $136.1 billion. Even with the significant percentage increase in the overall cost of funds, the net interest margin has experienced only modest shrinkage. The limited shrinkage is largely due to the gradual, but noticeable shift in the industry's asset composition in an effort to boost asset yields. This study is available electronically from the A.M. Best Web site at www.bestweek.com/banks. Call customer service for more information, (908) 439-2200, ext. 5742. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 14. PSS World Medical Updates Trading Plans under Rule 10b5-1 JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--PSS World Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ/NM:PSSI) announced today that its President and Chief Executive Officer, David A. Smith, will continue participation in pre-arranged stock trading plans to facilitate the orderly exercise of stock options that are or will soon be expiring. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Smith, intends to hold the net amount of shares of Company stock from each sale after utilizing the cash-less exercise method. According to the terms of his individual 10b5-1 plan, Mr. Smith will retain approximately 116,115 shares after exercising 429,515 expiring options and selling approximately 313,400 shares of the Company's common stock to pay for applicable taxes, exercise strike price and fees. (The calculation stated above is illustrative purposes, based on an assumed average share price of $18 per share and will change based on the actual share price at the time of each transaction). Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 15. STORServer(R) Announces New Disaster Recovery Consulting Services; Makers of All-in-One Back Up, Archive and Disaster Recovery Appliance Now Offering Comprehensive Disaster Training and On-Site Recovery Service Plan COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--STORServer(R), manufacturer of the all-in-one suite of Business Continuity Appliances, announces it is now offering its most comprehensive disaster recovery consulting services to date. The new Disaster Recovery Planning and Support service will provide businesses with the help needed to plan and prepare for a disaster and provide on-call support 24 hours a day in the event of an actual disaster. www.storserver.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 16. Life Settlement Offers Financial Alternative in Shifting Economy; Rumson Capital LP Poised to Alleviate Liquidity Concerns of Retirees JENKINTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--With a cooling housing market, vanishing company pension plans and diminishing confidence in Social Security, the millions of baby boomers approaching retirement age may seek an alternative financial option to fund their retirement, and shift focus from selling their home to selling their life insurance policy to alleviate liquidity concerns. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), in its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 10, announced a continued decrease in mortgage loan applications. This, coupled with the 30-year fixed-mortgage rate, currently at 6.25 percent (substantially above its 2005 low of 5.47 percent), may dampen home buyers' demand, lowering sales volume and causing smaller real estate gains. Retirees, challenged by the changing economic environment, need to investigate other financial options. Through a life settlement, the sale of a life insurance policy to a financial institution or other funding source for more than the cash surrender value of the policy, boomers can find such an alternative. Assets that are currently tied-up in life insurance policies can be sold and, with a typical yield of three to five times more than the value of the policy, the transaction can grant seniors the resources to enjoy their retirement in a changing financial climate. www.rumsoncap.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 17. Foundation Source Announces Expansion with New Offices in Philadelphia, PA and Atlanta, GA FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Feb. 21, 2006 - Foundation Source®, the nation’s leading provider of support services for private foundations, today announced that it has hired two new Managing Directors and opened offices in Philadelphia, PA and Atlanta, GA to support growing demand for the company’s services. The company expects to open three additional offices in 2006. www.foundationsource.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 18. Wealth Preservation for Affluent Physicians, book and workshop series has been released: Wealth Preservation for Physicians: Advanced Planning for Affluent Doctors (Wealth Management Press, 2005) Who will benefit from this book and workshop:
In the United States there are 43,700 affluent physicians controlling $374.3 billion. Moreover, the world of the physician is changing and, in their view, not for the better - especially when it comes to their opportunity to become financially successful. While the practice of medicine is not the ticket to personal wealth as it once was, it still produces a large number of affluent individuals needing and wanting an array of financial services. Moreover, if a financial advisor is able to not only serve the individual physician but the medical group as well, the opportunities then multiply exponentially. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring a workshop (book included) email: doctors@resourcenetworkltd.com or go to www.resourcenetworkltd.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 19. NCOIL TO EXAMINE NATIONAL MEGA-CAT PLAN, DECIDE ON LEGISLATIVE ACTION Troy, New York, February 20, 2006?Gathered in hurricane-prone Florida for the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) February 23 through 26 Spring Meeting, state lawmakers from across the country will examine a draft mega-catastrophe program and, among other things, decide on next steps to promote effective reform. On February 23, the NCOIL Subcommittee on Natural Disaster Insurance Legislation will discuss proposed changes to a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) plan for catastrophe management. The program would assign responsibility for disaster preparedness to the private market and consumers, state and/or regional catastrophe funds, and the federal government. www.ncoil.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 20. INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Pictures Of The Day"
View INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Sports Pictures Of The Day" 21. CPCU SOCIETY FURTHERS ITS MISSION WITH CELEBRATION OF ETHICS AWARENESS MONTH MALVERN, PA, FEBRUARY 21, 2006—This March, the CPCU Society—the premier association for more than 26,000 insurance professionals—celebrates Ethics Awareness Month to emphasize its members’ commitment to ethical behavior. Each year, the Society recognizes Ethics Awareness Month by encouraging its 153 chapters to host ethics-related activities. Participating chapters choose a number of unique ways to celebrate, including conducting group discussions on ethics, hosting luncheons with local speakers, and offering educational seminars. www.cpcusociety.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 22. The Standard Marks Its 100-year Anniversary with Charitable Foundation and 10,000 Employee Volunteer Hours PORTLAND, Ore. — February 21, 2006 — Standard Insurance Company’s 100th year in business is being marked by the formation of The Standard Charitable Foundation and a year-long celebration that honors its founder’s commitment to community involvement. Along with the formation of its charitable foundation, The Standard will celebrate its 100-year anniversary by reaffirming its commitment to the communities in which its employees live and work. In 2006, employees will partner with 16 regional and national nonprofits to provide at least 10,000 hours of employee volunteer service over the course of the year. www.standard.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 23. Managing Reinsurance – Cycles, Catastrophes, and “Things that Go Bump in the Night” Featuring a Luncheon Ceremony Honoring Completers of the ARe Program Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 16 – 17, 2006, About the Symposium The reinsurance industry continues to face formidable challenges. The unprecedented losses from Hurricane Katrina and other storms have forced insurers and reinsurers to reassess their entire approach to managing exposure to catastrophic events. The 2006 edition of the Reinsurance Section Symposium will feature a diverse group of industry professionals who will discuss issues and challenges currently facing the industry. The program will include a “View from the Top” panel discussion, at which senior management of direct and broker market reinsurers, ceding company, and reinsurance intermediaries will offer their unique perspectives. This symposium is open to both CPCU Society members and nonmembers. For program details, including and agenda and list of speakers, please download the symposium brochure. Or contact the Member Resource Center at (800) 932-2728, option 4, or send an e-mail to membercenter@cpcusociety.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 24. King & Companies Leverages Icsuite To Keep Clients Compliant With State And Federal Insurance Regulations MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PRWEB) February 21, 2006 -– iCentera, the leading provider of on-demand communication portals, announced today that King and Companies, Inc., which assists employers, sole proprietors, and individuals with employee benefits and insurance programs, has been leveraging the icSuite to deliver customized client insurance portals which they have branded as the value-added service HRescue. With the icSuite, King and Companies uses a more cost-effective way to deliver insurance documents while helping customers stay compliant with state and federal regulations in the insurance industry. www.kingandcompanies.com www.icentera.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 26. comScore Reports 24 Percent Growth in Auto Insurance Quotes and 29 Percent Growth in Policies Purchased Online in 2005 RESTON, Va., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers flocked online to research and purchase auto insurance in 2005 according to an analysis released today by comScore Networks, the leader in the use of the Internet to measure and understand consumer behavior and attitudes. The comScore analysis revealed that the total number of auto insurance quotes submitted online increased by 24 percent in 2005 versus the previous year, and insurance policy purchases jumped by 29 percent during the same time period. comScore Networks provides unparalleled insight into consumer behavior and attitudes. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2 million consumers who have given comScore explicit permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes. comScore consultants apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by global leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Verizon, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Tribune Interactive, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestle, MBNA, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, Merck and Orbitz. For more information, please visit http://www.comscore.com. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 27. LTC Bullet: Book and Interview on LTC Planning--New Edition Tuesday, February 21, 2006 -- Seattle -- LTC Comment: Allen Hamm's book on LTC planning is coming out in a new edition, including a revised and extended interview with Center president Steve Moses updated to include his comments on the new Deficit Reduction Act. More after the ***news.*** LTC Comment: Does the world really need another book on long-term care planning? Given how many good ones have already been published with little impact on the public's LTC denial, it's a reasonable question to ask. But here's a new edition of an excellent primer on LTC planning that also tackles the big reason for long-term care financing's stagnant status quo. "Long-Term Care Planning: Assuring Choice, Independence, and Financial Security," written, compiled and published by Allen Hamm, President of Superior LTC Planning Services, Inc., of Pleasanton, California deserves your attention. Especially the closing pages of the book (pps. 255-263), an interview with Center president Stephen Moses, even if we do say so ourselves. (Reprinted below with permission.) Hamm's book is well organized with all the usual chapters on long-term care planning: What is LTC? Where do people receive LTC? How much does it cost? Who pays (or doesn't pay)? Why worry and plan? Why LTC insurance? How to choose the right coverage? You know the drill. What's different and especially valuable, however, is the focus throughout the book on the importance of integrating long-term care planning with general financial and estate planning. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 28. Local Banks to Link Long Term Health with Long Term Wealth; New Program from LTC Financial Partners, Atlanta, Helps It Happen Atlanta, GA, February 21 – According to LTC Financial Partners (LTCFP), Northeast Bank, a subsidiary of Northeast Bancorp (AMEX: NBN) is the first regional or local bank to incorporate LTCFP's health-related support system into their financial advisory services in a formal way. "We're already supporting national organizations," says Amy Pollock, who heads the program for LTCFP in the local area. "But Northeast is the first regional or local organization to engage us on a systematic basis. We expect to be supporting dozens of community and state banks very shortly." Amy Pollock is a Partner of LTCFP. The support service consists of expert consultation on the financial impact of long term care expenses. "People don't realize how exposed they are to catastrophic loss," says Pollock. "Long term care protection is the missing gap in our healthcare safety net. If a family member gets sick or injured, you can lose practically everything in short order." Ordinary health insurance and Medicare do not cover most long term care expenses, she points out. Local banks will increasingly seek outside advice from long term care experts because, "they're realizing that without the right LTC planning, the best estate plan or investment portfolio can quickly dissolve. Bankers aren't experts on this form of insurance protection, so they need to rely on outside specialists," Pollock says. www.eranova.com/LTCFP-AmyPollock/AmyPollock.htm Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 29. Films Insured by Fireman's Fund(R) Receive 58 Oscar(R) Nominations NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2006--If Heath Ledger had broken his leg herding sheep during the filming of Brokeback Mountain, or if overseas shooting in Malta posed international challenges for Munich, would the films have gone on to receive Oscar nominations? Fortunately, because these and other Oscar-nominated films -- including Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana, Walk the Line, Pride & Prejudice and North Country -- were insured by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, many potential risks were covered to ensure successful productions. Covering risk for about 80 percent of the movie industry's major studios, Fireman's Fund is first choice for studios that require a package of specialized entertainment insurance for such exposures as cast coverage, props-wardrobe and set coverage, extra expense, faulty film stock, and property and casualty coverages. Without insurance, studios and financial backers would never invest in big budget productions where a simple accident could result in a substantial financial setback. "A simple loss could easily cost as much as $750,000 a day if you factor in a complicated shoot and thousands of extras," said Suzy Wozniak, business development manager for the entertainment unit. "Fireman's Fund is comfortable with that kind of risk -- we know the business well having been in the entertainment industry for more than 80 years. Today we provide a full range of sophisticated insurance coverage for smaller independent films as well as major studio releases." Creativity on a film doesn't stop with the writers, directors and actors -- the insurance underwriter must also be very creative. The Fireman's Fund underwriters' specialized industry knowledge comes into play when considering all forms of risk. On international locations, for example, Fireman's Fund factors in potentially adverse weather conditions, necessary vaccinations, U.S. Customs requirements, the need to involve local governments, and having medical equipment and crew on standby should the need occur to airlift injured parties to a nearby hospital. Based in Universal City, the Fireman's Fund entertainment unit has served the movie industry on a consistent basis since the Silent Screen era -- while other insurers have dropped in and out of the business. The 40-member team includes nearly 20 underwriters as well as claims, audit and loss control specialists. www.firemansfund.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article The e-mail address subscribed to INSURANCE NEWSCAST is insurancenewscast-2027-log@pipe.insuranceletter.com. |
