Daily Quote: "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." -- William Wadsworth
1. NAMIC Takes Issue with Comments by Mississippi AG INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 20, 2007) - The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) will strongly oppose any proposal in Mississippi that would enact elements of legislation recently adopted in Florida. At a press conference today, Attorney General James Hood said Mississippi should apply the “anti-cherry picking” provisions of the Florida law that would force insurers that write auto insurance in Mississippi, to also write homeowner’s in the state — as long as they write homeowner’s insurance in other states. “This legislation is punitive and will only worsen the insurance market in Mississippi,” said Neil Alldredge NAMIC’s vice president of state and regulatory affairs. Hood singled out State Farm’s recent announcement that it would not write new homeowner’s business in Mississippi as justification for the legislation. “Unfortunately, consumers will pay the price for this action,” Alldredge said. "It sends a clear signal to every insurer that Mississippi is a hostile environment. Insurers are focused on rebuilding the coast and Mr. Hood seems intent on playing politics.” It’s important to note that 334,800 or 94.3 percent of expected homeowners claims in Mississippi, totaling $5.2 billion, have been settled in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. “This fact seems to be ignored,” Alldredge said. “Instead, Attorney General Hood seems convinced that measures that punish insurers and destabilize the market are the best options.” NAMIC will work to defeat this legislation, should it garner support among Mississippi legislators. “Policymakers in Mississippi should take steps to encourage insurers to do business in Mississippi as a way to create more consumer choice, not adopt measurers that will only worsen the situation,” Alldredge said. www.namic.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 2. Fitch Telecon: Global Accounting Trends & Outlook, 2/22, 10 a.m. EST NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings will host a teleconference this Thursday, Feb. 22 at 10:00 a.m. EST to discuss global trends in the accounting industry. The call follows the publication earlier this month of Fitch's report 'Accounting and Financial Reporting: 2007 Global Outlook-Measuring Up,' available on the Fitch Ratings web site at www.fitchratings.com. The call will provide a general overview of the current accounting landscape and outlook for 2007, featuring comment on global convergence and the FSAB/IASB's joint conceptual framework project, particularly looking at measurement. The general overview will also comment on why restatements continue to run at a high level in U.S. companies. Specific areas Fitch will cover include: recent developments in accounting for pensions, fair value, stock options, derivatives and insurance. Following are the details of the teleconference: --Thursday, Feb. 22; 10:00 a.m. EST --Conference ID: 9299090 --U.S./Canada: +1-877-241-2557 --International: +1-706-643-7396 --Call Leader: Bridget Gandy Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 3. A.M. Best Special Report: Reforms Create a Profitable California Workers’ Compensation Market—For Now OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The workers’ compensation environment in California has experienced a metamorphosis over the past few years, changing a historically unprofitable line of business into an appealing and profitable line that has seen increased competition, this according to a special report by the A.M. Best Co. Catalysts for the transformation were several pieces of state legislation, including Assembly Bills 749 (AB 749) and 227 (AB 227) and Senate Bills 228 (SB 228) and 899 (SB 899), which drastically reduced workers’ compensation loss costs and frequency trends in the state. However, it still is premature to view these reforms as final and lasting in light of the uncertainty of the actual long-term savings generated by the reforms, considering this long-tailed business. Although the reforms have weathered several challenges, a rollback in some areas still is a threat to the health of the line and the savings realized by California employers. Despite the changes in the California workers’ compensation market, which have created a very profitable, appealing and competitive line of business, there still is much uncertainty with regard to the longer-term evolution of the market. While expectations are for reduced profits over the midterm, this market has improved considerably and is a highly coveted and profitable line of business for now. Only time will tell if this highly cyclical market can sustain profitability. www.bestweek.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 4. Half of All Seniors' Consumption May Soon Be Health Care Health Care Already Accounts for Half of Today's Oldest Seniors' Consumption, Says NCPA Study DALLAS, Feb. 20, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In less than two decades, half of everything seniors consume may be health care, according to a new study by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA). For today's oldest seniors, this has already happened. "For the oldest seniors health care spending is higher than spending on housing, food, savings and taxes combined," said Andrew Rettenmaier, executive associate director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University and an NCPA Senior Fellow who co-authored the report. "However, most of the money spent on seniors' health care comes from sources other than their own. In addition to out-of-pocket spending and premium payments, seniors' medical expenses are paid by Medicare, Medicaid and former employer health plans." The study notes that total health care spending on the elderly -- including both out-of-pocket spending by seniors and third-party expenditures -- will constitute a growing portion of seniors' "total potential consumption." "Total potential consumption" includes everything seniors can consume: all their personal income plus all health care expenditures by third parties net of premium payments. -- Health care today makes up about two-of-every-five dollars of seniors' total potential consumption -- 43 percent. -- In just 17 years (by 2024), health care will equal 50 percent of seniors' total consumption. -- For the oldest seniors -- age 75 and older -- health care already makes up more than half of all they consume. Since Social Security represents such a large portion of seniors' retirement income -- particularly for older seniors -- examining health spending as a percentage of Social Security benefits is also informative: -- Today's seniors spend an amount equal to 44.5 percent of their Social Security benefits on health care. -- The amount will rise to 60.9 percent by 2030 and to 81.3 percent by mid-century. -- By 2070, almost all (93.4 percent) of seniors' Social Security checks will be dedicated to spending on health and medical care. "Current workers should plan on rising high health care costs during retirement," said Rettenmaier. "Boomers might want to work longer or save more to prepare for the anticipated medical bills." At almost 17 percent of GDP, the U.S. is spending more of its income on health care than any other country. Some wonder how high health care spending can go. "Based on the current projections, health care's percentage of GDP will almost double in the next 35 years." --- The NCPA is an internationally known nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute with offices in Dallas and Washington, D. C. that advocates private solutions to public policy problems. We depend on the contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations that share our mission. The NCPA accepts no government grants. Contact: Sean Tuffnell, +1-972-308-6481, sean.tuffnell@ncpa.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 5. RMS RELEASES FIRST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PROBABILISTIC RISK MODEL FOR INFLUENZA PANDEMIC Newark, Calif. - February 20, 2007 - Risk Management Solutions (RMS), the world's leading provider of products and services for the management of catastrophe risk, today released the RMS® Infectious Disease Model, the first commercially available probabilistic model for assessing the risk of influenza pandemics across multiple countries. The RMS model allows life/health insurers and corporate risk managers to quantify mortality and morbidity from nearly 2,000 potential pandemic influenza scenarios, taking into account such factors as likelihood of the pandemic occurring, infectiousness and lethality of the pandemic, demographic impact, location of outbreak, pandemic lifecycle, vaccine production, and national countermeasures. The model covers 31 different countries that collectively comprise over 95% of the global life insurance market. "Interest in pandemic flu has increased significantly due to the spread and lethality of the active H5N1 avian flu virus, and many fear that a reassortment may occur, resulting in a human-to-human transmissible virus and global pandemic," said Derek Blum, vice president of emerging risk models for RMS. "We are excited to offer a complete solution for the business and insurance sector, including a product that can quantify the direct consequences of an influenza outbreak and consulting services to understand the associated business continuity and investment impacts." The model was designed to assist both life/health insurers and corporate risk managers in managing their influenza pandemic risk. Insurers can incorporate detailed analysis of their own specific portfolio, allowing the unique characteristics of their respective policyholders to play an important role in the risk assessment process. Similarly, the model can also be leveraged to allow corporate risk managers to understand the operational impact and estimated economic loss associated with a full range of influenza pandemic scenarios at the company-specific level, such as casualty estimates, calculation of work days lost due to staff sickness, and calculation of days lost due to staff caretaker duties. Influenza pandemic is only the first application of the RMS® Infectious Disease Model, which provides a platform allowing RMS clients to model other types of infectious diseases that pose a risk of catastrophic proportions. www.rms.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article
This Week's Issue - 16 Insurance / Technology Stories 6. TSR Adds Rainfall Forecasts for Tropical Storms Worldwide Innovative Forecast Product Enables Insurers, Reinsurers and Risk Managers To Assess Risk of Intense Rainfall and Inland Flooding London, 15 February 2007 - Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), the award-winning consortium of experts on insurance, risk management and seasonal climate forecasting led by the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, today announced the addition of quantitative and probabilistic rainfall forecasts for tropical storms worldwide as part of its award-winning Tropical Storm Tracker. The rainfall forecast enhancement complements TSR’s existing suite of tracking software and is accessible through the website www.tropicalstormrisk.com. Professor Mark Saunders, TSR lead scientist and Head of Weather and Climate Extremes at the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, said: “Intense rainfall often causes more damage and loss of life than the high winds of tropical cyclones. However, there are few tools which provide warnings of the risk of heavy rainfall from active tropical storms worldwide. The TSR upgrade represents the first inclusion of quantitative and probabilistic rainfall forecasts within a publicly-accessible storm tracker.” The new rainfall forecast capability is intended for use by insurers, reinsurers and risk managers. The product will enable them to monitor threatening tropical storms, assess the risk of excessive rainfall and the potential for inland flooding. The innovation is underpinned by rainfall forecasts from the UK Met Office’s ‘Global’ numerical weather prediction model combined with considerable in-house research and modelling. Severe rainfall in tropical storms can lead to property losses of over US $ 1bn and cause significant loss of life either by drowning or via landslide inundation. Recent examples of tropical storm rainfall-inflicted property losses exceeding US $ 1bn include tropical storm Allison (2001) - Texas, hurricane Ivan (2004), typhoon Maemi (2003) – South Korea, and typhoon Songda (2004) – Japan. The impact of tropical storm severe rainfall on fatalities is evidenced by noting that in Asia, such rainfall causes hundreds of deaths annually (EM-DAT: The International Disaster Database - http://www.em-dat.net), while in the U.S. 59% of all tropical cyclone deaths between 1970 and 1999 were caused by inland flooding (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/floodsafety/trop.shtml). David Simmons, a member of the ReMetrics Executive team at Benfield added: “TSR’s Tropical Storm Tracker has already become the re/insurance industry standard. The addition of actual and forecast rainfall levels for each storm takes the product up another level, beyond what is available elsewhere. In Asia particularly, damage and loss of life are more often caused by the rain associated with a typhoon rather than extreme winds. The addition of this new feature to the Storm Tracker demonstrates TSR’s commitment to produce tools that the insurance industry wants and needs.” The new application will also benefit humanitarian relief agencies by helping them to more effectively plan their emergency response when storms target populated areas, thereby reducing hardship, suffering and fatalities. Examples of TSR’s new product for Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Katrina may be viewed under the “Storm Rainfall Demo” link on the TSR Rainfall Homepage. The latter is accessible by clicking the link http://tsr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/precip_forecasts/dynamic/homepage_precip.html Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 7. AIG Environmental® to Offer Property Insurance NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIG Environmental®, a division of the property and casualty subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (AIG), today announced the introduction of AIG Environmental PropertySM, an insurance facility designed to enable AIG Environmental® to respond to the insurance requirements of its customers by adding property insurance to its Environmental Casualty insurance. The new AIG Environmental PropertySM facility is a collaboration between AIG Environmental and Lexington Insurance Company, a member company of AIG. AIG Environmental PropertySM insurance is underwritten by Lexington Insurance Company, a member company of AIG, and one of the industry’s leading property insurers. In addition, AIG Environmental PropertySM offers $25 million in limit capacity and a team of dedicated underwriters. For more information on AIG Environmental PropertySM, please contact Charlotte Osborne at 212-458-6266 or email at Charlotte.Osborne@aig.com. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 8. CNA Introduces Property AdvanceSM and Property InsightSM Custom Coverages CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CNA introduces two new property forms that feature coverage extensions and options customized for Middle Market clients. Property AdvanceSM and Property InsightSM are the global insurer’s newest forms which include an array of coverage extensions, a simplified index for each policy and a complement of industry-specific property extension endorsements. Property Insight is a comprehensive product that offers numerous coverages and extensions, including Accounts Receivable, Valuable Papers, Equipment Breakdown and Restoration of Data. CNA’s premier product, Property Advance, includes these coverages, as well as other extensive limits and enhancements, including Ordinance of Law and Off-Premises Services coverages. Industry-specific endorsements -- for Manufacturing, Technology, Hotels/Motels, Health Care and Medical Technology -- help tailor CNA’s offerings to each client. Other new endorsements are also available for Middle Market, including Business Income Actual Loss Sustained and Excess Blanket Aggregate. CNA offers property insurance for numerous industries, including retail, technology, financial institutions, hotels/hospitality, commercial contracting/construction, manufacturing, real estate, health care and professional services. For details, contact your local CNA branch underwriter or visit www.cna.com. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 9. Prudential Financial Dispels Common Tax Misconceptions in Series Geared toward Baby Boomers Fact or Fiction? I can’t contribute any more to my 401(k) each year than the annual contribution limit set by the IRS. NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tax season is right around the corner, and while many Americans are focused on how to save money on this year’s returns, they shouldn’t lose sight of how tax decisions they make today can affect their retirement plans tomorrow. In response, Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) has developed a series of 12 frequently asked tax questions, along with responses from company subject matter experts. This week’s question marks the third in a series that will run through Monday, April 16. Fact or Fiction? I can’t contribute any more to my 401(k) each year than the annual contribution limit set by the IRS. For people under age 50, this is fact. Every year, the Internal Revenue Service sets a maximum amount you can contribute to your 401(k) plan, which for 2007 is $15,500. If you fall into this age group, your annual contributions may not exceed this amount. But they can be limited to even less. That’s because you may be subject to further contribution limits if your plan is considered to benefit high-income employees more than other employees—often referred to as “top heavy” plans. In addition, an employer’s 401(k) plan can impose its own contribution limits, such as 10 percent of compensation, which in some cases is less than the IRS’ maximum. However, if you are over 50, you can actually contribute more than the IRS maximum contribution limit—again, assuming your employer’s 401(k) plan allows it. In 2001, Congress passed a law allowing people age 50 and over to make “catch-up” contributions to their 401(k) plans. Under the rule, plan participants who already are or will turn 50 during the calendar year are eligible to make additional contributions over and above the normal limits. For 2007, the catch-up contribution limit is $5,000, making the combined maximum amount those age 50 and older can contribute to their 401(k) $20,500 this year. Of course, if your employer’s plan has a lower limit for catch-up contributions, you are subject to that amount. “These additional contributions are a way to help people nearing retirement ‘catch-up’ on their retirement savings if they’ve fallen behind,” says Fishbein. “It can be very beneficial for those in the Retirement Red Zone, especially those in the five years before retirement.” www.prudential.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 10. The Pig in the Python Speaks: Ecumen Age Wave Study Takes Largest Ever Look at Minnesota Boomers and Their Views on Aging SHOREVIEW, Minn., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Looking ahead as seniors, Minnesota baby boomers (age 42-60) want more public policy, personal finance and technological options to help them maintain independence and stay in their own home even if it means raising their taxes. These are among the multitude of findings in the Ecumen (ECK-YOU-MEN) Age Wave Study, the largest ever study of Minnesota baby boomers. The study provides boomers' views on longevity and images of aging, words used around aging, paying for care, where and how boomers want to live as seniors, retirement (which most aren't going to do), use of technology (want more of it) and civic engagement (will be involved). The study is available at http://www.ecumen.org. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 11. Subsidiary of Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of NY Joins Forces with Trusted Premium Funding (DeWitt, New York, Feb. 19, 2007) — IAAC, Inc., the membership services division of the 125 year-old Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, Inc. is proud to announce the endorsement of Trusted Premium Funding–the largest third-party premium finance marketing facility in the United States. As an independent premium finance broker, TPF represents seven premium finance companies, and will customize a program based on the individual requirement of each agency and brokerage. TPF can offer premium financing solutions to IIABNY members for personal as well as small and large commercial lines, and specialty lines like transportation and workers’ compensation. In a message sent to IIABNY’s 1,900 member-agencies, Richard A. Poppa, the association’s president & CEO, praised the new relationship’s common ground. “TPF uses the independent agent model to create a better way for an agency or brokerage to conduct its premium finance business,” said Poppa. “One of the strengths independent agents present to their clients is tailor-made insurance coverage,” added Lisa Lounsbury, president of IAAC, Inc. & IIABNY senior VP. “Now, Trusted Premium Funding, endorsed by IIABNY, will also offer that same customized service to IIABNY members.” TPF’s value-added benefits include managing the agency’s book of financing with pre-cancellation reports and follow-up on financing contracts. For more information, contact TPF’s Patty Schneider at (866) 439-1389 or visit www.trustedpremiumfunding.com. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 12. EU's Kroes underscores plan to investigate Visa Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:43PM EST - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said on Monday her staff would take a close look at some of Visa's business practices next year, when an antitrust exemption for the credit card company runs out. The European Commission investigated Visa regarding interchange fees -- paid by merchant banks to card-issuing banks for over-the-counter payments -- and struck an agreement in 2002, but that runs out at the end of December. The agreement has given it an exemption from EU antitrust action. The Commission is already looking into MasterCard's (MA.N: ) setting of interchange fees, which it said may break competition law. It conducted a closed hearing on MasterCard last year. Britain's Office of Fair Trading last year closed an investigation of MasterCard's interchange fees without filing charges. It has since opened a new probe. © Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 13. EU regulator warns of securities rules "nightmare" By Huw Jones BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Implementing new European Union rules on securities trading could turn into a "practical nightmare", European Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy warned on Tuesday. The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) is due to come into force throughout the 27-nation bloc in November, forming the cornerstone of a single capital market. That deadline now looks unrealistic, according to industry groups, and McCreevy said member states were not facing up to difficult issues or sufficiently thinking problems through. "Arising from some of the developments I have seen in recent weeks, I fear that there is a real risk that the dream of a single new rulebook replacing 27 existing rulebooks could be turned into a real practical nightmare," he said in a speech in London's financial district. "I hope my fears prove ill-grounded. We all need to find pragmatic and workable solutions to ensure we maximise the benefits from MiFID," he added, according to a text distributed by the European Commission in Brussels. Most member states missed a Jan. 31 deadline to transpose the EU legislation into national law, and McCreevy has said he will start legal action against those countries soon. Only Britain and Bulgaria met the deadline, and Ireland is close to complying. SHOT ACROSS BOWS Some watchdogs are unwilling to give up "regulatory sovereignty" in supervising cross-border groups, said Anthony Belchambers, chief executive of the Futures and Options Association in London. "It's just unreal to expect firms to come within full compliance within a few months without understanding what the new requirements are," said Belchambers, who is also chairman of Mifid Connect, which represents industry groups in London. "It's a shot across the bows from McCreevy. The problem is that if these problems can't be resolved, then he's right and we will end up with a single financial market in some but not all key respects. There is a lot of potential legal risk that is flying around that does need to be thought through carefully." McCreevy also said the financial industry was too often a "shrinking violet" in helping EU antitrust officials. "The industry must also be far more active in supplying hard evidence to the Commission of anti-competitive behaviour or deliberate, overt protectionism by member states," McCreevy said. McCreevy also warned against national market watchdogs that want to "gold plate" or top up the EU's MiFID rules with their own guidelines and requirements. ((Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Dale Hudson/Sue Thomas; Reuters Messaging: paul.taylor.reuters.com@reuters.net; +322 2876801)) Keywords: EU FINANCIAL/ (C) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 14. AEGON Announces Increased Tender Offer Price for Clark, Inc. and Extension of Expiration Date to March 6, 2007 THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, February 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AUSA Holding Company (AUSA), an AEGON company, has increased the price for its previously announced tender offer for all outstanding shares of Clark, Inc. (NYSE: CLK) common stock to USD 17.21 per share. This represents an increase of USD 0.66 per share from the prior offer price of USD 16.55 per share, announced November 1, 2006. www.aegon.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 15. Gold Standard Releases OnFormulary, Health Plan Formulary Resource Tool for Healthcare Professionals By Providing Convenient Online Access to Current Information, On Formulary Takes the Frustration out of Managing Drug Formulary Selections and Conversions TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gold Standard Inc. has released OnFormulary ( http://on-formulary.com ), a web-based reference tool designed to save time and money by providing real-time access to comprehensive, up-to-date health plan formulary information for more than 95 percent of insured patients. “Anyone who has had to track down alternative medications when a prescribed drug does not appear on a patient’s formulary knows how frustrating and time-consuming this can be,” said Marianne Messer, executive vice president of sales and corporate development for Gold Standard, a leading developer of drug information databases, software and clinical information solutions. “It can also be expensive, when the soft-dollar costs incurred by pharmacies and prescribers for conversions are factored in. By providing access to comprehensive formulary data, OnFormulary reduces costs, increases productivity and enhances patient care and service.” www.goldstandard.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 16. Take Care Health Systems and Walgreens to Add Nine New ''Health Corner Clinics'' in Chicago A Total of 17 Clinics Open by Early Spring will Complete the Second Phase of a Multi-Phase Expansion CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Take Care Health Systems and Walgreen Co. (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) opened four of nine additional Health Corner Clinics inside Chicago-area Walgreens, as they launched the second stage of a multi-phase expansion plan, the companies announced today. A total of 17 Health Corner Clinics will be open by early spring. Staffed by highly-qualified nurse practitioners, the health care clinics are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointments are necessary. www.takecarehealth.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 17. MEDecision and Medem Collaborate to Deliver Robust Electronic Health Record to Improve Patient Care WAYNE, Pa. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MEDecision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDE), a provider of software, services and clinical content to healthcare payers, and Medem, Inc., a leading provider of online physician-patient communications services, today announced a unique collaboration to combine health plan information with the physician-patient relationship to deliver a transportable personal health record through a payer-provider partnership. Through this collaboration, MEDecision will deliver its Patient Clinical Summary, a payer-based, clinically-validated, electronic health record, to patients and their providers through iHealth, Medem’s secure, interactive and fully transportable online personal health record. Representatives will demonstrate this technical integration in MEDecision’s booth #2731 throughout the HIMSS07 (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) Annual Conference and Exhibition, February 25 – March 1, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana. www.MEDecision.com www.Medem.com . Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 18. LifeMasters to Offer Disease Management Services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield Members in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas Largest Single Contract Awarded in the Industry in 2006 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeMasters Supported SelfCare, Inc., a leading provider of disease management programs, announced today that it has signed an agreement to offer disease management services to members of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The agreement is believed to be the largest single contract awarded in the disease management industry in 2006. www.lifemasters.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 19. Businesses Remove Healthcare Burden From Employees With New Zero-Deductible Plans From the Boloto Group SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Boloto Health Benefits Inc., a subsidiary of the technology-focused business solutions company the Boloto Group, has released the Boloto Health Benefits Plans. The plans offer businesses with more than 25 employees a complete care, zero-deductible, zero co-insurance in-network, low co-pay healthcare solution with access to more than 400,000 providers through its comprehensive network of national Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). www.bolotogroup.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 20. INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Pictures Of The Day" -- Sponsored By:
View INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Sports Pictures Of The Day" View INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Entertainment Pictures Of The Day" Sponsored By:
21. Book Launch: ``Making Medicaid Work'' – Center for Health Transformation and SHPS Author Practical Guide for Transforming Medicaid Insight Offered by CHT Founder Newt Gingrich, SHPS CEO Rishabh Mehrotra, HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt and 11 State and Federal Medicaid Leaders WASHINGTON & LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The newly released book, Making Medicaid Work: A Practical Guide for Transforming Medicaid, successfully tackles some of this decade’s most passionate and controversial healthcare issues, offering a platform for constructive and honest public debate. A joint publication of SHPS and the Center for Health Transformation, the guide provides an innovative framework for transforming Medicaid into a 21st century intelligent system that provides high quality, coordinated care – at a lower cost. Complimentary copies of the book are available by registering at www.shps.com/medicaid and www.healthtransformation.net. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 22. Financial Services customers ask ''why don’t you know who I am?'' according to a survey by StreamServe Inc. 74 percent of respondents indicate they would be more likely to buy products and services from their financial services companies if the offers were relevant and personalized BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--StreamServe® Inc., the global leader in Enterprise Document Presentment (EDP), today released the results of its financial services customer satisfaction survey. The results show that firms are missing a tremendous opportunity to enhance customer value by failing to communicate with their clients in a relevant, personal manner. Financial services customers regularly receive communications for products or services that are not relevant to their needs, or even worse, communications that promote products and services they already have through that company. Consequently, 59 percent of financial services consumers who responded to the survey claim they don’t feel valued when it comes to the communication of products and services from their existing providers. www.streamserve.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 23. AAA Makes Best-In-Class Online Mapping Available Free to Public Map it. Plan it. Go. -- Find Local Gas Prices, Hotels, Restaurants & More DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Look out Mapquest--North America's favorite auto club, now 50 million members strong, has rolled out its proprietary, best-in-class mapping tool to... everybody. Once reserved strictly for members, AAA's Internet TripTik(R) travel planner, located on AAA.com, links AAA's best-in-class mapping tool with the Auto Club's vast storehouse of travel knowledge and information to create the nation's first online travel agency for motorists. Part of a nationwide AAA initiative called Easy Access, the Auto Club's renowned TripTik service will be made available online to non-members for the first time in the Auto Club's history, combining full-color, high resolution graphics with user-friendly navigation and many other useful functions like being able to email a map to a friend--all at no charge to any user. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 24. Duff & Phelps Opens a Paris Office NEW YORK, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Duff & Phelps, one of the world's leading independent financial advisory firms, has announced the opening of a new office in Paris, France as part of its continued European expansion.www.duffandphelps.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 25. Lighthouse1 Unveils Plan Advisor Tool and Expanded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Offerings at 2007 CDHC Expo MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lighthouse1, the industry leader in Consumer Driven Healthcare (CDH) administration software solutions, plans to release its new Plan Advisor tool and expanded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) offerings for Lighthouse1 OnDemand™ at the 2007 CDHC Expo in Las Vegas. The addition of these resources provides health plan administrators unparalleled speed-to-market and flexibility. Lighthouse1 customers now possess a more robust plan portfolio to increase their competitive edge. www.lighthouse1.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 26. Copywriting Webinar - What’s Working Now Partners With Conference Call University & Vcall To Present Education and Training From DMA Hall-of-Famer and Marketing Expert Herschell Gordon Lewis Columbus, OH: February 14, 2007 - What’s Working NOW, a training and development company, is partnering with Conference Call University and VCall to present an online education and training program on direct response copywriting. Scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 from Noon until 1:30 EST, the featured speaker for the event will be Direct Marketing Association Hall-of-Fame member and world-renowned copywriter Herschell Gordon Lewis. The title of his program will be How To Write High-Performance Copy That Multiplies Leads & Sales. Lewis will share with the audience response-boosting copywriting techniques he has learned and in many cases pioneered during his 30+ years as an in-demand copywriter, agency owner and direct marketing consultant. In addition to time-tested rules, laws and principles for writing effective copy, Mr. Lewis will present examples and discuss results from a number of recent copy tests. The program will offer timely tips, pointers, insight and advice on writing B-to-B and B-to-C direct response copy for direct mail, email, the Internet and more. Numerous examples of the good, the bad and the ugly will be shown and discussed. A question and answer period will be included. Cost for the program is $119, with a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee of satisfaction. In addition, the first 25 people to register for and attend the event will receive a special bonus: a free What's Working NOW 128MB USB pen drive. All registrants will receive a complete audio-visual copy of the program, thereby enhancing their learning experience. The program is being marketed by the event's organizers and through a carefully selected group of affiliates. For information on the affiliate opportunity email Ernest Nicastro at enicastro@positiveresponse.com. Complete details on the event and information on how to register for the webinar are available at www.whatsworkingnow.net. Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 27. Appalachian Underwriters expands in Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley February 19, 2007 - Oak Ridge, Tenn. – Whole insurance broker Appalachian Underwriters will double its Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley presence to more than 300 people over the next three years, company officials have announced. As part of the expansion, the company has moved to new headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. www.knoxvilleoakridge.org Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 28. CPCU SOCIETY TO CELEBRATE ETHICS AWARENESS MONTH MALVERN, PA, FEBRUARY 20, 2007—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 29. The Commonwealth Group, Inc. Partners with Foundation Source to Provide Clients with Private Foundation Services FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Feb. 20, 2007 - Foundation Source®, the nation’s leading provider of support services for private foundations, today announced a partnership agreement with The Commonwealth Group, Inc. headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. The Commonwealth Group is a registered investment advisor providing investment management and advisory services to wealthy families, individuals and institutions. The firm specializes in helping affluent families ensure the preservation and growth of their wealth and family heritage. This partnership expands The Commonwealth Group’s ability to serve the philanthropic needs of those clients for whom a private foundation is the right choice for carrying out their philanthropic goals. www.commonwealthgroup.com www.foundationsource.com Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article 30.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following
reports, testimony, and correspondence:
Employee Benefits Security
Administration: Enforcement Improvements Made but Additional Actions
Could Further Enhance Pension Return to Headlines - - Print Article / Read Entire Article / E-Mail Article
|
