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Got Innovation? Submit Your Idea to the Entrepreneurial Insurance Awards Innovators get ready. MarketScout has begun its first-ever search for the most creative new product, underwriting application, or tool that helps distribute insurance in a more innovative fashion. ... September 03, 2010 12:23 PM AmWINS Wins Court Order Against Ex-Employee Now with Ryan Group North Carolina-based wholesale insurance broker AmWINS has won a court order against a former employee it believes is using confidential client information to target AmWINS business accounts and ... September 03, 2010 11:40 AM South Carolina Forms Insurance Funding Program South Carolina Insurance Director Scott Richardson, will introduce the new South Carolina Insurance Funding Program (SCIF) during the annual South Carolina Captive Insurance Association ... September 03, 2010 11:31 AM Chartis Expands Environmental Insurance to Additional Industries Chartis today announced the expansion of NextGen Protection, a suite of environmental insurance solutions developed by its Environmental Division. The additional industry segments within the ... September 03, 2010 11:30 AM Kentucky Simulator Program Aims to Improve Driver Safety Baby, you can drive Larry Roberts' car er, simulated driving machine. But first you have to get an official invitation from Roberts, who is the Fayette County attorney. And you have to be between ... September 03, 2010 11:23 AM Texas' July Enforcements Include Nearly $500K in Fines, Restitution Enforcement actions taken by Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin that became final during July 2010 include five license revocations, two license denials, and fines and restitution totaling ... September 03, 2010 10:27 AM Katrina Con Man Sentenced in Georgia A Georgia man was sentenced Wednesday to two years and nine months in prison for filing more than 30 false claims seeking emergency compensation for damages from three Gulf Coast hurricanes, a ... September 03, 2010 10:03 AM Florida Workers' Comp Reform Slowed Cost Growth Reform of Florida's workers' compensation fee schedule in 2003 achieved its intended results, significantly increasing the prices paid for physician services and reducing the average payment per ... September 03, 2010 9:54 AM Fee Schedule Slowed Growth of Illinois Injured Workers' Medical Costs Medical costs per workers' compensation claim in Illinois showed slower growth in 2007 following implementation of the medical fee schedule in 2006, according to a study from the Workers ... September 03, 2010 9:53 AM CMIC Raising Premiums in Massachusetts Connecticut-based medical professional liability insurer CMIC said it will raise premiums by an average 5.3 percent for Massachusetts health care professionals. The rate change goes into effect ... September 03, 2010 9:48 AM

A.M. Best Company BestWire Feed

Texas Commissioner: Budget Cuts in Department Could Hurt Insurance Regulation The insurance regulator for Texas is predicting a need for a restructuring of the state's oversight of insurers if his department is forced to make 10% budget cuts. If the legislature, ... September 03, 2010 9:52 AM California Lawmakers Advance Workers' Comp Bills, Including Arbitration Restriction The California legislature sent a handful of workers' compensation bills to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the close of its session, including a measure to require disputes between an employer and a ... September 03, 2010 9:48 AM N.Y. Workers' Comp Board Proposes 30% Medical Fee Hike A New York state agency proposed a 30% increase in medical fee schedules for care provided under workers' compensation. New York State Workers' Compensation Board Chairman Robert Beloten ... September 03, 2010 9:38 AM Study Focusing on Insurers Finds Link Between Poor Leadership and Firm Failure A study of property/liability insurance companies found how well a firm fares depends on who is in charge, and that there is a correlation between inefficient management and the likelihood of ... September 03, 2010 9:29 AM A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Constitutional Casualty Company A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to D (Poor) from C+ (Marginal) and issuer credit rating to “c” from “b-” of Constitutional Casualty Company (Constitutional) (Chicago, IL). ... September 03, 2010 9:28 AM A.M. Best Places Ratings of Six Trust Preferred CDO Transactions Under Review With Negative Implications A.M. Best Co. has placed the debt ratings on various senior and mezzanine notes of insurance trust preferred and surplus notes collateralized debt (CDO) under review with negative implications. The ... September 03, 2010 8:41 AM Shampoo Maker Buys $1 Million Insurance Policy to Protect NFL Player's Hair Troy Polamalu, a Pittsburgh Steelers safety, is known both for hitting hard on the gridiron and for his mane of long, curly black hair. His side gig as a shampoo spokesman prompted dandruff shampoo ... September 03, 2010 7:18 AM Australia's Nonlife Sector Sees Profit Rise Despite Weather Events Australia's nonlife insurance sector reported a 76.9% rise in net profit to A$4.6 billion (US$4.2 billion) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, driven by a rise in premium and investment ... September 03, 2010 7:15 AM Taiping Life Cleared for New Branch in South China's Hainan Province Taiping Life Insurance Co. said it has been cleared by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission to set up a new branch in southern China's Hainan province, bringing its total provincial branches to ... September 03, 2010 7:09 AM California Rejects Rate Review for Health Plans, Backs 'Actuarially Sound' Standard California lawmakers rejected a bill to impose mandatory rate review on health plans, instead approving legislation to enforce an "actuarially sound" standard for rate filings. The Senate ... September 03, 2010 7:06 AM

The Travelers Companies, Inc. News Release

Travelers President and CEO of Select Accounts Marc Schmittlein to Speak at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Insurance Conference NEW YORK, Sep 03, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Marc Schmittlein, President and CEO of Select Accounts and Agribusiness for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), is scheduled to speak at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Insurance Conference in New York City on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The presentation will be available in live audio on the investor section of the Travelers website at http://investor.travelers.com. Presentation materials will be made available on the website shortly before the start of the webcast. Replays of the webcast will be available on the same site for 60 days. About Travelers The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of pro... September 03, 2010 11:18 AM Travelers Educates Its Construction Customers on OSHA's Revised Cranes and Derricks Standard Training and Test Preparation Provided at No Cost to Customers HARTFORD, Conn., Aug 31, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published a new standard regarding the use of cranes and derricks in construction. Recognizing that more than 250,000 construction, contracting and equipment rental companies, employing almost five million workers, will be affected by the new rules*, Travelers (NYSE: TRV) has updated its complimentary training courses and is well positioned to help its customers gain certification with the new standard. Travelers was the first insurance company, more than 10 years ago, to develop a training course to assist its pol... August 31, 2010 8:25 AM Travelers Expands Continuing Education Platform for Agents HARTFORD, Conn., Aug 25, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) announces a new partnership with RegEd's CEAuthority to offer agents access to an extensive library of insurance continuing education courses. Committed to helping independent agents achieve success, Travelers is providing easy access to professional development courses that are relevant for their business needs. Through this expansion, Travelers is also offering agents the opportunity to take advantage of a designated free course and reduced pricing on CEAuthority's property casualty library. Agents can gain access to these new choices through Travelers' AgentU education platform. "Travelers recog... August 25, 2010 10:04 AM Travelers Customers See Burglary, Stolen Wallets/IDs as Top Causes of ID Fraud National Study Reports Number of ID Fraud Victims Up 12 Percent in 2009 HARTFORD, Conn., Aug 23, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Burglary, stolen wallets and pilfered identifications continue to top the list of the most common known causes of identity fraud for Travelers customers, accounting for 76 percent of all cases, according to a comprehensive study of its 2009 claims data. The information was compiled by Travelers (NYSE: TRV), the first insurance carrier to offer identity fraud expense reimbursement insurance. The findings mirror last year's report on Travelers' 2008 claims data which indicated that the majority of identity fraud cases reported by customers were from burglaries and stol... August 23, 2010 8:18 AM Travelers Introduces MedFirstSM -an Innovative Liability Coverage Package for the Medical Technology Industry SAINT PAUL, Minn., Aug 13, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The evolution of software and electronics for medical devices and the transferring of electronic personal identity records is creating a new combination of risks in the medical technology industry. To address these risks, Travelers (NYSE: TRV) announces MedFirstSM - a combination of three liability coverages packaged in a single insurance policy: products/completed operations liability, errors & omissions (E&O) and information security liability. The continuing integration between medical device and software companies exposes them to financial loss in addition to traditional bodily injury damages. "E&O exposures now exist whe... August 13, 2010 9:01 AM Travelers Introduces New Suite of Management Liability Products HARTFORD, Conn., Aug 05, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Travelers (NYSE: TRV) announces two new management liability product suites that offer agents and customers the ability to streamline and customize coverage through a flexible, modular policy with common language, terms and conditions. These two new suites of coverage, Executive Choice+SM for Public Companies and SelectOne+SM for Large Financial Institutions, join the newly enhanced Wrap+(R) for Private & Non-Profit Organizations. Travelers' policy suites offer the protection customers need today and provide flexible policy options for additional coverage as an insured's business or organization grows and new exposures emerge. Consisten... August 05, 2010 9:00 AM Travelers Declares Dividend on Common Shares NEW YORK, Aug 04, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --The Board of Directors of The Travelers Companies, Inc. today declared a regular quarterly dividend of 36 cents ($0.36) per common share. This dividend is payable September 30, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business September 10, 2010. The Travelers Companies, Inc (NYSE:TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business . A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2009. For more information, visit http://www.travelers.com/. SOURCE: The Travelers Companies, Inc. The Travelers Companies, ... August 04, 2010 7:32 AM Travelers Reports Second Quarter 2010 Net Income per Diluted Share and Operating Income per Diluted Share of $1.35 and $1.39, Respectively, an Increase of 6% and 11% Results Achieved in Spite of Record Second Quarter Weather-Related Catastrophes of $0.58 per Diluted Share Underwriting Gain, Exclusive of Catastrophes, Up 25% Pre-Tax from Prior Year Quarter Due to Higher Net Favorable Prior Year Reserve Development and Solid Current Accident Year Results Solid Investment Performance - Net Investment Income Up 16% Pre-Tax from Prior Year Quarter Net and operating income of $670 million and $690 million, respectively. Net written premiums up 1 percent from prior year quarter. Book value per share of $55.67, up 18 percent from prior year quarter and up 6 percent from year-end 2009. Repurchased 28.0 million common shares in the quarter fo... July 22, 2010 5:35 AM 2010 Travelers Championship Generates $1.1 Million for Charity Additional Travelers Gift Makes 2010 a Record-Breaking Year of Giving HARTFORD, Conn., Jun 27, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The 2010 Travelers Championship will generate a record-breaking amount to charity as a result of an additional commitment by Travelers (NYSE: TRV) to raise the tournament's total 2010 charitable contribution to $1.1 million, an amount on par with the champion's $1.08 million winnings. The announcement was made by Travelers Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Fishman today during the final round of competition at the Travelers Championship. The tournament contributes 100 percent of net proceeds to Connecticut charities, primarily benefitting its two designated charit... June 27, 2010 6:42 PM Travelers Schedules Second Quarter 2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call NEW YORK, Jun 25, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --The Travelers Companies, Inc. will review its second quarter 2010 results via webcast at 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 22, following the release of earnings earlier that morning. A slide presentation, statistical supplement and live audio broadcast will be available on the investor section of the Travelers website at http://investor.travelers.com. Following the webcast, the presentation and an audio playback of the teleconference will be available at the same website. About Travelers The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Aver... June 25, 2010 1:00 PM

Auto Tech - Progressive Insurance Blogs

Boat Gadgets Take Tech to the Water As more people discover the joys of boat ownership, the desire for gadgets and equipment to have on board grows, too. Now more than ever, the boating world is proving that car drivers don't have an exclusive on tech gadgetry. July 02, 2009 11:00 AM Curbing Emissions Takes Center Stage In the last few months, worldwide, federal, and state initiatives have placed an emissions control challenge to automakers: Cut emissions significantly going forward. The new initiatives focus squarely on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2). May 29, 2009 11:00 AM New York Auto Show Highlights Automakers used the recent 2009 New York International Auto Show to roll out new models loaded with the latest technology features and to introduce energy-efficient concept vehicles that your children will drive. May 08, 2009 1:00 PM X-Ray Vision While You Drive To address blind spots, automakers are turning to technology-based solutions. One interesting approach, still in the experimental stage, renders a vehicle's frame transparent, allowing drivers to "see" through a car's pillars and dashboard. March 30, 2009 3:00 PM Motorcycle Gear Improves Safety Motorcycle manufacturers and aftermarket customization shops — even apparel and helmet makers — are finding ways to introduce products that offer head-turning aesthetic appeal while reducing the accident factor of the ride. March 05, 2009 2:00 PM Podcast: 2009 Detroit Auto Show What was unusual about the 2009 North American International Auto Show (The Detroit Auto Show's formal name) was the level of interest in green cars: hybrids, electrics and low-emission diesels. Nearly half the major introductions involved green vehicles. February 06, 2009 10:00 AM Safer Texting and Calling While Driving If you want to curb the potentially dangerous behavior of texting while driving, technology solutions are emerging that leverage the GPS, accelerometer or other capabilities of mobile phones to provide a level of control. January 19, 2009 10:00 AM Best of: Manual Vs. Automatic Transmissions New developments in manual transmissions offer more options for drivers, including a hybrid that provides both automatic and manual shifting. November 10, 2008 12:00 PM Best of: Why Can't I Get the Kind of Mileage on the Window Sticker? The government has introduced new fuel economy ratings that are more accurate. We make them easy to understand. October 28, 2008 1:00 PM Match the Right Tire Technology to Your Driving Tires make a big, if unexciting, difference in your car's performance and safety, especially in the rain, slush and snow of the winter months. For that reason, buying a second set of tires for winter driving may be a good investment. October 14, 2008 1:00 PM

Yahoo! News: Internet News

Texas Conducting Antitrust Review of Google (PC World) PC World - Google on Friday said that the Texas Attorney General's Office is conducting an antitrust review of the search giant, following a similar investigation launched in Europe earlier this year. September 04, 2010 2:30 AM Texas opens inquiry into Google search rankings (AP) AP - Google Inc.'s methods for recommending websites are being reviewed by Texas' attorney general in an investigation spurred by complaints that the company has abused its power as the Internet's dominant search engine. September 03, 2010 9:54 PM Google faces Texas AG inquiry, settles privacy suit (Reuters) Reuters - Google Inc said on Friday it was the target of an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office into the fairness of its search engine rankings. September 03, 2010 7:01 PM PARTING SHOTS: Gov. Brewer nixes future debates (The Upshot) The Upshot - Here's our daily roster of stories that evaded full-on blog treatment: • Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has announced she will not participate in anymore debates after her embarrassing showing this week. (Arizona Daily Star) • A Malaysian man known as the "Lizard King" has pleaded guilty to smuggling 95 live boa constrictors in his luggage. [...] September 03, 2010 6:41 PM Apple Browsing Share Tops Linux, Android Steals Share Everywhere (PC World) PC World - More people browsed the Internet last month with a device running Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, than used Linux to do so. That's a first for Apple, according to NetMarketShare, a firm that produces metrics on the market share of browsers, operating systems and search engines. September 03, 2010 4:22 PM Verizon Offers Prepaid Data Plans on Top Phones (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - In what could be the first phase of a transformation in the way its smartphone users pay for Internet use, the nation's biggest carrier, Verizon Wireless, has introduced prepaid data plans. The no-contract plans, which go into effect Sept. 28, offer unlimited 3G access on select handsets for $30 per month, or $10 per month for 25 megabytes, with a 20-cent charge for each additional megabyte. September 03, 2010 3:51 PM Chrome Browser Updated After Two Years of Growth (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - Google's Chrome browser is now two years old, and the youngster -- and its proud parent -- are celebrating its steady rise in popularity. According to Net Applications, Chrome had 7.5 percent of the browser market in August -- putting it in third place behind Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox, and above Apple's Safari. September 03, 2010 3:51 PM Twitter Users Still Flock to the Website, Which Stinks (PC World) PC World - Twitter now has more than 145 million registered users, and sadly, most people still visit the social network through Twitter's default Web site. September 03, 2010 1:49 PM Google updates privacy policy (AFP) AFP - Google updated its privacy policy on Friday, a day after a video cartoon featuring the Internet firm's chief giving away ice cream to snoop on children aired on a giant screen in Times Square. September 03, 2010 1:29 PM WordPress upgrades free app for blogging on the go (Appolicious) Appolicious - The free WordPress for Android app was upgraded thanks to feedback from faithful users. Updates include fixes to numerous, annoying bugs like unexpected app crashes, log-in issues and more.Most notable in the recent upgrade is a new comment feature, which displays comments in real time as comments arrive in your Droid notification bar. September 03, 2010 12:39 PM

Yahoo! News Search Results for auto insurance

Washington auto insurance rate holds steady The median six-month auto insurance rate in Washington has remained steady over the last six months, increasing less than 1 percent to $637 according to InsWeb, an online insurance comparison provider.A Washington household that pays the six-month median rate of $637 and earns the Washington household median annual income of $45,909 pays about 2.8 percent of its gross income for car insurance. ... September 02, 2010 11:19 AM Auto insurance reforms take effect Wednesday The Ontario government and auto insurance industry say the reforms will lower premiums. Consumers are skeptical. September 01, 2010 7:16 AM Elephant Insurance could become major employer Move over, Gecko. Elephant Auto Insurance has arrived -- and it could become one of the area's leading employers. September 03, 2010 11:18 PM Ontario auto insurance changes help crack down on fraud, minister says TORONTO - New auto insurance rules kick in today that the government says help crack down on fraud, but opposition critics say those changes leave honest drivers paying more. September 01, 2010 3:42 AM Auto insurance reforms cut benefits, says lawyer The province's new auto insurance reforms take effect Wednesday will be detrimental for consumers, says a Toronto personal injury lawyer. Some consumers will be too confused by the jargon of the 41 new legislative reforms, they won't know how to ensure they get the coverage they need.[...] August 31, 2010 6:57 AM Ont. auto insurance reforms hurt consumers: critics Changes to Ontario's auto insurance that take effect Wednesday will provide less coverage for the same cost, critics say. September 01, 2010 7:25 AM Auto insurance premiums have to go up eventually, McGuinty says — New auto insurances changes that kick in today are rankling the opposition, but Premier Dalton McGuinty says premiums have to rise at some point. September 01, 2010 1:33 PM Auto sales in Saudi Arabia may hit $69.4b by year-end Auto sales in Saudi Arabia may hit $69.4b by year-end September 04, 2010 12:59 AM Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE to Award Up to $10 Million on September 16 in Washington, D.C. Ceremony Progressive Insurance, the country's fourth largest auto insurance group, and The X PRIZE Foundation, an educational nonprofit prize organization, will announce the winners of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE at a special awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Up to $10 million will be awarded to as many as three teams that proved their entry vehicle could meet the competition's ... September 02, 2010 10:16 AM U.S. Car Owners Save Up To $600 Using Autoquotenow.com To Compare Insurance Quotes Established on-line auto insurance comparison portal, AutoQuoteNow.com, now provides one-click premium comparisons for customers with savings extending to the hundreds of dollars. September 03, 2010 11:00 PM

Yahoo! News Search Results for insurance

Insurance, church thefts alleged A former insurance agent and church treasurer in Fairfield County has been charged with grand theft and receiving stolen property, accused of fleecing his clients and his church. September 04, 2010 4:55 AM Insurance agent to refund $66,500 to Miss. farmers Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says his office has reached an agreement with an agent to refund $66,500 in policy fees to poultry farmers. September 03, 2010 10:47 AM Insurance rates set to triple Homeowners beware - flood insurance rates are set to triple after Dec. 17. Recent updates to area flood maps means that some residents may now be living in flood zones, which could cause residents to pay higher flood insurance premiums. September 03, 2010 4:23 PM Nationwide Insurance will end sponsorship of Nationwide Tour in 2012 Nationwide Insurance announced Friday it will end its title sponsorship of the PGA Tour's developmental circuit in the U.S. when its contract expires in two years. September 03, 2010 11:33 AM Insurance Agent Accused Of Theft From Clients, Church A local insurance agent is in custody, accused of theft. September 03, 2010 12:49 PM Insurance firm predicts bumper year Insurance broker Alan Boswell Group has predicted a bumper year for sales as the financial services industry shows signs of recovery. September 03, 2010 2:09 AM Former insurance agent accused of stealing from clients BREMEN -- A former insurance agent and church treasurer has been arrested on charges of grand theft and receiving stolen property. Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said John W. Elder, also known as Bill Elder, 61, is suspected of collecting insurance premiums from victims and then diverting the money to his personal accounts. September 04, 2010 6:33 AM Insurance sector reinvents itself under new regime India's insurance industry is set for a makeover as it seeks to survive and grow in a changed environment that dawned on September 1. With a three-month spat over who will regulate unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips) settled, the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (Irda) in July announced sweeping changes to the way insurance companies do business. September 02, 2010 5:03 PM Insurance agent to refund $66K Miss. farmers JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says his office has reached an agreement with an agent to refund $66,5000 in policy fees to poultry farmers. September 03, 2010 10:25 AM Growth in health insurance costs is slowing, but employers are still shifting them to workers Good news! Health insurance premiums only went up by 3 percent on average during the first five months of 2010--the lowest rate of growth in ten years. You'd think that would mean people are finally getting relief from rising health care costs. Well, that's where the bad news comes in. Employers are rapidly shifting costs [... ] September 03, 2010 3:54 PM