Today’s News: Obama Wants $50 Billion Stimulus, Law Limits Health Insurance Rates and Parents Front for Teen Drivers
June 29th, 2010
President Barack Obama hopes to convince Congress to move forward with a $50 billion stimulus package that would, in part, re-extend the COBRA subsidy to unemployed workers who saw theirs expire recently. In other insurance news, a new law in New York will help to limit health insurance rates and a study has found that many parents are willing to “front” for their teen drivers after an accident.
Obama Wants $50 Billion Stimulus
On Saturday, June 12, Obama sent a letter to the Congressional leadership of both parties, pleading with them to add measures in upcoming bills that would help unemployed workers keep their health insurance for a longer period. The
Tags: 50 Billion, 50 Billion Stimulus, Billion Stimulus, Stimulus
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Dodge Joins EPIC as Benefits Technology Specialist
June 29th, 2010
EPIC (Edgewood Partners Insurance Center), a retail property/casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage, has hired Sarah Dodge as benefits technology specialist in the company’s Employee Benefits Consulting Division.
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Dodge adds significant benefits, human resources management system and payroll administration knowledge and implementation experience to the EPIC team. She will be based in the San Francisco office.
Prior to joining EPIC, Dodge worked as an implementation consultant for ADP and as a senior benefit analyst for BeneTrac.
Tags: Benefits Technology, Benefits Technology Specialist, Specialist, Technology Specialist
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Secretary Sebelius: Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer.
February 20th, 2010
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today unveiled a new report, “Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System.” It is aimed at health insurance rate increases demanded by insurers across the United States. It also comes on the heels of Anthem of California’s quest for a 39% rate increase for individual insureds in California.
Secretary Sebelius scheduled an 11:30 a.m. news conference that was also available as a webcast.
Tags: Companies Prosper, Families Suffer, Insurance Companies Prosper, Suffer
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Med mal insurers cut from effort to end antitrust shield
February 19th, 2010
The Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act is posted at www.rules.house.gov, the Web site of the House of Representatives’ Rules Committee, which will set rules for its consideration next week.
The bill replaces an earlier measure, sponsored by Reps. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., and Tom Perriello, D-Va., that would have applied to medical malpractice liability insurers as well.
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Ironshore names U.S. specialty casualty executive
February 16th, 2010
Mr. Gantz, currently senior vp at Ironshore Risk Agency in St. Louis, is responsible for setting underwriting guidelines and strategies, as well as for new product lines in the specialty casualty unit nationwide. He is based in Ironshore’s New York office and also oversees Ironshore’s London casualty platform.
Prior to joining Hamilton, Bermuda-based Ironshore, Mr. Gantz was senior vp for Landmark Insurance Co., where he was responsible for building a new casualty practice for the commercial agribusiness sector for the unit of American International Group Inc. He served as chief underwriting officer of Allied World Assurance Co. Ltd. prior to joining Landmark.
Tags: Casualty, Specialty Casualty
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Happy Presidents’ Day!
February 15th, 2010
Many readers are out of the office today celebrating Presidents’ Day by buying furniture or attending white sales. I write that in jest. I hope all are spending time with their families and enjoying the day.
Throughout U.S. history, presidents have often struggled with the issue of what role (if any), government should have in the insurance market. For example, this quote:
“the time is at hand this year to bring comprehensive, high quality health care within the reach of every American. I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it, with vastly improved protection against catastrophic illnesses.
Tags: Day
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