Business Insurance

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Articles in December, 2002 issue of Business Insurance

• Hard market offers opportunities for eager agents.(Agent/Broker Topics: New Business)(insurance industry)
  by Roberts, Sally
• Business search leads to captives; A sound strategy can pay off.(Agent/Broker Topics: New Business)
  by Lenckus, Dave
• Parasites' greed puts all at risk.(News)(early memories strike a cord with asbestos liability situation)(Editorial)
  by Winston, Paul
• Capital One raises interest in online enrollment program.(Benefits Management)
  by Greenwald, Judy
• Kodak newsletter keeps workers focused on the benefits picture; Need to limit costs spurs creative approaches.(Benefits Management)(Eastman Kodak Co wins Business Insurance 2002 Employee Benefits Communication Award)
  by Fletcher, Meg
• Legal Briefs: Coverage suit dismissed over inconvenient forum.(Perspectives)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. suit, Liggett Group Inc. suit and Americans with Disabilities Act suit against McClatchy Newspapers Inc.)
• Leave financed by jobless funds may end; Proposal would bar states from tapping unemployment benefits for child care.(News)(Department of Labor may eliminate regulation allowing states to allocate funds)
  by Prince, Michael
• U.K. court to hear charges of fraud in film financing.(International)(Lexington Insurance Co. can pursue allegations against JLT Risk Solutions Ltd.)
• U.S. law creating confusion in London.(International)
• 5: CIGNA's low earnings.(and informal SEC investigation)(Spotlight Report)
  by Roberts, Sally
• Plan costs polarizing workers; As health costs surge, some plan options are a luxury.(Chicago physician to turn practice into subscribers-only business; discusses trend and moves by Chicago Public Schools to cut health insurance costs)(News)
  by Klein, Sarah A.
• The good, bad and ugly of 2002.(News)(notable and notorious insurance industry developments over the past year)(Column)
  by Winston, Paul
• Computer system changes bring hassles, big costs; Switching insurers often means new systems.(Spotlight: New Technology & Online Solutions)
  by Wojcik, Joanne
• Companies' exposure to cyber terror growing.(Spotlight: New Technology & Online Solutions)(US war on terrorism; protecting computer systems)
  by Roberts, Sally
• Europe gets tougher on aging oil tankers.(International)
• Maneuvers buy time for errant satellite; Stuck in sub-orbit, the Astra 1K is insured for nearly $300 million.(News)(Brief Article)
• Steakhouse chain's handbook sizzles; Benefits booklet offers buffet of information for restaurant employees.(Benefits Management)(Ryan's Family Steakhouses Inc.'s benefits handbook wins Best of Show in the Business Insurance 2002 Employee Benefits Communi
  by Roberts, Sally
• Health care costs rising unabated; Survey predicts more big increases.(News)
  by Geisel, Jerry
• New solvent runoff schemes flourishing; Cutoff programs popular among insurers, but policyholder impact debated.(International)(ING Groep NV to cut off books on mostly long-term liability business in UK; discusses trend)
  by Fletcher, Meg
• Systems help hospitals ensure patient, staff security; Management must overcome objections to electronic positioning monitor.(News)
• U.S. lawsuits challenge Equitas status, claims handling.(News)
• IRS, Treasury OK cash balance design; But rules threaten other hybrid plans.(News)
• 1: Health care costs soar; Ever-climbing health care costs top the year's news.(health insurance costs in 2002, according to survey)(Spotlight Report)
  by Prince, Michael
• Corporate governance focus may reduce investor suits; 2002 Annual Executive Conference for the Property/Casualty Industry.(News)
  by Prince, Michael
• Medicare drugs top Congress' health agenda.(News)
  by Hofmann, Mark A.
• 2,600 attend CPCU annual convention.(Agent/Broker Topics: New Business)(CPCU Society )(Brief Article)
• Perspectives: Consumerism can help bring down health care costs.(Agent/Broker Topics: New Business)(health insurance)
  by Waldron, Neil
• For The Record.(Briefs)(company and agency insurance industry data, and legislation)
• Fox Entertainment document makes employee star of show; Statement highlights value of workers' benefits.(Benefits Management)(Fox Entertainment Group Inc.wins Business Insurance Employee Benefits Communication Award)
  by Zolkos, Rodd
• Punitive damages limits at issue in high court case.(News)(US Supreme Court to hear case involving punitive damages case against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. )
  by Hofmann, Mark A.
• World Updates.(International)(briefs include Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s acquisition of assets of Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Ltd.; Benfield Group Ltd.'s stock listing; and Munich Re company sales and earnings data)
• Rich understanding of comp costs needed.(Perspectives)(Workers compensation insurers and third-party administrators re-examine managed care programs)
• Editorial: Rising health costs not inevitable.(Opinions)(Editorial)
• Big employers avoid biggest hikes in group health care rates: CIAB.(News)(Brief Article)
• 4: Green light to HRAs.(IRS issues guidance on health care reimbursement accounts; may stimulate more consumer-driven health plans)(Spotlight Report)(Brief Article)
  by Wojcik, Joanne
• Products & Services.(Travelers Bond's new personal directors and officers' policy; CIGNA and Mellon units to offer retirement plans; Watson Wyatt & Co's real-time compensation/benefits statements online; and other industry briefs)(Briefs)
• Several big deals struck to settle asbestos claims.(News)
  by McLeod, Douglas
• World Updates.(International)(UK govt insurance for Huntington Life Sciences Group, catastrophe losses, executive changes at Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Group PLC and Allianz AG Holding)
• A good captive front is hard to find; 12th Annual World Captive Forum.(News)(needs of captive owners and insurers)
  by Bradford, Michael
• GAO critical of OSHA's selection of sites to inspect.(News)(for hazardous workplaces inspections)
• Gerling selling P/C reinsurance business.(International)(Gerling Konzern Allgemeine Versicherungs AG to sell property/casualty reinsurance busienss)
• Meeting needs of an outspoken, diverse workforce; Battelle's 401(k) kit gives employees investor info at whatever level of complexity they seek.(Benefits Management)
  by Wojcik, Joanne
• European buyers' captive use growing; Overall capacity still adequate, survey finds.(International)(four in ten European companies currently operate a captive insurer)
  by Veysey, Sarah
• Decision lets Illinois proceed with Alpine racketeering case; Raids on trust funds, bogus stock swap alleged.(News)(fraud charges against former operators of defunct Alpine Insurance Co.)
  by McLeod, Douglas
• California damages reversed; 9th Circuit bars jury's consideration of national acts.(News)(Court of Appeals case involving Ford Motor Co. has statewide vs national ramifications)
  by Ceniceros, Roberto
• Comings & Goings.(News)(Judy M. Lindenmayer joins Hobbs Group L.L.C. as senior vp )
• World Updates.(International)(Number of occupational defined benefit pension plans in UK that closed to new entrants almost doubled from 2001 to 2002)
• 2: 401(k) protection.(legislation not enacted to reduce impact of corporate failures on the plans; impact of Enron Corp.'s collapse)(Spotlight Report)
  by Geisel, Jerry
• Exposures forcing insurers to keep rates high, CEO says; 2002 Annual Executive Conference for the Property/Casualty Industry.(risk managers can expect insurance rates to rise further)(News)
  by Souter, Gavin
• U.K. proposals for pension reform get chilly reception.(International)
  by Veysey, Sarah
• Reinsurer sees hard market lasting for several years: Low investment returns, corporate failures add pressure to pricing; CPCU Society annual conference.(Agent/Broker Topics: New Business)(Patrick Mailloux, president/CEO of Swiss Re America Corp., and oth
  by Zolkos, Rodd
• Wireless tools aiding work but uses are still limited.(Spotlight: New Technology & Online Solutions)(for insurance industry)
  by McLeod, Douglas
• Gibraltar growing as insurance center; Lloyd's motor syndicate attracted.(International)(Zenith Group to move Lloyd's auto underwriting operatings to Gibraltar)
• Late News.(brief articles detail acquisitions and financial data for insurance industry)
• Andersen opens window to realizing benefits' worth; Statement tells total-package value.(Benefits Management)(Andersen Corp.'s 2002 total compensation and benefits statement wins it Business Insurance 2002 Employee Benefits Communication Award)
  by Zolkos, Rodd
• IRS scraps limit on number of loans from 401(k) plans.(News)
  by Geisel, Jerry
• Runoff reinsurer sees U.S. increase in asbestos claims.(International)(Equitas Ltd.'s 6-month company sales and earnings)
  by Veysey, Sarah
• Few employers at work on HIPAA compliance; Ignorance, denial, lack of government guidance to blame.(News)
• Pension fund manager settles suits.(News)(Settlement order governs return of about $300 mil to former clients of Capital Consultants )
• Putting a premium on catching rogues.(News)(Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 gives government new surveillance powers)
• Insurance exasperation leads to literary aspirations.(insurance industry take on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas')(News)
  by Picoult, Myron M.
• $80 million in claims from Channel collision.(for marine insurers over collision of car transporter Tricolor and cargo ship Kariba)(International)(Brief Article)
  by Unsworth, Edwin
• For The Record.(Briefs)(insurance industry 2003 premium forecast, 2002 property/casualty net income data, govt terrorism insurance program)
• Online reinsurance beneficial to captives; 12th Annual World Captive Forum.(News)
  by Zolkos, Rodd
• Hughes manages to cut inflation; Wellness, disease management contain health care costs.(News)(Hughes Electronics Corp.)
  by Cineceros, Roberto
• Comings & Goings.(News)(insurance industry executive changes; includes brokers, insurance, reinsurers and other suppliers)
• Doc network downsizing attempts to cut costs.(News)(some employers are using smaller health networks in attempt to cut health care costs; PacifiCare of California's new Value Network)
• Schwab urges employees to 'create your future'; Theme of learning to work toward a richer retirement prompts plan participation.(Benefits Management)(Charles Schwab and Company Inc.'s 401(k) booklet wins 2002 Business Insurance Employee Benefits Communica
  by Bradford, Michael
• BASF uses Web technology to explain new fund options.(Benefits Management)(BASF Corp. offers employees eight new 401(k) plan funds; wins 2002 Business Insurance Employee Benefits Communication Award)
  by Wojcik, Joanne
• Benefits cost-shifting calls for changed communications role.(News)(by employers; Charles Schwab and Co Inc. and Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. cited as examples)
  by Prince, Michael
• For The Record.(Briefs)(insurance industry briefs include proposed universal health care for workers, commercially nonviable satellite orbit and newly formed joint venture)
• The Capital Consultants lawsuits: A settlement timeline.(News)(Brief Article)
• Trenwick leaps credit hurdle but faces more; Backing aids Lloyd's unit.(News)(Trenwick Group Ltd. secures lenders' backing for its Lloyd's of London underwriting operations)
• Steelmaker girds for fight with PBGC on plan takeover.(Pension Benefit Guarnaty Corp. to take over and terminate Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s underfunded pension plan; steel company to oppose the action)(News)
  by Geisel, Jerry
• Editorial: Benefits gains, losses offer hope for '03.(Opinions)(Editorial)
• Australian can sue U.S. publisher; Court ruling expands online publishers' libel liability.(International)
  by Greenwald, Judy
• Unethical behavior tarnishes image of industry; CPCU Society annual conference.(Agent/Broker Topics: New Business)
  by Zolkos, Rodd
• Editorial: It's time for single hulls to ship out.(Opinions)(Editorial)
• World Updates.(International)(insurance industry briefs include company data and stakeholder pension plans in the UK)
• Risk managers must better image.(Commentary)(job security and public relations issues)(Column)
  by Wojcik, Joanne

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