National Underwriter P&C August-26, 2008
Cover Story
From Levees To Nudist Camps, E&S Writers Take On Most Unusual Risks
Specialty players share some of their challenging and interesting
Opinion
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Political Cat Fight
In a cynical ploy to gain votes in Florida, the Republican Party added a vague plank to its platform calling for a "natural disaster insurance policy," a week after the Democrats came out for a
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States Need More Data To Stop Unfair Discrimination
A central role of state insurance departments is assuring that prices are not inadequate, excessive or unfairly discriminatory, as well as that availability of coverage is not limited by unfair
News
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Trust-Based Auto Policy Launched Down Under
The new product offers low-mileage drivers a way to reduce their auto premiums by lowering the technology barriers impeding the introduction of "PAYD"--or "pay as you drive"--in world auto insurance
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Overall Rate Declines Moderate, But Persist For All Commercial Lines
Businessowners policies for small accounts declined the most at 14 percent, as compared to an average 10 percent decline for all other types of small accounts--those under $25,000 in premium, Richard
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CFA Says Regulation, Competition Not At Odds, As Both Share Same Objectives
Consumer group admits some regulators guilty of 'abuse' in suppressing rate
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Gustav Claims Rise, With Ike On The Way
While catastrophe modelers say Tropical Storm Hanna should not be a "significant" loss event for property insurers, claims from the earlier Hurricane Gustav continue to pile up as the industry braces
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Reinsurance Market Stable, But Cats, Subprime Fallout, Could Stall Pricing Cuts
Reinsurance prices should remain stable or even continue to fall next year--that is, unless another major catastrophe or the subprime mortgage crisis drains too much capital from the market, according
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Coastal Losses Could Double, Report By Lloyd's/RMS Warns
Rising sea levels and changing weather patterns could mean a doubling of insurance losses for properties in coastal areas by 2030 unless high-risk areas adapt by implementing aggressive mitigation
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Alabama Taps Ex-Insurer CEO To Become New Commissioner
Despite consumer group criticism of a "revolving door" between state insurance departments and the industry being regulated, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley tapped another former insurance company executive
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State Farm Must Repay Florida Homeowners $120M For Storm-Proof Discount
State Farm must pay $120 million to some 98,000 policyholders after failing to give them a required discount for storm-proofing their homes, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty announced
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Terrorist Threat Demise Overly Optimistic
Seven years after 9/11, the threat of a terrorist attack remains a real possibility as Jihadist movements regroup, expand and continue to plan new ways of destroying high-profile Western targets,
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AIA, NAIC Presidents Set To Face Off Over Federal Versus State Regulation
The debate over whether to keep reforming the current state regulatory system or modify it with more federal involvement heats up next week, as the heads of the National Association of Insurance
Technology Trends
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New Systems Help Leverage Carrier Data For Business Intelligence, Actionable Info
As competition ratchets up in the insurance industry, insurers need to hone their operations by using the power of information, but the industry is still struggling to overcome the limitations of the
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Technology Can Help Insurance Carriers Level The Property-Casualty Playing Field
Or, better yet: "What if limitations presented by marketing budgets, technology dollars, physical size and number of employees could be overcome by the creative application of integrated
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Privacy Fears Can Smell Like Paranoia
Most of us have little occasion to crack open the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," the mental health profession's guidebook for classifying mental health problems,
