Washington Governor Chris Gregoir is considering vetoing a provision of an appropriations bill that would transfer $10 million from the state's Insurance Commissioners Regulatory Account to the general fund, an official said.

Insurance trade groups are opposing a California bill, AB 1994, that would allow rebuttable presumption for some injuries suffered by hospital workers when they are seeking workers' compensation benefits.

No-fault auto accident insurance fraud in New York State last year amounted to a $229 million ripoff of insurers and policyholders, said Steve Weisbart, Insurance Information Institute vice president and chief economist.

The Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York said it will join the legal effort to defeat New York's compensation disclosure rule for agents and brokers.

Insurers are now able to file a single report to multiple state insurance departments through Insurance Services Office and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, it was announced.

The New York State insurance superintendent said, as part of an effort to address no-fault insurance fraud, he is supporting enactment of a measure requiring mandatory arbitration for no-fault claims under $5,000.

Experts say insurers will not likely have to pay business interruption or aviation claims from the Iceland volcano eruption, as such a rare event is not likely to be covered by policies.

Travel delays and cancellations stemming from the Icelandic volcano are expected to cause significant losses for travel insurers, but an exact estimate is not possible yet at this early stage, a travel insurance association president said.