By Curt Woodward
July 2, 2010
A campaign to end the state's monopoly on workers' compensation insurance appears to have enough support to qualify for the November ballot, adding to a busy initiative season in Washington politics.
Initiative 1082 supporters submitted stacks of petitions this week with an estimated total of more than 340,000 voter signatures. That's well above the roughly 241,000 required to earn a spot on the fall ballot, pending certification from state election officials.
The I-1082 campaign is led by the Building Industry Association of Washington, a trade group active in conservative politics. Insurers and other statewide business groups also are supporting the initiative.
The opposition campaign is being led by the state trial lawyers' association and organized labor groups. Both are usually aligned with Democratic and liberal political causes.
At present, Washington is one of just four states that do not allow private companies to offer workers' compensation insurance, although some employers self-insure under state supervision.
I-1082 would allow private insurance firms to offer their own plans in competition with a state-run system. It also would drop the current state mandate for employees to pay a share of premium costs.
Campaign leaders said they expect that call for more competition to be embraced by an electorate that is struggling with a slow economic recovery and an unemployment rate above 9 percent.
"The recession has highlighted for voters how important it is to make Washington a friendly place for businesses," said BIAW spokeswoman Erin Shannon. "Voters are really motivated and I think they're paying attention, and some of them are really angry and they're ready for significant change."
Business and labor interests regularly battle over Washington's workers' compensation system at the Legislature. Businesses generally complain about the cost of premiums and the state's management practices, including relatively plump benefits for injured workers.
Labor officials argue that Washington's system protects workers better than a private one by forsaking profits. Defenders also say the state has relatively moderate costs, ranking about midway nationally in one study when including "pension" costs for the permanently disabled.
"This system has its faults, but it works pretty well as a public system," said Alex Fryer, spokesman for the No on 1082 campaign. "When you introduce the profit motive into a system like this, what we've seen in other states is that claims get denied and delayed for a long time."
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Friday, July 2, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Aggressive UW huh, gotta Love the Corporate BS
So I was listening to an UW spill out a rehashed corporate message today, which was totally the opposite of what they were posting in the Insurance Journal. And I can't help but fall on my stereotypes of east coast business models, and the inability between message/action to be inline with what is actually happening. Sorry to the East Coast, but I believe some of inadequate government stems from a historicial background of lousy corporate control and good ol boy connections. Not that I have a problem with a business being profitable, but please don't feed us a red hearing and expect any person with insight won't cut thru your singular point and feel totally snowballed. Or pherhaps what's really at play is the chance to appear as though things are shiny when the house your selling needs a new well put in. So to the UW that's rehashing the corporate jargan, here's the article I know you haven't read because your quite content listening to your office manager spill the juice down the pipeline.
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. reported first quarter 2010 net income of $319 million.
Property and casualty net income rose $145 million, to $257 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared with $112 million for the prior year period.
The Hartford's P/C operations reported the first quarter 2010 combined ratio for ongoing operations, including prior year development and catastrophes, was 91.7 percent, compared with 89.9 percent in the prior year period. Excluding catastrophes, the current accident year combined ratio for ongoing operations for the first quarter of 2010 was 92.1 percent, compared with 90.0 percent for the prior year period. Current accident year catastrophe losses were $79 million, or 3.3 points.
The Hartford said key indicators in small commercial and middle market continue to trend favorably, with policy count retention up 4 percent over first quarter 2009 levels and renewal written pricing came in positive for the first time in six years.
The company also said that new insurance product rollouts drove year-over-year new business premium growth of 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively, in small commercial and middle market.
Written premiums for the first quarter of 2010 were $2.5 billion, equal to the first quarter of 2009. Increased small commercial and middle market new business premiums and policy retention were offset by economy-driven exposure reductions across the commercial segments and lower new business premium in personal lines resulting from the company's rate and underwriting actions.
"The company's first quarter results reflect building momentum, with year-over-year top-line improvements in many businesses," said Liam E. McGee, The Hartford's chairman, president and CEO. "We also benefited from capital market improvements, disciplined underwriting and a continued focus on execution across the organization. … We are now focused on executing our go-forward strategy, which leverages our product breadth, distribution strength and broad customer base," McGee said.
Source: The Hartford Financial Services
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. reported first quarter 2010 net income of $319 million.
Property and casualty net income rose $145 million, to $257 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared with $112 million for the prior year period.
The Hartford's P/C operations reported the first quarter 2010 combined ratio for ongoing operations, including prior year development and catastrophes, was 91.7 percent, compared with 89.9 percent in the prior year period. Excluding catastrophes, the current accident year combined ratio for ongoing operations for the first quarter of 2010 was 92.1 percent, compared with 90.0 percent for the prior year period. Current accident year catastrophe losses were $79 million, or 3.3 points.
The Hartford said key indicators in small commercial and middle market continue to trend favorably, with policy count retention up 4 percent over first quarter 2009 levels and renewal written pricing came in positive for the first time in six years.
The company also said that new insurance product rollouts drove year-over-year new business premium growth of 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively, in small commercial and middle market.
Written premiums for the first quarter of 2010 were $2.5 billion, equal to the first quarter of 2009. Increased small commercial and middle market new business premiums and policy retention were offset by economy-driven exposure reductions across the commercial segments and lower new business premium in personal lines resulting from the company's rate and underwriting actions.
"The company's first quarter results reflect building momentum, with year-over-year top-line improvements in many businesses," said Liam E. McGee, The Hartford's chairman, president and CEO. "We also benefited from capital market improvements, disciplined underwriting and a continued focus on execution across the organization. … We are now focused on executing our go-forward strategy, which leverages our product breadth, distribution strength and broad customer base," McGee said.
Source: The Hartford Financial Services
Thursday, April 22, 2010
My Story
I have lots of stories, but I think everyone in this industry remembers their first claim that comes to perdition. I was fresh out of school had just received my insurance license, and the company I was working for at the time did an excellent job of stressing how important it was to be well covered and to always focus on the value of the policy not the dollar amount.
I had just written a policy for the sweetest couple transplanting from California to Washington for retirement. I remember how excited and sweet they were booming with anticipation, ready to move into their new home in the beautiful Spokane forest. Normally I’d do a sit down meeting with the clients for a more personal review, but based on the out of state situation it wasn’t a possibility. And they needed insurance for their newly built home ASAP. So we reviewed over the phone and I made my suggestions for the couple. We even laughed about how he had never had a ticket or accident in 50 plus years of driving, but we both agreed insurance was an important purchase.
Later that week I was out at dinner with a friend of mine. We were enjoying ourselves at this new swanky restaurant. I gave my cell phone out to clients for emergency, and told them not to worry if it’s an emergency to call me anytime. Sure enough I receive a call at 9:30pm, and I hear Nancy’s voice on the phone and I can immediately tell it’s bad. She’s crying and hysterical, and she should be.
“Heather, my husbands been in a serious accident, and he’s broken his neck. The doctor’s aren’t sure if he’s going to make it.” He had been medivacted by helicopter to a surgeon in Spokane, still in a coma. He had flipped his truck four times when his trailer jackknifed on the freeway on his way up from California. Thankfully Nancy was not in the truck at the time. There was nothing left of the Dodge, it was now a piece metal that looked like it had been put thru a can crusher. The trailer was broken apart and their livelihood sprawled upon the ground over 100’s of feet. “Our whole life was in that trailer” she sobbed. I told her not to worry; I can fix the truck and your TV. But you need to be with your husband now.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday, I remember bringing him flowers at the hospital, seeing him wrapped up in a full cast, having a machine breath for him. I had wished our first meeting would have something completely different, I had wished his wife could have her husband as he was a week ago. But this story will always stick with me, because we do what we do because we love to serve people. I always want the best for my clients, and I will never underestimate what can happen. For we always hear in this industry, “I’ve paid all these years for insurance and never had an accident”, and too those folks I can say be thankful, some are not as lucky. Let me share a story with you.
I had just written a policy for the sweetest couple transplanting from California to Washington for retirement. I remember how excited and sweet they were booming with anticipation, ready to move into their new home in the beautiful Spokane forest. Normally I’d do a sit down meeting with the clients for a more personal review, but based on the out of state situation it wasn’t a possibility. And they needed insurance for their newly built home ASAP. So we reviewed over the phone and I made my suggestions for the couple. We even laughed about how he had never had a ticket or accident in 50 plus years of driving, but we both agreed insurance was an important purchase.
Later that week I was out at dinner with a friend of mine. We were enjoying ourselves at this new swanky restaurant. I gave my cell phone out to clients for emergency, and told them not to worry if it’s an emergency to call me anytime. Sure enough I receive a call at 9:30pm, and I hear Nancy’s voice on the phone and I can immediately tell it’s bad. She’s crying and hysterical, and she should be.
“Heather, my husbands been in a serious accident, and he’s broken his neck. The doctor’s aren’t sure if he’s going to make it.” He had been medivacted by helicopter to a surgeon in Spokane, still in a coma. He had flipped his truck four times when his trailer jackknifed on the freeway on his way up from California. Thankfully Nancy was not in the truck at the time. There was nothing left of the Dodge, it was now a piece metal that looked like it had been put thru a can crusher. The trailer was broken apart and their livelihood sprawled upon the ground over 100’s of feet. “Our whole life was in that trailer” she sobbed. I told her not to worry; I can fix the truck and your TV. But you need to be with your husband now.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday, I remember bringing him flowers at the hospital, seeing him wrapped up in a full cast, having a machine breath for him. I had wished our first meeting would have something completely different, I had wished his wife could have her husband as he was a week ago. But this story will always stick with me, because we do what we do because we love to serve people. I always want the best for my clients, and I will never underestimate what can happen. For we always hear in this industry, “I’ve paid all these years for insurance and never had an accident”, and too those folks I can say be thankful, some are not as lucky. Let me share a story with you.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Understanding Auto Insurance: The Importance of Having a Good Agent
The NAIC survey also found that some of the basics of auto insurance are not well understood, even though it is one of most commonly purchased types of coverage by people of all ages and demographics. The survey found that:
•More than six in 10 Americans (63 percent) do not understand that if property gets stolen from their car, it is covered by their homeowners/renters policy—and not auto insurance.
•More than half (54 percent) do not realize that, depending on the state in which you live, your credit history may be one of the factors considered by insurance companies when determining your premium. Other factors that can affect your auto insurance coverage include: driving record, type of vehicle and the deductibles you choose.
•Eighty-six percent of Americans do not know that when their liability coverage is 100/300/100, the last figure represents the maximum amount that their insurance company will pay in property damage for an accident.
•More than six in 10 Americans (63 percent) do not understand that if property gets stolen from their car, it is covered by their homeowners/renters policy—and not auto insurance.
•More than half (54 percent) do not realize that, depending on the state in which you live, your credit history may be one of the factors considered by insurance companies when determining your premium. Other factors that can affect your auto insurance coverage include: driving record, type of vehicle and the deductibles you choose.
•Eighty-six percent of Americans do not know that when their liability coverage is 100/300/100, the last figure represents the maximum amount that their insurance company will pay in property damage for an accident.
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