Health care: Harry and Louise ride again

"Will insurers once again scupper health-care reform?THE final nail in the coffin of Hillarycare came when Harry and Louise appeared on television. Hillary Clinton’s effort to introduce a government-run health system over a decade ago fell apart when two worried, middle-aged Americans were shown equating reform with bloated bureaucracy. That ad was paid for by the health-insurance lobby. Now Barack Obama says that reform is a priority again. He argues that the recession only adds urgency, as there is no way to tackle long-term deficits without fixing health care. Kathleen Sebelius, his new nominee for the post of secretary of health and human services, this week pointed out to a Senate committee that nearly half of all recent home foreclosures have resulted, in part, from families being hit by health expenses not covered by insurance. ..." (2009-4-2)
Read more...

Reinsurance Round-Up

"A plethora of April 1 reinsurance market reports are out, all of which are worth a read. They point to pockets of rate hardening across the global reinsurance market and the ongoing influence of currency fluctuations and other factors on capacity: 


Aon Benfield’s Reinsurance Market Outlook sees continued hardening for property catastrophe renewals in June and [...]" (2009-4-2)
Read more...

Swiss Re announces 1,150 job cuts

"Swiss Re has announced plans to cut 10% of its 11,560 staff following record losses that forced the company to turn to Warren Buffett for capital.
The reinsurance firm said the jobs will be axed within the next year, saving the company 400m Swiss francs ($350m) by the end of 2010.
Last month the group reported its [...]" (2009-4-2)
Read more...

Direct Line wins most trusted insurer title

"Marketingweek.co.uk has reported the results of the Reader’s Digest annual survey, the ninth of its kind.
After five years of holding onto the top spot as most trusted insurance provider Norwich Union has lost out to Direct Line.
Brand loyalty is of utmost importance to firms, and many established financial brands have seen their reputations take a [...]" (2009-4-1)
Read more...

Marsh expands EMEA FACS team

"Global insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh has announced that it is responding to increased demand by expanding its Forensic Accounting and Claims Services (FACS) Practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Recently the EMEA has seen a surge in demand for experts in specialist claims resolution and more FACS professionals have been hired [...]" (2009-4-1)
Read more...

Brightside looks to further growth as profit soars 182%

"Brightside Group has reported a 182% rise in profit from continuing operations in 2008, to £6.2 million. Revenue increased by 42% to £33.2 million.
The results compare with profit of £2.2 million and revenue of £23.3 million in 2007.
The firm saw its insurance broking customer base expand to 149,381 last year (up from 131,254 in 2007) [...]" (2009-4-1)
Read more...

Faber and Dumas appoint chief operating officer and finance director

"Third party wholesale insurance group Faber and Dumas have named Nigel Cotton as chief operating officer and finance director.
Cotton, who assumes his two roles with immediate effect, will report directly to chief executive officer Steve Hearn.
He also retains his present position as finance director of independent company Glencairn.
In joining Faber and Dumas he brings with [...]" (2009-3-31)
Read more...