Saturday, November 23, 2024
Home Authors Posts by Sofia Ashmore

Sofia Ashmore

Profile photo of Sofia Ashmore
1466 POSTS 0 COMMENTS
http://www.news-insurances.com

    0 1

    The amount you pay for insurance will be based on the information you give the insurance company (the underwriter) and the type of risk you want to insure. Insurance companies use underwriting criteria (for example where you live, if you smoke or what type of activity you would like to be covered) to help them work out the price (premium) of the insurance.

    You might find that some insurance companies may not be able to give you the cover you need. This could be because that particular insurance company doesn’t offer insurance for the type of risk you want to insure (for example things like antiques or vintage cars). If you want this type of insurance you might have to go to a company that specialises in this type of insurance cover.

    The insurance company agrees to pay out if the event which you’re insuring against happens. For example, your travel insurance policy may pay out for loss of luggage. It is important that you give the insurance company the correct information when buying insurance as incorrect information might affect or even invalidate your claim.

    You pay either a sum for the whole year (or sometimes longer), called a single premium, or a regular premium, usually monthly, for the policy. You can choose which company’s policy to buy yourself or you can go to an insurance broker, who’ll help you choose – see Getting help.

    There are also some types of insurance which are designed to be long term (such as protection and life insurance). However, many types of insurance last for one year at a time and you can renew your policy when it ends, or go somewhere else for a better deal. But make sure you don’t lose out by switching and always check that a new policy covers what you need it for. Always compare what’s covered by a policy, not just the price. Some might be cheaper than others, but they may not offer the same level of protection.

    See also on News-Insurances.com

    Income protection insurance or borrowing

    How to shop around for general insurance

    Insurance is not compulsory, buy insurance for your needs

    Tips to help you identify the areas you may need some or additional cover

    0 0

    Willis Networks, a partnership between Willis Group Holdings, the global insurance broker, and local, independent brokers in the UK, today announced its first network member graduate of its Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accreditation scheme.

    Willis Commercial Network (WCN) member Chris Harper, Insurer Relations Director of Berkeley Insurance Group, has successfully completed the CMI Level Seven accreditation through the Willis Networks training programme. He is now a CMI member and intends to continue the programme to become a Chartered Manager, which will significantly enhance Berkeley Insurance Group Ltd, which employs 55 staff. Eight other WCN members are currently taking part in the scheme Including Henshalls Insurance Brokers, Gauntlet Risk Management. K L Plester Insurance Service Limited, Scrutton Bland Ltd and Heartland Ltd with more anticipated to join in 2010.

    As part of its ongoing initiative to train and support independent regional brokers, Willis Networks has developed a roster of training programmes dedicated to enhancing the management skills and expertise of its network members. The current courses include an executive development programme and a supervisors course. Last year the WCN aligned and extended these programmes to the CMI qualification to enable network members to combine and develop their practical business experience in conjunction with the theory of the programme to develop their managers.

    Anne Hughes, Operations Director, Willis Networks, said, “The training offered by the Willis Commercial Network only serves to further highlight our commitment to helping regional brokers thrive in these difficult times. I congratulate Chris on his achievement and look forward to seeing businesses like Berkeley Insurance Group grow as their managers reap the benefits of the CMI training.”

    Chris Harper said, “I am delighted to have finished the first part of this scheme, and am eager to take the next steps towards becoming a Chartered Manager. The Willis Commercial Network has provided a vital stepping stone through the CMI scheme and I am sure that many more will see their businesses enhanced through this service.”

    Willis Networks was established in 1999 and is comprised of the Willis Commercial Network, representing brokers placing annual premiums of between £3 million to £25 million, and Willis N2, which represents community brokers with up to £3 million in annual premium.

    0 0

    Direct Group has completed a major debt refinancing to provide further funding for the group’s market consolidation strategy.

    The facilities, arranged by Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Acquisition Finance, will enable Direct Group to capitalise on acquisition opportunities across the sector as well as fund its organic growth plans.

    As part of the refinancing, Direct Group has also moved its banking relationship to Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.

    Last year, Yorkshire-based Direct Group, which was backed by private equity company LDC in 2007, completed its maiden acquisition of Millennium Insurance, a Midlands provider of general insurance solutions to the mortgage broker and IFA market.

    In January this year, it took over the claims handling and administration business of MetLife’s UK protection arm as part of a five year deal, followed in April by the transfer of Nexus and Travel Protection Services (TPS) – the claims administration businesses within Longhawk Group (previously UK Underwriting).

    The company’s offering now includes market-leading products and services across the general insurance market, including product development, sales and premium collection, policy administration, claims management, reporting and performance management.

    Derek Coles, Chief Executive Officer of Direct Group, said: “Our clients are looking to partner with organisations that can support an increasingly broad range of requirements across their personal and commercial lines and across an increasingly complex set of distribution channels and platforms, while delivering consistently high service standards and real innovation.

    “Since the original management buyout, our strategy has been to deepen our offering to the market, by enhancing and investing in our own service proposition and through the acquisition of complementary businesses. This is paying dividends, with the group reporting a strong pipeline and trading performance in the year to date.”

    He added: “The years ahead present a unique opportunity to accelerate that strategy and we’ve been working closely with the team at LDC and their colleagues in Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Acquisition Finance to put a financial structure in place to support that vision for growth.”

    Ray Stenton, Director of LDC – which invested £21.3m in the business to support the management buyout – said: “There is a growing number of good quality assets coming onto the market, both independents and disposals from larger corporates, who need to build scale and depth in order to compete. Direct Group has the infrastructure, reputation, business model and strength of management to emerge as the market leader in fast-consolidating sector.”

    Debt facilities were arranged by Mark Blower, Director of Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets acquisition finance.

    Mark Blower said: “Through the combined support of the Lloyds Banking Group, we’re keen to ensure Derek and his team have the financial support to deliver their growth strategy.”

    The refinancing follows several investments by LDC in the insurance support services market, including an £11million investment in the management buyout of Homeserve Emergency Services, a provider of home emergency fulfilment services, earlier this month (24 September).

    In June, the private equity firm also backed the £19.95million management buyout of Ansa and Independent Inspections, both market leading providers of claims validation, management and fulfilment services on behalf of leading insurance companies.

      0 0

      A recent survey by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) found that almost a quarter of people have cancelled their contents insurance and others have cancelled their life insurance to save money. While it is always a good idea to keep track of your finances and cut back on any unnecessary spending, it is important to make sure you don’t get rid of something you may need in the future.

      Although most insurance is optional (except for third-party motor insurance if you drive on a public road), it is important to stop and think about whether spending a small amount on the premium is better than the risk of paying out thousands of pounds of your own money if anything were to happen to you.

      Here are some of the main types of insurance available and what may happen if you’re not covered. For more information on these and other types, see Related information.

      What insurance must you have?

      • Third-party motor insurance is a legal requirement if you drive. The police have the power to seize and destroy uninsured vehicles. If you are involved in an accident (whether or not it was your fault), you will have to find the money to cover any damages, and you will probably get points on your drivers’ licence, a substantial fine, and possibly a criminal record.
      • Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you are an employer. This is needed in case you have to pay out compensation to your staff if they are injured at work or become ill as a result of work while in your employment. You will also need third-party motor insurance if you use motor vehicles for your business.
      • Buildings insurance is usually compulsory if you have a mortgage, as your lender will want to ensure that their asset (your property) can be rebuilt if it is damaged by fire, floods or subsidence. Rebuilding a home could cost over £100,000, so even if you own your house outright, think about whether you would be able to afford this if it happened to you. Use the Building Cost Information Service’s calculator to see how much cover you may need – see Related links.

      What insurance might you need to keep?

      • Contents insurance – the average home now contains over £40,000 of clothes, gadgets, electronics and furniture. Although you may feel that you’re unlikely to get burgled, or have your home damaged by fire or flood, would you be able to afford to replace all your essential contents if you were?
      • Income protection insurance also known as permanent health insurance (PHI) – if you are an employee and you fall ill, in most cases your employer must pay statutory sick pay for up to 28 weeks, though this will probably be a lot less than your full earnings. After that, you may have to rely on State benefits. Would this be sufficient for you to live on?
      • Critical illness insurance – as you get older, the likelihood of getting a critical illness increases and most policies do not cover pre-existing medical conditions. So if you cancel your insurance, you may find it harder and more expensive to try and restart it at a later date.
      • Life insurance – this is only necessary if you have someone who relies on you financially (which may also include loan and/or mortgage providers) – see Life insurance. The older you are when you start life insurance the more expensive it will be, so consider this if you’re planning to cancel or not renew a policy.
      • Travel insurance – if you’re holidaying in the UK you will probably be covered by your contents or motor insurance if something went wrong, but check your policies to see what’s covered and what isn’t. If you’re going to Europe you may be entitled to free or reduced-cost, State-provided healthcare, with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), but the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, as it only covers you for when you are ill. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property. In countries outside the EU, healthcare can be very expensive, so think about whether you would you be able to cover the cost of medical treatment as well as the associated travel costs of bringing you home to the UK, which could run into £1,000s.
      • Flood damage – if you live in an area that is likely to flood and you let your policy lapse, you may find it harder to get cover when you try to restart it at a later date.

      What other insurance might you have?

      • Payment protection insurance (PPI) also known as accident, sickness and unemployment (ASU) insurance – you may have taken this out to cover a specific loan repayment in case you can’t work because of involuntary redundancy, accident or illness. If you have a single premium policy, find out what you’ll get back if you were to cancel it – you may get back less than you expect. And think about whether you could afford the repayments if something happened. Rather than cancelling it, see if you can get a better deal using our Comparison tables.
      • Mortgage payment protection insurance (MPPI) – this is similar to PPI but specifically covers mortgage interest repayments. Think about whether you could afford the repayments if something happened. Rather than cancelling it, see if you can get a better deal using our Comparison tables.
      • Private medical insurance (PMI) – although most medical treatment in the UK is available free on the NHS, you may have taken this if you want a faster and better level of service. It’s your choice to cancel but you may have to pay higher premiums if you want to restart it and you won’t be covered if you know you’re going to need treatment. There may be cheaper alternatives, for example Health cash plans.

      These days you can get insurance to cover almost anything, including insurance to cover mobile phones, dental or vet’s bills, legal expenses and long-term care. It’s your choice whether to take out or renew these types of policies, as long as you’re comfortable taking the risk that you could manage financially if anything happened. For more information see Insurance.

      What if I can’t afford insurance?

      • Review your cover – most types of insurance have different levels of cover, so you may be able to get a lower level of cover for a smaller premium. Talk to your insurer to see what they can do for you. But don’t be persuaded simply by cost; make sure the insurance still meets your needs.
      • Check your employer’s benefits package – it may include certain types of insurance (often PMI, travel insurance or life insurance) and you may also be able to include your partner and family on some of the policies, so make sure you check before buying your own.
      • Don’t double up – check that you are not covered for the same thing on more than one policy, as you are only allowed to claim once for indemnity insurance policies.
      • Paying for extended warranties? – check what they cover. Some warranties offer no more protection than your entitlements under normal consumer protection legislation, and in some cases you may already be covered by your contents insurance. Also, think about how likely the product is to break down.
      • Increase your excess – ask your insurer whether increasing the excess you would have to pay if something happened would reduce your premiums.
      • Shop around and compare like with like to find the best deal that you can for your circumstances. Always make sure you disclose all of the relevant information, otherwise the policy may not pay out when you need it.
      • Cut back on other spending – if you can, try and cut back on something else rather than cutting back on insurance. It may be better to forgo something else than risk not being able to afford to replace your belongings if something happened. Use our Cut-back calculator to see where you can make savings.
      • Don’t be tempted by unauthorised brokers who claim they are linked to a legitimate firm – they may not be who they say they are. They may be keeping your money rather than passing it on, meaning that you are not insured

      What are my responsibilities?

      • You must disclose the relevant facts when applying for any type of insurance. If you don’t, you could invalidate your policy and the insurance company may not pay out in the event of a claim.
      • Make sure you read the key policy information to check what is and isn’t covered. Ask the provider or insurance company if there is anything you don’t understand.
      • Be aware that if you underinsure your contents for £20,000 when they are worth £40,000, the insurer would only be obliged to pay out half of what you claim for.
      • Check for excess charges. Some policies make you pay a certain ‘excess’ amount before they pay out on claims, and some policies charge an excess per clause rather than one overall.
      • Check the exclusions again. The most common reason for insurers to reject a claim is because the policy didn’t cover what people thought it did.
      • Don’t exaggerate any claim you do make. You will invalidate your claim, it may prevent you from getting insurance in the future, and it is a criminal offence.

        0 0

        Healthcare workers in Indiana and Tennessee began getting the first U.S. pandemic H1N1 vaccines Monday as part of what the government hopes will be a mass immunization effort, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

        Vaccinations were scheduled for clinic staff at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and Wishard Health Services in Indianapolis, the CDC said.

        The first H1N1 swine flu vaccines to be administered will be AstraZeneca unit MedImmune’s nasal spray, which was the first to be finished, packaged and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

        The U.S. government has ordered about 250 million doses from five companies — Sanofi-Aventis SA , CSL Ltd , Novartis AG, GlaxoSmithKline and MedImmune.

        The CDC says 47 U.S. states have ordered 1.38 million doses of the vaccine so far, with more orders to come from a total of 90,000 states, counties, cities and individual buyers such as retailers.

        Healthcare workers, pregnant women and people with special health conditions including heart disease and diabetes are among the 160 million people CDC has said should be the first in line to get the vaccine.

        The vaccines will trickle in at a rate of about 20 million doses a week, and officials are unsure how many Americans will actually get them. The U.S. government is providing them for free, but clinics and retailers may charge to administer them.

        At least two surveys have suggested that demand may be somewhat higher for the swine flu vaccine than for the seasonal influenza vaccine.

        A survey by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and Harris Interactive found that 53 percent of Americans say they plan to get vaccinated, compared with 41 percent who say they will not be vaccinated.

        Many children to be vaccinated

        The same percentages for Americans overall were seen in a survey released last week by the Harvard School of Public Health. It also found that 75 percent of parents planned to get their children vaccinated against H1N1.

        A survey by Consumer Reports found only 35 percent of Americans would definitely have their children vaccinated.

        The CDC says about 40 percent of young children aged 2 to 4 are usually vaccinated against influenza, 38 percent of adults aged 50 to 64, and 66 percent of people over the age of 65, who are the most likely to die from seasonal influenza.

        The picture is complicated by seasonal flu vaccination, which started last month. Officials say people need both vaccinations to be protected from both seasonal flu and the pandemic H1N1 strain.

        Swine flu has been circulating since it was first identified in two U.S. children last April but it has picked up speed since August as schools returned from summer breaks.

        As of Oct. 2, the World Health Organization says it has 343,298 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 globally with at least 4,108 deaths — but experts note these numbers do not reflect the true extent of the pandemic.

        The global system for reporting influenza cases and deaths is often weeks or months behind the actual spread of disease and only a fraction of the cases or deaths are tested.

        Dozens of children and at least 28 pregnant women in the United States have died from the virus and at least 100 pregnant women were sick enough to be hospitalized in intensive care, the CDC said.

        0 0

        The completion of a series of reforms, to strengthen the focus on public protection in the regulation of health professionals including nurses, midwives and dentists, was announced by the Department of Health today.

        These reforms mark a significant milestone in the Government’s programme to make safety and quality paramount in the care of patients by modernising the regulation of healthcare professionals, as set out in the White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety.

        The key features of the reforms are:

        • each regulator has moved to a fully appointed council, with parity between lay and professional members, to ensure that professional interests do not dominate
        • new council members for the regulators will be independently appointed by the Appointments Commission against specific criteria relating to their skills and expertise
        • smaller, more board-like councils will enhance the ability of the regulators to act strategically.

        Health Minister Ann Keen said:

        ‘Healthcare professionals work extremely hard to provide high standards of care that patients expect.  Regulatory bodies play a vital role in maintaining these standards and ensuring that those few professionals who fall below them are dealt with fairly and firmly.  The changes we have introduced will continue to raise professional standards in healthcare and encourage more transparency and high quality services for patients and the public.’

        Anna van der Gaag chair of the Health Professions Council said:         ‘Under the new reforms to healthcare regulatory bodies we have successfully recruited a Council with a strong mix of skills, ability and experience drawn from all parts of the UK.’

        Kathy George CBE, Nursing and Midwifery Council Chief Executive and Registrar said: ‘The changes following the White Paper enabled the NMC to implement stream-lined strategic decision making structures. This has enabled us to enhance our focus on safeguarding the health and well-being of the public.’

        A General Optical Council spokesperson said: ‘The GOC has welcomed the Department of Health’s reforms to healthcare regulation. These reforms have reinforced the role of patients and the public as central to everything we do, whilst enabling fair and proportionate regulation of the optical professions.’

        Similar measures will be introduced for the newly established General Pharmaceutical Council, which will become operational in the next few months.

        0 2

        Following his recent appointment as managing director of AXA’s corporate benefits business, effective 1 October, Paul McMahon [1] has today announced the leadership team which will support him in accelerating this area of AXA’s business.

        Joining McMahon, as director of sales and marketing is Colin Williams [2], previously executive director of DC Pensions at Fidelity. Williams has a very strong track record of success, achieved over a number of years working in corporate benefits and will bring that depth of knowledge and insight to the new team.

        Bryan Hill [3] is moving with McMahon from the AXA Distribution Services business which has been responsible for building the highly successful Elevate wrap proposition. Hill has a long history of achievement in the design, build and delivery of new business models in Australia and the UK. Hill and Williams join commercial director Marcus Gent [4] and operations director Donna Trapnell [5], who will both remain part of the leadership team at AXA.

        Paul McMahon commented: “This combination of talented business leaders represents a very able management team who will help define and deliver market leading propositions for our corporate benefits business.

        “These appointments signal further development of the corporate benefits business showing the scale of AXA’s ambition in this space and ensures the right people are in place to meet the demands of a fast changing marketplace.”

        Note :

        [1] Paul McMahon became managing director of AXA corporate benefits on 1 October 2009, having previously been managing director of AXA Distribution Services. Paul’s priority will be to grow AXA’s corporate benefits business, harnessing the existing capabilities of the group and developing upon them to ensure AXA’ delivers a market leading corporate benefits offering in a fast changing market. Paul has been a member of the management board of the AXA Life business since joining the group and previously held the roles of strategy and marketing director for AXA Life in the UK.

        [2] Colin Williams joined AXA on 1 October 2009 as sales and marketing director for AXA corporate benefits, responsible for defining, developing and managing the sales and marketing strategy as well as creating innovative market leading propositions to respond to the changing corporate savings market. Prior to working at AXA, Colin held a number of director and change management positions within the corporate benefits market.

        [3] Bryan Hill became design and delivery director for AXA corporate benefits on 1 October 2009 with responsibility for the strategic planning, management and end to end delivery of the business change and delivery programmes within AXA corporate benefits. Bryan also has responsibility for product development, organisational change within corporate benefits and will lead the design committees encompassing all systems and services used by the corporate benefits area. Bryan previously held the role of solution design director for AXA distribution services.

        [4] Marcus Gent continues as commercial director of AXA corporate benefits He is responsible for all elements of financial, commercial and risk management for the corporate benefits division. Marcus is a qualified actuary with considerable depth of experience in financial and marketing management roles in AXA.

        [5] Donna Trapnell continues as client services director. She is responsible for the delivery of exceptional customer service delivery across two strategic administration platforms in multiple locations, together with on-going programmes of process improvement and capability development within the corporate benefits business of AXA.

        0 0

        President Barack Obama called on the U.S. Congress on Saturday to be willing to compromise on a plan to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system now that a key Senate committee has wrapped up work on its proposal.

        Obama concentrated on the healthcare debate in his weekly radio and Web address at the end of a week dominated by foreign policy challenges in Iran and Afghanistan and a quick trip he made to Copenhagen in a losing effort to get the 2016 Summer Olympics for his adopted hometown, Chicago.

        The Senate Finance Committee finished debate on a massive overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system on Friday and prepared to vote on the legislation next week.

        The bill calls for sweeping insurance market reforms and seeks to rein in soaring medical costs and expand coverage to millions of uninsured people.

        With Democrats divided and Republicans battling what they consider a government-takeover of healthcare, Obama tried to lay down some markers for the coming debate as he seeks to gain passage of a plan this year.

        “I welcome any sincere attempts to improve legislation before it reaches my desk. But what I will not accept are attempts to stall, or drag our feet. I will not accept partisan efforts to block reform at any cost,” he said.

        The Finance bill will be melded by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid with one passed earlier this year by the Senate health panel, and the combined product is expected to hit the Senate floor by mid-October.

        Whatever bill emerges from the Senate would have to be merged with legislation that comes out of the House of Representatives.

        Obama’s Democratic Party remains divided on key issues, including a government-run insurance option, and party leaders in Congress will face a gauntlet of competing demands from liberal and conservative Democrats.

        And Republican critics of the overhaul are set on new attacks on provisions on taxes, mandates and Medicare, the healthcare plan for seniors, that could resonate with a wary public as the battle snakes its way through Congress.

        Obama said he realized that lawmakers from both parties would want to engage in a vigorous debate and contribute their own ideas.

        “I expect us to move forward with a spirit of civility, a seriousness of purpose, and a willingness to compromise that characterizes our democratic process at its very best. If we do that, I am confident that we will pass reform this year,” he said.

        0 1

        The World Health Organization (WHO) is advising countries in the northern hemisphere to prepare for a second wave of pandemic spread. In many cities and towns, schools and hospitals are already dealing with wide-spread outbreak. A vaccine for the H1N1 strain of flu is expected in coming days in the U.S.

        It’s always important to understand your health insurance policy, but with the potential for an increased demand for health care services, you need to be even more aware of your specific plan details. Take a few minutes to read your policy carefully in order to answer the following questions:

        • Is the vaccination covered by my insurance?
          The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 flu vaccine will be administered separately. Because H1N1 vaccinations have not yet been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, they may not be covered by health insurance. Check with your insurance company to verify that your coverage will extend to the H1N1 vaccine.
        • Do I have a cost-sharing responsibility for the vaccinations?
          Many health insurance policies have co-payments for yearly flu vaccinations. Ask your insurance company if you will have a co-pay for the H1N1 vaccine and what the cost will be.
        • If an office visit is required to obtain the vaccinations, does it require a separate co-payment?
        • Does your policy require a pre-authorization for hospital admission or other services?
        • What is your co-payment for the most common H1N1 treatments?
          The two drugs doctors can prescribe to treat H1N1 flu are Tamiflu and Relenza. In addition, you should know of any limitations on the number of doses covered by your policy – per prescription or per year.
        • Does your policy cover over-the-counter medications?
        • Is your coverage accepted at walk-in care facilities?
          If your area is heavily affected by the spread of the H1N1 flu outbreak, your regular physician might not be able to see you in a timely manner.
        • What is your out-of-network co-payment?
          If you must go to an out-of-network provider, be aware you will likely pay a higher co-payment for your office visit and any tests run during the visit.

        Be prepared for any eventuality with the following checklist:

        • Have your health insurance ID card readily available.
        • Review your health insurance policy provisions. Know which doctors and hospitals are in your network.
        • Make note of your co-payments. Know how much a doctor’s office visit will cost. Check to see if your co-payments go up if you go out-of-network.
        • Keep handy a list of pharmacies and medications covered by your health insurance policy.
        • If you have plans to travel, make sure you check to see if there are any doctors or medical facilities in-network where you will be visiting.
        • Make sure you have contact details for your health insurance company available in case you have questions.
        • Ask your employer or insurance company for any and all applicable health insurance information that might be available to you in a simple-to-reference format. Post this information where it can easily be accessed by everyone.

        Business Interruption Insurance

        Business owners might be concerned about having to shut down their operations due to an outbreak or absenteeism. Check your business interruption policy to see what eventualities will trigger coverage under your plan. Coverage generally requires the interruption to be caused by physical damage or loss (e.g., fire or weather).
        Business interruption policies generally will not be triggered by epidemic or pandemic warnings or alerts from public officials. Business owners will need to rely on existing risk management and business continuity plans to mitigate losses due to emerging public health crises.

        S health authorities announced that it started an intense vaccination campaign in order to protect millions of US citizen from H1N1 and that thru distributing 600,000 doses to be distributed in coming days

        0 0

        Royal Bank of Scotland, the part-nationalised lender, Friday completed an overhaul of its board with the appointment of two non-executive directors.

        RBS has recruited Philip Scott, the outgoing finance director at insurer Aviva, and former Coca-Cola executive Penny Hughes, the bank said in a statement.

        RBS, 70 percent state-owned after receiving a 20 billion pounds taxpayer-funded bailout last year, said the appointments fulfilled its pledge to the government to recruit three new independent directors.

        The bank named Sandy Crombie, chief executive of insurer Standard Life, as a non-executive in May.

        RBS said it had consulted UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the agency created to manage the government’s banking stakes, about the appointment of Scott and Hughes.

        Scott will lead the bank’s new board-level risk committee and will start next month, while Hughes, who will sit on the remuneration committee, will join in January.

        0 0

        Catlin Group opens a second underwriting office in Italy (Rome).

        The staff which have joined Catlin from Swiss Re in Italy will be composed of five member reinsurance underwriting team headed by Antonio Fiengo as Senior underwriter/branch manager.

        They will underwrite various classes of treaty reinsurance business.

        Ralf Tillenburg, chief executive officer of Catlin Europe, said: “I am delighted that Antonio and his experienced team of underwriting professionals have joined Catlin to launch our Rome office.

        “The team, which has worked together for many years and has established a very successful track record, is looking forward building new relationships with brokers and their clients.

        “Catlin is already well known in Europe as a leading underwriter of specialty lines of insurance as well as reinsurance business. The skills and expertise of our Rome team will further strengthen Catlin’s position in the European market.”

        0 2

        Zurich Financial Services Group announces the appointment of Scott Egan (38, British), currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for UK General Insurance, to the position of Group Head of Operations, Planning and Performance Management, effective October 5, 2009.

        In his new role, Mr. Egan will continue to drive further improvements in Zurich’s operations, planning and performance management initiatives.

        He will report to Dieter Wemmer, Zurich’s CFO, and will be located in Zurich, Switzerland. Mr. Egan succeeds Stephen Lewis, who will become CEO for UK General Insurance and Shared Services, as previously announced.

        Mr. Egan joined Zurich in late 2007, having previously held a number of senior positions in Norwich Union (Aviva) including Finance Director of Norwich Union (Aviva) and Strategy & Business Development Director of Aviva Europe. Mr. Egan completed his CIMA studies in 1992 and achieved an MBA in 2001 from Cranfield University.

        0 0

        Willis Group Holdings, today announced the appointment of Brian Curtis as Chief Executive Officer, Willis Risk Services (Ireland) Limited, effective immediately. Curtis reports to Brendan McManus, CEO of Willis UK & Ireland.

        Curtis will be responsible for driving growth and maintaining world-class client service levels throughout Willis’ Irish operation, which employs 320 Associates in offices in Dublin, Limerick and Cork, and generates annual revenues of more than €40 million. A full-service broker, Willis Ireland has particularly strong expertise in such areas as corporate broking and employee benefits, while offering local clients access to the full complement of Willis’ global placement and specialist resources.

        Curtis joins Willis from Aon Ireland, where he has been both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Broking Officer since 2000. Having started his own brokerage business at the age of 28, he sold the company in 1996.

        Curtis succeeds Jim O’Mahoney, who is named Chairman of Willis Risk Solutions (Ireland). The business, formerly known as Coyle Hamilton Willis, changed its name last September, to reflect its full integration into Willis and the increasingly global nature of Willis’ business in Ireland. O’Mahoney has been with Coyle Hamilton and Willis for nearly 25 years, and has played an integral role in building the business and in positioning Willis as the number one global insurance broker in Ireland.

        Commenting on the appointments, McManus said, “Brian’s knowledge of and presence in the local market will bring many benefits to Willis in the region. He is a dynamic and forward-thinking businessman and an outstanding leader who will work very well with the Willis team. In addition to Brian’s appointment, we look forward to Jim playing an important role as Chairman, leveraging his many years of experience and critical guidance and support through this period of transition. These changes, coupled with our recent announcement about our plans to move our corporate headquarters to Ireland, underscore our strong commitment to the Irish market and our determination to be a significant part of its outstanding growth potential as one of the world’s great financial and insurance centres.”

        0 0

        Further to its announcement dated 21 June 2009, Aviva has today completed the sale of Aviva Australia Holdings Ltd, its Australian life and pensions business and wealth management platform (“Aviva Australia”), to National Australia Bank (“NAB”).

        The proceeds are expected to be A$925 million (£452 million), comprising A$825 million cash consideration received from NAB, A$40 million representing a dividend received from Aviva Australia, and a forecast amount of A$60 million representing a net asset adjustment to be paid post completion.

        The sale supports Aviva’s strategy of focusing on the key growth markets in Asia where leading positions can be achieved. Aviva ranks ninth in the Australian life market and its wealth management platform is ranked eighth. The transaction provides greater financial flexibility, allowing Aviva to redeploy capital to other parts of its business to deliver better returns to shareholders.

        As previously announced, Aviva Investors’ Australian operations were not part of the sale. As a global asset management business Aviva Investors remains committed to the Australian market where it is focused on building its external funds under management, benefiting from the growth of the pensions market.

        0 0

        Britons could see their home insurance impacted upon should they fail to inform their insurer that they are letting or sub-letting to a lodger, it has been claimed.

        Matt Hutchinson, director of Spareroom.com, estimated earlier this week that the number of spare rooms being let in the UK has risen dramatically in the past year from a figure of around 477,000 to approximately 720,000.

        In response to this, Malcolm Tarling, spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers, has stated that Britons who take on a lodger should inform their home insurance provider immediately of any changes to who is living in a residence, as this can have an impact upon premiums or in fact, if cover will be provided at all.

        He commented: “If you are applying for insurance and you are taking a lodger, or if you have got a lodger, you should disclose that to your insurance company.”

        Meanwhile, Mr Tarling added that some home insurance providers will require anyone taking on a lodger to disclose any criminal convictions by themselves or their prospective tenant, as this too have an affect on the cost of a premium.

        0 5

        More than one in 10 cars in London is thought to be uninsured, research has found.

        According to The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), 13% of vehicles in the London area were flagged as being driven illegally because they were uninsured, the highest proportion for any region.

        The capital was followed by Merseyside, where 12% of vehicles are thought to be uninsured, and Greater Manchester at 10%. West Yorkshire and the West Midlands came in joint fourth place at 7%.

        The West Midlands also contains six of the 10 worst postcodes for uninsured drivers, while nearly half of all vehicles registered in the BD3 postcode of Barkerend in Bradford were flagged as being uninsured.

        Overall, the MIB estimates more than 1.7 million motorists broke the law during 2008 by driving despite not having motor insurance.

        The figures were released as the group, which compensates people involved in accidents with uninsured drivers, launched a campaign aimed at drivers who may be tempted to let their insurance lapse in a bid to reduce their motoring costs.

        It warned that people who drove without car insurance could have their vehicle seized, while they would also receive a minimum of six penalty points on their licence and incur a fixed penalty of £200.

        0 0

        Zurich Financial Services Group announces the appointment of Peter Rebrin (47, Brazilian) to the position of CEO for Zurich Latin America, effective October 1, 2009. He has been serving as interim CEO for Zurich Latin America since Jaime Paredes stepped down in May 2009.

        In his new position, Mr. Rebrin is responsible for driving further profitable growth in Zurich’s General and Life insurance businesses in Latin America aimed at strengthening its customer-focused leadership throughout the region’s insurance market. This important strategic growth market for Zurich currently consists of operations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela. Mr. Rebrin will report to Paul N. Hopkins, CEO Americas, and will remain based in Miami, Florida.

        Mr. Rebrin joined Zurich in 1999 and since then held various international and Latin American leadership positions such as Head of Corporate Development with Zurich Brazil, General Manager Latin American Shared Services in Chile and various HR leadership positions. Since 2007 he has been Chief Operating Officer for Zurich Latin America. Rebrin holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management in Arizona.

        0 2

        The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced today that it has awarded a contract for insurance brokerage services to Willis Limited, a unit of Willis Group Holdings, a global insurance broker. Beginning October 2009, Willis will provide strategic risk management counsel, and advise the ACP on the best policies to cover property, floating equipment, loss of income and maritime contingencies, among others. The contract will be for one year with an option to renew for three additional years.

        Willis Limited is also the ACP’s broker for its Owner Controlled Insurance Program that includes the Third Party Liability and Construction All Risk coverage for the design and construction of the new set of locks and the fourth dry excavation projects under the Panama Canal Expansion Program.

        “Willis has the industry experience and knowledge that we need. We are confident that their experience will help the ACP secure the most cost effective and competitive insurance plans. We look forward to working with our current and future insurers through Willis,” said ACP Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance Francisco J. Miguez.

        The well-established ACP bidding system follows a fair, rigorous and transparent contracting process that welcomes open competition.

        The ACP received three bids September 4 from top-level internationally renowned insurance brokerage firms vying for the contract. After careful review and thorough evaluation of the submissions, the ACP selected the firm with the lowest bid that met the contract’s objectives as described in the request for proposal released August 4.

        0 0

        Hibernian Aviva, Ireland’s largest insurer, has renewed its sponsorship of Newstalk’s hugely popular “The Right Hook”, the evening drive-time programme hosted by Corkonian rugby buff and broadcaster George Hook. With approximately 100,000 listeners and growing, it is expected that the broadcast sponsorship will help raise the profile of Hibernian Aviva throughout the country.

        Hibernian Aviva’s sponsorship of “The Right Hook” and its investment in Aviva Stadium is a part of the company’s ongoing brand investment as it moves towards the Aviva brand.

        Commenting on the sponsorship, Tracy Atherton, group brand director of Hibernian Aviva said: “George Hook is the most well-liked radio personality in Ireland. He truly is the People’s Presenter and a champion for Ireland’s consumers so we are delighted to continue to support a programme like ‘The Right Hook’ that shares our commitment of looking out for the needs of Ireland’s consumers.”

        Also commenting on the sponsorship, George Hook of “The Right Hook” said: “I am delighted that Hibernian Aviva will be supporting ‘The Right Hook’ for another year. Hibernian Aviva is a long-established Irish brand that truly cares about the needs of consumers so I am delighted for such a reputable brand to be associated with ‘The Right Hook’.”

        “The Right Hook” can be heard from 4.30-7pm on weekdays on Newstalk 106-108FM.

        Click here to access to the site Groupama Asiguari

          0 3

          Approval for a UK swine flu vaccine is expected shortly, it has been announced. The vaccine is being recommended to be authorised for use in adults, including pregnant women, and in children from six months of age.

          The recommendation has been made by the European Medicines Agency after carrying out an extensive review. The final decision will be made by the European Commission and is expected soon.

          The Department of Health said: “This is a positive step towards getting full licences for vaccine to protect the public. The European Commission must now consider the recommendations and we hope for their decision as quickly as possible.”

          The vaccine, Pandemrix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, is one of two vaccines being produced for the UK. The other vaccine being produced by Baxter is still under review. The two together will provide enough vaccine for the entire UK population.

          The European Medicines Agency is currently recommending that the vaccine be delivered in two doses, three weeks apart. However, it has acknowledged that there is initial data suggesting that one dose may be sufficient in adults. This will be reviewed using findings from ongoing clinical studies that are expected to be available from October or November 2009. Further safety studies will go on after the vaccine is approved, and the European Medicines Agency will make more recommendations if necessary.

          Weekly update

          The number of new swine flu cases has almost doubled in the past week, with an estimated 9,000 new cases. The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said,

          “Everything suggests that we’re starting to see a second wave to follow on from the July peak. We don’t know how big that wave is going to be, but we’re reaching the starting line.”

          Other news from the weekly update:

          • There are 218 people in hospital with swine flu, 25 of whom are in critical condition.
          • To date, 82 people with swine flu have died in the UK. There have been 70 deaths in England, nine in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland, and one in Wales.
          • There have been outbreaks in schools in 8 out of 10 regions in England.

          Revised planning assumptions

          It was announced on September 3 that estimates of deaths in the worst-case scenario for swine flu have been lowered. The government’s expert advisers on swine flu, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said that new data from the UK, north America, Australia and elsewhere give a better picture of how the virus might spread in the autumn.

          The revised planning assumptions have cut the estimated death toll in a worst-case scenario from 65,000 people in the UK to 19,000, assuming that 30% of the population is infected.

          These forecasts and others in the report are based on a “reasonable worst case” value and should not be taken as a prediction of how the pandemic will develop. Planning against the reasonable worst-case scenario will ensure, however, that plans for all likely scenarios are robust.

          The Department of Health said: “In light of this new information, the estimates for the number of people who might need hospitalisation and the proportion of people with swine flu who could die have been reduced.”

          Vaccination should cut hospitalisation

          These new planning assumptions do not take account of the vaccination programme which, once it has begun, will help to further reduce the number of people needing hospitalisation. However, the department added, we must not be complacent. While in the majority of people it is mild, for some this virus can be a serious illness.

          Advice for antivirals

          Several newspapers reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) had changed its advice regarding use of antivirals for swine flu. Its advice suggests that while antivirals should always be given in serious cases, they may not always be necessary for otherwise healthy people.

          The papers pointed out that this appeared to differ from the approach taken in the UK, where Tamiflu is being widely used.

          However, the Department of Health said:
          “We believe a safety-first approach of offering antivirals, when required, to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward. However, we will keep this policy under review as we learn more about the virus and its effects.

          “The WHO recommendations are in fact in line with UK policy on antivirals. We have consistently said that many people with swine flu only get mild symptoms, and they may find bed rest and over-the-counter flu remedies work for them.”

          Vaccinations for the vulnerable

          Andy Burnham, the secretary of state for health, has confirmed which priority groups will be given the first doses of swine flu vaccine, which is expected to arrive in October.

          Burnham said that the earliest doses of the vaccine would be given to at-risk groups in the following order:

          • People aged between six months and 65 years in the clinically at-risk groups for seasonal flu.
          • Pregnant women, subject to licensing by the European Medicines Agency, which will indicate whether it can be given throughout pregnancy or only at certain stages of pregnancy.
          • Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems.
          • People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups.

          The health secretary said: “Although the virus has so far proved to be mild in most people, for others it has been more serious. By vaccinating high-risk groups first, we aim to protect those most vulnerable to this virus.” He confirmed that frontline health and social care workers will begin to be vaccinated at the same time as the first at-risk group.

          At-risk groups

          At-risk groups will be the same as for seasonal flu vaccination. This includes people with serious heart disease, diabetes, and weakened immune systems due to cancer treatment.

          The list has been drawn up according to advice from independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which reviewed the evidence and advised the Department of Health on the crucial risk groups to be offered vaccination to help prevent serious illness.

          A vaccination programme for the rest of the population will be based on the evolution of the pandemic as well as new clinical data on the use of the vaccine.

          People in the priority groups outlined above do not need to take any action yet. Further announcements will be made as the vaccination strategy progresses, and those who need a vaccine will be contacted.

          National Pandemic Flu Service

          The National Pandemic Flu Service was launched in July. This online service assesses patients for swine flu and, if required, gives them an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication.

          The system, which can also be accessed by phone, will take the strain off GPs as swine flu spreads. For the moment, it is being used only in England.

          “The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new self-care service which will give people with pandemic swine flu symptoms fast access to information and antivirals,” said a Department of Health spokesman.

          “This new service will free up GPs, enabling them to deal with other illnesses that need their urgent attention.”

          The launch of the system brought important changes to the official advice that is given to people who think they may have swine flu. That advice – and the new system – is supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

          Latest advice

          If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu, the advice is to stay at home and check your symptoms at the National Pandemic Flu Service.

          Patients with swine flu typically have a fever or a high temperature (over 38°C / 100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms:

          • unusual tiredness,
          • headache,
          • runny nose,
          • sore throat,
          • shortness of breath or cough,
          • loss of appetite,
          • aching muscles,
          • diarrhoea or vomiting

          Call your GP if:

          • you have a serious underlying (existing) illness,
          • you’re pregnant,
          • you have a sick child under one year old,
          • your condition suddenly gets much worse, or
          • your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).

          For people who do not have internet access, the National Pandemic Flu Service can be accessed by phone on:

          Telephone: 0800 1 513 100
          Minicom: 0800 1 513 200

          For more information on the National Pandemic Flu Service, go to Flu Service: questions and answers.

          People in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can visit www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

          Advice for pregnant women

          Pregnant women are one of the higher risk groups for swine flu, as they are for all influenza viruses. It is therefore important for them to take precautions.

          This website provides full and up-to-date advice for pregnant women and parents of young children. The advice has not changed recently and is available at the following links:

          Swine flu advice for pregnant women.
          Swine flu pregnancy and parenting Q&A.
          Swine flu symptoms, including high-risk groups.
          Chief medical officer’s advice on pregnancy, holidays, and parents.

          How dangerous is swine flu?

          The vast majority of cases reported so far in this country have been mild. Only a small number have led to serious illness, and these have frequently been where patients have had underlying health problems.

          There has been an argument put forward that the government should restrict antivirals to those groups who are most at risk of developing serious complications from swine flu. In other words, if people are otherwise healthy, then the NHS should let the virus run its course, treating it with paracetamol and bed rest, as for normal flu.

          However, the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) believes there is still some uncertainty about the risk profile of the virus. For instance, there are reports of some cases in Argentina where young, healthy adults have apparently become extremely ill from swine flu.

          While there is still this doubt, the government has decided to continue offering Tamiflu to everyone with swine flu at their doctor’s discretion.

          “We will keep this matter under review, with advice from SAGE,” said health minister Andy Burnham.

          You can read the Department of Health’s guide for further information on the science of swine flu treatment.

          Who is at greatest risk of serious complications from flu?

          Some people are more at risk than others of serious illness if they catch swine flu. They will need to start taking antivirals as soon as they are confirmed with the illness. On occasion, doctors may advise some high risk patients to take antivirals before they have symptoms if someone close to them has swine flu.

          The risk profile of the virus is still being studied but it is already known that certain groups of people are particularly vulnerable. These include:

          • Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma in the past three years
          • Pregnant women
          • People aged 65 years and older
          • Children under five years old
          • People with chronic lung disease
          • People with chronic heart disease
          • People with chronic kidney disease
          • People with chronic liver disease
          • People with chronic neurological disease
          • People with immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
          • People with diabetes mellitus

          Why are healthy people over 65 and children not a priority for the swine flu vaccine?

          Healthy people aged over 65 appear to have some natural immunity to the swine flu virus. And while children are disproportionately affected by swine flu, the vast majority make a full recovery – therefore the experts do not advise that children (other than those in at-risk groups) should be vaccinated initially.

          Catch it, Bin it, Kill it

          Although the UK has moved to a treatment phase for swine flu, it’s important that people continue to do everything they can to stop the virus from spreading.

          The most important way to stop it spreading is to have good respiratory hygiene (i.e. sneezing and coughing into a tissue) and hand hygiene (keeping your hands clean). The video Catch it, Bin It, Kill It explains the importance of catching your sneeze in a tissue, placing it quickly in a bin and washing your hands and surfaces regularly to kill the virus.

          Prev1...656667...74Next Page 66 of 74

          POPULAR POST

          Seroni Interactive is an independent publisher of information BtoC and BtoB sites in banking and insurance & specialist digital content. Our productions of brand content possible to affirm your image, positioning, demonstrate your expertise and create a traffic or a hearing and therefore advertising exposure for your brand.
          Contact us: contact@news-insurances.com

          SOCIAL

          34FansLike
          6Subscribers+1
          965FollowersFollow

          Popular category

          © Seroni Interactive