A View From The Press Box

In case you haven’t heard, we’ve relaunched the National Underwriter Web site under a new URL–www.Property-Casualty.com–complete with enhanced, multimedia options designed to give readers more opportunities to access our content and offer feedback on the news of the day. Read the rest of this entry »

Insurance regulators are charged with making personal lines insurance widely available. Nothing has undermined the industry’s image more over the years than the battles between regulators and carriers over the availability and affordability of auto and homeowners insurance. The question is, are carriers and their producers ethically required to assist in this effort? What are the ethical responsibilities of insurers and their agents and brokers, if any, with regard to providing insurance to all who approach them for personal lines coverage? Click on to respond. Read the rest of this entry »

The market has been buzzing about AIG’s commercial insurers allegedly underpricing their coverage beyond all sound judgment to overcome the reputational damage done by their corporate parent’s federal bailout. But two government representatives gave the carrier a clean bill of health of sorts, chalking up any premium declines to old-fashioned competition. Did they miss the boat? Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier this year, I reported that the president of a major carrier casually noted that he did not buy personal lines coverage from his own company for fear of raising ethical conflicts. Our regular ethics columnist, Peter R. Kensicki–queried NU readers on what they thought, prompting one of our biggest responses. Click on to read what your colleagues make of this conundrum, and feel free to weigh in with additional comments. Read the rest of this entry »