Inszone Insurance Services Continues Expansion with the Acquisition of Western Century ...
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Agency Becomes Sixth Acquisition for Inszone
Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly growing national provider of personal and commercial lines insurance, announced today the acquisition of Western Century Insurance Services. Inszone Insurance has completed 4 acquisitions thus far in 2019.
Western Century Insurance Services, headquartered in the Sacramento area, will merge and operate under the Inszone Insurance brand going forward. Founded in 2011, Western Century has focused on providing comprehensive insurance to individuals, helping with both their personal and commercial needs. Western Century Insurance customers will experience a seamless transition and will continue to receive the same standards of service they have come to expect.
The addition of Western Century Insurance Services is part of Inszone Insurance’s strategy to build its footprint across the western United States. Within the last year, Inszone has entered the Arizona and Nevada markets, as well as expanded in California.
Norm Hudson, CEO of Inszone Insurance, said, “California represents one of our key markets, and the acquisition of Western Century Insurance, right in our backyard, represents a big step towards the growth of Inszone in the state. We have operated in California for many years and are excited to expand within our state, as well as neighboring states.”
Inszone Insurance is expected to announce a number of important acquisitions in the upcoming months as it continues to build its national presence.
About Inszone:
Established in 2002 Inszone Insurance Services is a leading privately held Insurance agency based in Sacramento California, focused on Personal and Commercial Insurance for both small and large businesses. With a strong and experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically as well as through acquisitions. Over the past 2 years Inszone has acquired multiple agencies in California and Arizona and expanded its operations into Nevada. The company is looking to continue expanding regionally into the western part of the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com[1]
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190918005899/en/[2]
References
- ^ www.inszoneinsurance.com (cts.businesswire.com)
- ^ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190918005899/en/ (www.businesswire.com)
Tim Hugo misstates Dan Helmer's position on private health insurance
Tim Hugo, the last-standing Republican state delegate in Northern Virginia, is telling voters that Democratic challenger Dan Helmer wants to abolish private health insurance.
Hugo has made the claim in at least four campaign mailings in the 40th House District, which spans portions of Fairfax and Prince William Counties. Here’s a sampling:
"While my opponent believes in abolishing our health care system entirely and replacing it with a plan that will cost taxpayers trillions of dollars, I believe we can make improvements to our current system while protecting private insurance," Hugo wrote in a Sept. 10 letter.
"Dan Helmer wants to END PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE," Hugo says in big brown letters on a glossy mailer.
"Dan Helmer supports abolishing our private health care insurance and creating a massive government-run system," says another mailer with a caricature of a shrunken Helmer behind a podium.
"Now, (Helmer) wants to completely abolish our private health care system and replace it with a big, expensive government-controlled system that taxpayers like us will have to pay," Hugo says in another mailer that calls Helmer "extremist."
A website[1] run by the fundraising Friends of Tim Hugo says, "Dan supports a (medical insurance) plan that would cost taxpayers trillions of dollars. And if that’s not bad enough, Dan’s plan would also take away people’s private insurance."
We fact-checked Hugo’s repeated claim.
Hugo, in one of his mailers, says his source is a May 2018 ad by Helmer when he ran unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination for 10th Congressional District seat. Helmer finished fourth in a six-person primary[2] won by Jennifer Wexton, who went on to win the general election.
"I’m for a Medicare-for-All option," Helmer says in the ad. The bottom of the screen says "DAN HELMER MEDICARE FOR ALL." Unlike the audio, the word "option" is missing.
GOP strategist Garren Shipley sent us an email for Hugo’s campaign, saying a "Medicare-for-All option" is equivalent to abolishing private insurance.
Let’s define the terms:
Medicare
Medicare is a national health insurance program that covers Americans 65 or older and a few other groups with disabilities or specific diseases. In 2018, it provided health coverage for 59.9 million[3] people, about 52 million[4] them senior citizens.
Medicare for All
Medicare for All would replace the current health insurance system with a single, government-run program that would cover all Americans. Employers would be barred from offering competing insurance.
Medicare for All is a signature issue in the presidential race of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. He’s proposed a generous plan that would cover hospital visits, primary care, medical devices, lab services, maternity care, prescriptions as well as vision and dental care. It would not subject consumers to any out-of-pocket costs, except a copay on prescriptions.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget has not estimated the cost of Sanders’ proposal or less-generous single-payer plans. The Mercatus Center, a libertarian research organization affiliated with George Mason University, estimates[5] Sanders’ plan would cost $32.6 trillion over 10 years and wouldn’t be paid for even if income and corporate taxes were doubled.
The Urban Institute[6], a more liberal-leaning academic center in Washington, looked at Sanders’ plan in 2016 and predicted it would add $32 trillion over the decade. The Institute estimated that state and local governments would save $4.1 trillion over 10 years, and that households and businesses would see about $21.9 trillion in savings.
Public option
Public option plans would give middle and upper-income working adults a choice: They could remain privately insured, or buy into a new government-run program that would use the network of Medicare providers and costs.
There are at least four public options bills[7] lingering in Congress, including one - called Medicare X[8] - cosponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. The CBO has not done cost analyses of the bills. Supporters say Medicare X would at least break even because the bill requires that premiums "cover the full actuarial cost of offering such a plan, including administrative costs." A 2013 CBO study[9] concluded a similar program would reduce federal deficits by $158 billion over 10 years.
Helmer’s record
Researching Helmer, we found eight instances where Helmer either said, or was reported to have said that he supported a Medicare-for-All option. In contrast, we found only one instance where he more broadly stated Medicare-for-All (without option). That was in the print in the TV ad Hugo cites. And remember, at the same time those words appeared, Helmer was saying in the ad that he supported a public option.
In addition to Helmer’s spoken words in the commercial, we found three articles in The Washington Post , one by ABC New[10]s, and one in The McLean Connection saying Helmer supported a Medicare-for-All option.
Helmer wrote an op-ed[11] in The Winchester Star pledging, "I will fight to ensure every American has access to health care by supporting a Medicare-for-All option that allows any American who doesn’t have or doesn’t like their insurance to opt in to Medicare." He made a nearly identical statement at a candidates forum[12].
Ballotpedia wrote in 2018," On his campaign website, Helmer listed gun safety, expanding the Affordable Care Act to include a Medicare for All option, and job creation as some of his policy priorities."
Hugo’s Justification
How does Hugo turn Helmer’s repeated calls for health insurance options into a call for ending private medical insurance? By making a very literal argument.
Shipley said there’s no such thing as a Medicare-for-All option - it’s a contradiction in terms. He said Medicare for All inherently means there’s a single insurance provider - the government - and there can be no option.
Shipley noted that "public option" is the correct term for offering a choice between private or government-run health insurance, and Helmer never used those words.
"If Helmer supported a public option plan, he would have said he supported a public option, or ‘Medicare X,’ as proposed by Tim Kaine," Shipley said. "But he didn’t. He said ‘Medicare for All.’"
Our ruling
Hugo says Helmer wants to abolish private health insurance.
Helmer repeatedly said in a 2018 campaign that he supports a "Medicare-for -All option" that "allows Americans who doesn’t have or doesn’t like his insurance to opt into Medicare." In other words, private insurance would continue to exist.
But Helmer used imprecise language that Hugo exploits with a semantic argument. Since Medicare for All means the government would be the sole health insurance provider, Hugo says it can’t have a private insurance option. Ergo, Helmer wants to end private insurance, according to Hugo’s campaign.
Had Helmer used the proper term - public option - Hugo’s logic would have evaporated. But his poor phrasing left him open to interpretation, and Hugo has taken the liberty to misleadingly create a position for Helmer.
We rate Hugo’s statement Mostly False.
References
- ^ website (helmerrecord.com)
- ^ primary (historical.elections.virginia.gov)
- ^ 59.9 million (www.cms.gov)
- ^ 52 million (www.cms.gov)
- ^ estimates (www.mercatus.org)
- ^ Urban Institute (www.urban.org)
- ^ four public options bills (www.kff.org)
- ^ Medicare X (www.congress.gov)
- ^ 2013 CBO study (www.cbo.gov)
- ^ ABC New (abcnews.go.com)
- ^ op-ed (www.winchesterstar.com)
- ^ candidates forum (www.youtube.com)
North America $44.45 Bn Automotive Usage Based Insurance Market to 2027 ...
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The "North America Automotive Usage - Based Insurance Market to 2027 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Technology Fitted; and Policy Type"[1] report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The North America Automotive UBI market accounted for US$ 7.24 Bn in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% over the forecast period 2019-2027, to account for US$ 44.45 Bn in 2027.
The Increase in Acceptance of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is the key driver that is propelling the growth of the automotive UBI market. Moreover, the increase in collaborations among telematics companies and insurance companies is expected to boost the automotive UBI market growth in the forecast period. The automotive UBI market is maturing substantially over the years in the countries, namely the US and Canada.
The insurance companies offering telematics insurance is constantly leveraging on various factors to enhance the solutions and deliver their customers with better schemes. One of the significant trends in the UBI market is the increasing number of partnerships among telematics companies and insurance companies.
These partnerships are nourishing the UBI ecosystems in various countries, and the same trend is anticipated to increase the market size in the coming years. For instance, Ana Seguros and Octo Telematics partnered to launch Mexico's first UBI program. This partnership is expected to facilitate the vehicle owners to ensure their vehicles as per their demands. Further, the automotive UBI market players are focusing on various initiatives to enhance their capabilities and boost its position in the market.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Introduction
1.1 Scope of the Study
1.2 Report Guidance
1.3 Market Segmentation
2. Key Takeaways
3. Research Methodology
4. Automotive UBI Market Landscape
4.1 Market Overview
4.2 Ecosystem Analysis
4.3 North America - PEST Analysis
5. Automotive UBI Market - Key Industry Dynamics
5.1 Key Market Drivers
5.1.1 Increase in Acceptance of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)
5.2 Key Market Restraints
5.2.1 Less Awareness about Telematics Insurance in Developing Countries
5.3 Key Market Opportunities
5.3.1 Increase in Collaborations among Telematics Companies and Insurance Companies
5.4 Future trends
5.4.1 Technological Advancements in Telematics to Emphasize the Demand of UBI
5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints
6. Automotive UBI - North America Market Analysis
6.1 North America Automotive UBI Market Overview
6.2 North America Automotive UBI Market Forecast and Analysis
7. North America Automotive UBI Market Revenue And Forecasts To 2027 -Technology Fitted
7.1 Overview
7.2 North America Technology Fitted Market Forecasts and analysis
7.3 Smartphones
7.4 Black Box
7.5 Dongles
7.6 Others
8. North America Automotive UBI Market Revenue And Forecasts To 2027 - By Policy Type
8.1 Overview
8.2 North America Policy type Market Forecasts and Analysis
8.3 Pay-as-you-Drive (PAYD)
8.4 Pay-how-you-Drive (PHYD)
9. North America Automotive UBI Market- Country Analysis
10. Industry Landscape
10.1 Market Initiative
10.2 Merger and Acquisition
10.3 New Development
11. Automotive UBI Market - Key Company Profiles
- Allstate Insurance Company
- Allianz SE
- Metromile, Inc.
- Octo Telematics S.p.A
- Vodafone Automotive S.P.A.
- AXA SA
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
- TomTom Telematics BV
- Sierra Wireless, Inc.
- Unipolsai Assicurazioni S.p.A.
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jzcuar[2]
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190918005801/en/[3]
References
- ^ "North America Automotive Usage - Based Insurance Market to 2027 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Technology Fitted; and Policy Type" (https://ift.tt/SKD5BK)
- ^ https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jzcuar (https://ift.tt/SKD5BK)
- ^ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190918005801/en/ (www.businesswire.com)
Tensions high as FPB considers insurance claim
Tensions simmered at Tuesday’s Frankfort Plant Board over submission of a formal claim to FPB's insurance carrier under its directors and officers liability policy.
FPB Chair Anna Marie Pavlik Rosen suggested that the board first pass a motion to pay a legal bill before submitting a claim to the insurance company for representation of Rosen and Vice Chair Walt Baldwin in a dispute with the Frankfort City Commission.
“I move to direct FPB to indemnify its directors for expenses incurred in performance of their official duties per KRS 96.173, which states compensation of expenses in any and all liabilities in whatever kind or character incurred by the board or any officer of the employee thereof shall be payable solely and only out of the revenues obtained by that board,” said Rosen.
When Rosen opened the floor for discussion, FPB member Stephen A. Mason immediately said that he’d asked staff to look at a copy of the insurance policy that was included in the agenda for the board's Jan. 18 meeting, in which there was an exception clause to the indemnification. He noted that in the next policy that went out on Feb. 5, the clause was missing.
“So my question is: Who took it out, when did they take it out and why did they take it out?” Mason asked.
Siding with Mason, board member Dawn B. Hale said she went back and viewed a YouTube video of the Jan. 18 meeting and "there was no discussion of anything having to do with them changing policy or the board coverage.”
Rosen said that the FPB’s insurance company changed the policy.
Mason responded, asking at whose request or whose direction the insurance company changed the policy when the FPB had voted on a different policy.
Addressing Rosen, Hale said: “Before the board meeting of February 16, you expressed your concern over the directors' liability coverage and so he said he was able to get that removed from the claim. This wasn’t brought to the board’s attention.”
Hale said she came into Tuesday’s meeting expecting to vote to approve the motion because she feels board members should have their legal expenses covered. If not, it could have a chilling effect on future board members.
“But I don’t see where a single board member has the authority to ask insurance to do anything,” Hale said. She claimed that asking the insurance company to remove the exclusion directly benefited Rosen and FPB Vice Chair Walt Baldwin.
“I have a problem with that ethically,” Hale said. "You’re asking us to approve a bill after the fact. As with anything else the plant board does before money can be spent, it has to be approved.”
Rosen responded that the move was intended to protect board members. Baldwin then claimed it was disingenuous for Mason and Hale to question their fellow board members.
“It seems like you’re trying to make something out of nothing,” Baldwin said.
At one point, Mason and Baldwin began speaking over each other, with Mason demanding, “Who from the board directed the insurance company to change it?”
Eventually, Rosen acknowledged that she asked for the policy to be changed.
Baldwin said he spoke with the FPB’s attorney and others and everyone was comfortable with the change. “It just seems you’re complaining about us having better insurance,” Baldwin told Mason.
“No, I’m complaining about the process of getting us there,” Mason said. “I’m always for better, but I want to get there the right way. I don’t want to get there in a way that looks questionable.”
Finally, Rosen moved to approve the motion by individual board member votes. Mason voted “no.” Hale sat silent for a moment before saying: “This vote really pains me. I want to vote ‘yes’ because I think board members should be covered from legal action taken against them …, but I also feel that policy and procedure is important and I think that ethics are important.” She eventually voted “no.”
Despite Mason and Hale’s objections, the motion passed 3-2 with Rosen, Baldwin and Jeff Bradshaw approving.
SCORE workshop examines health insurance options
Wednesday
Canton's SCORE chapter is sponsoring a workshop to help small business owners with health insurance questions.
JACKSON TWP. A workshop designed to address health insurance questions facing small business owners and non-profit groups is planned by the Canton Regional Chapter of SCORE for Tuesday.
Employee health benefits consultant Brenda Basso will present the program, which will offer assistance for business owners evaluating the type of benefits they might offer employees and how to finance the benefits. The program will examine options available, along with pros and cons.
Basso will discuss factors driving trends in health insurance, including prescription drug prices, hospital and physician fees, technology advances, and the increase in chronic health conditions linked to an aging population. She also will address employee perspectives on health insurance, its costs and the impact on employee retention and turnover.
The program will be in the Conference Center at the Kent State University Stark campus. Sign-in starts at 8:45 a.m., with the workshop running from 9 to 11 a.m. Register at www.canton.score.org and click Local Workshops.
California Insurance Finder Expands Its Service Offerings In Orange County
California Insurance Finder recently announced that it has expanded its insurance service offerings in Orange County, CA. The company stated that it has decided to expand its services in order to help Californians find affordable insurance.
Huntington Beach, CA – September 18, 2019 – California Insurance Finder (CIF) recently announced that it has expanded its insurance offerings in Orange County. According to the company, CIF strives to be the best insurance broker in Orange County. The company provided additional details about its expanded services.
CIF indicated that it now helps Californians find health insurance in Orange County[1]. CIF stated that it can help Californians select coverage from the health insurance marketplace. According to CIF, individual health insurance plans have never been easier to purchase, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The company said that its expanded health insurance services will help Orange County residents make sense of the ACA and use it to their full advantage. CIF also stated that it can help older Californians find Medicare coverage. CIF mentioned that it is also able to help employers find the right group health plan for their employees.
CIF also mentioned that it strives to be one of the insurance brokers in Orange County[2] that homeowners can count on to find affordable homeowners’ insurance. According to CIF, Southern California’s hot seller’s market makes buying a home one of the most important investments that Orange County residents will make. CIF stated that, for this reason, Orange County homeowners need to make sure that their costly investment is properly insured—whether it was purchased with cash or through financing.
CIF Insurance Agency[3] also indicated that its expanded insurance brokerage services include life insurance, automotive insurance, and commercial insurance. CIF stated that navigating each of these insurance markets can be difficult without the right tools. CIF said that its goal is to give Orange County residents the tools required to make the right insurance decisions.
CIF closed its announcement by providing some company information. Founded in 2001, CIF has been serving Orange County and the surrounding area for nearly 20 years. CIF is licensed in the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Idaho. CIF stated that its mission has remained the same since its inception: to provide its individual and group clients with top-notch service and relevant insurance information.
Media Contact
Company Name: California Insurance Finder
Contact Person: Don Ariosto
Email: Send Email
Phone: (714)960-4700
Address:21168 Beach Blvd.
City: Huntington Beach
State: CA 92648
Country: United States
Website: californiainsurancefinder.com
Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@franklymedia.com[6]
References
- ^ health insurance in Orange County (californiainsurancefinder.com)
- ^ insurance brokers in Orange County (californiainsurancefinder.com)
- ^ CIF Insurance Agency (www.google.com)
- ^ Send Email (https://ift.tt/2O6TIPJ)
- ^ californiainsurancefinder.com (californiainsurancefinder.com)
- ^ pressreleases@franklymedia.com (https://ift.tt/30brNFC)
"Insurance Cuts" Actually Work?
Scott Minerd (Guggenheim) weighs in on whether or not the “insurance cuts” the Federal Reserve is in the process of executing have any real efficacy historically. He finds that the usage of rate cuts during the late stages of an expansion have a mixed record – sometimes they’ve been able to put off a recession but mostly they haven’t…
The historical evidence is mixed on this issue. While there have been two notable periods in the 1990s where rate cuts helped avoid—or at least delay—a recession, we also know that the Fed was cutting rates in advance of the last three recessions.
The Fed does not have a consistent track record of using rate cuts to stave off recessions. While it was successful in the 1990s, cutting rates did not have the same impact in other late-cycle scenarios.
Here’s the Fed Funds target rate, the shading represents recessionary periods, the green and red stripes indicate successful attempts at pushing off recession versus unsuccessful:
Josh here – now, of course, the Fed Funds rate is just a blunt tool and to expect it to stave off every economic slowdown would be to ascribe “silver bullet” powers to the cost of money – which is not reality. There are too many other factors that drive economic growth (or the lack thereof) – everything from demography to business conditions to innovation to geopolitics.
Minerd goes on to note “In order for rate cuts to stimulate the economy and avoid a downturn, they need to work through one of two channels: spurring credit growth or easing financial conditions.” Here’s the problem with this – in the current cycle there is plenty of credit growth and financial conditions have arguably never been easier.
So perhaps insurance cuts are just there to serve as a “confidence fairy” and make capital markets participants feel better? What part of the Fed’s dual mandate does this sort of operation satisfy? Unemployment is low and prices are tame. Are we really trying to encourage more leverage? Plenty of that in the system already too.
Source:
Forecasting the Next Recession: Will Rate Cuts Be Enough? (Guggenheim) [1]
References
- ^ Forecasting the Next Recession: Will Rate Cuts Be Enough? (Guggenheim) (https://ift.tt/1VLbe7B)