A Weighty Issue

Increasing obesity is placing a heavy burden on U.S. workers' compensation claims.

Best's Review cover: A Weighty Issue A Weighty Issue
Increasing obesity is placing a heavy burden on U.S. workers' compensation claims. By Meg Green. Property/Casualty. Page 32.

Tough and Tougher
In a soft market, MGAs work harder to keep the bottom line flourishing. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Agent/Broker. Page 37.

Bank on It
UnitedHealth Group set up its own bank to administer members' HSAs. Will more plans follow suit? By Lori Chordas. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 42.

Caught in the Rain
2007's record floods in Britain and Australia cause about $7 billion in insured losses. By Marc Jones. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 48.

To the Rescue
Hoping to revive long-term-care insurance sales, the industry is trying new combination products. By Ron Panko. Long-Term Care. Page 51.

To the Rescue
Sidebar: Long-Term-Care Sale Trends By Ron Panko. Long-Term Care. Page 52.

The Ripple Effect
The subprime meltdown has impacted the insurance industry - and more trouble might be lurking. By Joy A. Schwartzman, Michael C. Schmitz. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 55.

The Ripple Effect
Sidebar: Regulatory Renaissance? By Joy A. Schwartzman, Michael C. Schmitz. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 56.

Home Team
Convert the replacement cost-estimating process from a source of friction with the homeowner into a positive, relationship-building experience. By Charles T. Smith. Property/Casualty. Page 60.

Where's Your Underwriting?
For underwriters, the challenge is finding the right client at the right price and at the right time. By Lance Ewing. Property/Casualty. Page 65.

Solving the Puzzle
Insurers find that building a successful IT project begins and ends with effective strategy. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 66.

Solving the Puzzle
Sidebar: Steps to Project Management By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 68.

Meeting Demands
Improving technology is among the ways insurers can try to outperform the market. By John Del Santo. Technology. Page 70.

Tolling Benefits and Pre-existing Conditions
Some individual state laws may prohibit an insured's coverage for a certain period of time, but as one court rules, not forever. By Frank N. Darras. Regulatory/Law. Page 72.

Best's Review's Annual Corporate Changes 2007
All companies listed are U.S. life/health or property/casualty insurers. Changes occurred in 2007, unless otherwide indicated. By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 73.

High on PPA
Insurers find much to like about the 2006 Pension Protection Act following its first full year of implementation. By Ron Panko. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 81.

On Message
Web-based marketing portals help agents connect with customers. By Denise Conner. Agent/Broker. Page 84.

Marriage Counseling
Look for signs to determine if a prospecitve tech vendor is a dream or a nightmare. By Andrew Ceccon. Agent/Broker. Page 87.

Honey, I Shrunk Our Retirement Benefits
Working into the golden years might not work out as planned. By Robert A. Fishbein. Life. Page 88.

E-Commerce Calls, But No One's Home
The life industry should harness technology to save money and improve efficiency. By Robert W. MacDonald. Life. Page 92.

Staying Alive - RIMS 2008 Conference Coverage
Adaptability key to surviving rocky insurance cycle. By David Dankwa, Alyn Ackermann. Property/Casualty. Page 94.

Is Caution Gone With the Wind?
The lack of major cat losses in recent years is increasing appetites for coastal business and decreasing underwriting standards. By Michael P. Egan. Property/Casualty. Page 96.

Get Started
In a flattening world, U.S. insurers must gear up for new international standards for insurance contract accounting. By Phil D. Arthur, Kevin Griffith. Regulatory/Law. Page 98.

Back to the Future
Vision University teaches managing general agents to anticipate what's beyond the next bend. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. The Last Word. Page 104.

What is Obesity?
A person is considered obese when his weight is 20% or more above normal weight. By Meg Green. Property/Casualty. Page 33.

Take a Seat
Obese workers also are an issue when it comes to seating, said Woody Dwyer, senior ergonomics consultant with Travelers. By Meg Green. Property/Casualty. Page 34.

Map: Global Catastrophes 2007
Annual pull-out map By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 48.

Career Wise
What kind of planning would be beneficial when you chart a course for a successful career in insurance? By Todd Mitchell. Briefing. Page 17.

Subscribe to read these articles in Best's Review's text archives.

Purchase this edition: Previous issues of Best's Review can be ordered for $18.95 per copy, including postage and handling. Make checks payable to A.M. Best Co. Mail orders to: Customer Service, A.M. Best Co., Oldwick, N.J. 08858 or call (908) 439-2200 ext. 5742.