Published: August 2008

Re Match

Upcoming reinsurance renewal rates will pivot on touch economic realities. "There's pressure on costs and claims," Chris Klein, Guy Carpenter. "People are more conscientious and cautious," Michael O'Halleran, Aon Re Global. "The time has come to get tough," Heike Trilovsky, Munich Re.

Best's Review cover: Re Match Re Match Upcoming reinsurance renewal rates will pivot on tough economic realities. By Marc Jones. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 54.

Top 35 Global Reinsurers Produced $167 Billion in Premiums in 2007 Global reinsurers enjoyed a strong year in 2007 with 32 of the top 35 companies as ranked by premiums achieving a combined ratio of less than 100. By Staff. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 37.

Smart Business Is a No-Brainer In a high-tech world, 'minding your business' takes on new meaning By Sharon Cunningham. Agent/Broker. Page 39.

Retooling Reinsurance Capital market are making a huge play for new technologies that will keep them in the securitization game. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Agent/Broker. Page 40.

Top Global Reinsurance Brokers Best's Review presents is second annual listing of top global reinsurance brokers with in-depth looks at leading firms' results and strategies. By Staff. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 46.

Double Vision MassMutual intends to increase its retirement business twofold in three years. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 49.

Just What the Doctor Ordered Lenient underwriting in the physician long-term disability insurance market once caused insurers lots of pain. Could it happen again? By Curt Zepeda. Life. Page 53.

Government Holiday British travel agents decry insurance changes. By Robert O'Connor. Agent/Broker. Page 54.

Best's Review Issues & Answers: Captive Domiciles and Services Best's Review interviews the leading captive domiciles, captive managers, service providers and experts to help simplify the complexities of setting up specialized insurance organizations. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 55.

Positive Relationships Foster Positive Results GMAC RE Assistant Vice President Anthony Valente says flexibility is key in the alternative market. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 57.

Balancing Act DiscoverRe brings together the fronting, reinsurance and other services essential to the formation of group captives. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 59.

Meeting the Challenges Captives Can Present Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. provides one-stop servicing of captives' needs, says Managing Director Andrew Hofer. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 61.

Expertise, Expertise, Expertise Why Hawaii is a popular captive domicile for both U.S. and Pacific Rim companies. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 63.

The Aloha Spirit The Hawaii Captive Insurance Council, comprised of Hawaii captive owners and service providers, works in concert with State of Hawaii captive regulatory authorities to develop a stable, top-quality business environment. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 65.

Southern Hospitality The South Carolina Captive Insurance Association promotes the regulatory and business advantages of the Palmetto state as a captive domicile. By Staff. Special Advertising Section. Page 67.

Refilling a Need Thanks to a growing number of generic drugs, health plans are better able to manage prescription costs. By Lori Chordas. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 68.

Changing Prescriptions A variety of tactics are being used to encourage greater generic drug utilization. By Lori Chordas. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 70.

Following the Leader David F. Provost succeeds Len Crouse at the helm of the nation's largest captive domicile. By Ron Panko. Property/Casualty. Page 73.

Blueprint for Maintaining a Powerhouse Deputy Commissioner Len Crouse build Vermont into a captive insurance powerhouse by operating in certain ways that new leader David Provost said he is likely to continue. By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 74.

U.S. Property/Casualty Results by Line - 2007 A strong fourth quarter capped another solid year for the U.S. property/casualty industry, but year-end 2007 results fell short of the record profits recorded in 2006. By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 78.

U.S. Total Auto - 2007 Direct Premiums Written Ranked by 2007 direct premiums written. By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 79.

U.S. Commercial Multiple Peril - 2007 Direct Premiums Written Ranked by 2007 direct premiums written By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 80.

U.S. Homeowners Multiple Peril - 2007 Direct Premiums Written Ranked by 2007 direct premiums written By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 80.

U.S. Medical Malpractice - 2007 Direct Premiums Written Ranked by 2007 direct premiums written By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 81.

U.S. Medical Malpractice - 2007 Direct Premiums Written Ranked by 2007 direct premiums written By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 81.

U.S. Workers' Compensation - 2007 Direct Premiums Written Ranked by 2007 direct premiums written. By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 81.

Life Lines Information technology is helping health plan members and providers access information in new ways. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 82.

In the Palm of your Hand Bringing choices directly to members is one way technology is advancing in the health insurance arena By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 83.

Inside the Record Room Technology also is helping plans to access members' health data. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 83.

Information Data Mine Aetna also is on the cutting edge of technology. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 84.

Virtual Office Visits Health plans also are going virtual. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 84.

Closing the Loop Improvement in claims processes often leads to lower processing costs and lower indemnity costs as well. By Pat Saporito. Technology. Page 86.

Join the Revolution Insurers should add blogs, videos and message boards to their marketing strategies. By Beth Bailey. Technology. Page 89.

Social Media for All Ages The idea that social media sites are only for young people is false. By Beth Bailey. Technology. Page 90.

Looking for Trouble As they search for accounting fraud, insurance auditors find guidelines puzzling. By William C. Saturley, Kenneth E. Rubinstein. Regulatory/Law. Page 95.

Energy Efficient Using an alternative approach, senior executives find the power to boost workers' productivity. By Kimberly Paterson. Property/Casualty. Page 97.

My Generation For the first time in history, leaders must engage four disparate generations, each with its own set of attitudes and beliefs about work. By Kimberly Paterson. Property/Casualty. Page 98.

Domestic Trust Agents and brokers need to advise clients of the risk factors involved in employing workers in their homes. By Scott Spencer. Property/Casualty. Page 100.

Coming Out Are there hidden hedge funds in life insurers' balance sheets? By Ramy Tadros. Life. Page 103.

Fallout Shelter During divorce, women need to stay focused on long-term financial goals. By Maggie Jensen. Life. Page 105.

Conventional Wisdom Underwriting insurance for trade shows presents a unique risk-management task. By Emil Metropoulos. Property/Casualty. Page 106.

Getting to Know The New Kids As Generation Y comes into the workplace, it is important to understand how they think, communicate and learn. By Steven R. Pozzi. Property/Casualty. Page 111.

On Further Review . . . A growing number of third-party medical bill review companies are being named in patients' and providers' lawsuits. By Scott J. Sheldon. Regulatory/Law. Page 112.

Risk Management 101 Businesses have a legal duty to maintain the privacy of customers' and employees' personal information. By John Mullen. Regulatory/Law. Page 116.

All for One MetLife's MetDESK is distributing a new book to teach children about special needs. By Lori Chordas. The Last Word. Page 120.

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