Published: October 2008

Covering the Bases
From spring training to the World Series, insurers come to bat for Major League Baseball.

Victory Lane Insurers are racing into motorsports sponsorships to turbocharge both brand awareness and consumer outreach. By Lori Chordas. Property/Casualty. Page 28.

On the Throttle Rising fuel costs have contributed to a nearly 7% decline in attendance at many NASCAR venues during the first 15 races this season. By Lori Chordas. Property/Casualty. Page 30.

Under Pressure With severity costs rising, auto insurers are trying to steer clear of rate hikes. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 34.

Ad Wars Auto insurers' marketing efforts are accelerating like never before. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 36.

The New Game Progressive's MyRate plan may remake the auto insurance landscape. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 38.

Going Global Pay-As-You-Drive programs are already implemented in nations on three continents: By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 39.

Out on a Limb New Jersey recently established the Territorial Rating Equalization Exchange, also known as TREE. Could it be the answer to affordable auto insurance in the Garden State? By Robert Aldorisio. Property/Casualty. Page 40.

4 Ways to Control Drug Costs By following new business strategies, no-fault auto insurers can manage rising medication prices. By Lisa Scaggs-Oskoui. Property/Casualty. Page 44.

We've Met the Enemy: We're It When the market turns downward, underwriting discipline can mean the difference between profit and loss. By Michael P. Egan. Property/Casualty. Page 59.

Control Issues The once-vaunted career-agent system has given way to FINFRA's network of broker/dealers By Robert W. MacDonald. Life. Page 60.

Avoiding Further Regulatory Chaos A common global framework could lead to more consistency between regulatory and public reporting principles. By Robert Stein. Life. Page 66.

Covering the Bases From spring training to the World Series, insurers come to bat for Major League Baseball. By Robert O'Connor. Property/Casualty. Page 68.

Is the Team Physician in the House? Before insurers agree to cover professional baseball players, they develop health profiles of the athletes. By Robert O'Connor. Property/Casualty. Page 70.

The Soft Side of Risk Management The current financial crisis has its origins in the rules of the game. By William H. Panning. Property/Casualty. Page 74.

Election 2008 The Road to November By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 76.

North Carolina Key Among Five Commissioner Races in November Five states will hold November elections for insurance commissioner, and another six will select governors who will appoint insurance commissioners By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 77.

State Elections: Commissioner Races By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 78.

Maine Voters Decide on Health Program's Future Whether Maine's citizens will pay any new taxes to finance a state-sponsored health insurance program will be decided in next month's election. By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 79.

Obama vs. McCain: Views Straddle A Divided Industry Who will get insurers' support for president this year? By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 80.

Where They Stand For the Record By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 81.

Where They Stand The Candidates on Health Care By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 81.

The New Invincibles They're tech-savvy, pampered and want what they want - and Gen Y has employers and insurere trying to please this soon-to-be dominant work force. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 84.

"Y" New Technology? Because that's how the millennial generation wants to connect with insurance companies By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 88.

The Tomorrow People The Big I's youth program helps young agents survive, and even thrive, in the insurance industry. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Agent/Broker. Page 92.

The Gift of Health (Really) Rick Willard, owner and executive officer of The Original Gift HSAm has noticed the angst of Gen Y and Gen X workers. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 86.

Committee Members in Tough Race Few expect control of either chamber of Congerss to change hands in November's general election, but that doesn't mean the races lack drama or intrigue. By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 82.

Industry Shifts to Bipartisan Donations Although historically biased toward Republican candidates, political contributions to Congress from insurance industry sources appear to be more balanced in the current election cycle. By Best's Review Staff. Regulatory/Law. Page 83.

No Time Like Now The climate is right to take a strategic approach to risk management. By William Malugen. Agent/Broker. Page 96.

Consider the Cut Before trimming claims expenses, insurers should analyze how future losses and expenses are impacted. By Faiz Ahmed, Saeed Fotovat. Regulatory/Law. Page 97.

Analyzing Losses and Expenses Cost-cutting decisions should be made only after conducting a proper analysis of how the intended legal expense reduction initiatives will impact future loss and expenses. By Faiz Ahmed, Saeed Fotovat. Regulatory/Law. Page 98.

The Litigation Operating Model A target operating model for litigation management represents the planned coordination of claims personnel, claims leadership, law firms and staff counsel. By Faiz Ahmed, Saeed Fotovat. Regulatory/Law. Page 99.

Waive Goodbye To Reserved Rights A Kanasa court finds a blanket statement has some holes. By Alan S. Rutkin. Regulatory/Law. Page 100.

Analyze This Health insurers can preduct claims risks by studying policyholders' hobbies and grocery bills. By Jonathan L. Shreve. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 101.

Future Tense Insurers reach out to the many women who still aren't prepared for retirement. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 103.

4 Retirement Planning Steps for Woman Eric Waller, retirement solutions consultant for Hartford Life, suggests a four-part plan for women who need a systematic approach to saving for their golden years: By Ron Panko. Life. Page 105.

Moving Forward With New Ideas Insurers are becoming more agile in both business and IT By Jamie Bisker. Technology. Page 144.

The Next Step Insurers look to takaful as Islanic economies advance. By Marc Jones. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 145.

Takaful: The Basics How large is the market for Islamic insurance at the moment? By Marc Jones. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 146.

Retakaful Capacity and Financial Security Issues Reinsurance that adheres to the same applicable Islamic principles as takaful insurance is known as retakaful. By Marc Jones. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 148.

A Return Trip Richard Parrillo Sr., CEO of United Automobile Insurance Group, received an Ellis Island Medal of Honor. By Al Slavin. The Last Word. Page 152.

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All editions
January 2008: Behind the Ad Surge
Februrary 2008: What's Your Agency Worth?
March 2008: Growing Green
April 2008: Building the Worldwide Health Network
May 2008: Sportsmanlike Conduct
June 2008: A Weighty Issue
July 2008: Standing the Test of Time
August 2008: Re Match
September 2008: The Cost of Regulation