THE TOPIC

JUNE 2009

THE TOPIC

SEPTEMBER 2014

Litigiousness has become a societal problem in the United States.

THE TOPIC

AUGUST 2016

The regulation of insurance company solvency is a function of the state. State regulators monitor the financial health of companies licensed to provide insurance in their state through analysis of the detailed annual financial statements that insurers are required to file and periodic on-site examinations. When a company is found to be in poor financial condition, regulators can take various actions to try to save it. Insolvencies do occur, however, despite the best efforts of regulators.

THE TOPIC

APRIL 2006

When a person applies for insurance, insurers need to be able to assess the risk of loss. One way to do this is to look at the applicant’s claim history. Insurers have been using loss histories as a primary underwriting and rating factor for decades. Before computers were used to store data, insurers had to rely on information from the applicant for insurance, his or her current insurers and on laborious searches of local records. Now they can have information almost instantaneously, saving time and money.

THE TOPIC

MARCH 2017

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral used in construction materials that can cause a variety of diseases, including cancer. Workers who develop asbestos-related illnesses can file lawsuits against the company they believe exposed them to asbestos and that company, in turn, can file claims with its insurance company.