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An insurance man to the stars (Wall St. Journal)

The story of an insurance agency--and in particular, one of its co-founders, Rich "Big Daddy" Salgado--that had been making good money selling insurance to professional athletes and is now expanding to help NFL players find health insurance during the lockout.

D.C. wants to know: Workers' comp or workers' con? (Washington City Paper)

The District of Columbia paid 2,140 workers' comp claims in 2010 for more than $24 million. The mayor would like to save a few of those millions going forward, and his plan to do so is a new return-to-work program. Part of the program is an analysis of how much injured workers are earning on the side. So it sounds like less "return to work" than figuring out ways to get them out of work.

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Rome 'gripped' by earthquake prediction fear (BBC)

Back in the early 20th century, a famed Italian scientist predicted that Rome would be struck by an earthquake on May 11, 2011. It appears that many in the Eternal City took a holiday today and got out of town just in case.

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With 'milestone' policy, UFC ownership expands insurance for fighters (StarPhoenix)

Ultimate Fighting Championship has stepped up for its more than 350 mixed-martial-arts fighers, all of whom are classified as independent contractors by the fighting league. Previously, the UFC ownership offered a kind of workers' comp insurance for fighters injured in the ring, but now the league will also offer coverage for medical expenses incurred outside.

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Health insurers making record profits as many postpone care (New York Times)

Federal healthcare reform was going to be the bane of the big health insurers, right? It doens't appear to be the case so far. Medical use is down, perhaps because Americans cannot afford care due to high-deductible plans or economic issues at home. Meanwhile, the BUCAs (the big health insurers) are looking for a third year of record profits.

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Mississippi flooding will hit taxpayers hard nationwide (Philadelphia Inquirer)

The Insurance Information Institute is estimating that 95 percent of the claims coming out of the Mississippi flooding will be paid for by the National Flood Insurance Program. Is it time for private insurers to give up their "sweetheart deal" and enter back into the market?

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Ahold tackles rising workers' comp medical costs (Supermarket News)

Libby Christman, senior director of risk management for Quincy, Mass.-based supermarket chain Ahold USA, looks at her workers' comp and disability management program holistically, meaning she looks at how pre-existing medical conditions are affecting the healing of work-related injuries.

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May 17, 2011

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