Commercial Lines

By proactively notifying an injured employee of their rights under California law and by scheduling a doctor's appointment for the injured employee when you are the first to receive of a claim, you can retain medical control with a minimum of effort, which is critical to the timely closure of any claim.

When faced with a potentially challenging renewal and one that may be impacted by the uncertainty around the potential 2014 extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, what can you do? We recommend starting the renewal process early, at least 120 days (or more) prior to the policy or program effective date.

Workers' Compensation statutes are helping employers by allowing them to accept the claims that are only AOECOE. Employers need to see that they comply with legislation, and baseline testing now gives them an objective assessment to do just that.

The Value Game is a new class of business methods that alters the incentive structure of a distorted market such that everyone acting in their own best interest is in fact acting in the best interest of the community.

We've had a sustained period of underpricing in the private Directors & Officers/Employment Practices Liability area as insurers compete for market share. With the loss frequency where it is and expenses rising, it is indeed time to reevaluate.

When behaviors of doctors are analyzed using clean, integrated data, the well-informed and well-intentioned in Workers' Comp will rise to the surface.

I predict that an increasing number of lien claimants will assert that bad faith actions are taking place, even during active negotiations. Do not be afraid to assert that nothing more is owed if you have complied with bill review and timely payment, if your Medical Provider Network is secure, or if your arguments are sound. Otherwise, pick up the phone and talk.

While the new California Homemade Food Act creates new opportunities for home-based businesses, it also adds a responsibility to all of us in the insurance field to identify risk and suggest creative solutions.