November 2nd is Election Day.  Take time to vote no matter what your party affiliation.  Remember if you don’t vote you don’t have the privilege of gripping after the election if things don’t go the way you think they should.

We’re saying goodbye to Ruthie this month.  Only wish her the best in her upcoming marriage. She’ll probably take on organizing an association over in Texas after she gets settled.

Looking forward to our State Meeting in Meridian.  Know the members there have worked long and hard to make it an enjoyable event.

Something to ponder – Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

National NAIW NEW Address: 1847 E. 15th St. Tulsa, OK 74104-4610.  Send all standard mail to this address.
Send check or payments to National NAIW: Dept. 1400 P.O. Box 21820 Tulsa, OK 74101-1820

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company files a new coverage for Mailing and Fulfillment Services E&O as a part of their General Liability program.  Effective date October 7, 2004.

Hartford Insurance Group files to adopt ISO’s loss cost revisions for their Commercial Auto Liability Program resulting in an overall rate increase of 7.7%.  Effective date November 2, 2004.

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA files a rate revision for their Pediatric Physicians Liability Program resulting in an overall rate increase of 40%.  Effective date October 5, 2004.

Nationwide Insurance files a rate revision to its CommercialGard Program with an overall rate impact of 0.2%.  Effective date February 1, 2005.

OneBeacon Insurance Company files revised rates for their Farmowners program in Mississippi.  The overall rate level impact is a decrease of 2.7%.  Effective date October 23, 2004.

Commissioner of Insurance George Dale announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi, a Mutual Insurance Company, will implement rate reductions and rate increase caps on a majority of their insured business effective January 1, 2005.

The announcement came following discussions between Dale and the insurer on how best to take advantage of lower than expected increases in health care trends.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi also cited its efforts in administrative efficiency, benefit designs, and working with its network providers statewide to ensure health care is delivered in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting.

“As a result of our talks, 32,000 individuals in the Blue Care product will see a five percent rate reduction.  In addition, there was no rate increase for Blue Care beginning in mid-2004,” Dale said.  “the result of this action will be an estimated $9 million in premium savings to individuals in Mississippi.”

Dale also announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi is implementing a five percent rate increase cap for the 95,000 members in their insured small group program for employers with 50 or less employees for all renewals starting January 1, 2005.  By putting the five percent cap into effect, insured small groups as a whole could potentially have as much as a $20 million savings for health care premiums in 2005.

The change in health care trends will also benefit larger insured groups (employers with more than 50 employees) whose premiums are based on their own health care utilization.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi will work with these groups at their renewal to continue to manage their health care costs.

As part of its review of the lower than expected increases in health care trends, Blue Cross is ensuring its network providers thoughout Mississippi continue to receive a fair and reasonable payment for their services.  This is important to ensure health care access for Mississippi.

Mississippi leads the nation in heart disease and diabetes, and these are key factors, along with high blood pressure and cancer, that continue to impact the high cost of health care.

Commissioner of Insurance George Dale is pleased to announce that Mississippi’s largest insurer, State Farm, is easing its homeowner’s growth restrictions in the state.  This announcement demonstrates the company’s commitment to the State of Mississippi.

While State Farm’s decision to ease growth restrictions does not take into account the effects of Hurricane Ivan, the company believes, due to improved loss trends and underwriting results, it is in a position to provide more homeowners coverage to more Mississippi consumers.

With this announcement, more than 200 State Farm agents in Mississippi will be allowed to write more homeowners business throughout the state.  As a result of the company’s decision, consumers will have a wider array of options to choose from when shopping for homeowners insurance in the state.

In 2002, State Farm halted writing homeowners insurance in Mississippi due to poor underwriting results.  After working closely with the Department of Insurance to improve conditions in Mississippi’s homeowners insurance marketplace, the company began writing homeowners insurance in the state on a limited basis earlier this year.  This most recent step taken by State Farm to further ease homeowner’s growth restrictions is another indication the homeowners insurance marketplace continues to move in the right direction.  The Mississippi Legislature’s passage of comprehensive tort reform this year is another positive step toward addressing the challenges of Mississippi insurance marketplace.