| //03-11-2009 |
Welcome to the Monthly Health Watch section of Aetna’s Press Center. I hope you will find this information helpful in generating story ideas and useful in your reporting.
Health observances are days, weeks, even months devoted to shining the spotlight on a particular health issue. Health plans, community groups, schools, and the medical community (including doctors, dentists and nurses) all take advantage of annual health observances to raise awareness, educate about risks, host health screenings, and encourage people to take the best possible care of their health.
At Aetna, we mark our calendars at the start of each year and incorporate monthly health themes into our education materials and member communications. Many companies that provide Aetna health benefits to their workforce also share monthly-health-themed tips as part of their employee wellness programs.
|
| //02-11-2009 |
On the occasion of Swiss Re's Q3 2009 results, two separate events will take place. Please choose the event of interest from the list below in order to access all relevant information.
|
| //02-11-2009 |
Scottish Life, the pensions specialist arm of the Royal London Group, has produced an "instant expert" support pack, including case studies, a planning tool and client-facing material, to help IFAs maximise the business opportunities generated by the impending change to the minimum retirement age.
From 6 April 2010, the minimum age at which pension benefits can be taken will jump from 50 to 55. (Retirement at earlier ages will still be possible on the grounds of ill-health and for certain 'special' occupations.)
|
| //01-11-2009 |
Momentum Health, South Africa’s fifth largest open medical scheme, has announced an average contribution rate increase of 11.6% across its six healthcare options for 2010. The increase is spread between 7.3% and 16.1%, depending on the actual option chosen by members.
Astute members can however reduce their contribution rates by up to 30% on the same benefit option (i.e. retaining all their current benefits) by choosing to use more cost-effective healthcare providers. Momentum Health has specifically structured various ground-breaking partnerships to give members the option of reducing their contributions.
|
| //26-10-2009 |
It was Congress, after all, that in 1945 overrode a Supreme Court ruling that the insurance industry was indeed part of interstate commerce and thus subject to federal antitrust laws. Lawmakers that year passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act; the law has ever since shielded insurance firms from federal prosecution for price fixing, bid rigging and carving out protected markets.
This week, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy declared the time had come to do away with that protection.
|
| //24-10-2009 |
An insurance company has introduced a cover against kidnap and ransom. The launch of the Kidnap or Ransom Insurance cover is informed by the wave of abductions.
In a move likely to ruffle the security agencies, AIG Kenya Insurance Company has come up with proposals for kidnap and ransom or extortion cover.
In the product to be launched next month, the insurer will meet cash ransom demands by kidnappers to ensure safe return of victims.
The insurer will also provide services of experienced response team that will work closely with relatives of the kidnapped.
|
| //24-10-2009 |
AIG Investments has for the third time lowered its growth forecast for the economy to between 1.5 per cent and two per cent this year.
The fund manager said persistent adverse weather conditions, rising energy costs and high level of inflation has jeopardised its recent projections of two per cent.
However, the fund manager predicted economic growth could accelerate to four per cent next year (2010) provided the fiscal stimulus is implemented in a timely manner, the country receives adequate rains from the El Nino, credit to the private sector becomes readily available and the political environment improves.
|
| //23-10-2009 |
Swiss Re is very well positioned to enter this year’s renewal discussions in Baden-Baden. Swiss Re will use the week ahead to emphasise its strong offering to European clients, and to reinforce the company’s focus on a sustainable underwriting relationship with cedants.
|
| //23-10-2009 |
As Congress nears votes on legislation that would overhaul the health care system, many small businesses say they are facing the steepest rise in insurance premiums they have seen in recent years.
Insurance brokers and benefits consultants say their small business clients are seeing premiums go up an average of about 15 percent for the coming year — double the rate of last year’s increases. That would mean an annual premium that was $4,500 per employee in 2008 and $4,800 this year would rise to $5,500 in 2010.
The higher premiums at least partly reflect the inexorable rise of medical costs, which is forcing Medicare to raise premiums, too. Health insurance bills are also rising for big employers, but because they have more negotiating clout, their increases are generally not as steep.
|
| //17-10-2009 |
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced an agreement to sell its 97.57% share of Nan Shan Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (Nan Shan) to a consortium comprising Primus Financial Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong-based financial services firm, and China Strategic Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed investment company, for approximately US$2.15 billion
|
| //17-10-2009 |
Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced the addition of WhiteGlove House Call Health, Inc., to its provider network in Houston. The agreement, effective immediately, will give Aetna’s members in Harris County access to routine medical care in their homes or at work.
WhiteGlove’s licensed nurse practitioners and physicians will be able to diagnose and treat minor ailments such as flu, colds, infections, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, and suture minor cuts in the home or office between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week. Additionally, members will receive most of the generic medications prescribed during the visit and a well-kit of foods, beverages and over-the-counter remedies—all for only the cost of a member’s specialist co-pay, co-insurance or deductible.
|
| //16-10-2009 |
Scottish Life, the pensions specialist arm of the Royal London Group, has introduced a new service to allow IFAs to monitor the progress of new business cases.
IFAs will now be able to access all the key information about their new individual pensions business in one place. This will provide real-time case management for individual policies and aims to reduce the amount of time advisers need to spend on administration, by reducing the need to contact Scottish Life for information.
|
| //16-10-2009 |
Term Life Insurance insures your life for a set amount of time (10, 20, or 30 years). If you die before the end of the term, your beneficiaries receive a lump sum equal to the face amount of the policy you purchased. Term life insurance offers the greatest amount of protection for the lowest cost because, unlike other types of insurance, term policies have no investment component or increasing cash value ― just the essential promise of a payout if you die while the policy is in force. Term policies give you utmost budget flexibility should your needs change over time.
|
| //16-10-2009 |
At Standard Chartered Bank (HK) Ltd we meet all your financial needs from deposits and loans to insurance protection & investments - all under one roof!
|
| //16-10-2009 |
Swiss Life achieved a profit of CHF 172 million from continuing operations in the first six months of 2009 (+13%; HY 2008: CHF 152 million); the net profit stood at CHF 139 million.
|
| //16-10-2009 |
Aetna (NYSE: AET) has released its 2009-2010 Latino Calendar, which celebrates contemporary Latino role models who are helping to build stronger, healthy communities. The online version of the calendar is available at www.aetnalatinocalendar.com
|
| //13-10-2009 |
Scottish Life, the pensions specialist arm of the Royal London Group, has produced an "instant expert" support pack, including case studies, a planning tool and client-facing material, to help IFAs maximise the business opportunities generated by the impending change to the minimum retirement age.
From 6 April 2010, the minimum age at which pension benefits can be taken will jump from 50 to 55. (Retirement at earlier ages will still be possible on the grounds of ill-health and for certain 'special' occupations.)
|
| //09-10-2009 |
WASHINGTON -- Proposals that would require Americans to buy health insurance -- central to legislation circulating in both houses of Congress -- are under fire from both ends of the political spectrum, with some liberals saying the penalties are too harsh for those who refuse and conservatives denouncing the whole concept.
|
| //09-10-2009 |
Some residents of areas burned by the Station fire are buying flood policies on top of fire and earthquake plans, hoping that at least one will accept mudslide damage claims.
|
| //08-10-2009 |
Emma White has found that the street where she lives is aptly named- Windward Road.
In 2005, she filed a claim with State Farm Insurance for wind damage from Hurricane Katrina.
Then when a tornado tore through the area on April 4th of last year, a tree fell through the length of the house, and White filed a claim for that damage as well.
In December of 2008, she filed another claim for plumbing problems she believes were related to foundation issues.
"I would give them an A-plus for service," said White.
|
