»Posted On: February 8, 2010
Is your cart filled with “expired” products?
I have to admit, when I go to the store I rarely check the expiration date of anything that’s not produce, meat or dairy. For example, I don’t look at the expiration date of canned goods or boxes of cereal. Even medicines, like Advil, I’ll throw in my cart without examining, in the interest of time. But I should rethink that. Read on…
»Posted On: February 5, 2010
Planning a Super Bowl party? Here’s the trouble with drunk friends
Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest party nights in America. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), millions of Americans will drive to a friend or family member’s house to watch the Indianapolis Colts play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Read on…
»Posted On: February 3, 2010
The world’s cheapest car?
It’s possible that some people would pay more for car insurance than it would cost to buy this car. Tata Motors, an Indian automaker, is planning to introduce the world’s cheapest car to the United States in three years or so. Called the Tata Nano, it went on sale in India last year for $2,200. But would Americans buy it? Read on…
»Posted On: February 19, 2010
Want to predict the next car recall? Ask State Farm
State Farm Insurance holds a unique position. As the nation’s largest home & auto insurance company, its data from insurance claims can sometimes reveal product defects years ahead of a recall. Read on…
»Posted On: January 29, 2010
Let’s blow this wide open: New York to reveal secret health insurance charges
Change is in the air for health insurance at the national level, but one state is not letting debate slow reform. In a monumental move, New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced in late October the formation of a new not-for-profit company, FAIR Health, Inc., to provide independent data to guide “usual, customary, and reasonable” (UCR) rates for out-of-network health charges. Read on…
»Posted On: January 28, 2010
Constant “texting” defies safety and common courtesy
On Tuesday the U.S. government banned “texting” on handheld devices by drivers of large commercial trucks and buses. This extends the list of existing bans on texting — drivers of government vehicles are already banned from texting; many states ban it for drivers of all motor vehicles; and many employers ban it for employees who drive while on the job. Read on…
»Posted On: January 27, 2010
Car insurance for flying vehicles?
Photo courtesy of Terrafugia
As advanced auto technologies hit the road, car insurance companies will need to test drive new types of policies. Terrafugia, Inc., a company based in Woburn, Mass., recently completed a flight-testing program for its Transition Roadable Aircraft, dubbed “The Flying Car.” It is expected to be available in 2011. Read on…
»Posted On: January 26, 2010
Lightning zaps insurers for $1 billion a year
When lightning strikes, it can cause catastrophic damage. This week, a lightning bolt is suspected to be the cause of a deadly plane crash. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 had roughly 90 people on board when it crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Monday. No survivors have been found. Read on…
»Posted On: January 22, 2010
Californians will have faster access to doctors, by law
Have you ever had to wait a few weeks to see your doctor? If you live in California and belong to an HMO, that could soon change. Following years of negotiations among state officials, doctors, insurance companies and consumer and health care activists, California could become the first state to set time limits for doctors to see patients. Read on…
»Posted On: January 20, 2010
Scam artists have always liked insurance
It was only within a day or two of the Haiti earthquake that reports warned about charity scams that claimed to be collecting money for Haitian relief. Scams have always dogged the insurance industry, too. Read on…
