Employers seek clarity on health reform law mandate on essential benefits

By: Louise Kertesz

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Despite rules that require mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse treatment be included as essential health benefits in 2014, employers say they need more clarification on the benefits that will vary greatly by state.

Critical illness sales spike with adoption of consumer-driven health plans

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Employers' growing adoption of consumer-driven health plans is helping to drive sales of critical illness insurance as a supplement to help with employees' higher out-of-pocket costs, experts say.

HSAs cover critical illness insurance

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Critical illness insurance is one of a handful of supplemental health insurance policies that workers covered by high-deductible health plans linked with health savings accounts can purchase under Internal Revenue Service rules.

AIR Worldwide offers real-time climate risk analytics

By: Bill Kenealy

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

In an effort to provide corporate risk managers a more complete picture of the risks facing them in real time, Boston-based catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide Corp. has unveiled a new service: Real-Time Climate Risk Analytics.

Small, midsize businesses need expanded cyber security protection

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

The recent cyber attack on the daily deals website Living-Social.com demonstrates the vulnerability of online business operations, Internet security experts say.

Cyber security programs should be on the alert for insider threats

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

While most enterprisewide cyber security programs focus on threats to high-tech intellectual property posed by outsiders, they also should examine any insider threats that may be lurking within organizations, cyber security experts advise.

States grapple with cyber security challenges as threats escalate

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

States are struggling with many of the same challenges that face their business counterparts in the private sector when it comes to cyber security. The risks associated with cyber security are illustrated by a situation that occurred in South Carolina, which announced in October 2012 that about 3.6 million Social Security numbers and 387,000 credit and debit card numbers were exposed in a cyber...

More states consider buying cyber insurance coverage

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

More states are considering purchasing cyber insurance, although it remains a topic of debate.

Obama’s cyber security directive may impact many private-sector businesses

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

President Barack Obama's executive order to strengthen the cyber security of the nation's critical infrastructure leaves many private-sector businesses with unanswered questions regarding its effect on them, experts say.

Federal cyber security legislation held up by numerous challenges

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Controversial federal legislation intended to protect the nation's critical infrastructure from cyber attacks has been approved by the House of Representatives, but it remains questionable whether the bill will become law this year.

Cyber breach legislation may come slowly, but will eventually become law

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Legislation that permits sharing cyber breach information eventually will become law, even it does not happen in the near future, experts say.

E.U.’s broad cyber security strategy faces a long path to approval

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

The European Commission has developed an ambitious cyber security strategy with an accompanying legislative proposal, but experts caution that the entire process still is in its early stages.

UP CLOSE: Kimberly Mashburn-Lee

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

ATLANTA-BASED SENIOR CONSULTANT AND HEAD OF CLINICAL STRATEGIES

Q&A: Daniel S. Glaser, Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc.

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Daniel S. Glaser, has been president and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. since January. Prior to his promotion he held several senior management positions at MMC and its brokerage unit. He recently spoke with Business Insurance Senior Editor Roberto Ceniceros about interest rates and potential business risks. Edited excerpts follow.

Midsize employers restructure workforce to lower health reform costs

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Many midsize employers say they are considering restructuring their workforces in order to mitigate projected cost increases associated with new health care coverage requirements beginning in 2014, according to several recent surveys.

ERISA issues could surface from staff cuts, reduced hours

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Beyond potentially detrimental effects on an employer's business operations, reducing employees' hours or cutting staff to avoid an influx of new members to a group health benefit plan could have substantial legal ramifications.

Asian insurers offering significant capacity for global property risks

By: Bill Kenealy

Published May 17, 2013 - 3:46pm CST

Asian insurers, including several based in China, are offering significant capacity for international property risks, according to brokerage executives at Marsh Inc.

New York mulls 16.9% boost in work comp loss costs

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 17, 2013 - 3:30pm CST

New York state officials are considering a 16.9% hike in workers compensation loss costs, following a filing this week by the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board.

Technology firm Rogers to freeze pension plans

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 17, 2013 - 3:12pm CST

Rogers, Conn.-based technology company Rogers Corp. will freeze two pension plans starting next month, completing a process it began in 2008.

Multinational corporations face growing natural hazard risks: Analysis

By: Rodd Zolkos

Published May 17, 2013 - 2:39pm CST

Multinational corporations face increasing risk from natural hazards that threaten supply chains and the dependencies inherent in global markets, according to a new report.

U.S. judge blocks $13 million arbitration against SunTrust

Published May 17, 2013 - 2:00pm CST

(Reuters) — SunTrust Banks Inc. won a court order on Friday preventing a Connecticut-based hedge fund from moving forward with a $13 million arbitration over mortgage-backed securities.

Senate bill would end 'use-it-or-lose-it' FSA rule

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 17, 2013 - 1:43pm CST

Legislation introduced in the Senate would end a decades-old Internal Revenue Service rule that requires the forfeiture of unused health care flexible spending account contributions.

EEOC accuses rehab center of genetic information discrimination

By: Judy Greenwald

Published May 17, 2013 - 1:34pm CST

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a genetic information discrimination lawsuit against a New York nursing and rehabilitation center, alleging that it violated federal law by asking for genetic information during its hiring process.

$1.6 billion in new catastrophe bonds issued in first quarter: Willis

By: Rodd Zolkos

Published May 17, 2013 - 1:16pm CST

The first quarter of 2013 saw $1.6 billion in new catastrophe bond issuance through five deals, including three that closed at the beginning of the second quarter, according to a report from Willis Group Holdings P.L.C.’s Willis Capital Markets & Advisory unit.