Brazil, UK boost insurance and reinsurance cooperation
The U.K. and Brazil have signed new economic deals, under which more support and equal treatment is promised to British insurers and reinsurers operating or looking to operate in Brazil.
Arizona firm offers lifetime income in target-date funds
Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Annexus Management Co LLC has launched its new division, Annexus Retirement Solutions, which will redesign the target-date fund structure to allow lifetime income as part of defined contribution plans.
Employers change health, wellbeing approach due to COVID-19
A study by The Unum Group reveals that 86% of U.K. employers are changing their approach to employee health and wellbeing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Americans over age 55 plan to delay retirement: Survey
A survey by Smart, a global retirement technology platform, has found 13% of Americans over age 55, who expected to retire earlier, plan to delay it now because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Most SMEs still offering similar benefits to employees
Typical small and midsize employers in the U.S are doing their best to retain existing benefit plans in place.
Bill would expand telehealth use for addiction treatment
The newly introduced Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act would permanently allow telehealth usage by healthcare providers in medication-assisted treatment programs for substance abuse and provide Medicare coverage for audio-only phone calls.
DOJ wants Harvard Pilgrim to divest from health plan for merger
The U.S. Justice Departments antitrust division and the New Hampshire Office of Attorney General have filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to stop a proposed merger between Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Health Plan Holdings, Inc.
COVID-19 business interruption suits consolidated
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on Tuesday agreed to consolidate 13 COVID-19-related business interruption lawsuits spread across five U.S. court districts that were filed against units of Erie Insurance Group in Pittsburgh.
EEOC issues updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations
Employers must first seek an accommodation for employees who refuse to be vaccinated for COVID-19 for disability or religious-related reasons before taking any action against them, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday in updated guidance.
Layoffs, furloughs sped up retirement amid COVID-19
Linda Stone, senior pension fellow at Washington, D.C.-based American Academy of Actuaries, said that layoffs and furloughs spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated retirements.
DOL finalizes fiduciary investment advice exemption
The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized a prohibited transaction exemption on fiduciary investment advice.
Demand for parametric risk transfer schemes grows: Aon
Broker Aon PLCs Innovation and Solutions team has seen a jump in the demand for parametric risk transfer products that can improve cash flow quickly after loss events.
Restaurant appeals COVID-19 business interruption ruling
An Acworth, Georgia-based restaurant on Monday filed its appeals brief in a claims dispute with its insurer over coronavirus-related business interruption claims.
New law requires Medicare to provide beneficiary status
President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law H.R. 8900, an appropriations bill that included the provisions now requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide applicable insurance plans, including that of workers compensation, access to Medicare beneficiary enrollment status in Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug plans.
First responders late PTSD claim denied: Appeals court
A first responder who witnessed the rescue of a young boy who drowned in 2015 and who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2019 following a diving trip with friends that caused nightmares does not qualify for mental injury benefits under Florida law because he did not file a workers compensation claim in time, an appeals court in Florida ruled on Monday.
Workplace fatalities up 2% in 2019, most since 2007
There were 5,333 fatal workplace injuries recorded in the United States in 2019, a 2% increase from the 5,250 in 2018 and the largest figure since 2007, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.
Film crew went cruisin for a verbal bruisin
It shouldnt be an impossible mission to follow social distancing and other COVID-19 safety protocols on a film set. Apparently, thats where megastar Tom Cruise was going when he went off on London-based crew members on the set of Mission: Impossible 7 when they were standing too close together.
Companies may face fine for breaching EU cybersecurity rules
Large energy, transport and financial companies as well as digital providers and makers of medical and computer devices could be fined up to 2% of their global turnover for breaching EU cybersecurity rules under a European Commission proposal.
Google faces third antitrust suit as 30 U.S. states plan action
Alphabet Inc.s Google LLC, already facing lawsuits by the U.S. Justice Department and attorneys general led by Texas, is expected to be sued for anticompetitive behavior on Thursday by another group of attorneys general, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Hackers target insurers in latest spate of attacks
Hackers attacked Canadian property and casualty insurer Promutuel Assurances network on Dec. 12, bringing down its online services.