| An Independent Approach To Car Insurance
(NAPSI)-Many consumers are finding they can drive down the cost of car insurance-and the time it takes to select the right policy-by contacting an independent insurance agent or broker. Because they represent many different insurance companies, independent agents have the flexibility to review rates and coverage from competing carriers and get you the best deal. Plus, they can offer affordable protection for your home, business and other assets. So rather than spending hours gathering quotes from various companies, you can get it done with one simple call or visit to your independent agent or broker. If you're thinking of contacting an independent agent, here are a few things to consider: • What's your lifestyle? Many factors determine auto insurance rates, not just vehicle year, make and model.
Head of John Hancock Financial Network's Largest Office Takes on ...
IRVINE, Calif., March 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Signature Resources, the largest independent firm of John Hancock Financial Network (JHFN)*, is making management changes as it advances its vision as a premier wealth management organization, announces Peter Gordon, President and CEO of JHFN. Gary Kaltenbach, CLU, ChFC, who has served as the firm's Managing Partner for 24 years, is moving up to a new role as Chairman of Signature Resources. His two sons, Greg and Geoff Kaltenbach, will take on additional responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the firm as Co-Managing Directors. In his new position, Gary will focus on a number of initiatives that will position the firm for future growth and accelerated business development. Among these projects is the implementation of a Registered Investment Advisor platform, which will expand the firm's offerings in the investment advisory arena and broaden its ability to service the growing market demand for long-term retirement income strategies.
Pets Best Insurance Becomes the Exclusive Recommended Pet ...
BOISE, ID -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/03/07 -- The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) announced today that Pets Best pet insurance has received the exclusive endorsement as the pet insurance provider for the association, and its members. There are over 10,000 pet sitting businesses registered in the United States and well over 20,000 individual pet sitters operating as professional providers. In the United States, 63% of households have pets and 37% of pet owners consider their pets important family members. Over 70 million U.S. Households own dogs or cats and 45% of U.S. households own more than one pet. Consumer spending on pets has more than doubled from $17 billion in 1994 to an estimated $38.4 billion in 2006, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA).
Florida: Minorities harmed by insurance companies' underwriting ...
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has issued a report analyzing the insurance industry's use of occupation and education for the underwriting and rating of auto insurance policies. The report finds the use of these practices unintentionally harms minorities and low-income individuals in determining auto insurance premiums and insurance eligibility. While the practice is legal, the practice creates unintended effects that the government may find unacceptable, said Kevin McCarty, insurance commissioner. In 2003, the Legislature passed a law severely limiting the use of credit scoring in insurance underwriting. .
Transgender opera singer settles into new identity
When a roommate introduced the works of black classical vocalists and composers, "I fell in love with the voice," Tona says. The eventual discovery of her own true voice, she says, helped her accept who she really was. At college, she started going to class in high-heeled boots, earrings and hair that was big and long. "I was just naturally me," says Tona, who now routinely changes her hairstyle, from curly to straight to braids. She was still known as Thomas then, but out in public she was increasingly being greeted by strangers with "ma'am" or "miss." Cashing paychecks became a problem because name and gender didn't seem to match. On nights out dancing at hip-hop clubs near Shenandoah, friends began calling Thomas "Tenacity." That's a name he used in online chat rooms and a nickname friends used until he legally adopted Tona a few years later.
HMO accused of delaying payment in Medicaid program
Home health agencies across Texas say they are being paid late — or not at all — by companies hired by the state to provide care to Medicaid patients with chronic health problems. The state has paid tens of millions of dollars so far this year in premiums to health maintenance organizations that in turn pay providers of medical care or long-term care services. More than 150,000 Texans who are elderly or have disabilities are enrolled in Star Plus, including more than 13,000 in a seven-county area in Central Texas. The HMO program, which is required for certain people, is supposed to save the state money and improve services for recipients of Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for people with low incomes. Home health agencies say the payment problems show that the state was unprepared for the Feb.
Johnstown board president resigns
JOHNSTOWN — Over the protests of several community members, Johnstown-Monroe school board president Steve Furr submitted his resignation from the board at the end of Monday’s regular board meeting. As Superintendent Tom Suriano put it, Furr assumed responsibility of "the fall of Rome." "He’s a gentleman and a scholar," Suriano said, "and he will be missed." Furr thanked the community for its support, and said he hopes to be able to serve the community in some other capacity. Leading off the public participation portion of the meeting, Licking County Superintendent Dr. Nelson McCray talked with the board and large crowd of community members about some of the difficulties related to school funding. "You’re not the only ones in this boat," he said.
How Jenkens & Gilchrist lost its way
You've got insurance, so there is no downside. And look, everybody in your position is doing it," he said, repeating the arguments he turned up in his investigation of the shelters. In fact, Mr. Deary said, "if you go to most objective professionals that weren't involved in this market, they would tell you that they wouldn't have touched this with a 10-foot pole." American Lawyer, which wrote about Mr. Daugerdas and the tax shelters in its December 2003 issue, showed two law professors a summary of a COBRA shelter. Both professors said it "lacks economic substances," and the IRS and several former Treasury officials and private practitioners agreed, according to the magazine. It added: "In truth, say the experts, a COBRA is about nothing but saving taxes." Marshall Simmons worked as a Jenkens lawyer from 1967 to 1982 and had rejoined the firm in 1995 as its risk manager.
Ideal Micro Practices, the New Old Fashioned Family Docs
I've been reading a lot about new models of primary care that are emerging from the near-collapse of our health care system. One such new paradigm, called Ideal Micro Practices, has really gotten me excited. I think I just might be bold enough to do it one day. Pioneered by Dr. Gordon Moore, IMP's are slowly popping up across the country, powered by family doctors with a hunger to rediscover that which often escapes them today - taking good care of people. From The Wall Street Journal: After eight years as a staff doctor at a hospital-owned medical practice, Gordon Moore began to really dislike his job. To increase revenue, the hospital pressured him to see more than 30 patients a day, usually for 15 minutes each. Many patients couldn't get appointments for weeks. Dr. Moore determined it took 19 separate actions and 253 feet of corridor-walking to order a prescription refill.
Can taking vitamins be dangerous?
Two weeks ago, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that not only questioned the efficacy of antioxidant supplements, but also their safety. TODAY nutritionist Joy Bauer breaks down the results and how you can take the right vitamins safely. How can people make sense of this disturbing new information?
First — it's not actually new information; this was a meta-analysis, so it combined the results of several already-published studies (68 studies were included in this review). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E on mortality, i.e., whether these antioxidants help you live longer. And in terms of the outcome,… to quote the conclusions from the actual study…. it says: “Treatment with beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E may increase mortality.
HIPAA Allows Police Access to Alleged Crime Victims in Hospitals
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act allows hospitals to provide police with access to patients who are victims of alleged crimes, U.S. District Judge Tucker Melancon ruled on Friday, the AP/Dayton Daily News reports (AP/Dayton Daily News, 4/3). The HIPAA Federal Privacy Rule, implemented in 2003, allows health care providers to share patient medical records for the purposes of treatment and other "health care operations." Providers do not have to obtain written consent before they disclose medical records but are required to inform patients of their rights and make a "good-faith effort" to obtain written acknowledgment from patients that they have received the information. Providers must obtain consent from patients before they can disclose medical records in "nonroutine" cases (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/23/06).
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