"Causa Proxima"

In insurance, the concept of "causa proxima" means that the cause of an insurance loss must be proximate or immediate and not remote. If the proximate cause of the loss is covered, the insured can collect. When a loss has been brought about by two or more causes, the question arises as to which is the causa proxima.
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Most expensive medical conditions to treat

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently tabulated the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the United States. Heart conditions took the number one spot, costing an estimated $76 billion to treat. Other chronic conditions that made the top 10 include cancer, which had a $69 billion price tag, diabetes, at $34 billion, and osteoarthritis, also at $34 billion.
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Parental enforcement bolsters safe driving

A recent study conducted by Liberty Mutual found that parental enforcement bolsters safe driving habits. More than half of teens who said their parents are unlikely to follow through on a consequence if they break a driving law reported talking on a cell phone while driving, compared to only 36 percent of teens who believe their parents would indeed penalize them.
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Under-insured homes

Home renovations and updates can cause a home to be under-insured. Your insurance agent should be notified of changes that affect your dwelling, such as new windows and doors, kitchen cabinets, custom counter tops, islands, flooring, and lighting—anything attached to the structure. You should also include new personal property, such as major appliances, furniture, and window treatments.
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Insurance sales agents

Insurance sales agents are one of the toughest jobs to fill, according to online college career information website CollegeRecruiter.com. Jobs which are the hardest to fill vary from region to region, season to season, and year to year. Of the 25 jobs listed among the most difficult to fill, insurance sales agents ranked 19th. Sales managers ranked 5th and financial analysts ranked 9th.
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Identity theft

A recent Federal Trade Commission report estimated that over 27 million Americans have been victims of identity theft since 1998. Since 1995, the frequency of identity theft has increased 250% to 300% each year. Industry experts estimate the average monetary cost of identity theft is about $1,178, and that it takes approximately 175 hours of time to restore your identity.
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Yahoo Insurance

Yahoo provides a comprehensive website devoted to insurance. The personal finance site for insurance is designed to educate and assist consumers by providing how-to guides, calculators, news and articles. The site features sections for auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. Additionally, expert opinion is provided by Suze Orman. Visit this resource at finance.yahoo.com/insurance.
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Blanket insurance

Blanket insurance is an insurance policy that covers one or more broad classes of persons or property, without identifying the specific subjects of insurance in the contract. A blanket policy can apply to one or more locations, for example a chain of stores. Blanket insurance is available for both personal and business needs.
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ING Group

According to annual data provided by Fortune as published on the Insurance Information Institute's website, ING Group of the Netherlands recorded nearly $160 billion in revenue, earning the top spot worldwide for insurance companies. Following the ING Group: AXA (France), Allianz (Germany), American International Group (United States) and Assicurazioni Generali (Italy).
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Compensatory and punitive damages

Compensatory damages are paid to compensate a claimant for loss, injury or harm suffered by another's breach of duty. Punitive damages are awarded to a plaintiff in a legal suit to serve as a punishment for the defendant. Punitive damages are a modern phenomenon of the U.S. judicial system. While compensatory damages are insurable, punitive damages may or may not be, depending on the state.
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The S&P

The S&P Insurance Index is a broad measure of publicly traded insurance stocks in the United States. The index is comprised of eighteen insurance and financial equities traded on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Some notable stocks in the S&P Insurance Index include Aflac, All State, Met Life, Progressive and St. Paul Travelers.
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Annuities

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company, under which you make a lump-sum payment or series of payments. In return, the insurer agrees to make periodic payments to you beginning immediately or at some future date. Annuities typically offer tax-deferred growth of earnings and may include a death benefit.
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1840 Insurance Laws

1840 was a pivotal year for life insurance in the U.S. Before then, few life insurance policies were being sold due to laws that prevented women from benefiting from their husband's death. Also, married women could not take out life insurance policies on their own. New York State passed legislation in 1840 removing legal constraints on women as life insurance policy holders and beneficiaries.
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"Sicko"

Michael Moore's 2007 film "Sicko" looks at for-profit health care in the United States as compared to universal health care in Canada, the U.K and France. Moore presents interviews with patients and doctors, as well as media reports, to present a documentary analysis of the complex issues of health care insurance. The film received positive reviews and performed well at the box office.
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Medicare

Medicare is a government-sponsored health insurance program administered by the Social Security Administration for individuals age 65 and over and for persons who are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Medicare program was signed into law by President Johnson in 1965 as part of his "Great Society" initiative. The premium for the first Medicare enrollees was $3 per month.
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Disability income

The sources of disability income for most people include workers' compensation, social security, and employer and personal disability insurance. Workers' compensation provides income replacement if you are disabled on the job. Social security provides long-term disability income. Employer-sponsored and personal disability insurance provides supplemental coverage.
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Key home features

You may pay less for homeowners insurance if you buy a house close to a fire hydrant or in a community that has a professional rather than a volunteer fire department. You also may pay less insurance premium for a home with newer electrical, heating and plumbing systems. These key home features can save up to 15% on your insurance.
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World catastrophe events

According to data provided by Swiss Re as published on the Institute for Insurance Information's website, the top five most deadliest world catastrophe events over the past twenty-five years were: Bangladesh flood (1970), China 7.5 earthquake (1976), Indonesia and Thailand tsunami (2004), Bangladesh cyclone (1991), and Pakistan and India 7.6 earthquake (2005).
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Insurance FAIR programs

Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) programs were first established in the 1960s to address property insurance availability for high risk cases. FAIR insurance pools sell property insurance to people who cannot get coverage in the voluntary market. They are funded by insurers operating in each state. Over two thirds of all U.S. states have some form of FAIR plan in operation.
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The World Trade Center

The World Trade Center project was conceived in the early 1960s by Chase Manhattan Bank chairman David Rockefeller and his brother, New York governor Nelson Rockefeller. Construction began in lower Manhattan in 1966. The north tower opened in 1970 and the south tower opened in 1972. Over 50,000 people worked in the 110-story buildings. The complex had its own zip code, 10048.
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Staged auto accidents

Staged auto accidents are intentional vehicle accidents carried out for fake insurance payoff. Staged accidents cost the insurance industry about $20 billion a year. The National Insurance Crime Bureau compiles national statistics and data regarding staged auto accidents. According to the NICB, the top staged accident cities are: Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago and Philadelphia.
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Earthquakes

Relatively minor earthquakes are occurring constantly around the world. The west coast of the American continents, as well as the Pacific rim and the Middle East, experience earthquakes everyday. About 5,000 earthquakes are recorded in the United States each year. Since 1900, earthquakes have been recorded in 39 different states and have caused damage in every state.
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Institute for Business and Home Safety

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) conducts research to improve construction practices with the goal of reducing the economic effects of natural disasters. IBHS members are insurers and reinsurers that conduct business in the U.S. IBHS publishes DisasterSafety.org as a service to homeowners and small business owners as part of its overall mission of reducing property losses.
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National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established in 1968. NFIP is a federal program enabling property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance as protection against flood losses. In exchange, participating communities must follow state and community floodplain management regulations to reduce future flood damages.
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