WEST REGIONAL NEWS
A measure that would have created a controversial single-payer health care system in Oregon was defeated in last month's election by a 4-to-1 margin. According to the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), the election results showed that people in Oregon value private health insurance. "The voters of Oregon decided overwhelmingly that the private health insurance offered through the workplace gives people better access to quality medical care, as well as greater control over the health decisions affecting their families," Dr. Donald Young, HIAA's president, said in a statement.
According to a report by A.M. Best, Dan Isaacson, the Measure 23 campaign manager, blamed the results on television ads that opposed it. Before they began playing almost four weeks before the election, polls showed there was a statistical tie between people who favored the measure and those who didn't, he said.
Had the measure passed, the state would have been the first to provide health care to every resident, funded by current expenditures by federal, state and local governments and two new progressive taxes of as much as 11.5% for employers and 8% for individuals.
Area news
Several states experience "catastrophic losses"
Insurers are expected to pay
$675 million to homeowners and businesses for insured-property losses from six catastrophic events in the third quarter of this year, according to preliminary estimates by the Insurance Services Office, Inc.'s (ISO) Property Claim Services (PCS) unit. Indiana topped the list for insured-property damage ($150 million), followed by Wyoming ($98 million), Louisiana ($95 million), Arizona ($75 million) and Virginia ($50 million). South Dakota also sustained insured-property damage from wind/thunderstorm event in August that also hit Colorado and Wyoming.
Catastrophe losses in the quarter were relatively low because there were fewer tornadoes as recorded by the National Weather Service--196 compared with 273 last year, 247 in 2000 and 237 in 1999. This quarter's report brings catastrophe losses to $3.7 billion for the first nine months of 2002.
Utah
Mordue elected to national PIA board
Steve Mordue has been elected as a national director, representing Utah on the Professional Insurance Agents' (PIA) national board. He is a past president of the PIA of Utah, and was on the committee that orchestrated the merger of the Utah PIA with the Independent Insurance Agents of Utah (IIAU).
Nilsson appointed to fourth term
Brett Nilsson, state national director representing Utah on the board of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA), has been appointed to a fourth term as chairman of the IIABA's Finance Committee.
Oregon
Conference planned
The Independent Insurance Agents of Oregon (IIAO) will host a Midwinter Seminar, January 30-31, 2003, at The Hilton Eugene Gresham in Eugene. For more information, call IIAO at (503) 274-4000.
California
Knighten elected president of ASCNet
In October, Sallie Knighten, operations manager of ISU Francis-Pinney Insurance Services in Roseville, was elected president of Applied Systems Client Network, Inc. (ASCnet), the user group for Applied Systems agency management technology.
Meetings planned
The 2003 annual meeting and installation luncheon for the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) is January 22, 2003, at the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles. IBA West will host its 2003 Palm Springs Getaway, Jan. 24 and 25, 2003, at the Spa Hotel and Casino in Palm Springs. For more information on these events, go to IBA West's Web site (www.ibawest.com).
Garamendi wins
John Garamendi (D) was elected insurance commissioner in last month's election. Appearing during his campaign with activist Erin Brockovich, Garamendi's platform centered on toxic mold. Prior to the election, he said that insurers must be required to cover mold-related claims. According to a report by Norwood & Associates, Senator Deborah Ortiz (D) and trial lawyers groups have promised to sponsor a mold coverage mandate bill next year. *
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