January 7, 2020 by matray

Actuarial consulting firm Pinnacle Actuarial Resources announced that Tim Mosler has been named a principal and consulting actuary.

Mosler joined Pinnacle in 2014 and has been in the property/casualty insurance industry since 1996. He has been a consultant since 2001, specializing in the areas of medical professional liability, workers’ compensation, general liability and commercial automobile insurance. His clients include insurance companies, captives, health systems, self-insurance funds and government risk pools.

“Pinnacle is pleased to welcome Tim Mosler to our principal group,” said Joe Herbers, Pinnacle managing principal. “Since joining Pinnacle, Tim has driven superior service for clients and demonstrated commitment to our firm values of teamwork, professionalism, eminence and development of our people. He will continue to be an outstanding representative of Pinnacle and help grow our influence and prominence within the profession.”

Mosler previously served as director and consulting actuary and a member of Pinnacle’s executive team. He currently leads Pinnacle’s research function, which keeps the firm ahead of major trends, directions and innovations in the insurance industry and actuarial profession.

“I’m honored to be invited to join Pinnacle’s exceptional group of principals,” Mosler said. “The firm and its principal group have a tremendous industry reputation, built on integrity, quality of work and dedication to our clients. I’ll work to contribute to that legacy and advance the firm’s sterling reputation within the insurance and actuarial communities.”

Mosler has been active in the actuarial profession, serving on numerous Casualty Actuarial Society and American Academy of Actuaries committees, including the CAS Exam and E-Forum committees and the CAS Member Advisory Panel since 2007. He has presented at numerous industry forums and panels and shared his thought leadership in various publications. He will continue to be based in the firm’s Atlanta, Georgia, office.

“Tim is a great professional and will be an asset to the firm in his new role as principal,” Herbers said. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside Tim for several years, and witness his professionalism and technical expertise first-hand. Pinnacle has been fortunate to have him as a leader and our clients will continue to benefit from his skills, knowledge and experience.”

December 18, 2019 by matray

The Physicians Protector Plan (a division of B&B Protector Plans, Inc.) is now writing medical professional liability coverage for physicians in the state of Texas. Underwritten by Aspen American Insurance Co., the Physicians Protector Plan offers two unique insurance products designed specifically for today's physician practice.

PracticePRO is a medical professional and cyber liability insurance product that features comprehensive professional and cyber liability coverages, risk management benefits as well as interest free payment plan options.

PracticePRO+ is a professional package policy created specifically for independent physician practices. PracticePRO+ replaces multiple insurance policies with the ease and convenience of one policy. PracticePRO+ policies are completely customizable to the needs of the physician practice and can include:

• Medical Professional Liability
• Cyber Liability
• Commercial General Liability
• Commercial Property
• Employment Practices Liability
• ERISA Fiduciary & Employee Benefits Liability

December 17, 2019 by matray

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa-” of MLMIC Insurance Company (MLMIC) (New York, NY). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect MLMIC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also benefit from the financial support provided by MLMIC’s direct parent company, National Indemnity Company, which is ultimately owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

AM Best categorizes MLMIC’s risk-adjusted capitalization as strongest, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) and it’s expected it to remain at a similar level going forward. The balance sheet strength assessment also considers the company’s track record of positive reserve development, as well as the strong financial flexibility its publicly traded ultimate parent, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., can provide.

MLMIC has generated an adequate level of operating results historically, supported by modest underwriting profits and investment returns. Underwriting results have consistently benefited from reserve releases on prior accident years. Going forward, AM Best does not expect any material change in the company’s operating performance.

MLMIC’s insurance portfolio is concentrated in the medical malpractice line of business. The company underwrites risks only within New York state, which is one of the nation’s most challenging markets for medical professional liability. However, management has been able to operate successfully through underwriting cycles while maintaining MLMIC’s leading market position within New York. In addition, risk management capabilities have proven appropriate for the risk profile of the company.

December 10, 2019 by matray

A.M. Best has placed under review with negative implications the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a” of the members of NORCAL Group (NORCAL). (See below for a detailed listing of the companies.)

The under review status follows NORCAL’s third-quarter 2019 results, which included $30 million of adverse loss reserve development, significantly deviating from projections. These reserve charges predominantly impact accident years 2016 through 2018, and reflect significantly higher claim settlements following operational process changes initiated by the group in 2017, which is also causing an increase in the 2019 accident-year loss ratio relative to expectations.

Following the reserve increases and the resultant decline in policyholders’ surplus, NORCAL’s risk-adjusted capitalization declined but remained in the strongest category. However, these actions raise questions regarding internal controls and oversight of operational processes, as well as price adequacy, underwriting practices and the potential for future reserve strengthening. A review of full-year 2019 results, including the associated reserve analysis, as well as a number of management’s operational and strategic initiatives, is necessary to provide AM Best with sufficient information to resolve the under review status. The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a” have been placed under review with negative implications for the following members of NORCAL Group:

• NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company
• NORCAL Specialty Insurance Company
• Medicus Insurance Company
• FD Insurance Company
• Preferred Physicians Medical Risk Retention Group, a Mutual Insurance Company

December 10, 2019 by matray

The Board of Directors of ProAssurance Corp. declared a cash dividend of $0.31 per common share, payable on Jan. 14, 2020, to shareholders who own our stock as of Dec. 27, 2019.

“The dividend declared today reflects our ongoing commitment to our customers and shareholders,” said Edward L. Rand, Jr., president and chief executive officer. “It is our responsibility and privilege to be good stewards of the trust they’ve placed in us, as we maintain a disciplined capital management strategy that protects the integrity of our balance sheet. That discipline becomes ever more important as the property & casualty insurance market faces an evolving claims environment, which will test companies unprepared for the challenges ahead. Our view of claims severity in the broader healthcare professional liability market, and the potential for strategic opportunities therein, has led our Board to conclude that we should maintain a higher level of capital.”

ProAssurance’s dividend policy anticipates a total annual dividend of $1.24 per share, to be paid in equal quarterly installments. However, any decision to pay future cash dividends will be subject to the Board’s final determination after a comprehensive review of the company’s financial performance, future expectations and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.

The ProAssurance Board also set May 20, 2020, as the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at its headquarters in Birmingham, Ala. The record date for the meeting is March 27, 2020.

December 5, 2019 by matray

Hub International Ltd. announced that it has acquired SilverStone Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With SilverStone, the company creates a new regional hub to be called Hub Great Plains, which will include and cover existing operations in Omaha, Neb.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and St. Paul, Minn.

Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., with additional offices in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, S.D., SilverStone specializes in insurance and surety, risk management, employee benefit services, retirement plans, wealth management and estate planning. SilverStone was founded in 1945 and has more than 4,600 employer clients and more than 3,700 individual clients, located across the United States and around the world.

“Hub remains bullish on the growth we are experiencing, and it’s opening new M&A opportunities for us with various product, distribution and geographic channels. The differentiating value we can deliver to the staff of our new partners has helped us to attract larger firms such as SilverStone,” said Marc Cohen, Hub’s president and chief executive officer. “Those that have joined Hub brought us talent, leadership, expertise, specialization and new geographies.”

According to Hub, it has completed 66 acquisitions in 2018, accounting for more than $200 million in additional revenue over the past year. To date, Hub has completed 60 deals in 2019.

“SilverStone’s employees and clients will immediately have full access to a broad range of resources, tools and specialists that are part of Hub’s value and differentiating proposal,” Cohen said. “We have invested significantly to meet the needs and priorities of our clients and look forward to sharing those with SilverStone. As is the case with all of our individual Hub offices, we eagerly anticipate becoming an even bigger part of this community.”

The Hub Great Plains leadership team will include Mr. Nelson as president, Todd Rogge as CFO/COO, Grant Matthies as chief sales officer, Brett Sesker as group benefits practice leader, Jeff Sharp as wealth management practice leader, Glen Gahan as retirement practice leader and John Sutton as managing director - Dakota Territories. The leadership team will work with Trey Biggs, Hub president of U.S. West.

December 2, 2019 by matray

The ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company is pleased to announce the completion of a merger with the Southeast Michigan Physicians’ Insurance Company (SEMPIC) after receiving all required regulatory approvals.

SEMPIC has been providing comprehensive medical professional liability insurance for Detroit Medical Center (DMC) physicians for more than 10 years with high-quality risk management and claims services. Under the terms of the merger, SEMPIC will continue to operate under the same name, but as a division of ISMIE Mutual. Global professional services firm Marsh will continue to operate as the SEMPIC administrator under the new structure.

“I extend a warm welcome to the Detroit Medical Center’s medical professionals, who will now receive their medical professional liability coverage from ISMIE Mutual,” said Paul H. DeHaan, MD, ISMIE chairman. “We expect a very seamless transition for our new policyholders.

“ISMIE is always looking for strategic opportunities to offer our tailored coverages to markets nationwide. Through our due diligence process we found that SEMPIC and ISMIE align well in many areas. This addition is a great business fit with the benefit of helping to significantly grow ISMIE’s presence in Southeast Michigan.”

The merger was approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance and the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Access to coverage through SEMPIC will remain limited to DMC health professionals.    

November 26, 2019 by matray

AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bbb+” from “bbb” and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) of Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange (THIE) (Austin, TX). The outlook of the Long Term ICR has been revised to stable from positive, while the outlook of the FSR remains stable.

These Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect THIE’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The Long-Term ICR upgrade reflects AM Best’s opinion that THIE’s management has demonstrated improved balance sheet strength through consistent and positive growth in policyholder surplus, favorable loss reserve development, and the implementation of risk-mitigation strategies that address tail-risk events related to potential man-made catastrophes. The company’s strong operating performance was a major contributor to the growth in policyholder surplus.

The strong balance sheet strength assessment also considers THIE’s strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, partially offset by its limited scale and financial flexibility. In addition, a significant percentage of policyholder surplus pertains to subscriber savings, which are earmarked to be repaid to the company’s members, beginning five years after a subscriber leaves THIE.

Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is THIE’s limited business profile and narrow spread of risk due to its focus on writing workers’ compensation and medical professional liability insurance for small rural hospitals in Texas

November 26, 2019 by matray

The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) today announced that the Mutual Protection Trust (MPT), the organization’s core product, has again earned an A+ (Superior) Rating with a Stable Outlook from A.M. Best Company, a global full-service credit rating agency dedicated to serving the financial and healthcare service industries. This marks 13 consecutive years that MPT has achieved this rating.

“We are pleased to have received this affirmation of the exceptional quality of our organization,” said Sarah E. Scher, JD, CAP chief executive officer. “Our member physicians rely on the financial strength of MPT in order to conduct their business with peace of mind, which in turn allows them to focus their efforts first and foremost on patient care.”

A.M. Best also acknowledged the financial strength of the Cooperative of American Physicians Insurance Company, Inc. (CAPIC), which earned a rating of A- (Excellent) and was also listed as having a Stable Outlook. CAPIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of CAP and provides reinsurance and other benefits to CAP and its primary medical professional liability partner, MPT.

As part of its grading report, A.M. Best acknowledged MPT for its sound invested asset base and the financial flexibility and capital strength that it maintains. The report also highlights CAP’s “favorable market position in California as the second-largest provider of MPL coverage in the state.”

November 20, 2019 by matray

The Doctors Company announced today the promotion of longtime company executive Marco Vanderlaan to chief financial officer (CFO) and chief risk officer.

Vanderlaan has held a variety of senior leadership positions with The Doctors Company over 18 years. He most recently served as senior vice president, business assessment, a role he has held since 2010. He has also held executive positions in finance, reinsurance and strategic planning.

Vanderlaan succeeds David Preimesberger, who assumes new roles as senior vice president for strategic planning and chief ethics officer.

“I am pleased to welcome Marco to his new role,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and chief executive officer of The Doctors Company. “He has demonstrated vision and foresight in mergers and acquisitions, enterprise risk management, internal audits and our ethics program, and has been instrumental in the growth of the Tribute Plan — an unrivaled financial benefit for our members. I am confident that expanding Marco’s role will help accelerate our next phase of growth as we meet the complex insurance, risk management and risk financing needs of physicians, large groups, hospitals and healthcare systems.”

“I am honored to take on this position and drive key priorities to build upon our market leadership position,” said Vanderlaan. “I look forward to growing the financial success, risk intelligence and conservative business philosophy that empowers our mission to advance, protect and reward the practice of good medicine.”