2) Britain Hit By Floods After Record Rainfall

3) In a Tough Year, Employers Hold the Line on Health Benefit Cost Increases – Mercer Survey

4) FACTBOX: Glossary of terms in healthcare debate

5) Beacon’s Fixed Annuity Premium Study Reports Third Quarter’s Fixed Annuity Sales

6) Big “I” Disappointed with Senate Democratic Health Care Bill

7) Did U.S. Make Mistake In Skipping Vaccine Additive?

8) Nation’s First By-the-Mile Auto Insurance Provider Celebrates First Anniversary with National Attention

9) Americans Underwhelmed by Roth IRA Conversion Opportunity, First Command Reports

10) “Social Media – That Dish Is Hot” – New Issue of The CIMA Letter - Provides Guidance For Risk Managers

11) TABB Group Publishes New Options LiquidityMatrix™

12) Conseco Announces Reinsurance Transaction

13) New LTCI Marketing System Revitalizes LTCI Sales

14) New Report: Marital And Relationship Issues Core Concern For Employees In Financial Services Industry

15) Economy Poses Special Challenges To Marine Underwriters, Aimu Chairman Tells Annual Meeting

16) Tips to Avoid Being “Driven to Distraction” - MetLife Auto & Home® Offers Free Brochures to Help Reinforce Safe Driving Basics

17) Whole Life Insurance Shows Strong Growth In the Third Quarter

18) InsurBanc Joins AAMGA as Business Services Member

19) RMS Commentary on UK Floods

20) INSURANCE NEWSCAST "Pictures Of The Day"

Note: All Links Below Open A New Window:

21) The Geneva Association/Iis Research Program Release Annual Call For Papers

22) Workers’ Comp Fraud Reduction Podcast Released by ReduceYourWorkersComp.com

Supplemental Benefits as the Ultimate Wellness Solution, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM EST
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COCKERMOUTH, England (Reuters) - Lifeboats and military helicopters rescued hundreds of people overnight in northern England and a policeman was killed as torrential rain flooded homes, washed away bridges and closed roads.

Police in the picturesque Lake District county of Cumbria, a magnet for tourists, said Friday they had found the body of the officer who was swept away when a bridge collapsed.

"Police Constable Bill Barker died trying to save the lives of others. He was a very heroic, a very brave man," said Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who promised emergency help for affected areas.

Barker, 44, a father-of-four who was due to celebrate his birthday Saturday, had been directing motorists away from the bridge when it caved in.

The Environment Agency said it was a "1-in-1,000-year" flood and 314 mm (12.4 inches) had fallen within 24 hours in one area, a record for England. The Meteorological Office said the amount of rain expected for all of November had fallen in one day.

Britain has been hit by severe flooding in recent years, raising questions about the impact of global warming. Last year the country saw its wettest summer since records began in 1914. Floods in 2007 affected 55,000 homes and businesses and left an insurance bill of around 3 billion pounds ($5 billion).

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said the latest floods appeared less destructive but it would take several days to make a reliable estimate. Police estimated about 1,000 homes in Cumbria had been damaged by the latest floods.

The Met Office said Friday's forecast was better but another 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rain could fall Saturday. Officials issued four severe flood warnings -- meaning extreme danger to life and property -- in northwest England, and two in Scotland.

A witness in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, birthplace of poet William Wordsworth, told BBC radio he saw the water level rise rapidly from his top floor window. "Within a very short space of time people were wading knee deep and then belly deep. And it was going up so fast it actually got very scary."

Ireland's Defense Forces said they were deploying 110 soldiers, 15 trucks and four boats to battle floods in the south and west of the country. Many homes and businesses were flooded in the country's second city, Cork.

(Additional reporting by Avril Ormsby and Myles Neligan in London and Andras Gergely in Dublin; Writing by Michael Holden; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

Similar cost growth is expected in 2010; employers predicted that medical plan cost would rise by about 9 percent in 2010 if they simply renewed their current plans without making any changes. However, they hope to achieve about a 6 percent increase after making changes to plan design or changing plan vendors.

Mercer’s survey included public and private organizations with 10 or more employees and 2,914 employers responded in 2009.

“Small and large employers used different strategies to keep cost growth down in 2009,” said Beth Umland, Mercer’s director of health and benefits research. “Small employers moved employees into low-cost consumer-directed health plans and raised PPO deductibles. What jumped out among large employers was an increase in programs and policies designed to improve workforce health.”

Sharp increase in adoption of health management programs

The ongoing workforce health management/wellness movement gained momentum in 2009, as virtually every type of program – from health risk assessments to disease management to behavior modification – rose significantly. While not conclusive, survey results suggest these programs are impactful: medical plan cost increases in 2009 were about two percentage points lower, on average, among employers with extensive health management programs. And nearly three-fourths of employers that measured the return on investment say they are satisfied with the savings, lower utilization rates or improved health risks. However, only about a third of all large employers measure ROI.

“A lot more employers were willing to bet on health management in 2009,” said Linda Havlin, a worldwide partner and Mercer’s global health and benefits intellectual capital leader. “There’s growing anecdotal evidence that well-designed and communicated health management programs can improve outcomes, but we need to better understand and eliminate missed opportunities like noncompliant patient behavior.”

Currently, a fifth of all large employers – but almost half of those with 20,000 or more employees – use health management incentives. Very large employers are also increasingly willing to reward employees who demonstrate responsibility for their own health. Nearly a fourth of those with 20,000 or more employees vary employees’ premium contribution amounts based on their smoker status – 23 percent, up from 17 percent last year.

CDHPs catch on big with small employers

Small employers held down cost increases by sharply raising deductibles for in-network PPO services. Their actions drove the average PPO deductible among all employers up by about $100 for an individual and $300 for families, to $1,096 and $2,515, respectively. Consistent with past years, employers kept premium contributions relatively stable.

Compared to large employers, small employers have been slow to adopt high-deductible, account-based consumer-directed health plans. But in 2009 CDHP offerings among employers with 10-499 employees jumped from 9 percent to 15 percent. This helped drive the percentage of all covered employees enrolled in CDHPs from 7 percent to 9 percent. Enrollment in PPOs was flat at 69 percent, while enrollment in HMOs fell from 23 percent to 21 percent.

While growth in CDHP offerings in 2009 was evident only among small employers, the plans are still more common among larger employers: CDHPs are offered by 20 percent of employers with 500 or more employees, and 43 percent of those with 20,000 or more employees. However, small employers that offer a CDHP are much more likely to offer it as the only medical plan: 55 percent compared to just 9 percent of large employers with CDHPs.

A challenge for health reform: Predicting how employers that don’t offer coverage will react

National health reform may include a provision that would require employers to offer a plan or pay a penalty, and which course of action they would choose has important consequences for the future of the US health care system. In interviews with more than 500 employers that don’t offer coverage, more than two-fifths (44 percent) said they would be more likely to offer a plan to their employees if all individuals were required to obtain coverage – a provision that is also in House and Senate proposals – and 57 percent would be more likely to offer a health plan if they received an annual tax credit that would reduce the net cost of the health coverage to about $2,000 per employee.

On the other hand, less than a fourth (22 percent) say they would support a requirement to pay 4 percent of their payroll into a public or private fund to provide coverage to their employees.

The full report on the Mercer survey, including a separate appendix of tables of responses broken out by employer size, region and industry, will be published in late March 2010. For more information on purchasing the survey, visit www.Mercer.com/ushealthplansurvey. 

Estimated year-to-date product type sales were: book value - $43.0 billion; indexed - $22.6 billion; MVA - $12.8 billion, and fixed income - $6.0 billion.  Relative to the same period last year, there was double-digit growth in all product types except fixed income.  MVAs were 25% ahead, book value products were up 18%, and indexed annuities advanced 16%.  Fixed income sales fell 3%.

New York Life remained the sales leader in third quarter.  Allianz advanced from third to second place.  Top 10 first-timer Pacific Life came in third. It was followed by ING, which rejoined the top 10 in fourth place. Lincoln Financial jumped three spots to come in fifth.  Third quarter results for the top 10 Study participants were as follows:

www.annuitynexus.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 19, 2009 - The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”), expressed disappointment with the health care reform bill released by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) late last night in front of a meeting of the Democratic Caucus. 

The legislation includes a government-run health insurance plan (‘public option’) that the Big “I” opposes because it would unfairly compete with the private insurance marketplace. The association points to the current government-run health insurance plans as ample evidence that the federal government sets its own rules and there is nothing fair or level about them.

“We do not believe any state legislature or governor will ‘opt’ to take away an entitlement bestowed upon their citizens by the federal government and federal taxpayers,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Especially since the citizens of that state cannot ‘opt out’ of paying for the public option. Therefore, the ‘opt-out’ is not a viable compromise and it is synonymous with the ‘robust’ public option.”

The legislation has been scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) as costing $849 billion over ten years. CBO has also determined that the legislation would provide health insurance coverage to 31 million Americans currently without insurance and would reduce the federal deficit by $127 billion. The legislation is largely paid for by taxes on “Cadillac” insurance plans and a half a percentage point increase in Medicare taxes on couples earning more than $250,000 a year. 

“As the Senate takes on this legislation, the Big ‘I’ urges senators to consider the detrimental impact this bill could have on consumers and small businesses,” says Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of government affairs.

The 2,074 page bill is an attempt to combine the work product from the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate HELP Committee, which each passed separate versions of the health care reform legislation earlier in the year.  www.independentagent.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As U.S. health officials struggle to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against the pandemic of swine flu, some are looking regretfully at one easy way to instantly double or triple the number of doses available -- by using an immune booster called an adjuvant.

These additives, often as simple as an oil and water mixture, broaden the body's response to a vaccine, reducing the amount of active ingredient called antigen needed.

They are widely used in European flu vaccines as well as in Canada. But not in the United States -- even though the federal government has spent nearly $700 million buying them.

The reason -- people might not trust them.

"If we really do want pregnant women to trust this vaccine or even parents, we have to think about what is acceptable to them," Dr. Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an interview.

"We have so much vaccine hesitancy in this country," agreed Jeff Levi of the non-profit Trust For America's Health. "To add ... a new element could well have undermined the efficacy of this campaign," Levi told a hearing this week before a Congressional subcommittee.

This frustrates the World Health Organization, which says the global capacity to make influenza vaccines is about 3 billion doses a year -- not enough to cover the population of 6.8 billion people. WHO has hoped rich countries would donate leftover H1N1 vaccine to others.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department was ready to try adjuvants had the pandemic been worse. H1N1 swine flu has infected an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 3,900, but it so far does not appear to be any deadlier than seasonal influenza.

The worry is that it is affecting younger adults and children instead of the elderly usually targeted by flu, and has the potential to mutate into something more deadly.

"If things had been worse and this would have been a more severe pandemic, we may well have needed to go that way anyway," Levi said.

TRIED AND TRUE

Instead, the United States has stuck with what CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden has repeatedly called the "tried and true" approach -- the same formulation used in seasonal flu vaccines. Five companies have contracts -- Sanofi-Aventis, CSL, Novartis, AstraZeneca unit MedImmune and GlaxoSmithKline.

Polls show that only about half of Americans plan to be vaccinated against H1N1. Of those who do not, about half say they worry about safety.

Even so, long lines have formed as people try to get the 50 million or so swine flu doses that have rolled out of factories. Drug companies have struggled with an unpredictable virus that does not grow well in eggs, as well as changes to U.S. orders that slowed down packaging.

Studies suggest the supply that is out now could have been tripled.

In September, GlaxoSmithKline found a single shot of its H1N1 vaccine protected 98 percent of volunteers, using an adjuvant and just 5.25 micrograms of antigen. A standard dose without adjuvant takes 15 micrograms of antigen.

Vaccine makers urged Congress this week to help federal agencies find ways to approve the use of adjuvants, and to assure skeptical Americans about their safety.

Dr. Vas Narasimhan, president of Novartis Vaccines USA, noted adjuvants had been licensed for use in Europe for 10 years and tested in 200,000 people.

"Adjuvanted vaccines produce higher immune response than unadjuvanted vaccines particularly in the elderly and young children," Narasimhan told a hearing this week.

He said they may protect better than standard vaccines against viruses that have drifted a little -- the single biggest reason that flu vaccines must be re-formulated every year.

They may also eventually help require less vaccination. "Adjuvanted vaccines have been shown to more broadly prime patients' immune response (up to seven years later), requiring fewer vaccinations to the newly circulating strain," he said.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is intrigued. Last month it awarded $60 million to researchers and companies to develop new adjuvants.

(Editing by Philip Barbara)

© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The nation’s first by-the-mile auto insurance provider, MileMeter, is marking its anniversary this fall with several customer events in Waco and Dallas, Texas, while planning its expansion strategy in response to growing interest and demand from other states.

Founder and CEO Chris Gay was featured on Fox Business News on Nov. 10, 2009, as anchor Brian Sullivan interviewed him as a leading expert in pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) insurance. The on-air segment allowed MileMeter to share the revolutionary money-saving and customer-focused concept and gave background on how the PAYD system works.

“The less you drive, the less you pay,” Gay explained as he answered many questions about how consumers can personally benefit with cost savings by enrolling with MileMeter.

Gay also noted that MileMeter encourages and rewards the socially responsible behavior of driving less, leading to “…improvements in air quality, water quality and public safety benefits due to less congestion and fewer accidents.” Among the blogs that have supported MileMeter – to name a few – are TreeHugger, Greenopolis and Mother Nature Network.

Currently, MileMeter policies are available only to Texas residents, but the idea that driving less could mean paying less is spreading to other states. www.milemeter.com

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Americans remain largely unimpressed by the upcoming Roth IRA conversion opportunity, with most unaware of the new law and few committing to take advantage of the potentially lucrative rule change.

The October survey of the First Command Financial Behaviors Index™ reveals that 84 percent of middle-class consumers are not aware that a new law goes into effect on Jan. 1, lifting the $100,000 income limit on Roth IRA conversions and allowing investors to pay the resulting tax bill over a two-year period. Even after learning of the new law, only six percent of survey respondents indicated they plan to pursue a Roth IRA conversion.

“We expect the level of interest and commitment to rise appreciably during the coming weeks as financial professionals continue to reach out to their clients,” said Terri Kallsen, CFP® and executive vice president of strategic development at First Command. “Notably, 22 percent of survey respondents with a financial plan are already aware of the new law, and 10 percent of those working with a financial planner expect to convert their traditional accounts into Roth IRAs. Clearly Financial Advisors are busy educating Americans about this unique but admittedly complex opportunity and helping them determine the best course of action for their own situation.”

Since the introduction of the Roth IRA in 1998, many investors have converted their traditional IRAs and paved the way for significant tax advantages in retirement. Unlike the traditional IRA, in which investors can reduce their tax liability now through pre-tax contributions and defer taxes on contributions and earnings until retirement, the Roth IRA enables investors to assume the tax liability today through after-tax contributions, then enjoy tax-free income at retirement.

Despite the unique benefits of a Roth IRA, many survey respondents remain unconvinced of the value of the conversion opportunity. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they do not plan on converting their traditional retirement accounts because they expect to be in a lower income tax bracket in retirement. Kallsen said “we are troubled by the prevalence of this particular response, which was the one most often cited in the survey. Consumers need to be concerned about future tax rates. Many people think rates will rise in the future. By converting traditional IRA dollars now, your tax burden may be less in the future. The tax benefits may be particularly appealing if you think you will be in the same or higher tax bracket in retirement.”

Americans also say they won’t convert because they don’t have money to pay the conversion taxes (12 percent) and it would bump them into a higher tax bracket (11 percent).

“Although a conversion could mean you’ll have to pay taxes on the contributions you previously made to your traditional IRA, the IRS is offering an attractive payment plan,” Kallsen said. “For conversions in 2010, taxes can be paid over two years. They won’t be included in income until 2011 and 2012. In essence the government is offering taxpayers an interest-free loan. Financial Advisors are uniquely suited to help individuals determine the best way to pay these taxes over the two-year period.”

Financial Advisors have also proven to be uniquely suited to help Americans negotiate the recent period of economic uncertainty. As of the end of the third quarter, the Index revealed that Americans with a financial plan felt better about their financial future than those without a financial plan. Forty one percent of Americans with a financial plan were confident in their ability to retire comfortably – significantly more than the 25 percent of Americans without a financial plan. Also, 40 percent of Americans with a financial plan felt extremely or very secure financially compared to only 27 percent without a plan.

“Americans may never have a better reason to seek the assistance of a Financial Advisor,” Kallsen said. “This is an ideal time to create tax-free income for retirement. While this is a special opportunity, it may not make sense for everybody. That’s why it is important to consult with a professional. Financial Advisors have the tools and training to help consumers explore this unique opportunity and decide on the best strategy for their personal financial situation.”

For more information about Roth IRA conversions, visit www.firstcommand.com/rothnow/ 

NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TABB Group today issued the financial markets industry’s only analysis of equity options market activity covering execution quality and trading activity at the seven major US equity options exchanges. Published jointly by TABB Group and TAG, Options LiquidityMatrix™ will be issued monthly. This exclusive analysis will be available through and distributed worldwide by TABB Group to TABB Derivatives Research Alliance clients and qualified financial, business and trade media.

Andy Nybo, head of derivatives at TABB Group, said, “The hyper-competitive options trading environment is being driven by current regulatory initiatives that coincide with a dramatic change in the way options are traded. The expansion of pennies, growth in high-frequency trading and greater focus on best execution are adding fuel to a raging battle among the exchanges.” He added, “Options LiquidityMatrix provides the trading community with detailed statistics that will assist trading professionals to understand and evaluate these changes.” www.tabbgroup.com

"This transaction is expected to increase Conseco's consolidated risk-based capital ratio by 9 percentage points, along with increasing statutory capital by the amount of the ceding commission," said Conseco CEO Jim Prieur. www.conseco.com

“In 2008, 51% of all LTCI sales happened at work - a combination of true group and multi-life. Producers who are not spending a portion of their time developing this aspect of the LTCI market need to retool their business plans for 2010 – it’s that important”, according to Phyllis Shelton, President of LTC Consultants and developer of the system. 

“One of the most unique things about our new Worksite Selling System is that it is already proven to work.  All a producer has to do is follow our formula - it’s just about foolproof”, stated LTC Consultants’ Vice President of Marketing, Bill Pomakoy.  “Producers who are familiar with our company know that we don’t ever go to market with an untested product.  This one has been four years in the works and has achieved voluntary participation results between 11-39% on average compared to standard industry results of 4-5%”, according to Pomakoy.

The new system can be customized for every worksite situation because there are 40 customizable screens throughout the presentations as well as 18 editable documents and seven editable educational emails for employee pre-education.  “Our system allows producers to use the same enrollment process regardless of which carrier’s product is being recommended and consistently achieve participation results well beyond industry averages”, adds Shelton.

To prove her point, Shelton offers a comparison of three actual voluntary enrollments where her system was used according to the system formula resulting in 615 applications.  “The first year commission difference between industry average participation resulted in additional first year commission of $187,197 for these three cases combined. And that's just the first year commission - the renewals go on for years and years!   Most importantly though, think of all 615 family members who are now covered against the likely risk of a long term care event”, she added.   

Shelton’s Worksite Selling System includes:

“Door-opener” presentation for HR/Business Owner

Complete Employer presentation for HR/Business Owner

Employee enrollment pre-education campaign

Employee Education Presentation

Worksite training video…and more…

Beyond the impressive Flash® presentations and editable documents, the core of Shelton’s system is a 100+ page instruction manual which explains the exclusive worksite selling process from beginning to end - all the way from finding the employer prospects, to making the sale, to conducting the actual employee enrollment! The Frequently Asked Questions section has dozens of questions producers will get from employers and employees, including separate FAQ sections for Partnership and employee personal consultations.

Organizations or individual producers who want a virtual tour of the system can contact bill@ltcconsultants.com or call 888-400-1118 to schedule an online appointment.  To review the case studies or get more information about the system, visit www.LTCConsultants.com. 

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2009—Harris, Rothenberg International (HRI), a leading employer and employee resource firm, today released findings of a statistical analysis that point to a drastic increase in marital and relationship issues among those who work in the financial services industry. In addition, the report indicates that the recession likely has driven an upswing in personal stresses – including family, depression and anxiety issues – for employees in finance.

An analysis of queries in the three-year period from January 2006 through December 2008 revealed that calls from financial services employees to HRI’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) have doubled. In addition, from 2007 to 2008, there was a 67 percent increase in the number of calls strictly on marital issues. Consistently, the top calls to the EAP over the three-year period were personal in nature, with marital/relationship topics the top call subject every year. The results of the evaluation emphasize that this economic recession is far-reaching, extending from business-focused concerns about job security and pay to stresses that impact marriage, family and health.

“Given what’s been happening with the economy, it’s not surprising that there has been an increase in the emotional toll felt by those in the financial services industry,” stated Edward Trieber, J.D., Ph.D., psychologist and managing director of HRI. “Employees of financial institutions are internalizing the anxiety associated with a tumultuous work environment. Our review found that these added stresses seem to be manifesting themselves primarily in martial and relationship issues. It’s unfortunate but not uncommon for stress to showcase in our personal relationships.”

Speaking at the organization’s annual meeting here, AIMU chairman Dennis C. Marvin, observed that reduced exposures and values mean flat or falling premium volume for most marine segments.

Combined with more than sufficient capacity, the budget constraints of buyers and shrinking profit margins, these factors are likely to lead to a continuing soft market in 2010, he said.

“Now, more than ever, the most successful marine underwriters are the most diligent, knowledgeable and focused on the risks they assume,” said Marvin, who is vice president – ocean marine, Max Specialty.

Looking at other issues affecting marine underwriters, Marvin expressed concern at the increase in restrictive trade practices, citing a report from Global Trade Alert which found governments have planned 130 protectionist measures, affecting 90 percent of the goods traded in the world.

“Distracted driving is increasingly having an impact on lives lost and property damaged,” said Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home. “Safe driving is really about focus. Every day, our Claim Department receives reports of claims that could have been avoided, had the basic principles of defensive driving and driver attentiveness been observed.”

To help avoid being “driven to distraction,” MetLife Auto & Home reminds consumers to ask the following questions, when behind the wheel:

•           Are you keeping your eye on the prize? With cars more than ever resembling mobile offices and massive entertainment centers, it can be easy to forget the main reason that you’re behind the wheel. Keep in mind: these distractions can cut your reaction time in half, and with most accidents occurring in seconds, you need all the time you can get.  

•           Are you awake enough to drive? Driver fatigue leads to driver inattentiveness, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 100,000 crashes are caused each year by drivers literally being asleep at the wheel. Recognize the signs of drowsy driving, which include difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, irritability, and frequent yawning—and then, take action.

•           Are you more interested in your cell phone conversation than the road ahead? Many states are placing restrictions on the use of cell phones while driving. Even in states where it’s permissible, avoid doing so whenever possible. Talking on a cell phone will increase the likelihood of getting involved in a motor vehicle accident, so if you absolutely need to call, pull off the road to a safe location and dial away.

•           Do you have a designated deejay? Simple things like changing the radio dial or finding that “perfect song” on your MP3 player may seem harmless, but they can be a big distraction. Whenever possible, let your passengers “take the wheel” when it comes to selecting the musical mood.

•           Are you being lazy about changing lanes? It’s critical you look briefly over both shoulders before changing lanes, even if you’d rather focus on other things. Even if you have onboard technology installed in the car, such as blind spot and rear view indicators, the basics you learned in driver’s education will always apply: signal your intention, check your mirrors, and then glance back both ways to be certain that no one—or no thing—has found its way into your blind spots.

•           Are you day-driving or daydreaming? Even without external distractions, it’s easy to get caught up thinking about personal problems or work assignments. If you feel yourself losing your focus, give yourself a wake up call, and set aside your problems. They can wait until the ride is over. 

For additional information, MetLife Auto & Home offers free brochures: “Driving While Distracted: Be a Safer Driver,” containing additional information on the subject; and “In the Driver’s Seat: About Driving Safely,” a 12-page booklet containing information on safe driving basics, including defensive driving tips, the facts on cell phone usage, and what to do in the event of a car breakdown or accident. Both are available by calling 1-800-638-5433 (MET-LIFE). www.metlife.com

"Whole life's combination of features, such as simplicity, premium and cash value guarantees and low risk, is proving to be a winning one," said Ashley Durham, LIMRA senior analyst for product research. "Mutual companies, which represent two-thirds of whole life sales, continue to fare better than the public companies, growing 14 percent for the quarter."

Overall, because of steeper decreases in the first and second quarters, total individual annualized premium sales are down 19 percent YTD.  

Universal life (UL) sales were down only 14 percent in the third quarter, compared with drops of about 30 percent in the first and second quarters.  In the first nine months of 2009, UL declined 24 percent. 

"It should be noted however, that UL sales began falling in the third quarter of 2008 (down 12 percent)," Durham said.  "Still, UL annualized premium sales grew 10 percent since last quarter, so sales may be stabilizing."

Third quarter 2009 sales were more grim for variable products, which were down 52 percent--lower than second quarter sales, bringing the year-to-date decrease to about 55 percent.

Term sales have held steady throughout the year so far, down only three percent in the first and second quarters and flat in the third.  The product continues to hold its own, with more than a quarter of the premium market share through the first nine months of the year despite the relatively low cost for term coverage. 

Overall policy count edged up a bit, increasing one percent for the quarter, but decreasing four percent for the year. Whole life policy sales grew seven percent, while UL increased five percent, the second consecutive quarter of UL policy growth. 

View the latest data table on U.S. life insurance sales trends <http://www.limra.com/newscenter/databank/3Q2009LifeSalesGrowthRate.pdf>. For more statistics, visit the newly updated Data Bank
<http://www.limra.com/NewsCenter/DataBank/Default.aspx?Lang=EN&Region=NA> .

“InsurBanc looks forward to participating with this outstanding organization of wholesale insurance professionals,” noted David Tralka, president and CEO. “Our knowledge of the insurance industry can help give MGAs a competitive edge in the marketplace. InsurBanc’s array of professional cash management services can be beneficial in helping MGAs to create efficiencies to add to their bottom line.”

InsurBanc, which offers full-service banking products and services to the insurance industry, was created in 2001to serve independent insurance agencies and their owners and employees. The bank specializes in cash management services, as well as financing insurance agency perpetuations and acquisitions and working capital loans and debt refinancing.

The American Association of Managing General Agents is the wholesale insurance community’s international trade association. Founded in 1926, it represents more than 500 members including managing general agents, insurance companies, business service partners, state stamping and surplus line offices.

In Cumbria, Northwest England, over a 24 hour period, rainfall accumulations of 12.4 inches (314 mm), 2.8 inches (71.6) and 2.5 inches (64.2 mm) were recorded in Seathwaite, Shap and Keswick respectively. In addition the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings indicating that up to 9.8 inches (250 mm) fell on higher ground by early Friday morning.  Flood waters, have caused evacuations of residents in the Cumbrian towns of Cockermouth, Keswick and Kendal.

The Environment Agency (EA) are currently reporting that hundreds of properties have been affected, including over 500 in Cockermouth where the police have said water levels reached more than 8.2 feet (2.5 m).  Over 200 residents were evacuated by the emergency services.  According to the RMS® U.K. Inland Flood Model, the flood defences in Cockermouth are likely to be overtopped on average once every 100 years, resulting in the current level of flooding.