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W
USA
7 Posts |
 Posted - 07/16/2003 : 21:20:54
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One of my local papers does a weekly bit on a insurance topic every Monday. Is anybody interested in this type of story ? or would this be considers Spam here. ? Please read and then vote. Spam = keep the junk off this board.
Or post it. At least it is something to read, to put me to sleep.
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Monday, July 14, 2003
Insurers bite dog owners square in the pocketbook
By Eric Freehling
Business editor
How much is that doggie in the window? If you're in the market for homeowners insurance, Rover might cost you more than you can afford or are willing to pay.
Some owners of aggressive dog breeds say they are having problems in obtaining homeowners insurance coverage, reports the National Association of Independent Insurers. Some are claiming insurers are using "canine profiling" by not renewing policies after a dog-bite claim is made, refusing to issue homeowners policies to owners of so-called "dangerous breeds" or charging higher premiums to certain "bad dog" owners.
The situation has caused the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to begin a nationwide grass-roots campaign to enact state legislation prohibiting insurance companies from considering dog breeds when underwriting or rating a homeowners policy. Pennsylvania is the only state with such a law on the books. Legislators in Washington D.C., Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire have considered similar measures in 2003, but none of the proposals have generated much support.
The NAII, a property and casualty insurance trade group, reports there is no industrywide standard for how to underwrite and rate breeds such as rottweilers, pit bulls, Doberman pinschers and other aggressive breeds. While some insurers will not insure homes with dogs of certain breeds, other insurers examine a dog's bite history rather than the breed. Many insurers offer a "one-free-bite" policy, which will pay for a single dog-bite claim only.
Study links credit history, risk loss
An actuarial research team claims to have found that a consumer's credit-based insurance score is unquestionably correlated to that consumer's propensity for auto insurance loss. The study also claims that insurance scores are consistently among the most important and accurate rating variables used by insurers. The study, conducted by EPIC Actuaries on behalf of the property/casualty industry's four national trade associations was based on a nationwide sample of nearly 2.7 million automobiles.
Among the study's major findings: insurance scores were found to be among the three most important risk factors for each of the six types of coverage included in the study (such as liability, collision, and comprehensive), based on a statistical measure of the relative impact of the various risk factors on insurance consumers.
Insurer to liquidate
A judge has ordered that Philadelphia-based Legion Insurance Co., which owes American Airlines $140 million for claims from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, must liquidate.
Legion has not paid American the $140 million, Legion's portion of a $4.5 billion reserve established by insurers to cover claims stemming from three crashes involving American jetliners, the Associated Press reported.
One crash was into the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon, both on Sept. 11, 2001; a third was in Queens, N.Y., two months later.
American and other major Legion policyholders can seek payments directly from reinsurers, such as Lloyds of London, rather than waiting for the state to collect during liquidation, according to the ruling handed down by Commonwealth Court Judge Hannah Mary Leavitt.
Legion also insured cities, towns and school districts nationwide, which were left to find other coverage after the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance took over the company and its smaller Villanova Insurance Co. affiliate last year.
Both companies were part of Legion Insurance Group, which employed about 500 people in Philadelphia and Milwaukee and had $1.3 billion in assets.
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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2003 : 22:23:59
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Jim, I think they are interesting enough tid-bits. I don't think we can get enough "data" or input on the industry we work in, to keep properly abreast of trends and developments
Dog bite - I don't blame insurers at all for the action they are taking. The cost of dog bites to insurers is staggering. I had some commentary and stats on this topic earlier this year or late last year in another thread, but damned if I can find it now to add to your story. Do a Google search on dog bites - a review of the stats makes it easy to side with the insurers on this.
"Scoring" - this is a festering thumb to insurers and consumers, and at times smells of profiling; but again the stats prove out the insurer's claim of their reliance on scoring.
Insurer liquidating - looks good on American Airlines. Mega accounts such as AA push their weight with insurers to get rock bottom unrealistic pricing from underwriters, that has no relationship to the risk or values at hand. Accounts like AA should be more concerned about the strength and reliability of an insurer, and not concentrate on how low they can drive down their premium. |
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ChuckDeaton
USA
373 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2003 : 09:09:44
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Statistics show that a Chow will bite somebody in its life time, most likely the owner.
Insurance for large risk is an involved subject. The truth is that most large risks really are not "insured." Self-insurance, fronting, layering, off shore and manuscript policies are the norm. In the case of AA it appears that their premium is the loss. A large one time premium. |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2003 : 14:04:15
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Gentlemen,
I have a 9 year old,106 lbs. White German Shepherd....and the only thing that she has bitten has been a Cheese Burger.......Yet the Breed is considered a Bad Dog Breed........This is my third shepherd and all have been protective of the family.....but gentle , loving , creatures.....I think the shepherds have gotten a bum rap...... |
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W
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2003 : 15:58:42
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**** 106 lbs. White German Shepherd****
That would be one big good looking dog.
I have had over a 10 dogs, never a bad one yet. I have 3 right now. ( I wish I could say that about my wife ) |
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tomgriffin56
USA
88 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2003 : 10:53:54
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I have a 13 y/o Chow/Shepherd mix. If she ever bit anyone I don't know about it and I have had her since she was 8 inches long (she weighs around 70 lbs now). Best dog and more family than some of my blood relatives.
W, do you mean you wish you had 3 wives or never had a bad wife yet? |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2003 : 14:42:21
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| W....absolutely...she is really beautifulll and she is definitely my buddy.......Her name is White Shadow Warrior.....shes got the white shadow part down pat........the warrior part..well, that's a different story........She thinks that every other creature on this earth were put here for her to be frinds with....we even have a cat that sleeps curled up with her.....we have photo!!!! |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2003 : 14:44:58
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| W....absolutely...she is really beautifulll and she is definitely my buddy.......Her name is White Shadow Warrior.....shes got the white shadow part down pat........the warrior part..well, that's a different story........She thinks that every other creature on this earth were put here for her to be frinds with....we even have a cat that sleeps curled up with her.....we have photos!!!! |
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Todd_Summers
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2003 : 17:51:59
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| The only list I have ever seen for underwriting reviews did not include German Shepherds. It did include American Pit Bull, Chow-Chow, Akita, and Rottweiler. I, too have a 3 yr old 100 pound Black/tan Shepherd named Thunder Storm Summers. Our plan was to get a white female and name her Lightning Storm Summers, but that hasn't happened yet. He is very protective of his "pack" but if trained well they are very obedient. Training is the key. |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2003 : 20:02:41
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| Here in Florida , the Shepherds are on the hit list...... |
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W
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2003 : 20:21:47
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( I wish I could say that about my wife )
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At the time I was thinking a bad one.
But after reading it now, that 106 pound part looks good to. |
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slowhandfan
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 18:25:26
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| These posts remind me of the dog owners on the news talking to reporters minutes after their dog just chewed on an old ladies arm or attacked a child..."he never bit anyone in his life." It's kind of like smokers bitching about higher health insurance rates. |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 20:52:45
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As a former pet store manager I can tell you that certain dog breeds (chows, pit bulls, rotweilers or rockwilders as their owners seem to call them, dobermans) tend to attract irresponsible owners. The pet store I managed in college did not sell dogs but we got alot of new dog owners and almost to a person, anyone who came in with a pitt bull or a rotweiler tended to be a very over aggressive, in your face kind of person who was looking for a tough dog to boost his or her ego and image. I know that there are some very responsible owners out there who own these dogs, but rarely did I have a person come into the store looking for a book on how to make his black lab or golden retriever more aggresive, or looking for some super food to bulk up his dachsund.
Just think brainless weightlifter with a mullet and wearing a wife beater and that is usually the person that would come in with one of these dogs. Please don't accuse me of stereotyping because this is what I saw on a daily basis for 5 years. |
Edited by - KileAnderson on 08/22/2003 20:53:47 |
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TedPasan
82 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2003 : 21:42:10
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"Just think brainless weightlifter with a mullet"
Are we talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger?
H.L.V. Bay-Bee! |
Edited by - TedPasan on 08/22/2003 22:01:33 |
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olderthendirt
USA
370 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2003 : 00:05:37
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| Maybe the rates should be based on the owner not the dog. |
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2003 : 07:18:16
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Slowhandfan
I have had the wonderful experience of sharing my life with three German Shepherds..One black and tan for 18 years, one white female for ten years and now my second white female for the past 10 years...and I hope a few more...I have found all to be loyal, loving of their family and protective of their family pack....None have been overly aggressive...Protective yes, overly aggressive no....we are talking about family dogs......not trained killer attack dogs that are part wolf and part domestic dog.....The most "violent" behavior was exhibited by our first white shepherd, Chelsea.......A drunk individual made into our back yard and confronted my spouse.....the dog was between he and my wife...when the drunk moved toward my wife, the dog toke him down...period.....did not kill him or maul him, just took him down and kept him there until the local police arrived......THIS WAS A FAMILY PET WITH NO PROTECTION TRAINING...the only training she had was the typical heal, sit, etc....I can not stress what a wonderful experience it is to have a bond with an animal...we feel that we are blessed....all our dogs have been wonderful.....maybe it's the attitude of the owner.......Oh, buy the way ,we have a 20 year old cat that is amazing and has peacefully co-existed with both white shepherds and a 5 year old stray that adopted us 4 years ago that actually cuddles with Shadow...... |
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Insurers bite dog owners square in the pocketbook
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