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# Capstone Brokerage

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Insurance Blog](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-insight/) - Follow our blog for the most updated issues on personal and business insurance.
- [The Proposed American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA)](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-proposed-american-health-care-act-of-2017-ahca/) - The American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA), H.R. 1628, is the House Republicans' leading proposal to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare, abbreviated as the ACA).
- [Fraudulent Auto Claims: What to Do and How to Recognize If You Are a Victim](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fraudulent-auto-claims-what-to-do-and-how-to-recognize-if-you-are-a-victim/) - Fraudulent auto claims are on the rise and will continue to escalate. The perpetrators are just as dangerous as a thief with a gun. WHY? Because a vehicle is a weapon and could injure or kill the driver and passengers in the vehicle.
- [The Budget Reconciliation Process H.R. 1628 American Health Care Act of 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-budget-reconciliation-process-h-r-1628-american-health-care-act-of-2017-2/) - Years ago the Democrats used budget reconciliation to enact parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so the use of reconciliation to modify the ACA, but not repeal it is fitting gesture. The push for the ACA to take effect happened in the same manner in March 2010 as the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) is being presented and pushed for today.
- [The Importance of Modified Duty For Injured Employees To Come Back to Work Sooner](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-importance-of-modified-duty-for-injured-employees-to-come-back-to-work-sooner/) - Injured employees heal faster when they’re restored to their “normal” routines and lives more quickly. Bringing an employee back to work quickly also helps maintain the relationship and trust between the company and the employee.
- [Hurricane Harvey, Flood Insurance Coverage and Proposed Flood Bills](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hurricane-harvey-flood-insurance-coverage-and-proposed-flood-bills/) - With the recent natural disaster, Hurricane Harvey, and the amount of heavy rainfall and flooding, many are left to wonder if they will be covered by flood insurance for the damage caused to their homes on the Gulf Coast. Majority of homeowner’s insurance policies, however, DO NOT cover damage caused by flooding. Flood insurance was a very difficult coverage to get before the National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, was enacted in 1963. Specific communities can participate in the NFIP as a separate policy for your home.
- [2018 Benefits Notices for Open Enrollment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2018-benefits-notices-for-open-enrollment/) - The 2018 heath benefits notices are part of the open enrollment for employee benefits. The documentation should be distributed and supplied to employees in compliance with employer’s obligations under the federal law. Some notices are to be provided annually, which is why many employers choose to include the documents during the company’s open enrollment period as an administrative convenience.
- [To Tweet or Not to Tweet, Risk Management and Social Media](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/to-tweet-or-not-to-tweet-risk-management-and-social-media/) - Social media networking, namely Twitter, presents businesses with several advantages including reaching potential and current customers. However, when used without prudence, social media, and namely Twitter can also result in situations where companies can face various liabilities including reputation damage, defamation cases and intellectual property lawsuits. Therefore, it’s important for individuals and businesses to exercise prudent risk management before deciding whether to tweet.
- [Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) - Rebate Checks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-loss-ratio-mlr-rebate-checks/) - We just received an e-mail that Health Plan of Nevada & Sierra Health and Life has begun mailing Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rebate checks to their small group health insurance plan sponsors. The notice indicated they would be mailing checks out over the next few weeks along with all the other health insurers. These checks are for calendar year 2016 and are required to be completed by September 30th.
- [Be Careful Not to Save Now, Just to Pay Later](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/be-careful-not-to-save-now-just-to-pay-later/) - A construction business can end up facing considerable consequences if it finds itself in a situation where the insurance program is insufficient in respects to coverage and defense. Sometimes the price of a project at the time of bid, will end up having a considerable upswing, due to many inherent costs that can be added on due to litigation that surfaces years after the job is done.
- [SEMINAR: Surviving An Active Shooter, November 15th](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/seminar-surviving-an-active-shooter-november-15th/) - Capstone Brokerage is proud to Present our next seminar with Ed Norton. Join us for Surviving An Active Shooter on November 15th at 7:30 am.
- [What is Online Care?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-online-care/) - UHC, Health Plan of Nevada and Sierra Health and Life has telemedicine capabilities called Now Clinic. It connects you to a provider 24/7, 365 days a year from your computer or mobile device. No appointment is necessary, and the co-pays are usually less than the standard PCP co-pay, which works out well. First, you just go to nowclinic.com or download the app, sign up, choose a provider and get care from home. The standard online/phone visit is averaging ten minutes long.
- [Safety Orientation and Employee Training](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/safety-orientation-and-employee-training/) - New employees need to be made aware of workplace safety and how serious safety training is right from the start. In your first meeting with your new employees, reinforce the need for caution and the use of protective equipment for each task. Emphasize that all unsafe conditions, accidents, and “near misses” must be reported immediately.
- [Visitors in The Workplace What Is Company Protocol?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/visitors-in-the-workplace-what-is-company-protocol/) - The holiday season is upon us. This time of the year, the reception area of a business entrance or lobby is an area of potential unwanted guests. The constant traffic from Holiday gifts, mail, and normal office deliveries are an opportunity for an unsavory intruder to “slip through” unnoticed and enter the offices, bathrooms, storage areas and surrounding corridors, and increase the risk of theft, violence, industrial espionage, sabotage, or even terrorism.
- [OSHA 2018 – Regulatory Rules, Regulations and Changes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-2018-regulatory-rules-regulations-and-changes/) - It’s that time of the year again when OSHA regulations are added, and compliance dates will go into effect in 2018. This newsletter will address the important changes chosen by the effective dates for compliance in 2018.
- [2018 ACA Law Updates, What to Expect](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2018-aca-law-updates-what-to-expect/) - Everyone still must have health insurance in 2018. The penalties are very similar to the 2017 Individual Mandate penalties. The penalty is 2.5% of your total household gross income, or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child, up to a maximum of $2,085. There will be no penalties for not having insurance in 2019.
- [Audits: Why They're Done and How to Prepare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/audits-why-theyre-done-and-how-to-prepare/) - Now that the yearly task of filing personal taxes has passed, this is an opportunity to discuss another type of filing for businesses that occurs every year – the workers’ compensation and general liability audits. In comparison, insurance audits and filing taxes are similar in that both are mandatory, annually. The workers’ compensation and general liability audits are conducted at the end of each policy period to verify that the premium is correct for the exposure during the policy period. In the event there is a claim, the claim might be denied because the premium exposure for the policy term within the policy period where the claim occurred was underinsured.
- [Protect Your Ears- Protecting Hearing Longevity](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/protect-your-ears-protecting-hearing-longevity/) - Hearing is one of the traditional five senses. We take our hearing for granted until hearing loss becomes outwardly noticeable which is usually when deafness or partial deafness occurs. Hearing loss can happen to anyone at any age although age-related hearing loss becomes more noticeable in the 50’s and 60’s. Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. About 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous levels at work. Over 30 million workers are exposed to chemicals, some of which are harmful to the ear (ototoxic) and hazardous to hearing. According to the Center for Hearing and Communication, some of the disturbing statistics about hearing loss are:
- [Capstone Brokerage President Mary Thompson Finalist for Glass Ceiling Award!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-president-mary-thompson-finalist-for-glass-ceiling-award/) - Mary Thompson, Capstone Brokerage President is being honored today at The Women of Distinction luncheon for 2018 for her career. She is a finalist in the Glass Ceiling category. We are proud and honored to be part of this special day and organization. Mary has played and intricate role in our company over the past 14 years. Congrats Mary!
- [Texting and Driving: Why Your Phone Can Wait](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/texting-and-driving-why-your-phone-can-wait/) - Driving is a privilege! Unfortunately, this privilege is abused by cell phones. Not only are we making phone calls, taking phone calls, and using our phones as our mapping guides, but we’re actively holding conversations via text when our eyes, hands, and minds should be focused on the road.
- [Texting & Driving: Why Your Phone Can Wait Pt. 2](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/texting-and-driving-why-your-phone-can-wait-part-two/) - Accidents become 23x more likely to happen when driving while texting. At any given moment over 800,000 drivers are on their cell phones. When you choose to text and drive, you’re threatening every single driver around you and placing more value on that text message than yourself and the drivers around you.
- [Capstone Brokerage CEO Featured in Nevada Business : Movers and Shakers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-ceo-featured-in-nevada-business-movers-and-shakers/) - Mary Thompson, Capstone Brokerage CEO, is featured in Nevada Business: Movers and Shakers. How did you first get into your profession? I obtained my first insurance job through an employment agency. What is your pet peeve? Blame and defending one’s mistakes.
- [Warehouse Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/warehouse-safety/) - By: Kathleen Murray, Capstone Brokerage Claim Advocate, November 26th, 2018 Warehouses of any kind are the most dangerous work place. You can easily fall victim to numerous injuries and illnesses. Practicing safe habits and knowing when certain practices are dangerous are crucial in keeping employees and coworkers out of harm’s way.
- [COVID-19: Guidance and Recommendations on Returning Back to Work](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/covid-19-guidance-and-recommendations-on-returning-back-to-work/) - Next Steps: Phase 1 Before you can fully transition back to the workplace there are steps that need to be taken to ensure the facilities are still in the same working order as when you left themInspect the building in which you work for electrical safety as well as fire safety and overall safety managementMake
- [COVID-19: Health & Safety in the Office](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/covid-19-health-safety-in-the-office/) - For many of us, the time is coming to return back to work. This means creating a safe and clean work environment for ourselves, coworkers, and employees in the offices and workplaces we are returning to. While previous cleaning and wellbeing practices may have already been in place, specific steps need to be taken to
- [Terrorism Insurance Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/terrorism-insurance-coverage/) - Acts of terror are an unfortunate reality of today’s world. When these atrocities hit close to home, it’s important to understand what kind of protections your insurance coverages may provide you. Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was designated after 9/11 as a federal program that would create a system
- [Post-Offer Testing: Gauging Capabilities of Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/post-offer-testing-gauging-capabilities-of-employees/) - The demands and requirements for our jobs are not only recommendations made by our superiors, but the basis for our day-to-day functionality. Physically demanding jobs are definitive in this area as it is very clear whether an employee is capable of handling the tasks that are required of them. The benefits of testing future
- [Can I Still Get Film Insurance?  6 Things to Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/can-i-still-get-film-insurance-6-things-to-know/) - Within the next 30 days, most states and municipalities will allow the return to film production. Just as with every other industry and business, production companies will need to develop a COVID‐19 Safety Plan and create new ways to budget, execute and manage film shoots. Insurance has always been a critical component to the film
- [COVID-19: Other Health and Safety Issues](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/covid-19-other-health-and-safety-issues/) - By now we’re so familiar with the recommended precautions to take against contracting coronavirus we could probably recite them in our sleep. Cover your face, maintain social distance, wash your hands, etc. They obviously bear repeating considering how important they are. However, there are some new health and safety concerns that have risen from these
- [Coronavirus (COVID-19)](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/coronavirus-covid-19-updates-and-resources/) - Updates and Resources Globally and locally, we are all currently being affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). As individuals, families, businesses, and governments attempt to handle this unprecedented pandemic event, many questions are arising over insurance coverages, business interruption protocols, and claim processing procedures. Capstone has compiled some quick facts for reference and some locations you can
- [Coronavirus (COVID-19): Benefits Facts & Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/coronavirus-covid-19-benefits-facts-frequently-asked-questions/) - Health Plan of Nevada & Sierra Health and Life If business has been interrupted and there are no employees currently working, do we still get to keep our group health plan? Yes, HPN and SHL have suspended the “Active at Work” provision for their policies so that group health plans can stay in place while
- [COVID-19 Federal Law Compliance: Families First Coronavirus Response Act & Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/covid-19-federal-law-compliance-families-first-coronavirus-response-act-coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-act/) - Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) Was first introduced on March 11, 2020 and went into effect as law April 1, 2020Department of Labor release a Frequently Asked Questions on March 26, 2020The regulations are how the law would be applied to real life situationsThere will be more regulations this month Main AttributesPaid sick leave
- [COVID-19: When Employees Refuse to Return to Work](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/covid-19-when-employees-refuse-to-return-to-work/) - Coming back to work after an extended period of time can be difficult for anyone. And still being in the midst of a pandemic does not make the return to work any easier for those who have been called up from telework or unemployment. However, what are employer options when employees refuse to come back
- [The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and Retirement Funds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-cares-act-and-retirement-funds/) - Like many other economic factors impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a change in the way retirement funds and plans are being executed during this time. Previously enacted laws and restrictions regarding retirement funds have been temporarily changed to reflect the current economic circumstances. The CARES Act includes verbiage in regard to retirement
- [Biometric Privacy and Liability](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/biometric-privacy-and-liability/) - It’s becoming a common trend to see facial recognition scanning mechanisms to combat the spread of coronavirus. More and more businesses are using these types of technologies to check for temperatures and symptoms. Some of us have even become accustomed this technology because it allows us to unlock our phones without so much as pressing
- [Coronavirus Litigation: Preparing for Court](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/coronavirus-litigation-preparing-for-court/) - Catastrophes and disasters often lead to a rush of lawsuits and legal action at the request that someone be held responsible for everything from inconveniences to serious illnesses and deaths. The coronavirus pandemic will be no different in these circumstances. According to the international law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, over 2,000 federal and state
- [Height of the Season: Summer Risks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/height-of-the-season-summer-risks/) - Trying to make the most of what is looking to be a mostly homebound summer, families are looking to create spaces and activities for their children and friends to still salvage what is left of the season. This includes additions of swimming pools, jacuzzis, trampolines, and new pets. But while they may be more concerned
- [Mask Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mask-safety/) - For most of us, wearing a mask or facial covering on the job was never part of our job description or requirements prior to COVID-19. However, now that wearing a mask has been shown to slow the spread of coronavirus and become mandated for many of us, we are all becoming accustomed to wearing them
- [Cyber Liability Policy vs. Cyber Endorsement](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-liability-policy-vs-cyber-endorsement/) - Many commercial insurance carriers offer the addition of a cyber liability or data breach endorsement to a professional liability or general liability policy. However, there are many exclusions and limitations to these endorsements. As technology improves, the need for cyber coverage increases. Yet, the differences between an endorsement and a full cyber liability policy are
- [Small Business Administration Awards for Capstone Brokerage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-administration-awards-for-capstone-brokerage/) - In 2020, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) recognizes Capstone Brokerage as a National Top 10 performing Surety Agency. The SBA awarded Capstone's own Alicia Marasco an award for Lifetime Impact in the small business community. Additionally, the SBA for the State of Nevada awarded her the Nevada Small Business Advocate of the Year
- [Governor Announces New COVID-19 Directives Amid Spike](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/governor-announces-new-covid-19-directives-amid-spike/) - With a record number of COVID-19 cases spiking all over Nevada, Governor Sisolak has announced new directives in an attempt to alleviate the increase in case numbers. Under these new protocols, certain businesses will have to move from 50% capacity to 25% capacity limits. This includes bars, restaurants, gaming establishments, libraries, and gyms. These directives
- [What is Phishing?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-phishing/) - There are many ways that criminals attempt to infiltrate systems and retrieve personal data. Phishing remains the most common practice as it still holds the highest success rate for these criminals. According to csoonline.com, phishing attacks account for more than 80% of reported security incidents.1 End-user education is the best way to reduce the risk
- [California Governor Signs Workers’ Comp Law Protecting Workers from Virus](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/california-governor-signs-workers-comp-law-protecting-workers-from-virus/) - California companies must warn their workers of any potential exposure to the coronavirus and must pay their employees workers compensation benefits if they get sick with the disease under two laws that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last week. Newsom, a Democrat, signed the laws over the objections of business groups, who have said they are
- [Employee End-User](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-end-user/) - The most dangerous cyber threat to a business is their employees. For example, in 2019 Capitol One suffered a breach exposing the personal data of over 100 million people. Amazon hosted the Capitol One database via their Amazon Web Services program, and unfortunately was the employer of the person responsible for the breach. Paige Thompson,
- [What are Cyber Threats?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-are-cyber-threats/) - Cyber threats have negatively impacted many businesses and as technology advances, the likelihood of a breach continues to rise. There is a false belief among businessowners that Cyber Security is primarily a corporate issue. However, over 40% of breach victims are small businesses. 1 For example, Fazio Mechanical Services, a small business that specializes in
- [Can Doctors Choose Between Saving Lives and Saving a Fortune?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/can-doctors-choose-between-saving-lives-and-saving-a-fortune/) - To understand something about the spiraling cost of health care in the United States, we might begin with a typical conundrum: Imagine a 60-something man — a nonsmoker, overweight, with diabetes — who has just survived a heart attack. Perhaps he had an angioplasty, with the placement of a stent, to open his arteries. The doctor’s job is to keep the vessels open. She has two choices of medicines to reduce the risk for a second heart attack. There’s Plavix, a tried-and-tested blood thinner, that prevents clot formation; the generic version of the drug costs as little as 25 cents a pill. And there’s Brilinta, a newer medicine that is also effective in clot prevention; it costs about $6.50 a pill — 25 times as much.
- [Surgeon General Urges Americans to Carry Drug That Stops Opioid Overdoses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/surgeon-general-urges-americans-to-carry-drug-that-stops-opioid-overdoses/) - WASHINGTON — The United States Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome M. Adams, issued a national advisory Thursday urging more Americans to keep on hand and learn how to use the drug naloxone, which can save the lives of people overdosing on opioids. Naloxone has already revived thousands of overdose victims as the opioid epidemic has intensified, but rescue workers have usually been the ones to administer it.
- [Silent Cyber Risk is Largest Inhibitor of Cyber Insurance Market Growth, UK Study Finds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/silent-cyber-risk-is-largest-inhibitor-of-cyber-insurance-market-growth-uk-study-finds/) - LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new study of the UK cyber risk insurance and broker community reveals startling findings. First and foremost, the insurance industry needs to address non-affirmative cyber in a meaningful way. Second, measurement of cyber risk in financial terms is highly deficient among insurance customers and the insurance industry itself. Finally, a series of catastrophic cyber events or a systemic cyber event will drastically alter the way in which insurers measure the risk profile of each applicant.
- [Can You Apportion Fault in a Car Accident Between a ‘Phantom’ & An Actual Defendant?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/can-you-apportion-fault-in-a-car-accident-between-a-phantom-an-actual-defendant/) - Recovery for damages in auto accidents can be complicated when you know someone else was at fault, but you can't find the wrongdoer. Auto accidents may be caused by a driver who forces following drivers to brake suddenly, then drives away, unaware of the accident left behind.
- [The Disappearing Doctor: How Mega-Mergers Are Changing the Business of Medical Care](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-disappearing-doctor-how-mega-mergers-are-changing-the-business-of-medical-care/) - Big corporations — giant retailers and health insurance companies — are teaming up to become your doctor. Is the doctor in? In this new medical age of urgent care centers and retail clinics, that’s not a simple question. Nor does it have a simple answer, as primary care doctors become increasingly scarce.Big corporations — giant retailers and health insurance companies — are teaming up to become your doctor. Is the doctor in? In this new medical age of urgent care centers and retail clinics, that’s not a simple question. Nor does it have a simple answer, as primary care doctors become increasingly scarce.
- [The Final Obamacare Tally Is In. About 400,000 Fewer People Signed Up This Year.](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-final-obamacare-tally-is-in-about-400000-fewer-people-signed-up-this-year/) - WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said on Tuesday that 11.8 million people had signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces for 2018 — roughly 400,000 fewer than last year. The drop was relatively small, given that Mr. Trump had sharply cut federal outreach efforts and the open enrollment period was half as long as in past years.
- [The Top 3 Health Insurance Options for Small Businesses with One Employee](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-top-3-health-insurance-options-for-small-businesses-with-one-employee/) - There are many advantages to running your own business: being your own boss, setting and achieving lifelong goals, doing what you love. This is probably why more than 27 million Americans have decided to become entrepreneurs. But as exciting as it can be to start your own small business, you’ll also face many challenges.
- [Allegiant Air Under Fire After ’60 Minutes’ Safety Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/allegiant-air-under-fire-after-60-minutes-safety-report/) - Allegiant Air shares continue to fall in the aftermath of a news report that is raising serious safety questions about the low-cost carrier. Allegiant is defending its safety and says the report by CBS News’ “60 Minutes” tells a “false narrative” about the airline. Investors, however, fear that the negative publicity will cause travelers to avoid Allegiant, which has a fleet including many older planes that typically require more maintenance.
- [Do Your Claims Letters Contain the Appropriate Tone?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/do-your-claims-letters-contain-the-appropriate-tone/) - There’s no good reason to make an enemy of the claimant or, if in litigation, the opposing attorney. We reveal ourselves in our claims letters and their tone. Is the tone nasty? Negative? Arrogant? Your job is to make your point without, in any way, belittling your reader.
- [Small Business Health Insurance: The State of the Market and What Small Businesses are Doing About It](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-health-insurance-the-state-of-the-market-and-what-small-businesses-are-doing-about-it/) - Whether a business is large or small, business owners know that the best way to hire and keep top talent is by offering the benefits employees want most. Research shows that today’s workers place a high value on company-provided health benefits: 82 percent say health insurance is “very” or “extremely important” when choosing to stay with their current company versus search for a new job.
- [Is health insurance reimbursement taxable?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-health-insurance-reimbursement-taxable/) - Rather than offer a traditional group health insurance policy, an increasing number of small businesses want to know whether they can reimburse their employees' individual health insurance. They also want to know whether such an arrangement is taxable. Under IRS rules, small businesses can reimburse employees for their health insurance in a tax-advantaged way. The most prominent vehicle for doing so is the health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).
- [Are There Deadlines for Health Insurance Reimbursement?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/are-there-deadlines-for-health-insurance-reimbursement/) - When companies first set up a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), they often wonder if there is a specific (or required) time frame for reimbursing employees’ health expenses. Likewise, employees want to know how long they have to get their health expenses paid. As a rule of thumb, health insurance reimbursement deadlines are defined by the HRA plan documents.
- [Traumatic Stress Claims Expected from Southwest Airlines Engine Failure](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/traumatic-stress-claims-expected-from-southwest-airlines-engine-failure/) - Being on an airplane more than six miles in the air when an engine blows up and sends shrapnel through a window is an experience so scary that aviation lawyers say it’s not just the family of the woman killed on a Southwest Airlines Co. flight this week who could have a case.
- [After Amazon Conquers Banking, Insurance Could be Next](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/after-amazon-conquers-banking-insurance-could-be-next/) - Tech companies pose a clear challenge to banks and none more so than Amazon, which is reported to be in talks with JPMorgan Chase and other big retail banks to create a checking-account-like offering aimed at younger adults and those without checking accounts. This move would build on the company’s initial forays into financial products over recent years and be the start of its venturing into lending, mortgages, property/casualty insurance, wealth management and term life insurance, according to consultants at Bain & Co.
- [Employee Portal Benefits Benefit Portals, Employee Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-portal-benefits-benefit-portals-employee-benefits/) - In today’s world Human Resource & Benefit Technology makes an employee benefit package more accessible to this new generation of workers. We all know the system between payroll and employees electing benefits is broken. In the past, stacks of books and colorful brochures were handed out at open Enrollment meetings and most of the literature went right in the trash when the employee got home. Only large corporations would even consider setting up self-service portals for their employees for integration which also had an expensive monthly premium. Now companies with only a handful of workers can take full advantage of employee portal technology.
- [Homeowners Insurance Liability Claims and Family Pets](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/homeowners-insurance-liability-claims-and-family-pets/) - Most American families have a family pet. They are considered a part of the family and in some situations can be more like children to their owners. What happens when your beloved family pet BITES? Interestingly one third of homeowner’s liability claims arise from dog bites and other dog related injuries.
- [What Cyber Exposures and Coverage Gaps Keep Risk Managers Up at Night](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-cyber-exposures-and-coverage-gaps-keep-risk-managers-up-at-night/) - Risk managers are very concerned about the cyber risks facing their companies and are heavily investing in protection against cyber attacks with the blessings of their boards and CEOs, a major shift from even just 10 years ago when convincing a company to worry about cyber was a big challenge for risk managers.
- [Are QSEHRA Reimbursements Taxable?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/are-qsehra-reimbursements-taxable/) - One of the primary benefits of offering a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSEHRA) is the tax advantage available to both small businesses and their employees.
- [The Average Cost of Health Insurance for Small Business in 2017: Study](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-average-cost-of-health-insurance-for-small-business-in-2017-study/) - Small businesses continued to face cost increases for group health insurance in 2017, a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation reveals. Kaiser's "2017 Employer Health Benefits Survey" found that annual group health insurance premiums for businesses with fewer than 200 employees totaled $6,486 for single coverage and $17,615 for family coverage.
- [Small Business Health Insurance Costs: What Can You Expect?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-health-insurance-costs-what-can-you-expect/) - Offering group health insurance is expensive—especially for small businesses. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees typically have smaller budgets, have fewer management resources at their disposal, and struggle to meet participation requirements. All that considered, the total cost of offering a group health insurance policy goes far beyond the pricy premiums.
- [Can You Offer Health Insurance to Certain Employees Only?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/can-you-offer-health-insurance-to-certain-employees-only/) - Offering group health insurance is prohibitively expensive for most small businesses. To cut costs, many purchase high-deductible health policies, exclude part-time employees from eligibility, and require employees to pay a significant share of the premium.
- [How Does an HRA Work?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-does-an-hra-work/) - Offering traditional group health benefits has grown increasingly difficult for small businesses. It's too expensive, too complex, and too one-size-fits-all.
- [What Constitutes a Group for Health Insurance?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-constitutes-a-group-for-health-insurance/) - When the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, U.S. businesses received a new federal requirement: provide health insurance to all full-time employees or face steep penalties from the IRS. This is known as the employer mandate.
- [Why Driverless Delivery of Goods Is Likely to Arrive Before Passengers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-driverless-delivery-of-goods-is-likely-to-arrive-before-passengers/) - In the wait for self-driving technology, cell-phone toting tech bros may have to cede their spot in line to pizzas, Craigslist couches and the mounting ephemera of e-commerce.
- [What’s Driving Nonstandard Auto – Technology, Consolidation, Population Changes, Fuel Specialty, Opportunity](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/whats-driving-nonstandard-auto-technology-consolidation-population-changes-fuel-specialty-opportunity/) - The nonstandard auto market is characterized by substandard operating performance. Since 2007, carriers writing nonstandard auto policies have reported deteriorating operating performance and many are struggling to maintain market share. But that hasn’t stopped interest in this large – and extremely volatile – segment of the property/casualty industry.
- [U.S. Population Trends: Elders to Outnumber Youth; More Ethnic, Racial Diversity](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-population-trends-elders-to-outnumber-youth-more-ethnic-racial-diversity/) - There will soon, within a few decades, be an important demographic turning point in U.S. history. By 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.4 million under the age of 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections.
- [Nevada OKs Loss Cost Decrease, Assigned Risk Rate Increase](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-oks-loss-cost-decrease-assigned-risk-rate-increase/) - Nevada Insurance Commissioner Barbara D. Richardson approved two filings from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, according to a Thursday statement from the Nevada Division of Insurance.
- [Cyber Exposure Risk Works its Way to C-Suite](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-exposure-risk-works-its-way-to-c-suite/) - Cyber-related claims against directors and officers have been largely unsuccessful to date, but given the plaintiff bar’s creativity and persistence, it is too soon for companies to relax and consider themselves off the hook, say experts.
- [Data Breach Victims Allowed to Sue Yahoo in US](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/data-breach-victims-allowed-to-sue-yahoo-in-us/) - Reuters) — Yahoo Inc. has been ordered by a federal judge to face much of a lawsuit in the United States claiming that the personal information of all 3 billion users was compromised in a series of data breaches.
- [Threshold for Triggering TRIA Cyber Coverage High](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/threshold-for-triggering-tria-cyber-coverage-high/) - SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The inclusion of cyber attacks in Terrorism Risk Insurance Act coverage could be an additional benefit to covering cyber risk in a captive, but owners should be aware that there are numerous unknowns in triggering TRIA coverage, including designation of the perpetrator of the cyber attack.
- [Cigna, Express Scripts Merger May Have Limited Effect on Comp Sector](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cigna-express-scripts-merger-may-have-limited-effect-on-comp-sector/) - Cigna Corp.’s $52 billion proposed acquisition of Express Scripts Holding Co. may eventually lead to lower drug costs for workers compensation payers, but it’s too early to tell how big those savings might be, experts say.
- [Study Links Later Return to Work with Longer-Term Opioid Prescription](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/study-links-later-return-to-work-with-longer-term-opioid-prescription/) - Longer-term prescribing of opioids more than triples the duration of temporary disability among workers with work-related, nonsurgical, lower-back injuries when compared to claims with no opioid prescribing, according to a study released Thursday by the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Workers Compensation Research Institute.
- [Captives an option as marijuana sector seeks coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/captives-an-option-as-marijuana-sector-seeks-coverage/) - SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Captive insurers can fill the numerous gaps that exist in insuring the cannabis industry, but owners need to be fully aware of the problems that could arise, including possible federal prosecution and civil forfeiture.
- [How Insurer and Benefit Manager Mergers Squeeze Out Smaller Pharmacies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-insurer-and-benefit-manager-mergers-squeeze-out-smaller-pharmacies/) - Over 20 years, Brian Komoto built a thriving pharmacy in California’s Central Valley. Each day, his nurses would travel the vast agricultural region’s roads to help hepatitis C patients take a grueling regimen of shots.
- [Why Companies Are Relaxing Employee Drug Testing](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-companies-are-relaxing-employee-drug-testing/) - Employers are struggling to hire workers in tightening U.S. job market. Marijuana is now legal in nine states and Washington, D.C., meaning more than one in five American adults can eat, drink, smoke or vape as they please. The result is the slow decline of pre-employment drug tests, which for decades had been a requirement for new recruits in industries ranging from manufacturing to finance.
- [Disability Coverage, Are you Covered?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/disability-coverage-are-you-covered/) - Are you prepared if you have unexpected health issues, car accident or disability? We always recommend considering disability insurance coverage on an individual or company basis because the unexpected can really set a family back. In fact, a few of our own employees have had to utilize both short and long-term disability benefits.
- [National Flood Insurance Program Lapses on Government Shutdown](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/national-flood-insurance-program-lapses-on-government-shutdown/) - The National Flood Insurance Program has officially lapsed after the failure to reach a deal in Congress to prevent the federal government from shutting down.
- [Cyber Incidents Most Feared BI Trigger for Global Companies: Allianz Risk Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-incidents-most-feared-bi-trigger-for-global-companies-allianz-risk-report/) - Business interruption and cyber incidents interlink as the major threat facing companies over the coming year, according to a report published by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). Allianz revealed that business interruption – including supply chain disruption – ranks as the most important global risk for the sixth year in a row (listed by 42 percent of respondents).
- [Justice Department doubles down on federal marijuana law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/justice-department-doubles-down-on-federal-marijuana-law/) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy, telling all U.S. attorneys to enforce the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies marijuana as an illegal drug.
- [Insurer can rescind D&O policy despite confusing application form](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurer-can-rescind-do-policy-despite-confusing-application-form/) - A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling and held an insurer was entitled to rescind a directors and officers liability policy based on a “material misrepresentation” in its application form.
- [Most Casualty Renewals Flat; Commercial Auto Still Seeing Rate Hikes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-casualty-renewals-flat-commercial-auto-still-seeing-rate-hikes/) - After years of decreases, casualty insurance risks, including directors and officers liability and other specialty lines, generally saw flat renewals on Jan. 1, 2018, with the notable exception of commercial automobile risks where insurers obtained rate increases, experts say.
- [The QSEHRA and HIPAA Privacy Requirements: What Are the Rules?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-qsehra-and-hipaa-privacy-requirements-what-are-the-rules/) - The qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSEHRA) was designed specifically for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. As such, it isn’t subject to many of the federal laws that affect larger employee health plans.
- [QSEHRA Plan Documents: What Are the Requirements?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/qsehra-plan-documents-what-are-the-requirements/) - When Congress created the qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSEHRA) in December 2016, legislators were careful to set it up as an exception from the Affordable Care Act. Rather than a group health plan, the QSEHRA is an “excepted benefit”—a way to offer health benefits without being subject to group plan rules.
- [Why Your Company Should Offer Both an HSA and a QSEHRA](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-your-company-should-offer-both-an-hsa-and-a-qsehra/) - The opportunity to offer personalized health benefits is growing. Over the years, new tax-free vehicles have emerged, and small businesses now have multiple ways to increase employees’ benefits.
- [The Top 5 Health Benefits Options for Small Groups in 2018](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-top-5-health-benefits-options-for-small-groups-in-2018/) - The rising costs of health care aren't just a problem for individuals—they've also impacted businesses that make health benefits a priority for their employees. Small businesses have been particularly vulnerable. Between 19999 and 2016, the cost to cover one employee under group health insurance rose nearly 200 percent—from $2,196 to $6,435.
- [Why 2018 could truly be historic for small business (and it's about time!)](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-2018-could-truly-be-historic-for-small-business-and-its-about-time/) - What happens when small business regains the spring in its step? Let’s hope we’re about to find out; 2018 could be a historic year for the half of our economy that has always made America great.
- [New health insurance rule aims to deliver on Trump promise](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-health-insurance-rule-aims-to-deliver-on-trump-promise/) - WASHINGTON -- Striving to fulfill a campaign promise, the Trump administration on Thursday proposed regulations to facilitate the interstate sale of health insurance policies that cost less but may not cover as much.
- [Medicaid Recipients to Get Work Requirements](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medicaid-recipients-to-get-work-requirements/) - WASHINGTON — Rewriting the rules on health care for the poor, the Trump administration said Thursday it will allow states to require "able-bodied" Medicaid recipients to work, a hotly debated first in the program's half-century history.
- [Can Obamacare Survive Without the Individual Mandate?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/can-obamacare-survive-without-the-individual-mandate/) - Donald Trump claims he has finally repealed Obamacare through the Republican tax bill. “The individual mandate is being repealed,” he told a cabinet meeting in December. “When the individual mandate is being repealed, that means Obamacare is being repealed.” He has since tweeted that the tax bill “essentially Repeals (over time) ObamaCare.”
- [Budget Office Cuts Cost Estimate of Children's Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/budget-office-cuts-cost-estimate-of-childrens-insurance/) - WASHINGTON — Congress' official budget analysts have eased one stumbling block to lawmakers' fight over renewing a program that provides health insurance for nearly 9 million low-income children. The Congressional Budget Office says a Senate bill adding five years of financing to the program would cost $800 million. Previously, the analysts estimated it would cost $8.2 billion.
- [Wildfires Are Making Home Insurance Unaffordable](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/sponsored-by-rimkus-consulting-group-inc-california-says-wildfires-are-making-home-insurance-unaffordable/) - More frequent and intense wildfires are making it harder for homeowners to find and keep insurance in California, a state regulator warned Thursday. “The problem of insurance availability is going to expand” after last year’s record-breaking wildfires, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in an interview Thursday. He said growing rates of non-renewal and rate increases for people in wildfire zones are “entering a critical stage.”
- [Medical Billing, Insurance Write-Offs and the Collateral Source Rule](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-billing-insurance-write-offs-and-the-collateral-source-rule/) - Recovery of Medical Expenses in Personal Injury Actions Generally To recover damages for past medical expenses in a personal injury lawsuit, a plaintiff must present evidence and prove that the medical expenses incurred were both “reasonable” and “necessary.” For more than 100 years, this simple formula was the least complicated aspect of a plaintiff’s personal injury case. To get medical bills into evidence and recover them as an element of damage, plaintiffs simply needed to prove:
- [Disaster-Mitigation Programs May Be Cut, Despite Proven Savings](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/disaster-mitigation-programs-may-be-cut-despite-proven-savings/) - Federal programs to protect Americans against extreme weather and other natural disasters save even more money than previously thought, according to a report funded by the same agencies that have proposed cutting many of those programs
- [Federal Safety Agency Seeks to Remove Roadblocks to Autonomous Trucks, Buses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/federal-safety-agency-seeks-to-remove-roadblocks-to-autonomous-trucks-buses/) - Federal regulators are taking the first step toward creating a policy guiding the development of autonomous transportation beyond self-driving cars to include trucks, buses and other ground-based modes. The U.S. Transportation Department will soon publish four requests for public comment on how to cast aside roadblocks for transportation advancements in vehicles, trains, buses, commercial trucking and transit systems, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said Wednesday.
- [GM Seeks OK for Self-Driving Commercial Vehicle Without Steering Wheel for 2019](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/gm-seeks-ok-for-self-driving-commercial-vehicle-without-steering-wheel-for-2019/) - General Motors Co. is seeking U.S. government approval for a fully autonomous car – one without a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator pedal – to enter the automaker’s first commercial ride-sharing fleet in 2019, executives said.
- [Medical Marijuana Loses Foothold to Recreational Industry](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-marijuana-loses-foothold-to-recreational-industry/) - A medical marijuana card used to be the key to buying and possessing pot in Oregon. But the rise of recreational marijuana is making the cards primarily valuable only as a discount card, and not a necessity to buy, said Sam Elkington, owner of Track Town Collective in Glenwood. The card exempts the buyer from Oregon’s state and local pot taxes, which are levied on recreational pot.
- [Allianz Warns Product Recall Risks Grow as Technology Drives New Triggers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/allianz-warns-product-recall-risks-grow-as-technology-drives-new-triggers/) - Defective product risk is an increasing peril for companies, causing significant financial damage, according to a newly released Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) report. Recall exposures have increased significantly over the past decade, bringing the potential for larger and more complex losses than ever before, AGCS warned.
- [Opioid Pain Treatment Addiction Costs Workers’ Comp Carriers, Health Insurers Billions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/opioid-pain-treatment-addiction-costs-workers-comp-carriers-health-insurers-billions/) - Insurers Seek Reimbursement for the High Cost of Opioid Addictions Big Pharma is having a Big Tobacco moment. Since 1999, the number of prescription opioids sold in America has almost quadrupled. Over the same period, prescription opioid deaths have more than quadrupled and millions have become addicted to legally-prescribed painkillers that are 50 times more powerful than heroin. Nearly two million Americans met criteria for prescription opioid abuse and dependence in 2013...
- [Cost of Driverless Vehicles to Drop Dramatically](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cost-of-driverless-vehicles-to-drop-dramatically/) - Delphi Automotive Plc, which is changing its name to Aptiv Inc., wants to cut the cost of self-driving cars by more than 90 percent to around $5,000 by 2025, according to Chief Executive Officer Kevin Clark. Aptiv, which starts trading on Tuesday under the stock symbol APTV on the New York Stock Exchange, also wants to help automakers rethink the way vehicles are engineered and built and make money on the data generated by autonomous electric vehicles.
- [Personal Insurance: What you need to know!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/personal-insurance-what-you-need-to-know/) - Mostly every American is required to carry some form of personal insurance, such as insurance to drive a car, to rent property, to have a home loan, or for their health care. When you are shopping for your insurance needs did you know that by bundling coverage you can save money each month? Just like a cable bill the more insurance policy you carry the greater the “bundle” discount. Bundling automobile and homeowners is the most common when it comes to personal insurance.
- [Employee Benefits: The Basics](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-benefits-the-basics/) - Setting up employee benefits for your small or large business should not be a headache. Incorporating benefits into your employee package is a way to attract and retain employees. With all the changes to the way health care coverage has been implemented since the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to now with possible changes, it is no wonder business owners are concerned about what to offer in their package and what is necessary. One of the biggest hurdles is the basic understanding of the change in requirements that have been implemented in the industry over the past several years. Let’s go back to the basics and explain what a desirable employee benefits package may include.
- [Emerging Risks and How Consumers and Businesses are Mitigating Them](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/emerging-risks-and-how-consumers-and-businesses-are-mitigating-them/) - The 2017 Travelers Risk Index surveys found that consumers and businesses perceive global conflict, cyber and the changing workforce as the greatest threats. The 2017 Travelers Risk Index surveys found that consumers and businesses perceive global conflict, cyber and the changing workforce as the greatest threats.
- [Understanding Contractors' Errors & Omissions Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/understanding-contractors-errors-omissions-coverage/) - The insurance carriers that provide limited liability coverage for construction work typically target their marketing efforts to trade contractors such as electricians and plumbers.
- [Building Better Prescription Drug Practices](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/building-better-prescription-drug-practices/) - "Opioids" was once a medical term to describe drugs associated with pain relief but has since become a part of the every day American vernacular. High profile celebrity deaths and the sheer volume of opioids being consumed each day have propelled these powerful drugs into the spotlight and caught the attention of the mainstream media.
- [What we Can Learn From Construction Industry Challenges](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-we-can-learn-from-construction-industry-challenges/) - The massive influx of projects the construction industry is enjoying these days hit home for me not in New York, where I live, but overseas. Last summer I visited Lloyd's of London to conduct interviews and shoot video for our “Inside Lloyd's” project, which provided a rare look inside the inner workings of the world's leading specialty insurance market. On July 9, 2016, I had the chance to gaze upon the city from one of the Lloyd's building's exterior-set glass elevators. One would be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular view of London.
- [3 Ways to Assume Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/3-ways-to-assume-risk/) - As we all know, insurance is a transfer of risk to another party. The risk is transferred most times because of financial considerations; the insured either cannot afford or does not want to take her chances that something catastrophic might happen, so she obtains an insurance policy in order to transfer the risk to a third party, the insurance carrier. There are a number of ways risk can be assumed.
- [County OKs building of new Las Vegas 51s stadium in Summerlin](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/county-oks-building-of-new-las-vegas-51s-stadium-in-summerlin/) - Clark County commissioners Wednesday gave the Howard Hughes Corp. permission to build a proposed 10,000-seat baseball stadium in Downtown Summerlin.
- [Diverse Workforce Expected By New Recruits, Drives Performance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/diverse-workforce-expected-by-new-recruits-drives-performance/) - Insurance industry companies seeking to attract young professionals to the sector need to create work environments that welcome diversity or risk losing talent to competitors, a panel of experts said.
- [OSHA extends deadline for electronic injury, illness reports to Dec. 15](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-extends-deadline-for-electronic-injury-illness-reports-to-dec-15/) - The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again extended the deadline for employers to electronically submit injury and illness data — this time to Dec. 15 — and said it would publish a final rule reviewing other provisions of the electronic record-keeping regulation in 2018.
- [Insurance Experts Monitor Evolving Cyber, Environmental Risks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-experts-monitor-evolving-cyber-environmental-risks/) - Evolving ransomware risks remain a significant concern for the cyber insurance market, while environmental insurers are carefully monitoring developing mold claims.
- [4 Ways to Protect Your Investments Online](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/4-ways-to-protect-your-investments-online/) - Recent high profile data breaches are leaving many consumers wondering how they protect not only their bank accounts, but their investments, from hacks and losing it all. "Retirement and brokerage accounts can be hacked and they are especially attractive to criminals that are willing to work diligently to attempt to cash out a 401(k) or to perform unauthorized stock trades," says John Buzzard, industry fraud specialist at Co-op Financial Services, a Los Angeles-based financial technology company.
- [Small Businesses Want More Self-Service Workers’ Comp Tools: Survey](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-businesses-want-more-self-service-workers-comp-tools-survey/) - Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of America’s small business owners believe workers’ compensation carriers could improve their customer service if they offered more online or self-service tools. Better communication and faster claims resolution also topped the list of small businesses’ desired improvements business, according to the survey by small business insurer EMPLOYERS. The survey of 500 small businesses found that 67 percent of small business owners are “extremely likely or somewhat likely” to use a self-service online portal from their workers’ compensation carrier to review policy information, make policy changes or make payments.
- [Workers’ Compensation Still Under Pressure from Drug Repackagers, Compounding Pharmacies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-compensation-still-under-pressure-from-drug-repackagers-compounding-pharmacies/) - Though the number of physician dispensed prescriptions has declined considerably from just a few years ago, the workers’ compensation industry continues to battle a market seeking to maintain high prices by changing drug strength and formulations. The impact of physician dispensed pharmaceuticals and drug compounding on workers’ compensation systems nationwide was highlighted recently during a session hosted by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators’ (NCOIL) Workers’ Compensation Insurance Committee at its annual meeting in Phoenix.
- [Kept in the Dark About Doctors, but Having to Pick a Health Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/kept-in-the-dark-about-doctors-but-having-to-pick-a-health-plan/) - It’s open enrollment season for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, Medicare Advantage plans and many employer-sponsored plans as well. Lots of evidence suggests you should shop around, and shop carefully, though this is harder than it sounds.
- [Which Health Plan Is Cheaper?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/which-health-plan-is-cheaper/) - Doing a thorough comparison of health care plans is difficult. But there is an imperfect, yet fairly, simple way to check whether a high-deductible plan might qualify for “no-brainer” status, meaning, it enables you to save on health care no matter how often you go to the doctor.
- [Obamacare Sign-Ups Are Surging, but There’s a Twist](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-sign-ups-are-surging-but-theres-a-twist/) - Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back the health law, about 300,000 more people have signed up for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces in the first weeks of this enrollment period than last year.
- [Would Industry-Specific Cyber Be An Easier Sell?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/would-industry-specific-cyber-be-an-easier-sell/) - Cyber can be a difficult sell for brokers targeting small and medium-sized businesses. But what if the cyber products were geared specifically towards the industries you were selling to – making it easier for insurance buyers to understand?
- [Fall has Arrived Be Aware Of Increased Risk Both in Home and On The Road](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fall-has-arrived-be-aware-of-increased-risk-both-in-home-and-on-the-road/) - Fall has arrived in many parts of the country, leaves are changing color, weather is getting cooler and interestingly this means insurance claims will also see a change. Surprisingly, fall and winter months are known for more automobile and home insurance claims; perhaps it’s the weather?
- [New Executive Order Directs Federal Departments to Expand Personalized Health Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-executive-order-directs-federal-departments-to-expand-personalized-health-benefits/) - A new executive order from President Donald Trump seeks to expand personalized health benefits for U.S. businesses. The order, issued Thursday, October 12, directs the Secretaries of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to consider how to expand the flexibility and use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs).
- [Premiums Rising 34 Percent for Most Popular Health Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/premiums-rising-34-percent-for-most-popular-health-plan/) - Premiums for the most popular "Obamacare" plans are going up an average of 34 percent, according to a study Wednesday that confirms dire predictions about the impact of political turmoil on consumers.
- [Mark 2018 Open Enrollment Dates & Deadlines On Your Calendar](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mark-2018-open-enrollment-dates-deadlines-on-your-calendar/) - Open Enrollment for 2018 health coverage is less than 1 week away! Mark these key dates on your calendar so you don't miss the deadline to enroll. The Open Enrollment Period is shorter than in past years, so it's important to be ready.
- [Individual Shared Responsibility Provision – Exemptions: Claiming or Reporting](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/individual-shared-responsibility-provision-exemptions-claiming-or-reporting/) - The individual shared responsibility provision of the Affordable Care Act requires you and each member of your family to have qualifying health coverage (also known as minimum essential coverage), qualify for a coverage exemption, or make an individual shared responsibility payment when you file your federal income tax return. For Tax Year 2017, the IRS will not consider a return complete and accurate if the taxpayer does not report coverage for the year, an exemption or a payment.
- [Autonomy Getting Closer: Consumers Learning to Trust New Auto Safety Features](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/autonomy-getting-closer-consumers-learning-to-trust-new-auto-safety-features/) - Car shoppers are more ready for autonomous vehicles than they may realize, according to a report from car shopping platform Edmunds.com. More than 60 percent of new vehicle models today can be purchased with some level or autonomous features, the report, Transportation Transformation, shows.
- [Surge In Drone Safety Reports Prompts `Emergency' Action at FAA](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/surge-in-drone-safety-reports-prompts-emergency-action-at-faa/) - Bloomberg) -- Reports of safety incidents involving civilian drones have surged to an average of 250 a month, leading to a federal "emergency" action to approve drone flights in restricted areas, according to a government notice seeking new procedures for the craft. There is so much pent-up demand for obtaining special permission to fly drones in restricted airspace, that the Federal Aviation Administration says it can’t keep up. The FAA says drone users are flying without approval because of the delays.
- [Trump Administration Rolls Back Birth Control Mandate](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/trump-administration-rolls-back-birth-control-mandate/) - The Trump administration on Friday moved to expand the rights of employers to deny women insurance coverage for contraception and issued sweeping guidance on religious freedom that critics said could also erode civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
- [How Insurers, Employers Can Help Close Income Gap in U.S.: Zurich Insurance Research](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-insurers-employers-can-help-close-income-gap-in-u-s-zurich-insurance-research/) - Public/private partnerships between governments, companies and insurers can help ease income gaps that burden millions of Americans, according to new research from Zurich Insurance Group and the University of Oxford. Financial education is one key to securing personal financial security, the study recommends. Other solutions include finding a balance between responsibilities assumed by governments, employers, insurers, other financial institutions like intermediaries and individuals in protecting household income.
- [Trump Ends Health Insurer Subsidy; Allows Association Health Plans, Expense Accounts](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/trump-ends-health-insurer-subsidy-allows-association-health-plans-expense-accounts/) - President Donald Trump’s administration took its most drastic step yet to roll back the Affordable Care Act, cutting off a subsidy to insurers hours after issuing an executive order designed to draw people away from the health law’s markets.
- [Why The Average Retirement Age is Rising](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-the-average-retirement-age-is-rising/) - Why the average retirement age is rising Social Security, pension type, and education are factors that have contributed to the rise in the retirement age since the mid-1980s, writes Alicia H. Munnell, director of Boston College Center for Retirement Research, in this article on MarketWatch. Other factors that have also spurred an increase in retirement age are improved health and longevity, jobs becoming less physically demanding, writes Munnell. "While all these factors help explain the gains since the mid-1980s, I was concerned that they had played themselves out. At least for men, though, the increase in the average retirement age from 63.9 in 2013 to 64.6 in 2015 is encouraging."
- [California Today: Now Comes the Insurance Challenge](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/california-today-now-comes-the-insurance-challenge/) - Hundreds of anguished Californians who lost their homes in an outbreak of wildfires this week now get to face another burden: dealing with insurers
- [Why Mandating Cyber Reporting, Basic Coverage Makes Sense: Cyence Exec](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-mandating-cyber-reporting-basic-coverage-makes-sense-cyence-exec/) - Matt Honea, cyber manager at Cyence, a San Mateo, Calif.-based cyber risk modeler, thinks a great way to get companies to report cyber attacks is to make them do it. Honea, who believes insurers can be a catalyst for collecting data on cyber attacks and attempted attacks, also believes it’s a good idea to make cyber insurance a required coverage for companies.
- [Traffic Accident Deaths Still Increasing as Distracted Driving Reports Decline](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/traffic-accident-deaths-still-increasing-as-distracted-driving-reports-decline/) - NHTSA found that distracted driving and drowsy driving fatalities declined, while deaths related to other reckless behaviors – including speeding, alcohol impairment, and not wearing seat belts – continued to increase. The number of fatalities in distraction affected crashes decreased by 2.2 percent from 3,526 in 2015 to 3,450 in 2016. Fatalities in distraction affected crashes were 9.2 percent of total fatalities in 2016.
- [Hurricane Cars Declared ‘Total Losses’ by Adjusters Are Now Back on Roads](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hurricane-cars-declared-total-losses-by-adjusters-are-now-back-on-roads/) - The ink on the “total loss” insurance paperwork, like the 2007 Range Rover itself, was still wet when Morgan Moran began trying to buy his vehicle back after Hurricane Matthew last year. The insurance adjuster had declared the vehicle ruined in a matter of seconds after noticing water in the spare-tire wheel well. After all, he had a busy schedule and contemporary cars are about as waterproof as a laptop computer.
- [Natural Disasters and Insuring the Contents of Your Home](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/natural-disasters-and-insuring-the-contents-of-your-home/) - Homeowners Insurance and properly insuring the homes contents is a hot topic lately, I wanted to revisit this topic with the current disasters our countries is facing both in Florida and in Texas. It is so important to know the contents of your home and have a detailed list of items to insure with your homeowners policy as well as in the event of a natural disaster where either total home loss occurs or partial. Having a list of valuable items can guide you in the claims process and help get your claim accepted in a timely manner.
- [Most Workers Comp Medical Reviews Agree with Treating Physician](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-workers-comp-medical-reviews-agree-with-treating-physician/) - In the first half of 2017, more than 91.3% of all utilization review physicians’ modifications or denials of treatment that were reviewed by an independent medical review doctor in California were upheld, a study released Thursday by the Oakland-based California Workers’ Compensation Institute revealed.
- [Construction Employers Could See 30-day Grace Period on OSHA Silica Rule](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/construction-employers-could-see-30-day-grace-period-on-osha-silica-rule/) - Construction employers making good-faith efforts to comply with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s silica regulation could avoid citations during the first 30 days after the agency begins enforcing the rule.
- [Focus on Injury Impact Rather Than Statistics Can Improve Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/focus-on-injury-impact-rather-than-statistics-can-improve-safety/) - Protecting workers by preventing serious injuries and fatalities while improving performance is a key issue for employers, according to experts speaking at the 2017 National Safety Council Congress & Expo on Monday in Indianapolis.
- [Technology Risks Top North American Business Worries in 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/technology-risks-top-north-american-business-worries-in-2017/) - Terrorist attacks, large cyber attacks, and misuse of technology are the top risks facing businesses in the United States, according the World Economic Forum survey released Wednesday.
- [Seat Belt Defense In All 50 States](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/seat-belt-defense-in-all-50-states/) - Subrogation professionals must become familiar with an increasingly used defense in the litigation of auto insurance subrogation cases. Even if the insured is totally free from fault in the operation of the insured’s auto, not wearing a seat belt could result in a reduction of the damages the insured and/or subrogated auto carrier will be allowed to recover. In some states, through the interplay of the Made Whole Doctrine or other state statutes, this defense could have an affect on a carrier’s rights of subrogation or reimbursement.
- [Rebuilding Your Home After a Disaster](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/rebuilding-your-home-after-a-disaster/) - Catastrophe can arrive at your doorstep in any number of ways: A century-old tree could hit the roof, faulty wiring could spark a fire or a storm like Hurricane Harvey could unleash its fury and yours could be one of countless homes in its path.
- [Opioids Aren't The Only Pain Drugs to Fear](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/opioids-arent-the-only-pain-drugs-to-fear/) - Last month, a White House panel declared the nation’s epidemic of opioid abuse and deaths “a national public health emergency,” a designation usually assigned to natural disasters.
- [Seriously, Equifax? This Is a Breach No One Should Get Away With](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/seriously-equifax-this-is-a-breach-no-one-should-get-away-with/) - Equifax, you had one job. Your only purpose as a corporation, the reason you were created and remain a going concern, is to collect and maintain people’s most private financial data. Now you have fallen down on your only job — and spectacularly so. Hackers penetrated the spectral gauze of security surrounding your website, and over the course of nearly two months, they made away with the personal information of as many as 143 million Americans. It is the most important financial data available on any of us — our names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, home addresses and in some instances a lot more — and it was just sitting there on your site, all but wrapped up in a red bow.
- [Work Toward Bipartisan Fix for Health Markets Begins in Senate](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/work-toward-bipartisan-fix-for-health-markets-begins-in-senate/) - The chairman of the Senate health committee said Wednesday that he hoped the panel would reach a consensus by the end of next week on a small, bipartisan bill to stabilize health insurance markets and prevent prices from skyrocketing next year under the Affordable Care Act.
- [The Real Reason the U.S. Has Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-real-reason-the-u-s-has-employer-sponsored-health-insurance/) - The basic structure of the American health care system, in which most people have private insurance through their jobs, might seem historically inevitable, consistent with the capitalistic, individualist ethos of the nation.
- [Program That Provides Low-Cost Health Care to 9M Children Set to Expire](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/program-that-provides-low-cost-health-care-to-9m-children-set-to-expire/) - Amid intense debates about the Graham-Cassidy health care bill, the Senate and House missed the deadline to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) -- meaning federal funding for the program will expire at the end of the month.
- [Time for a Bipartisan Healthcare Effort?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/time-for-a-bipartisan-healthcare-effort/) - After the collapse of Senate Republicans’ latest attempt to repeal Obamacare, Senator Lamar Alexander says he’s going to try again at a smaller, bipartisan bill to stabilize insurance markets in 2018 and 2019.
- [Mounting Catastrophe Claims Could Weaken Re/Insurers’ Capital Reserves: Fitch](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mounting-catastrophe-claims-could-weaken-reinsurers-capital-reserves-fitch/) - Ratings downgrades for global insurers and reinsurers are becoming more probable as they face more than $100 billion in 2017 catastrophe losses, a figure that threatens to weaken their capital reserves, Fitch Ratings Inc. said in a report on Tuesday. Losses from Hurricane Maria, which could be as much as $85 billion, along with those of other recent 2017 catastrophes, including Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, the Mexico City earthquakes and other events, will force some reinsurers to dip into their capital, Fitch said.
- [House Passes Bill to Assure Private Policies Satisfy Flood Insurance Requirement](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-passes-bill-to-assure-private-policies-satisfy-flood-insurance-requirement/) - The House of Representatives voted 264-155 today to pass bipartisan legislation that encourages the sale of private flood insurance in place of policies from the federal government in high risk areas where flood insurance is required.
- [Half of U.S. Businesses Report Being Hacked](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/half-of-u-s-businesses-report-being-hacked/) - More than half of U.S. businesses (53 percent) have experienced a cyber attack in the past year, according to a survey of business executives.
- [Medicare Advantage Spends Less on Care, So Why Is It Costing So Much?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medicare-advantage-spends-less-on-care-so-why-is-it-costing-so-much/) - The Medicare Advantage program was supposed to save taxpayers money by allowing insurers to offer older Americans private alternatives to Medicare. The plans now cover 19 million people, a third of all those who qualify for Medicare. Enrollee satisfaction is generally high, and studies show that plans offer higher quality than traditional Medicare. But the government pays insurers more than they pay out for patient care — in some years, it turns out, a great deal more.
- [Technology and Professional Exposure for Health Care Providers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/technology-and-professional-exposure-for-health-care-providers/) - With a shift in Healthcare laws it is no wonder that Professional Liability “Medical Mal-Practice” insurance is changing as well. Over the past several years subtle changes in the healthcare industry have begun to relate to physician’s Professional Liability needs. With the increase in “E-visits”, a decrease in hospital stays, and of course the ever-evolving idea of healthcare reform, it is interesting that little is talked about when it comes to Professional Liability insurance needs for physicians.
- [Health Care Reimbursement Plan - What is it?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-care-reimbursement-plan-what-is-it/) - A health care reimbursement plan, in a general sense, is defined as a health benefit Health care reimbursement plan - What is it?where employees are reimbursed by their company for their medical expenses. This differs from traditional benefits chiefly because the company makes a benefit allowance available, instead of choosing and administering a health insurance policy.
- [Number of Legal Malpractice Claims Remains Constant Year-Over-Year: Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/number-of-legal-malpractice-claims-remains-constant-year-over-year-report/) - A survey conducted by risk and insurance adviser Ames & Gough has found that the number of malpractice claims in recent years has remained relatively constant – although legal defense costs, claimed damages, and settlement sums continue to mount.
- [Farmers Insurance Goes To Court To Block State Review of Premium Rates](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/farmers-insurance-goes-to-court-to-block-state-review-of-premium-rates/) - Farmers Insurance is asking a court to block a California review of its auto insurance rates from 2008 on. Farmers’ rates are being challenged by consumers in a separate case. In a lawsuit against the California Department of Insurance, the company argued in a lawsuit that the department’s plan to review its rates is “unlawful under applicable law and current facts.”
- [Is Your Insured’s Website Compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-your-insureds-website-compliant-with-the-americans-with-disabilities-act/) - In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law to give disabled people the same access to American life as those without disabilities. The Act is intended to give equal access to all Americans to all public spaces. The law was initially thought of as only applying to brick and mortar locations and couldn’t address access to the Internet, since the Internet wasn’t fully commercialized until 1995.
- [Navigating The Anti-Subrogation Rule](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/navigating-the-anti-subrogation-rule/) - Subrogation is the legal doctrine which allows one party, usually an insurance company, that pays a loss by its insured which was caused by a third party, to take over the rights of its insured against the third party and recover its claim payments. It wouldn’t make much sense if, after paying a first-party insurance claim that its insured was partly responsible for, an insurance company could sue its insured to get their money back. It would defeat the purpose of insurance. Preventing precisely that sort of inequitable scenario is the purpose of the anti-subrogation rule (ASR). Sometimes known as the “suing your own insured” defense, the ASR was originally developed based on the logical premise that because the carrier stands in the shoes of it’s insured, it would essentially be suing itself. Therefore, no right of subrogation can arise in favor of an insurance company against its own insured. Wager v. Providence Ins. Co., 150 U.S. 99 (1893); The John Russell, 68 F.2d 901 (2nd Cir. 1934); Sherwood Trucking, Inc. v. Carolina Cas. Ins. Co., 552 F.2d 568 (4th Cir. 1977); Peavey Co. v. M/V ANPA, 971 F.2d 1168 (5th Cir. 1992) (insured or additional assured); Prestige Cas. Co. v. Michigan Mut. Ins. Co., 99 F.3d 1340 (6th Cir. 1996).
- [Researchers Say Popular Robots Dangerously Easy to Hack](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/researchers-say-popular-robots-dangerously-easy-to-hack/) - Some of the most popular industrial and consumer robots are dangerously easy to hack and could be turned into bugging devices or weapons, IOActive Inc. said. The Seattle-based cybersecurity firm found major security flaws in industrial models sold by Universal Robots, a division of U.S. technology company Teradyne Inc. It also cited issues with consumer robots Pepper and NAO, which are manufactured by Japan’s Softbank Group Corp., and the Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 made by China-based UBTech Robotics.
- [Many Opioid Addicts Hoping for Recovery Relapse, Turn to Insurance Fraud](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/many-opioid-addicts-hoping-for-recovery-relapse-turn-to-insurance-fraud/) - The Reflections treatment center looked like just the place for Michelle Holley’s youngest daughter to kick heroin. Instead, as with dozens of other Florida substance abuse treatment facilities, the owner was more interested in defrauding insurance companies by keeping addicts hooked, her family says.
- [The Claim File Documentation Balancing Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-claim-file-documentation-balancing-act/) - With so many eyes on claims files, it’s no wonder documentation is a touchy subject for adjusters. Claims files are reviewed by auditors, supervisors, bad faith attorneys and others passing judgment often months or years after the fact, according to Kevin Quinley, founder and principal of Quinley Risk Associates.
- [FAQ: What’s Causing the Shift to Personalized Benefits?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faq-whats-causing-the-shift-to-personalized-benefits/) - There’s a shift occurring in the small business benefits market—one that FAQ: What’s Causing the Shift to Personalized Benefits?takes companies away from traditional group benefits and toward a new model.
- [Which Benefits Have the Best Effect on Employee Retention and Recruiting?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/which-benefits-have-the-best-effect-on-employee-retention-and-recruiting/) - mall business benefit options have never been more varied. Get the most mileage from your offerings with the benefits employees love best. The U.S. job market continues to grow. According to a recent report from the Which Benefits Have the Best Effect on Employee Retention and Recruiting?Bureau of Labor Statistics, businesses in the country added 209,000 jobs in July, marking the 82nd straight month of job growth. At the same time, the unemployment rate shrunk, ticking down to 4.3 percent—its lowest mark since 2001.
- [Commercial Lines Insurance Renewal Rates Continued Rising in July: IVANS](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/commercial-lines-insurance-renewal-rates-continued-rising-in-july-ivans/) - In July 2017, premium renewal rate change for the majority of standard commercial lines products remain in positive territory. Workers’ compensation was the one product that trended negatively, dipping below -1.00 percent for the first time this year. IVANS, a division of Applied Systems, released its IVANS Index for July showing the following premium renewal rate change by line of business for last month..
- [Teen Drivers Become More Daring After Few Years Behind Wheel](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/teen-drivers-become-more-daring-after-few-years-behind-wheel/) - U.S. teenagers are more reckless after their first few years of driving, often becoming overconfident in their abilities and putting themselves at higher risk for accidents, a new study shows. More than half of high school seniors have car accidents or near misses, compared with 34 percent of sophomores, according to the study conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and the group Students Against Destructive Decisions.
- [Future of Job-Based Health Insurance Seems Secure](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/future-of-job-based-health-insurance-seems-secure/) - Are employees worried about losing their health insurance from their employer? The ongoing political turmoil around “Obamacare” all but guarantees they’ll still be able to do that. Ask Walt Rowen, whose business is etching glass but whose experience managing century-old, family-owned Susquehanna Glass makes him something of an expert on health care. He’s provided coverage to employees, then canceled it, steering them to the health insurance exchange. But with those premiums rising, Rowen this year is again covering his 70 or so workers under the umbrella of employer-sponsored health insurance. A word from our sponsor:
- [Marijuana Task Force Undercuts Hard Line by Attorney General Sessions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/marijuana-task-force-undercuts-hard-line-by-attorney-general-sessions/) - The betting was that law-and-order Attorney General Jeff Sessions would come out against the legalized marijuana industry with guns blazing. But the task force Sessions assembled to find the best legal strategy is giving him no ammunition, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
- [How Big Data Threatens Health Insurance: Viewpoint](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-big-data-threatens-health-insurance-viewpoint/) - For all its absurdity, the debate over Obamacare has accomplished something positive: It has educated people that insurance is really about risk pooling — as in you need both healthy and sick people to participate if it’s going to be affordable for the sick.
- [Autonomous Car Makers Seek Investment, Risk Sharing Alliances](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/autonomous-car-makers-seek-investment-risk-sharing-alliances/) - BMW and Daimler, the world’s top luxury carmakers, have announced alliances with suppliers, talking up the virtues of having a bigger pool of engineers to develop a self-driving car. But another motive behind these deals, executives and industry experts told Reuters, is a concern that robocars may not live up to the profit expectations that drove an initial investment rush.
- [Workplace Is Hostile, Stressful, Grim Place for Many Americans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workplace-is-hostile-stressful-grim-place-for-many-americans/) - The American workplace is grueling, stressful and surprisingly hostile. So concludes an in-depth study of 3,066 U.S. workers by the Rand Corp., Harvard Medical School and the University of California, Los Angeles.
- [Claims Changes Driven by Tech, Data](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/claims-changes-driven-by-tech-data/) - A report released earlier this year by research and advisory firm Novarica highlights how digital opportunities, analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) are driving changes in claims. Customer service standards set by other industries is contributing to the digital transformation in the insurance industry and in claims, stated the report, The Digital Evolution of P/C Claims.
- [Nevada Supreme Court Rulings Favor HOAs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-supreme-court-rulings-favor-hoas/) - The state Supreme Court on Thursday issued two rulings bolstering homeowners associations’ ability to sell houses through foreclosure. Nevada’s highest court unanimously ruled that a 2014 decision upholding HOAs’ ability to foreclose ahead of mortgage lenders can be retroactively applied to foreclosures that took place before that ruling.
- [Penalty for Refusing to Get Health Insurance Remains Intact](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/penalty-for-refusing-to-get-health-insurance-remains-intact/) - WASHINGTON — Opponents of President Barack Obama's health care law who wanted to get rid of the penalty people were assessed for not having health insurance will have to wait longer for relief after the Senate early Friday defeated the GOP's scaled-back version of legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act. .
- [Insurers Await Trump Decision on Health Insurance Cost Subsidies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurers-await-trump-decision-on-health-insurance-cost-subsidies/) - Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said Sunday that “no decision’s been made” on whether to continue key Affordable Care Act subsidies to health-insurance companies, but that the administration’s job is “to follow the law of the land.” A top White House aide said President Donald Trump will decide soon.
- [Nevada Sold Out of Legal Marijuana So Quickly, The Government Used A 'Statement Of Emergency' To Bring In More Weed](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-sold-out-of-legal-marijuana-so-quickly-the-government-used-a-statement-of-emergency-to-bring-in-more-weed/) - On July 1, Nevada locals and tourists visiting from out of state waited hours in line in triple-digit temperatures to become the first in the state to purchase legal recreational marijuana. Less than two weeks later, the 47 retailers licensed to sell the drug are running out of supply.
- [Trump to Congress: Don't Leave for Recess Until Health Care Bill Passed](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/trump-to-congress-dont-leave-for-recess-until-health-care-bill-passed/) - President Trump on Wednesday told Republican senators he doesn’t want Congress to leave Washington for the August recess until lawmakers pass a health care bill.
- [FAQ: Do Some States Ban the QSEHRA?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faq-do-some-states-ban-the-qsehra/) - Since the 21st Century Cures Act created the Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) in December 2016, concerns have surfaced over whether certain state laws conflict with the new benefit.
- [Blind Americans Want to Participate in Future of Driverless Vehicles](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/blind-americans-want-to-participate-in-future-of-driverless-vehicles/) - Anil Lewis was behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang convertible on a sunny Atlanta day in 1988, when he nearly hit a pedestrian who appeared in a crosswalk ahead of him, seemingly out of nowhere. It was then Lewis realized his deteriorating eyesight would soon end his days behind the wheel. Now 53 and legally blind, the prospect of fully autonomous vehicles gives him hope of returning to the road on his own.
- [Insurance Underwriters See Risks, Opportunities in Speeding Up Infrastructure Projects](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-underwriters-see-risks-opportunities-in-speeding-up-infrastructure-projects/) - “We’re going to cut a lot of red tape,” President Trump said at a CEO town hall meeting as he unrolled a long, colorful flow chart showing the process required for a state government to obtain the federal permits necessary to build a highway. The chart outlined 16 different approvals, 29 statutes and five executive orders that apply to a single project. He highlighted that infrastructure approvals are a 10- to 20-year process and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
- [Nonstandard Auto Insurance Market Continues on Downward Path: A.M. Best](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nonstandard-auto-insurance-market-continues-on-downward-path-a-m-best/) - Loss ratios and operating ratios for the U.S. private passenger nonstandard auto insurance market fell to their worst levels in a decade, according to a report from A.M. Best. The results for the population of insurers studied in this report have been deteriorating for a decade, but more so in the past two years.
- [What Is a Qualifying Life Event?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-a-qualifying-life-event/) - When the Affordable Care Act went into effect, it guaranteed that everyone who applied for individual health insurance would be approved for and enrolled in coverage. However, to prevent people from signing up for insurance only when they get sick, the ACA restricted enrollment to specific open enrollment periods—typically a period of three months from November to January.
- [How Medicare and Social Security Impact HSAs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-medicare-and-social-security-impact-hsas/) - Medicare and Social Security are two subjects complicated enough to give anyone a mental workout. However, it’s important for employers and employees alike to understand how Medicare and Social Security affect contributions to a health savings account (HSA).
- [More Senior Citizens Working Past Retirement Age](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/more-senior-citizens-working-past-retirement-age/) - More and more Americans are spending their golden years on the job. Almost 19 percent of people 65 or older were working at least part-time in the second quarter of 2017, according to the U.S. jobs report released on Friday. The age group’s employment/population ratio hasn’t been higher in 55 years, before American retirees won better health care and Social Security benefits starting in the late 1960s.
- [Days of Cyber Insurers Avoiding Costly Claims May Be Numbered: Expert](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/days-of-cyber-insurers-avoiding-costly-claims-may-be-numbered-expert/) - Cyber crime insurers largely avoided costly claims from the recent attacks that hit business around the globe. The next global virus could change that.
- [Construction Wrap-Up Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/construction-wrap-up-insurance/) - Construction Wrap-Up Insurance is a liability policy that serves as all-encompassing insurance which protects all contractors and subcontractors working on a construction project. It is intended for large projects that will be over $10 million in cost. There are different options the main two are owner Controlled insurance programs (OCIP) or contractor controlled insurance programs (CCIP), both have their own benefits and essentially will cover the same things. Lets explore the differences and reasons why some projects choose to have one or the other in place.
- [The Budget Reconciliation Process H.R. 1628 American Health Care Act of 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-budget-reconciliation-process-h-r-1628-american-health-care-act-of-2017/) - By: Robert Pusateri, Capstone Brokerage Benefits Consultant, June 5, 2017 Years ago, the Democrats used budget reconciliation to enact parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so the use of reconciliation to modify the ACA but not repeal it is fitting. Republicans don't have the number of votes to pass the AHCA by standard process.
- [Firework Safety & Homeowners Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/firework-safety-homeowners-insurance/) - It is time to Celebrate American and our independence this year. Part of many Americans celebration will be lighting Fire Works. Are you prepared for the risk involved with this time less celebration of our country’s freedom? Consider the following safety checklist before you light anything this coming holiday.
- [‘Pink Slime’ Media Liability Trial Against ABC Opens in Climate of ‘Fake News’ Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/pink-slime-media-liability-trial-against-abc-opens-in-climate-of-fake-news-claims/) - A South Dakota meat processor’s $5.7 billion defamation lawsuit against American Broadcasting Companies Inc., which opens Monday, pits big agriculture against big media, and is a first major court challenge against a media company since accusations of “fake news” by U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters have become part of the American vernacular.
- [OSHA Proposes Beryllium Rule Revision](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-proposes-beryllium-rule-revision/) - The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released a proposed beryllium rule that would modify standards for the construction and shipyard sectors, and announced it will not enforce the current standards on these industries without further notice.
- [Recreational Pot Sales in Nevada in Limbo](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/recreational-pot-sales-in-nevada-in-limbo/) - A judge added to the uncertainty Tuesday when he extended a temporary order barring the state from issuing pot distribution licenses to existing medical marijuana dispensaries so they can begin recreational sales July 1.
- [Accident Claims Increase in Legalized Marijuana States: Study](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/accident-claims-increase-in-legalized-marijuana-states-study/) - A new study has found an increase in accident insurance claims in three states that allow people to smoke or consume marijuana legally.
- [US Muni Market lowly Starts Paying Heed to Cyber Risks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/us-muni-market-lowly-starts-paying-heed-to-cyber-risks/) - A rise in cyber attacks on U.S. public sector targets so far has had little impact in the $3.8 trillion municipal debt market, with no issuer as yet hit by a downgrade or higher borrowing costs because of a cyber security threat.
- [Human Behavior At Center of Workplace Safety Debate](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/human-behavior-at-center-of-workplace-safety-debate/) - A clash of workplace safety philosophies was on display at a safety conference on Wednesday, with panelists debating the extent to which employees are part of the problem or the solution to reducing workplace safety incidents.
- [How the AHCA Affects Small Business and Individual Taxation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-the-ahca-affects-small-business-and-individual-taxation/) - Much has been said about the passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by the House of Representatives in May. The Republican-sponsored legislation is the first successful attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and though it faces considerable scrutiny in the Senate, it signals a desire among many for significant change in U.S. health care policy.
- [Cortez Masto Co-Sponsors Bill To Address Rural County Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cortez-masto-co-sponsors-bill-to-address-rural-county-health-insurance/) - U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said Thursday she’s co-sponsoring a bill intended to address health insurance problems such as the ones Nevadans face in many rural counties.
- [Why We Shouldn’t Drug Test Poor People](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-we-shouldnt-drug-test-poor-people/) - The Senate Republicans’ stalled effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act is not the only profound threat to our health care system. If Gov. Scott Walker gets his wish, Wisconsin will be the first state that requires adults without children to undergo drug testing if they want to receive Medicaid. Other states could follow his plan.
- [How Health Costs Would Soar for Older Americans Under the Senate Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-health-costs-would-soar-for-older-americans-under-the-senate-plan/) - In its analysis of the Republican health care bill, the Congressional Budget Office said something confusing: The bill would lower the price of the average health plan, but health insurance would still cost much more for many people, especially for older Americans.
- [Uber App Users Can Now Schedule Rides for Others](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uber-app-users-can-now-schedule-rides-for-others/) - Uber’s ride-hailing app is making it easier for its users to set up trips for seniors and others who may not know their way around a smartphone but still need help getting around town. The new feature, released on Tuesday in an app update, is primarily designed for Uber users who want a simple way to arrange rides for parents, grandparents and other loved ones unable to drive themselves. Previously, Uber users ordering on behalf of another passenger had to call the driver to explain the situation.
- [Global Shipping Still Reeling from Cyber Attack; Insurers Warn of Coverage Gaps](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/global-shipping-still-reeling-from-cyber-attack-insurers-warn-of-coverage-gaps/) - Global shipping is still feeling the effects of a cyber attack that hit A.P. Moller-Maersk two days ago, showing the scale of the damage a computer virus can unleash on the technology dependent and inter-connected industry. About 90 percent of world trade is transported by sea, with ships and ports acting as the arteries of the global economy. Ports increasingly rely on communications systems to keep operations running smoothly, and any IT glitches can create major disruptions for complex logistic supply chains.
- [Auto Insurance Market to Shrink by 70% by 2050: KPMG](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/auto-insurance-market-to-shrink-by-70-by-2050-kpmg/) - Autonomous vehicle technology, a rise in on-demand transportation and a shifting of liability to manufacturers will shrink the auto insurance sector by more than 70 percent or $137 billion by 2050, according to updated research by KPMG. In a 2015 report, KPMG said the market would shrink by as much as 60 percent by 2040.
- [For the First Time, 45 Counties Could Have No Insurer in the Obamacare Marketplaces](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/for-the-first-time-45-counties-could-have-no-insurer-in-the-obamacare-marketplaces/) - Next year, about 35,000 people buying insurance in Affordable Care Act marketplaces in 45 counties could have no carriers to choose from. This would be the first time that has happened since the marketplaces were opened in 2014.
- [How and Why More Insurers Are Turning to Bots](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-and-why-more-insurers-are-turning-to-bots/) - As more bots handle claims and perform underwriting tasks, should human employees be concerned? Human industry experts say there’s no need to worry.
- [What Is Blockchain and How Does It Work?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-blockchain-and-how-does-it-work/) - While everyone talks about blockchain, also known as mutual distributed ledger technology, just a few people actually know what this technology can do and how it could someday revolutionize the re/insurance industry, just by streamlining back-office processes.
- [Cyber Insurance Takeup Rises, Though Overall Penetration Remains Low](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-insurance-takeup-rises-though-overall-penetration-remains-low/) - The takeup rate for cyber insurance is increasing, although still less than one-third of firms are buying it, says a survey issued Thursday by the Washington-based Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.
- [Opioid Guidelines for Injured Federal Workers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/opioid-guidelines-for-injured-federal-workers/) - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Division of Federal Employees' Compensation in August will begin phasing in opioid prescribing guidelines for federal workers who are injured on the job, according to an announcement made earlier this month.
- [OSHA delays Electronic Record-Keeping Rule Compliance Date](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-delays-electronic-record-keeping-rule-compliance-date/) - The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration will delay the July 1 compliance date for the electronic submission of the 2016 Form 300A, the agency said Wednesday
- [Here’s What the House Has in Mind for Revamping Flood Insurance Program](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/heres-what-the-house-has-in-mind-for-revamping-flood-insurance-program/) - A much-anticipated House subcommittee proposal on flood insurance promises to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years beyond its September 30 expiration date.
- [States Move to Ban Asking Job Applicants About Past Salary](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/states-move-to-ban-asking-job-applicants-about-past-salary/) - An awkward job interview question — how much did you make at your last job? — is getting banned in some parts of the country. Massachusetts, New York City and Philadelphia have passed laws that bar employers from asking applicants about their salary history. And several states, including California, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, have proposed similar legislation this year.
- [Brokerage president’s advice: Every day, be a little better than you were the day before!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/brokerage-presidents-advice-every-day-be-a-little-better-than-you-were-the-day-before/) - Never stop learning and never say “try.” Always have an “I can” approach. When you believe in yourself and the purpose in which you have been given, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
- [Large Claims Becoming More Expensive, Complex & Global: Allianz](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/large-claims-becoming-more-expensive-complex-global-allianz/) - Large liability claims are becoming more expensive, complex and international, with activity increasing outside the United States, according a report published by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).
- [Why Having Cell Phone Conversations While Driving Is Risky](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-having-cell-phone-conversations-while-driving-is-risky/) - It’s generally acknowledged that talking on a cell phone impedes driving ability. But new research from the University of Iowa is showing how even a simple conversation can affect the brain’s ability to focus on the roadway
- [The Drug Incentive That Leads to Greater Hospitalizations](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-drug-incentive-that-leads-to-greater-hospitalizations/) - Many studies have demonstrated what economics theory tells us must be true: When consumers have to pay more for their prescriptions, they take fewer drugs. That can be a big problem.
- [Insurance Coverage of Chiropractic: Quick Facts](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-coverage-of-chiropractic-quick-facts/) - The American Chiropractic Association - Chiropractic care is available to members of the armed forces at more than 60 military bases in the U.S., and more than 60 Veteran’s Administration (VA) medical facilities. - The U.S. Congress has authorized that certain chiropractic services for all Americans be covered by Medicare and Medicaid. - Federal employees
- [How the QSEHRA Works for Me](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-the-qsehra-works-for-me/) - I love working for a small business. In a smaller office, my day-to-day impact is much bigger, and when I wake up in the mornings, I know I’m going to make a difference.
- [How the QSEHRA Works for Employees Without Minimum Essential Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-the-qsehra-works-for-employees-without-minimum-essential-coverage/) - When Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016, it created a new health plan for small businesses—the Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA), or Small Business HRA.
- [How a Little-Known Nevada Insurance Law Benefits Residents](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-a-little-known-nevada-insurance-law-benefits-residents/) - A little-publicized Nevada law provides residents with a unique opportunity that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the Untied States. NRS 687B.480, which took How a little-known Nevada law benefits residentseffect January 2014, allows uninsured residents to buy an individual insurance policy any time during the year.
- [Supreme Court Limits Where Injury Lawsuits Against Firms Can Be Brought](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/supreme-court-limits-where-injury-lawsuits-against-firms-can-be-brought/) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday tightened rules on where injury lawsuits may be filed, handing a victory to corporations by undercutting the ability of plaintiffs to bring claims in friendly courts in a case involving Texas-based BNSF Railway Co.
- [Toyota, MIT Lab Eye Using Blockchain in Insurance Rating of Driverless and Shared Vehicles](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/toyota-mit-lab-eye-using-blockchain-in-insurance-rating-of-driverless-and-shared-vehicles/) - The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is exploring blockchain and distributed ledger technology (BC/DL) for use in the development of driverless cars. TRI is collaborating with the MIT Media Lab and other industry partners on ways that both businesses and consumers may share driving and autonomous vehicle testing data, manage ride-share and car-share transactions and store vehicle usage information that could be used in the setting of insurance rates.
- [Underwriting How it Can Impact Insurance Coverage and Premium Cost](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/underwriting-how-it-can-impact-insurance-coverage-and-premium-cost/) - When it comes to obtaining or renewing business insurance policies such as general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial automobile coverage, property etc., typically the business, policy coverage and risk associated with the policy will go through what is called underwriting. Each insurance company has it's own set of underwriting guidelines when determining if they are willing to take the risk of the insured.
- [Insurance Policy Sections Explained](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-policy-sections-explained/) - Understanding insurance can be tricky especially when it comes to understanding the wording in your policy. A insurance policy is a contact between the policy holder and the insurance company providing the insured, insurance. A few common sections of a policy include a declaration page, definitions, insuring agreement, exclusions, conditions, exclusions, and riders.
- [How to Switch to Your Spouse's Health Insurance Policy Midyear](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-switch-to-your-spouses-health-insurance-policy-midyear/) - Married couples share a lot of things, including health insurance coverage in How to Switch to Your Spouse’s Health Insurance Policy Midyearsome cases. If you want to switch to a spouse’s policy—or your spouse wants to enroll in yours—it’s usually an easy task to accomplish. However, it’s important to get the timing right and to know when you’re eligible for special enrollment periods.
- [How Trump Insurance Changes Could Affect Coverage Next Year](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-trump-insurance-changes-could-affect-coverage-next-year/) - A much tighter sign-up deadline and coverage delays will be waiting for some health insurance customers now that President Donald Trump's administration has finished a plan designed to stabilize shaky insurance markets. Shoppers will have a shorter time period to choose a 2018 plan and a harder time enrolling outside that window if they lose a job or have some other special circumstance that affects their coverage. Insurers also will have more flexibility to design lower-cost coverage under a set of changes announced Thursday for the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges.
- [How Your Selfie Could Affect Your Life Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-your-selfie-could-affect-your-life-insurance/) - A selfie reveals more than whether it's a good hair day. Facial lines and contours, droops and dark spots could indicate how well you're aging, and, when paired with other data, could someday help determine whether you qualify for life insurance. "Your face is something you wear all your life, and it tells a very unique story about you," says Karl Ricanek Jr., co-founder and chief data scientist at Lapetus Solutions Inc. in Wilmington, North Carolina.
- [UnitedHealth Planning for Costly 2018 Health Insurance Tax](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/unitedhealth-planning-for-costly-2018-health-insurance-tax/) - NEW YORK — UnitedHealth Group Inc Chief Executive Steven Hemsley said on Tuesday that the company is planning for higher 2018 premiums and lower benefits based on the return of an industry wide 3 percent health insurance tax that will raise costs.
- [Making a Federal Case Out of ‘Legal’ Marijuana Insurance Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/making-a-federal-case-out-of-legal-marijuana-insurance-claims/) - Michael Johnston, the great, great grandson of the founder of one of the first Baptist churches in Texas, grew up being constantly warned about sin, including the evils of television and dancing. Thus it is a bit strange even to him that he has come to be known as the “marijuana guy” among insurance claims professionals.
- [Personalized Employee Benefits More Desirable Than Ever](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/personalized-employee-benefits-more-desirable-than-ever/) - Businesses large and small are abandoning group health policies in favor of alternatives like the Small Business HRA. As the job market continues to become more competitive over the next three to five years, businesses must focus on offering the flexible, personalized health benefits employees want—and businesses that do will be positioned to hire and keep the best people.
- [Cyber Insurance: Many Choices Now That There Is No Choice](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-insurance-many-choices-now-that-there-is-no-choice/) - Every organization, of every size and operational orientation, needs cyber insurance to manage its exposures in this age of networked information. That was one thing speakers agreed on at the recent 2017 Cyber Liability Symposium held by the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS).
- [Protect Your Hands OSHA Requirements](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/protect-your-hands-osha-requirements/) - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the second line of defense for protecting your hands from injuries. There are many glove selections for different applications. Using an ill-fitted glove is just as dangerous as not using a glove at all.
- [Involved In An Automobile Accident, What Now?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/involved-in-an-automobile-accident-what-now/) - Automobile accidents can be scary and stressful for all parties involved. Sometimes in the moment we may not think about everything to do after the accident has taken place. Part of the process is dependent on automobile coverage and what the insurance carrier requires of the insured after an accident. Being aware of what is expected and required as a driver can prepare you for when an accident takes place.
- [The Parts of Obamacare Republicans Will Keep, Change or Discard](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-parts-of-obamacare-republicans-will-keep-change-or-discard/) - House Republicans on Monday unveiled legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The bill would fundamentally change how health care is financed for people who do not have insurance through work, and it would eliminate the mandate requiring most Americans to have health insurance, a centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act.
- [Captives Can Fill Coverage Hole For Emerging Technology](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/captives-can-fill-coverage-hole-for-emerging-technology/) - Captive insurers will help fill the coverage gaps that exist for emerging technologies, such as new entertainment and social platforms, driverless cars, drone delivery, and more, according to captive experts.
- [Risk Assessments Can Help Determine Cyber Insurance Needs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/risk-assessments-can-help-determine-cyber-insurance-needs/) - Firms considering cyber coverage should begin by assessing their risks and perils and considering whether these are already covered or excluded by other policies, says a report issued Thursday by the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc.
- [Discount Savings Website Must Face Electronic Fund Transfer Lawsuit](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/discount-savings-website-must-face-electronic-fund-transfer-lawsuit/) - Another issue here is the EFTA requires a consumer be provided with a copy of the electronic fund transfer authorization, said the ruling. “Park’s allegations regarding his lack of knowledge of the purported authorization, and Webloyalty’s failure to provide a copy of such authorization were sufficient on their face,” said the ruling, in reinstating the charge.
- [Terror Risk From Small Domestic Dones Has U.S Officials Worried](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/terror-risk-from-small-domestic-dones-has-u-s-officials-worried/) - (Bloomberg) -- The potential for terrorists to pack small consumer drones with explosives or to use them as weapons has become a “tangible reality” in the U.S. that keeps security teams awake at night, two officials said.
- [Workplace Weed Use Leaves Employers Scratching Their Heads](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workplace-weed-use-leaves-employers-scratching-their-heads/) - When Jeffrey Zucker needs to get a lot done at work, he eats half a weed gummy. Far from putting him at risk of a Maureen Dowd-level stupor, the 5-milligram dose of THC he gets gives him just a slight buzz that makes him more focused and creative, he says.
- [Misinformation Leads to Auto Premium Leakage of $29B Per Year](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/misinformation-leads-to-auto-premium-leakage-of-29b-per-year/) - Verisk Analytics estimates that personal lines automobile insurers face at least a $29 billion annual problem from premium leakage—omitted or misstated underwriting information that leads to inaccurate rates.
- [Why Hoarding Impacts Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-hoarding-impacts-claims/) - According to the National Fire Protection Association, hoarding is defined as “collecting or keeping large amounts of various items in the home due to strong urges to save them or distress experienced when discarding them. Many rooms in the home are so filled with possessions that residents can no longer use the rooms as designed. The home is so overloaded with things that everyday living is compromised.”
- [The Hartford Fire Index: Top 100 Cities With Highest Fire Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-hartford-fire-index-top-100-cities-with-highest-fire-risk/) - A new report released by The Hartford highlights the 100 U.S. cities with the highest home fire risk. According to The Hartford Home Fire Index, the top five cities are:
- [Commercial Property Insurer FM Global Reports Rise in Gross Premium, Profits in 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/commercial-property-insurer-fm-global-reports-rise-in-gross-premium-profits-in-2016/) - FM Global, a global business property insurer, posted an improved combined ratio of 83.2 percent in 2016—compared to 85.3 percent a year earlier—which was a market-leading result for the fourth consecutive year.
- [Top 10 Causes of Liability Losses Include Bedbugs, Crashes and Defective Products](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-10-causes-of-liability-losses-include-bedbugs-crashes-and-defective-products/) - Not only are liability losses increasing but they are getting more expensive, particularly in relation to global product recalls, corporate liability, cyber and environmental incidents, according to a new report by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). Global Claims Review: Liability in Focus identifies defective product or work, crash and human error incidents as the largest causes of liability loss for businesses, based on analysis of insurance claims.
- [Renting Your Home Out, By the Hour](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/renting-your-home-out-by-the-hour/) - Like other New Yorkers, Alex Story occasionally rents out her home through Airbnb, relinquishing her East Village townhouse to strangers who sleep in her bed, eat in her kitchen and lounge on her sofa. But she has found a less intrusive way to profit from her property: She rents it out by the hour, instead.
- [](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/5971-2/) - WASHINGTON — The tanning industry found little to celebrate during Barack Obama’s presidency, but it’s starting to cheer up.
- [How to Beat the Robots](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-beat-the-robots/) - Maybe the automation of jobs will eventually create new, better jobs. Maybe it will put us all out of work. But as we argue about this, work is changing.
- [Repeal of Health Law Faces a New Hurdle: Older Americans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/repeal-of-health-law-faces-a-new-hurdle-older-americans/) - AARP and its allies are bombarding congressional offices with objections as two House committees plan to vote on the Republicans’ bill this week. If the law is repealed, the groups say, people in their 50s and 60s could see premiums rise by $2,000 to $3,000 a year or more: increases of 20 percent to 25 percent or higher.
- [Don't Skip Paying Tax Penalty Now, Even If You Expect Obamacare To Be Repealed](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/dont-skip-paying-tax-penalty-now-even-if-you-expect-obamacare-to-be-repealed/) - As long as the individual mandate — which requires most people to have health coverage or face a tax penalty — is the law of the land, you should pay the fine for not having coverage in 2016 unless you qualify for an exemption.
- [How to Boost Employee Retention and Reduce Turnover](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-boost-employee-retention-and-reduce-turnover/) - Employee turnover is expensive, costing businesses six to nine months’ salary onHow to Boost Employee Retention and Reduce Turnover average. Savvy employers recognize that keeping their people means more than just delivering paychecks on time. Businesses can support their employees by:
- [Small Business Employee Benefits and HR Blog  How Nonprofits Can Offer Affordable Health Insurance in 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-employee-benefits-and-hr-blog-how-nonprofits-can-offer-affordable-health-insurance-in-2017/) - All businesses face challenges, but nonprofits often struggle with different How Nonprofits Can Offer Affordable Health Insurance in 2017obstacles compared to their for-profit counterparts. Among the most pressing challenges facing nonprofits today are a lack of resources, creation of a sustainable business model, and donor retention.
- [5 Questions Businesses with Employees in Multiple States Should Ask About Health Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/5-questions-businesses-with-employees-in-multiple-states-should-ask-about-health-benefits/) - One of the biggest concerns multistate businesses face is how to provide health benefits to workers scattered across the country. If this sounds like your business, here are five questions to ask when considering your benefits options
- [Compliance Concerns with Multistate Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/compliance-concerns-with-multistate-health-insurance/) - There are many advantages to employing workers across state lines. Businesses Compliance Concerns with Multistate Health Insurancecan choose from a larger talent pool, and surveys show that remote employees are happier and more productive on average than in-office employees.
- [Special Enrollment Periods and the Small Business HRA](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/special-enrollment-periods-and-the-small-business-hra/) - Currently, implementing a Small Business HRA midyear doesn't qualify employees for a special enrollment period. That means only employees with existing minimal essential coverage, whether through their own individual policy or a spouse's plan, will be able to access Small Business HRA funds prior to open enrollment.
- [Personal Auto Rate Hikes Not Keeping Up with Losses: Fitch](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/personal-auto-rate-hikes-not-keeping-up-with-losses-fitch/) - Loss trends are still outpacing rate changes. Also, the U.S. P/C industry statutory combined ratio will likely hit 108 in the coming months, a 3.5 percentage point rise and the weakest result in 15 years, Fitch Ratings noted in a new report.
- [Medical Malpractice Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-malpractice-coverage/) - Medical professional liability insurance is one type of professional liability insurance that protects Physicians and other licensed health care professionals from liability associated with their patients and the care provided. A single Medical Malpractice Insurance claim carries the potential to financially and professionally devastate even established medical providers and practitioners.
- [Underwriters and Adjusters Snoozing While Cruising Argues for Full Autonomy in Vehicles](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-ultimate-how-to-insurance-guide-for-agents-brokers-underwriters-and-adjusters-snoozing-while-cruising-argues-for-full-autonomy-in-vehicles/) - Company researchers have tried to roust the engineers with bells, buzzers, warning lights, vibrating seats and shaking steering wheels. They’ve even put a second engineer in the vehicle to keep tabs on his human counterpart. No matter — the smooth ride was just too lulling and engineers struggled to maintain “situational awareness,” said Raj Nair, Ford’s product development chief.
- [U.S. Designates 10 Sites for Testing Autonomous Vehicles](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-designates-10-sites-for-testing-autonomous-vehicles/) - The U.S. Department of Transportation recently designated 10 “proving grounds” to encourage safe testing of automated vehicle technologies.
- [Bill Introduced to Lower Age for Legal Gambling in Nevada](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/bill-introduced-to-lower-age-for-legal-gambling-in-nevada/) - Assembly Bill 86, sponsored by Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, R-Minden, would drop the legal gambling threshold from 21 to 18 years of age.
- [Amazon Says Alexa Doesn’t Eavesdrop, but Some Skeptics Wonder](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/amazon-says-alexa-doesnt-eavesdrop-but-some-skeptics-wonder/) - Wynn Resorts Ltd. recently announced it is placing an Amazon Echo in every Las Vegas guest room. How many visitors know that their requests could be stored and retrieved, not by the hotel, but by Amazon?
- [Electronic Table Games Developer Continues Las Vegas Expansion](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/electronic-table-games-developer-continues-las-vegas-expansion/) - Interblock d.d., a developer of multi-player electronic table games, continues to expand its staff in Las Vegas as sales expand at a double-digit clip, Chief Executive Officer John Connelly said. Interblock, whose corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Slovenia, has nearly tripled Las Vegas staff to 73 since January 2015 as it hires for its several departments including legal, marketing, finance and compliance departments.
- [With Growth of the Gig Economy, States Rethink How Workers Get Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/with-growth-of-the-gig-economy-states-rethink-how-workers-get-benefits/) - As more and more Americans hold nontraditional jobs that don’t have benefits attached — think freelance graphic designers or Uber drivers — cities and states are exploring ways to ensure those workers still have access to workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and other support such as help paying for health insurance. Think tanks and some tech and labor leaders have called for truly “portable” accounts that travel with the worker no matter how he or she earns money. Washington state Rep. Jessyn Farrell, a Democrat, proposed a bill last week that takes a first step toward a more flexible, inclusive benefit system.
- [Nevada Approves 10.7% Workers Comp Rate Decrease](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-approves-10-7-workers-comp-rate-decrease/) - Nevada Insurance Commissioner Barbara D. Richardson has approved an average 10.7% decrease in voluntary workers compensation loss costs for the state, effective March 1.
- [Time Limit Proposed for Permanent Total Disability Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/time-limit-proposed-for-permanent-total-disability-benefits/) - A bill moved forward Tuesday that would limit permanent total disability workers compensation benefits paid to Arkansas workers.
- [Changes For The Affordable Care Act May Come Soon](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/changes-for-the-affordable-care-act-may-come-soon/) - Last month President Trump signed and executive order to minimize the financial burden of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Today what is being proposed as possible changes to the Affordable Care Act have become a hot topic in the news. While nothing has changed YET changes seem to be imminent. Currently this is what is being discussed by our government as changes to possibly go before congress.
- [Automobile Insurance On The Rise, Technology to Blame](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/automobile-insurance-on-the-rise-technology-to-blame/) - Automobile insurance is in place to protect those on the road. As Americans continue to take their eyes off of the road, a new danger has been rising over the years since technology became a huge part of our everyday lives. Now our wallets are going to start paying the price for something that has become somewhat of an epidemic. Cell phones, Smart Phones, Tablets and computers are now readily available on the go and the risk is HUGE!
- [What to Do Now to Retire Better](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-to-do-now-to-retire-better/) - Here are steps to get your financial situation in shape, whether you are closing in on retirement or just starting out.
- [Health Law Created Winners and Losers When Buying Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-law-created-winners-and-losers-when-buying-insurance/) - WASHINGTON — Michael Schwarz is a self-employed business owner who buys his own health insurance. Subsidized coverage through "Obamacare" offers protection from life's unpredictable changes and freedom to pursue his vocation, he says.
- [Average Health Insurance Costs for 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/average-health-insurance-costs-for-2017/) - An analysis of individual and family health insurance policies available Affordable Care Act Policy Costs Up in 2017 in 2017 reveals that costs have increased across the board from 2016.
- [The Least and Most Expensive States for Group Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-least-and-most-expensive-states-for-group-health-insurance/) - You probably already know that the cost of living varies greatly from region to The Least and Most Expensive States for Group Health Insuranceregion. Where you live dictates how much you pay for just about everything, from housing to the cost of dinner at your favorite restaurant.
- [FAQ - How Much Does Individual Health Insurance Cost?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faq-how-much-does-individual-health-insurance-cost/) - Many people assume that individual health insurance, which is insurance you purchase on your own, is more expensive than group health insurance, which is a policy an employee gets through their company.
- [Survey Reveals Wellness Programs Lower Employee Stress](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/survey-reveals-wellness-programs-lower-employee-stress/) - Working life can be stressful, but according to a recent survey by workplace wellness provider MediKeeper, American workers report less stress when their workplace has a wellness program in place.
- [17 Million U.S. Homes Worth $4.9 Trillion Are in Environmental Hazard Zones](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/17-million-u-s-homes-worth-4-9-trillion-are-in-environmental-hazard-zones/) - Millions of homes and condominiums across the country are in high danger zones for environmental hazards. According to the Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Index, produced by ATTOM Data Solutions, 17.3 million single family homes and condos with a combined estimated market value of $4.9 trillion are in zip codes with high or very high risk for at least one of four environmental hazards: Superfunds, brownfields, polluters or poor air quality.
- [OSHA Revised Requirements 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-revised-requirements-2017/) - Effective January 1, 2017, OSHA has revised its requirements for recording and submitting workplace injury records and illnesses. The OSHA Final Rule on Electronic Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses revisions require that some recorded information is submitted to OSHA electronically.
- [The Many Benefits to Having a Personal Insurance Broker](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-many-benefits-to-having-a-personal-insurance-broker/) - Sure anyone can call an insurance company and get a policy that will cover their needs for insurance but are you getting the best coverage for your money?, An insurance broker can make sure that you are. Most consumers know they need coverage and just want the cost to be affordable. Consumers want to get coverage the easiest way possible, they want peace of mind that their assets are covered and most importantly want to have their personal information is secure.
- [The Affordable Care Act, What Does President Trump's Executive Order Mean for Healthcare?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-affordable-care-act-what-does-president-trumps-executive-order-mean-for-healthcare/) - One of the first orders of business for President Trump after taking office was to sign an executive order to minimize the financial burden of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). An executive order is an official document that the president signs and will then in turn declare government policy. Think of the order as a mission statement; it is not something that can instantly change the law. An executive order is how a President can give instructions to government agencies and departments to operate in different aspects of government.
- [Higher Gasoline, Rental Costs Boost U.S. Consumer Inflation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/higher-gasoline-rental-costs-boost-u-s-consumer-inflation/) - U.S. consumer prices increased in December as households paid more for gasoline and rental accommodation, leading to the largest year-on-year increase in 2-1/2 years and signaling that inflation pressures could be building.
- [Small Business Employee Benefits and HR Blog  The State of Health Insurance Cost in 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-employee-benefits-and-hr-blog-the-state-of-health-insurance-cost-in-2017/) - Health insurance costs have increased sharply in 2017. The effects of the increases have been widespread, reaching both group health policies and affecting costs on the individual market. If you didn’t encounter rate hikes yourself, you probably know someone who did.
- [Trump Promises "Insurance for Everybody"](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/trump-promises-insurance-for-everybody/) - “We’re going to have insurance for everybody. There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it. That’s not going to happen with us,” president-elect Donald J. Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post.
- [Insurers Adopting Smart Home Policies: Study](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurers-adopting-smart-home-policies-study/) - A combination of consumer demand and industry interest could create a wave of smart home technology and IoT disruption for home insurers in the near future
- [Why Cyber Claims Will Continue to Grow](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-cyber-claims-will-continue-to-grow/) - As the fastest growing coverage in the country, cyber insurance is certainly an exciting and dynamic space in which to operate. But, exponential growth also brings challenges and unexpected roadblocks. With that in mind, IBA sat down with Kari Stern, Claims Manager at NAS Insurance Services, to find out how she’s managing the rapidly evolving industry, her biggest challenges of 2016, and to ask what major trends she foresees impacting the cyber space in 2017.
- [Business Interruption Remains Top Corporate Concern in 2017: Allianz](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/business-interruption-remains-top-corporate-concern-in-2017-allianz/) - Business interruption is a top global corporate risk for the fifth year in a row. But worries about Brexit and incoming U.S. President Donald Trump also made the list of companies’ 2017 fears and uncertainties in a new Allianz report. About 37 percent of respondents rated business interruption as their biggest risk worry, essentially even with 2016, the latest annual Allianz Risk Barometer noted. This year’s report – Allianz’s sixth annual – was based on a survey of 1,237 risk experts from 55 countries.
- [Medicaid’s Data Gets an Internet-Era Makeover](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medicaids-data-gets-an-internet-era-makeover/) - Medicaid, which provides health care to low-income people, is administered state by state. Extracting, cleaning and curating the information from so many disparate and dated computer systems was an extraordinary achievement, health and technology specialists say. This new collection of data could inform the coming debate on Medicaid spending.
- [2017 Cyber Risks to Intensify as Hackers Become More Cunning: Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2017-cyber-risks-to-intensify-as-hackers-become-more-cunning-report/) - Top cyber threats during 2017 are expected to include nation state cyber espionage, a rise in data integrity attacks and an increase in attacks harnessing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, according to a report published by Stroz Friedberg, an Aon company. Cyber attacks will intensify this year as “exploit techniques become more cunning,” said the report, titled “2017 Cybersecurity Predictions.”
- [Long-Acting Opioid Painkiller Arymo Wins FDA Approval](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/long-acting-opioid-painkiller-arymo-wins-fda-approval/) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it has approved Egalet Corp.'s long-acting opioid painkiller, Arymo ER.
- [How to Help Insureds Manage Customer Privacy Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-help-insureds-manage-customer-privacy-risk/) - Insurance carriers and agents have come to learn that increased data can lead to greater risk for insureds, and they are increasingly advising businesses to disclose data collection practices while seeking to gain insurance coverage, according to David Garrett, president of CISO Advisory & Investigations LLC. “It is not unusual now for insurance applications to include specific questions about applicants’ data collection practices,” Garrett said.
- [Driverless Cars Mapping Route from Labs to Driveways](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/driverless-cars-mapping-route-from-labs-to-driveways/) - Car electronics supplier Delphi Automotive Plc went coast-to-coast in 2015 in a self-driving Audi Q5 sport-utility vehicle to prove the autonomous automobile had arrived. Now, Delphi is shifting from stunts to selling. In Las Vegas this week at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, the company will give test rides to hundreds of potential customers in driverless Audis over a course of rugged terrain and tunnels. The goal: to walk away from this critical conclave with a handful of hot prospects for its self-driving system.
- [Growing Health Insurance Concern: The Underinsured Epidemic](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/growing-health-insurance-concern-the-underinsured-epidemic/) - The most recent Biennial Health Insurance Survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund indicates that the number of Americans who are underinsured is increasing.
- [Newest Big Thing in Drones Is Technology to Block Them](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/newest-big-thing-in-drones-is-technology-to-block-them/) - A boom in consumer drone sales has spawned a counter-industry of start-ups aiming to stop drones flying where they shouldn’t by disabling them or knocking them out of the sky.
- [Am I Covered?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/am-i-covered-unique-insurance-events-in-your-home/) - Most of us are familiar with the normal type of incidences that claims arise from. We know what typical home & auto insurance policies cover. Your having home catches on fire. Covered. You’re teaching your teenage son to drive and he rear-ends the neighbor’s car. Covered. Your aunt runs into your home with her car because she is having trouble with depth perception. Covered. With the holidays and winter fast approaching there are many things to think about when it comes to your personal insurance policies. Do you know what your homeowners and automobile policy cover? Are you insured if your home floods? Are you insured if you are in an automobile accident when driving someone’s vehicle? Are you insured for unexpected events?
- [Fire Safety in the Office, Does Your Company Meet the OSHA Requriements?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fire-safety-in-the-office-does-your-company-meet-the-osha-requriements/) - Among all the safety problems an employee can encounter, fire can be the most frightening. Every year office fires cause millions of dollars in damage and result in hundreds of employee injuries. Yet many employees do not realize how their own actions can contribute to the risk of fire.
- [U.S. Calls on Banks to Set Higher Cyber Security Standards](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-calls-on-banks-to-set-higher-cyber-security-standards/) - U.S. bank regulators on Wednesday outlined cyber security standards meant to protect financial markets and consumers from online attacks against the nation's leading financial firms. Leading banks will be expected to use the most sophisticated anti-hacking tools on the market and to be able to recover from any attack within two hours, said officials briefing reporters on the plan.
- [Specialty Market Keeps Grip on Cyber Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/specialty-market-keeps-grip-on-cyber-risk/) - ATLANTA — Cyber liability insurance is offered by most big-name insurers, but it remains, and will continue to remain for the foreseeable future, largely an excess and surplus lines product. The changing nature of the coverage and the size of the risks involved make it a natural for the nonadmitted market, experts say. However, admitted insurers have made inroads into the cyber liability insurance sector and will likely grow their share, they say. David J. Bresnahan, Boston-based executive vice president of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co., said he estimates that some 90% of cyber insurance business is in the nonadmitted market.
- [Cyber Insurance Coverage Levels On The Rise](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-insurance-coverage-levels-on-the-rise/) - Nearly 40% of policyholders who have purchased cyber insurance over the past six months have increased their coverage levels, according to a survey by the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers issued Wednesday. Meanwhile, the average takeup rate for cyber insurance increased to about 29%, compared with the 25% reported in the Washington-based council’s semiannual April 2016 survey.
- [Smart Homes, Appliances May be Cyber Hackers Next Target](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/smart-homes-appliances-may-be-cyber-hackers-next-target/) - That’s the apocalyptic headline we could be reading one day, given the seemingly unassailable trend toward connecting mundane items to the internet. Don’t think it’s too far-fetched, either. More than $970 billion is expected to be spent on Internet of Things devices next year, according to data from Bloomberg Intelligence and IDC. It’s no mistake that “things” is the chosen noun to describe every and any gadget that can be connected to a network. Few other words encompass the vastness, and “stuff” just isn’t elegant.
- [Current Workers’ Comp System Outdated, Contributes to Worker Poverty](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/current-workers-comp-system-outdated-contributes-to-worker-poverty/) - The century old state workers’ compensation system is outdated, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The system needs to be reset and reshaped to address the needs of today’s employees, according to David Michaels, the assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Stakeholders, including workers, employers, insurance carriers, unions and government agencies will all need to take part in the conversation.
- [Safety Requirements Could Reduce Farm Vehicle Crashes by 50%](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/safety-requirements-could-reduce-farm-vehicle-crashes-by-50/) - A new study from the University of Iowa College of Public Health has found that traffic accidents involving farm vehicles in the Midwest would decrease by more than 50 percent if state policies required more lighting and reflection on those vehicles. The study by the college’s Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health (GPCAH) compared rates of farm equipment–related crashes in nine Midwestern states in the context of the states’ policies on lighting and marking vehicles. Those states report an average of more than 1,100 farm vehicle-related crashes each year, often causing severe or fatal injuries.
- [Tesla CEO Says Media Doing Disservice in Criticizing Self-Driving Cars](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tesla-ceo-says-media-doing-disservice-in-criticizing-self-driving-cars/) - Self-driving cars hold the promise of saving thousands of lives each year on U.S. roads. But does pointing out flaws with the technology effectively put people in danger? That claim was put forth last week by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, who criticized the media for harping on the relatively few crashes involving Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving system called Autopilot, while saying little about the about the 1.2 million people who die worldwide each year in human-driven vehicles.
- [Health Law Tax Penalty? I’ll Take It, Millions Say](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-law-tax-penalty-ill-take-it-millions-say/) - The architects of the Affordable Care Act thought they had a blunt instrument to force people — even young and healthy ones — to buy insurance through the law’s online marketplaces: a tax penalty for those who remain uninsured.
- [How Much Is It Worth to Hold Your Newborn? $40, Apparently](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-much-is-it-worth-to-hold-your-newborn-40-apparently/) - By: Jonah Engel Bromwich, NY Times, October 2016 After holding his newborn son for the first time at a Utah hospital last month, a man found a strange charge on his bill: $39.35. The man, Ryan Grassley, thought the charge, which appeared to be for holding his baby to his wife’s chest, was a bit
- [Can’t Find a Plan on HealthCare.gov? One May Be Picked for You.](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cant-find-a-plan-on-healthcare-gov-one-may-be-picked-for-you/) - The federal government will choose health plans for hundreds of thousands of consumers whose insurers have left the Affordable Care Act marketplace unless those people opt out of the law’s exchanges or select plans on their own, under a new policy to make sure consumers maintain coverage in 2017.
- [Drug Coupons: Helping a Few at the Expense of Everyone](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/drug-coupons-helping-a-few-at-the-expense-of-everyone/) - It is a good deal for those people. But these seemingly generous coupons may be making drug costs higher for everyone. New research suggests that co-payment coupons can actually increase total health care spending by encouraging patients to choose more expensive drugs when there are lower-priced substitutes available. Those high costs can then boomerang back to patients in the form of higher insurance premiums.
- [Health Care Law’s Beneficiaries Reflect Its Strengths, and Its Faults](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-care-laws-beneficiaries-reflect-its-strengths-and-its-faults/) - WASHINGTON — Cara Suzannah Latil is living proof that the Affordable Care Act works — but also of why a central piece of the law is in turmoil. Ms. Latil, 49, who works at a homeless shelter in Santa Fe, N.M., is one of millions of Americans who once found it difficult or impossible to get health insurance because they already had serious illnesses. Hepatitis C was ravaging her liver when she learned in 2014 that she also had breast cancer. Through the health care law, she was able to buy subsidized insurance that paid for all but $800 of her cancer surgery and radiation, she said, as well as tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of medications that cured her hepatitis.
- [Lack of Choice in Health Insurance Markets a Growing Problem](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/lack-of-choice-in-health-insurance-markets-a-growing-problem/) - WASHINGTON — Americans in the health insurance markets created by President Barack Obama's law will have less choice next year than any time since the program started, a new county-level analysis for The Associated Press has found. The analysis by AP and consulting firm Avalere Health found that about one-third of U.S. counties will have only one health marketplace insurer next year. That's more than 1,000 counties in 26 states — roughly double the number of counties in 2014, the first year of coverage through the program.
- [Leaving Your Pediatrician? Here’s How to Choose Your Next Doctor](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/leaving-your-pediatrician-heres-how-to-choose-your-next-doctor/) - Once you’re in your 20s, it’s time to look around for a primary care doctor who knows how to take care of adults. Because most young adults are essentially healthy, they may not feel any sense of urgency, but part of growing up is taking control of your health and your health care. Getting sudden problems like sore throats and sprained ankles seen to in an emergency room or a walk-in clinic is convenient, but you should have an ongoing relationship with a health care provider who can think about all the different aspects of your health. You need a medical home, and you want to establish it before you have a major problem.
- [How to Pick a Health Insurance Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-pick-a-health-insurance-plan/) - Buying health insurance for the first time can be a daunting task. The good news is that there is more financial assistance for health care coverage than ever before, and you can’t be denied coverage. The answers to some frequently asked questions can help you understand the real costs of a health care plan and choose a policy that suits your needs.
- [Uber Aims High: On-Demand, Unmanned Small Commuter Aircraft in 10 Years](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uber-aims-high-on-demand-unmanned-small-commuter-aircraft-in-10-years/) - Flying commuters like George Jetson could be whizzing to work through the sky less than 10 years from now, according to ride-services provider Uber, which believes the future of transportation is literally looking up. Uber Technologies Inc. released a white paper on Thursday envisioning a future in which commuters hop onto a small aircraft, take off vertically and within minutes arrive at their destinations. The flyers would eventually be unmanned, according to the company.
- [What to Expect in Commercial Insurance Pricing in 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-to-expect-in-commercial-insurance-pricing-in-2017/) - The marketplace for commercial insurance will continue to favor insurance buyers in 2017, particularly those with strategic risk management and risk transfer strategies, according to Willis Towers Watson’s 2017 Marketplace Realities report. The report points to strong marketplace capacity as a key driver in market conditions and contends that this ample capacity will likely allow insurers to absorb any natural catastrophe losses in 2016, including those from Hurricane Matthew and the Atlantic hurricane season.
- [Employer Notice Requirements under Medicare Part D (Creditable Coverage)](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employer-notice-requirements-under-medicare-part-d-creditable-coverage/) - The required notices may be provided in several ways. Employers can provide them with their annual enrollment materials, mailings or electronically (with the employee’s permission). Employers can use the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) model notices or other notices that meet prescribed standards; however, the notices are required to be distributed no later than Oct. 14, 2016.
- [Keeping Your Employee's Benefits Cost Effective](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/keeping-your-employees-benefits-cost-effective/) - many regulations that rolled out over the past few years since The Affordable Care Act was enacted may leave many businesses struggling to afford proper coverage and benefits for their employees. As an experienced broker I have found that the health insurance market has changed drastically over the years. Every health insurance carrier is unique on how they rate premiums for a corporation. Many companies have been faced with increased premiums, and may find themselves struggling to maintain the added cost. One of the most common solutions is to pass more of the increase onto the employees, which can cause many to feel let down by the benefits being offered to them for their devotion to the company. It is imperative to work with an educated and experienced broker in today’s group medical market.
- [Insurance Audits, Why They are Done and How to Prepare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-audits-why-they-are-done-and-how-to-prepare/) - Now that the yearly task of filing personal taxes has passed, this is an opportunity to discuss another type of filing for businesses that occurs every year – the workers’ compensation and general liability audits. In comparison, insurance audits and filing taxes are similar in that both are mandatory, annually. The workers’ compensation and general liability audits are conducted at the end of each policy period to verify that the premium is correct for the exposure during the policy period. In the event there is a claim, the claim might be denied because the premium exposure for the policy term within the policy period where the claim occurred was underinsured.
- [Ensuring Your Families Safey Beyond Insurance: Part 6: Back to School](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ensuring-your-families-safey-beyond-insurance-part-6-back-to-school/) - Well we have survived the first few weeks of back to school. Many children and parents may need to rethink safety when it comes to school time. Does your child walk to school, ride the bus, bike, or get dropped off? However your child gets to school, discussing back to school safety is a must.
- [Reviving House Calls by Doctors](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/reviving-house-calls-by-doctors/) - Medicare, then, has a big incentive to use house calls. So do hospital systems that can capture the savings. One is Sutter Health in Northern California, which runs the successful Advanced Illness Management program. Another is the Veterans Affairs system, which established Home Based Primary Care in 1972. The program has the highest patient satisfaction rate of any Veterans Affairs service, has cut overall costs for patients in the program by nearly 12 percent and reduced hospitalization of them by one quarter.
- [How to Assess Private Flood Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-assess-private-flood-insurance/) - PRIVATE flood insurance options are increasingly available in some states, but consumers should make sure they understand the fine print before choosing one over a federal policy. Typical homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage; consumers must buy special coverage. Most residential flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program was created in 1968, when it was difficult for private companies to insure flood risk at rates homeowners could afford.
- [Drugs in U.S. Workplace at Highest Level in Decade](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/drugs-in-u-s-workplace-at-highest-level-in-decade/) - Following years of declines, the percentage of employees in the combined U.S. workforce testing positive for drugs has steadily increased over the last three years to a 10-year high.
- [How Random Alcohol, Drug Testing Keep Skies Safe](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-random-alcohol-drug-testing-keep-skies-safe/) - Work on—or anywhere near—a U.S. commercial aircraft, and chances are good you’ll encounter a random drug or alcohol test.
- [How Employer Cash Flow Impacts Workplace Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-employer-cash-flow-impacts-workplace-safety/) - A new study from The University of Texas at Dallas examined how financing constraints impact workplace safety and the implications for firm value and employee welfare. Dr. Malcolm Wardlaw, assistant professor of finance and managerial economics in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, recently published his findings in the Journal of Finance.
- [Driverless Cars to Slash U.S. Auto Insurance Premiums](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/driverless-cars-to-slash-u-s-auto-insurance-premiums/) - The rollout of autonomous vehicles over the next few decades could lead to a massive reduction in U.S. motor vehicle premiums in the coming years, Aon Benfield said in a new report. Expectations are that “industry pure premiums” will drop 20 percent under their 2015 levels by 2035, even if the technology is adopted at just a moderate pace, Aon Benfield said. Assuming the same moderate trajectory, those premiums could plunge by more than 40 percent if full adoption of autonomous vehicles takes place, as expected, by 2050.
- [Does Drug Company Money Affect Doctors’ Judgment?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/does-drug-company-money-affect-doctors-judgment/) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a message for doctors: The money you’re taking from pharmaceutical companies may be clouding your judgment. Research sites where Pfizer Inc. had paid doctors at least $25,000 in speaking, consulting or other fees reported sunnier results for its smoking-cessation drug Chantix, the FDA disclosed Monday. At those sites, doctors studying the drug’s possible link to suicide risk and other behavior changes reported fewer side effects than at locations where colleagues accepted lower or no payments.
- [Sports Team Doctors Want Medical Malpractice Protection When Traveling Out of State](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/sports-team-doctors-want-medical-malpractice-protection-when-traveling-out-of-state/) - Congress has advanced legislation to clarify that sports doctors’ medical malpractice insurance should follow them when they travel out of state with their teams. The House of Representatives this week approved the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (US HR 921), which had 190 sponsors and was co-sponsored by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky) and Cedric Richmond (D-La).
- [Employees Picking Up More of Health Costs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employees-picking-up-more-of-health-costs/) - A growing number of U.S. workers are covered by health insurance that sticks them with a bigger share of the medical bill but also softens that blow by providing a special account to help with the expense. Companies are turning more to these so-called consumer-directed health plans, which push patients to shop around for the best prices for care, because they can cost less than other types of coverage and help hold down future increases.
- [Chubb Rolls Out New Business Owner’s Policy for Small Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/chubb-rolls-out-new-business-owners-policy-for-small-business/) - Chubb is rolling out a new business owner’s policy, Chubb BOP. Crafted for small businesses, Chubb BOP incorporates protection for property and liability exposures, a supporting umbrella liability product, and the option to add workers’ compensation, commercial auto, and management and professional liability insurance protection.
- [Cyber Risk Costs Not Big Enough to Spur Investment by Businesses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-risk-costs-not-big-enough-to-spur-investment-by-businesses/) - The cost of a typical cyber breach to an American company is much less than has been generally estimated, providing one possible explanation for why companies do not invest more to improve computer security, according to a new RAND Corp. study. The typical cost of a breach is about $200,000 and most cyber events cost companies less than 0.4 percent of their annual revenues, the study found. The $200,000 cost is roughly equivalent to a typical company’s annual information security budget.
- [U.S. Autonomous Vehicle Policy Attempts to Straddle Lanes of Safety and Innovation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-autonomous-vehicle-policy-attempts-to-straddle-lanes-of-safety-and-innovation/) - The new U.S. policy on self-driving cars received a mixed reaction from highway-safety advocates who acknowledged the life-saving potential though warned of a world of “human guinea pigs.” The Transportation Department’s new guidelines give carmakers and states “the green light to innovate while keeping safety at the forefront,” said Deborah Hersman, president and chief executive officer of the National Safety Council, an Itasca, Illinois-based nonprofit that seeks to reduce injuries and deaths on the road.
- [Workers’ Compensation for PEOs and Their Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-compensation-for-peos-and-their-employees/) - Professional employer organizations (PEOs) began their rise after the adoption of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 cleared a path for the creation and expansion of such entities. Between 780 and 980 professional employer organizations operate across all 50 states. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, approximately three million employees work under a PEO arrangement and the PEOs industry earned, on the top end of the estimate, $156 billion in gross revenues in 2014 (gross revenues are the total payrolls plus the fees charged by the PEO). PEO contracts are co-employment arrangements whereby the professional employer organization and the client with whom it contracts both retain some right of control over the individual worker or workers collectively. Such relationship is wholly different than a leased employee or the use of a borrowed servant. Leased employees and borrowed servants are under the absolute control of the special employer. Co-employment vests responsibility and control with both parties to the contract.
- [Why Insurers Must Pick Up Their Technology Pace](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-insurers-must-pick-up-their-technology-pace/) - The insurance industry is on the horns of a dilemma: how to use new technologies to improve their operations and how to insure the risks these new technologies present to their customers. The pace of technology is changing at faster rates than ever before and continues unabated despite the associated risks. New technology startups constantly enter the field, using technologies that impact multiple industries and user groups. Additionally, new technologies are developed virtually every day and are released almost immediately.
- [Construction Defect Claims "Right to Repair"](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/construction-defect-claims-right-to-repair/) - Many states have enacted legislation that requires claimed defects on homes built to be reported to the builder in an effort to try and reduce the amount of Defect Lawsuits. What is being called the “right to repair” allows a builder to address the homeowner’s claimed defects and then repair the defect rather than being brought to court. The “right to repair” provides an avenue to the homeowner to seek repair on their home without having to open a lawsuit.
- [How to Improve Employee Retention with Tax-Free “Fringe” Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-improve-employee-retention-with-tax-free-fringe-benefits/) - Employee retention rates are a common concern for many businesses, whether How to Improve Employee Retention with Tax-Free “Fringe” Benefits they are large or small. But for small businesses, employee retention is imperative because there may only be one person in each role. If an employee jumps ship, who will pick up the slack while the position is vacant?
- [Why Do I Need an Employee Handbook for My Small Business?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-do-i-need-an-employee-handbook-for-my-small-business/) - Having an employee handbook is an essential part of any employee retention Why Do I Need an Employee Handbook for My Small Business?strategy. You may be thinking that there is little time in your day to be worried about writing a handbook, but there are many ways that doing so can save you, both financially and legally. Here are some of the most important reasons your small business needs to have an Employee Handbook.
- [Small Business Health Insurance on the Decline](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-health-insurance-on-the-decline/) - When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed, many people feared that businesses Small Business Health Insurance on the Declinewould choose to stop offering health insurance and pay the penalty instead. As a result, many surveys have been conducted to determine the impact of the ACA on small business health insurance, as well as offerings made by large companies. In July 2016, the Employee Benefit Research Institute revealed findings from its latest study.
- [U.S. Proposes Requiring Speed Limit Devices on Trucks, Buses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-proposes-requiring-speed-limit-devices-on-trucks-buses/) - Trucks and buses in the United States may have to be equipped with devices to limit their speed under a proposed rule issued on Friday by the U.S. Transportation Department which said the move could save both lives and fuel. The department will weigh setting speed limits at 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour for heavy commercial vehicles, but said it will consider other speeds based on comments from the public.
- [Ensuring Your Families Safety Beyond Insurance Part 5: Child on Board](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ensuring-your-families-safety-beyond-insurance-part-5-child-on-board/) - Across the globe, car accidents remain the number one killer of children. While safety measures, such as car seats and seat belts, have come a long way still more can be done to protect the little people of the world. A study By Safe Ride 4 kids found that 33% of children involved in automobile accidents were NOT restrained. That is a scary statistic about children not being protected by an easy seat belt restraint or car seat.
- [Failure of Uber Settlement Opens Door for Wage Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/failure-of-uber-settlement-opens-door-for-wage-claims/) - The rejection of a $100 million settlement with drivers comes with plenty of silver linings for Uber Technologies Inc. The gray cloud for the ride-hailing company is that a dozen or so lawsuits that would have been silenced may now roll back in. A San Francisco federal judge concluded the deal was unfair in large part because it undervalued potential labor code violations under California’s unique bounty-hunter law, known as PAGA. The settlement sought to sweep under the rug lawsuits with potentially billions of dollars in claims under the law, which gives workers the right to step into the shoes of the state labor secretary to bring enforcement actions.
- [Doing the Math on Cyber Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/doing-the-math-on-cyber-risk/) - Risk managers are exploring quantification techniques to better understand their cyber risk exposures and how much cyber insurance to buy, as well as other risk mitigation techniques.
- [Fixing the Insurance Exchanges](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fixing-the-insurance-exchanges/) - Like basketball players who are sick of losing a game, many health insurers who ventured into the new marketplaces are sending a clear message: We're taking our ball and going home.
- [6 U.S. Ports Among Top 10 at Risk For Biggest Cat Losses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/6-u-s-ports-among-top-10-at-risk-for-biggest-cat-losses/) - Six of the 10 ports at greatest risk for catastrophe loss in the world are in the United States, Newark, California-based catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions Inc. said Monday, and warned that the risk extends to smaller ports. RMS said the two riskiest ports are in Nagoya, Japan, with an estimated catastrophe loss of $2.3 billion and Guangzhou, China, with an estimated cat loss of $2 billion.
- [Member Data Hacked From Medical ID Card Firm](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/member-data-hacked-from-medical-id-card-firm/) - A service provider that issues ID cards for many health care providers says it discovered on July 6 that a server containing member information was accessed beginning May 21. Albany, New York-based Newkirk Products Inc., said in its statement Friday, however, that no health plan's systems were accessed or affected in any way, and there is no evidence to date that the data accessed has been used inappropriately.
- [How High Health Insurance Costs for Marketplace Insurers Will Affect You](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-high-health-insurance-costs-for-marketplace-insurers-will-affect-you/) - With the fourth open enrollment season for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coming up, marketplace insurers are doing their best to estimate health insurance costs for 2017. While some projections were more accurate than others, most insurance companies have experienced losses on a large scale since entering the marketplace, leading to discussions of how to raise revenue.
- [Obamacare Appears to Be Making People Healthier](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-appears-to-be-making-people-healthier/) - Obamacare has provided health insurance to some 20 million people. But are they any better off? This has been the central question as we’ve been watching the complex and expensive health law unfurl. We knew the law was giving people coverage, but information about whether it’s protecting people from debt or helping them become more healthy has been slower to emerge.
- [Start-Up Otto in Fast Lane to Test Self-Driving Trucking by Year’s End](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/start-up-otto-in-fast-lane-to-test-self-driving-trucking-by-years-end/) - Self-driving trucking start-up Otto is poised to put its software in the hands of long-haul truckers by the end of this year for testing, its co-founders said on Thursday. Otto, co-founded by Google car and map project veterans Anthony Levandowski and Lior Ron, will also begin testing five retrofitted Volvo trucks at Northern California’s autonomous vehicle testing grounds, GoMentum Station, in coming weeks.
- [Researchers Say Bounce Houses Raise Heat Safety Concern](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/researchers-say-bounce-houses-raise-heat-safety-concern/) - Heat safety issues in bounce houses can put children in danger, according to a new University of Georgia study. Expanding on the concept of microclimates like those in parked vehicles that cause serious injuries to children, the study investigated potential heat-related risks associated with bounce houses, which create a microclimate environment similar to automobiles but one that had not been previously examined.
- [Marketplace Employer Notices and Employer  Appeal Request Forms](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/marketplace-employer-notices-and-employer-appeal-request-forms/) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a sample employer notice that the federally-facilitated Marketplace and some state-based Health Insurance Marketplaces (Exchanges) will be using as part of the employer notice program. This program requires the Marketplaces to notify employers that one of their employees has been determined eligible to receive advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit, and/or cost-sharing reductions by enrolling in a Marketplace plan. Because these actions may trigger employer penalties under the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) "pay or play" provisions, an employer appeal request form has been provided by HHS.
- [DEA Denies Marijuana Petition, Restrictions on Use Remain](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/dea-denies-marijuana-petition-restrictions-on-use-remain/) - Denying a petition to loosen marijuana restrictions, U.S. officials said regulations on the drug’s use will remain in place, although more of it may be available for research into potential medical therapies.
- [Keep Employees Safe in the Summer Heat](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/keep-employees-safe-in-the-summer-heat/) - Some workers who are at risk for heat exhaustion are landscapers, firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, lifeguards, security guards, or any one exposed to extreme heat, humidity and sun conditions during the work hours. Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing work places free of known safety hazards which include protecting workers from extreme heat.
- [Ensuring your families safety  Beyond Insurance Part 4: Car Seat Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ensuring-your-families-safety-beyond-insurance-part-4-car-seat-safety/) - Many families take to the road or sky during summer for vacation. One safety concern for anyone with young children is the safety of the kids in the car or plane for travel. For many families with children still in car seats there are many things that should be addressed regularly. Getting the right car seat, installing it properly, and using it the right way is imperative to keeping your children safe.
- [How Employers Can Save While Providing Coverage that Meets the Affordable Care Act Mandates](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-employers-can-save-while-providing-coverage-that-meets-the-affordable-care-act-mandates/) - Advisers are finding more and more employers interested in cost saving options for medical plan offerings with the new ACA mandates. Many brokers are advising high deductible health plans because of the lower monthly cost. Is there a gap in coverage from offering these seemingly inexpensive options? Many employees are satisfied with the monthly savings at first until they have a trip to the emergency room or find out they need surgery.
- [Suddenly Considering Travel Insurance? You’re Not Alone.](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/suddenly-considering-travel-insurance-youre-not-alone/) - If the attacks in Nice, Brussels and Paris have you thinking about travel insurance, you’re not alone. Industry experts say that consumer interest in terrorism and trip cancellation coverage has spiked after each attack. “Since Brussels, really, we’ve seen that number growing and growing,” said Rachael Taft, a spokeswoman for Squaremouth.com, a travel insurance comparison site. “So it’s definitely top of mind.”
- [Top 10 Catastrophic Claims For Self-Funded Employers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-10-catastrophic-claims-for-self-funded-employers/) - There are a range of illnesses that can prompt a self-funded employer to make a claim on their stop-loss insurance policy, but a new study by Sun Life Financial Inc. finds that a majority (53 percent) of the $5.3 billion in such claims paid by insurers from 2012 to 2015 came from 10 ailments.
- [Medical Marijuana Saving Medicare Millions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-marijuana-saving-medicare-millions/) - Opponents of marijuana, beware: A study has found that in states where marijuana is legalized, Medicare saved millions of dollars as marijuana displaced other prescription drugs as an alternative treatment.
- [3 Keys to Creating An Employee-Centric Wellness Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/3-keys-to-creating-an-employee-centric-wellness-plan/) - As smartphones become more entrenched in our daily lives, the wellness technology industry has exploded to more than $8 billion, driven largely by wearable devices and more than 160,000 wellness-related mobile apps. Employers are capitalizing on the tech advances, making workplace wellness programs more digital, social, and connected.
- [Federal Suit Alleges Las Vegas Bus Stop Shelters Too Close to Busy Roads](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/federal-suit-alleges-las-vegas-bus-stop-shelters-too-close-to-busy-roads/) - A man who lost a leg at age 15 when he was struck by a vehicle as he sat on a Las Vegas, Nev., bus stop bench is suing for damages, saying that the shelters were built dangerously close to busy roads. Conan Obenchain alleges in a federal lawsuit that putting a shelter 3 feet from the curb creates a foreseeable danger to the public.
- [Is Your HR Department Stressed about Employee Retention?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-your-hr-department-stressed-about-employee-retention/) - When trying to fill a vacant position, it can seem impossible to find the “right” person in an inbox full of resumes. A recent study from ADP states that mid-sized companies are not only concerned with recruiting top talent, but with keeping them – a challenge usually addressed in an employee retention strategy. If you have this concern, you are certainly not alone.
- [Most U.S. Drivers Admit Episodes of Road Rage While Driving](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-u-s-drivers-admit-episodes-of-road-rage-while-driving/) - Nearly 8 of every 10 U.S. drivers admit expressing anger, aggression or road rage at least once in the previous year, according to a survey released Thursday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The behavior could include following too closely, yelling at another driver, cutting them off or making angry gestures. Road Rage (male)While that’s dangerous enough, an estimated 8 million drivers engaged in more extreme behavior on streets and roads that might be considered ‘road rage,’ including bumping or ramming a vehicle on purpose or getting out of their cars to confront another driver, the foundation said.
- [Following the Money: Subrogating MSC-90 Payments Against an Uninsured Operator](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/following-the-money-subrogating-msc-90-payments-against-an-uninsured-operator/) - Trucking insurers issuing motor carrier policies which contain MCS-90 Endorsements may be overlooking significant subrogation and recovery opportunities. MCS-90 subrogation is a fascinating and under-utilized means of recovery that can significantly increase an insurance carrier’s bottom line. Understanding the history behind and developing a working knowledge of MCS-90 Endorsements is essential for any adjuster or subrogation professional working in the transportation insurance field. This article will outline the importance of embracing MCS-90 reimbursement in your practice and the essential nature of giving these files attention immediately upon making any payment under an MCS-90 Endorsement.
- [States Require Insurance Companies to Locate Beneficiaries](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/states-require-insurance-companies-to-locate-beneficiaries/) - Beneficiaries of unclaimed life insurance policies already have received billions of dollars — and others could be in store for some unexpected cash. It's the result of state actions forcing companies to locate and pay heirs the money they are owed.
- [UnitedHealth Sees Further Losses for Obamacare Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/unitedhealth-sees-further-losses-for-obamacare-insurance/) - (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group Inc is still losing money on the individual insurance business created under U.S. President Barack Obama's national healthcare reform law due to customers' high medical costs, the company said on Tuesday.
- [What the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act Would "Really" Accomplish](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-the-small-business-healthcare-relief-act-would-really-accomplish/) - Uncertainty is a latent variable. It is difficult to quantify however, if you are a small business owner and looked into alternatives to traditional group health insurance for your business over the last few years, you have no doubt experienced your fair share of elevated uncertainty.
- [Small Businesses Can Power Up Their Benefits Packages](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-businesses-can-power-up-their-benefits-packages/) - Story indicated that some small businesses hesitate to offer stronger benefits packages due to several common concerns: “...from the time it takes to administer them, to the lack of perceived value, to the return on investment
- [Autopilot Warning May Not Help Tesla in Crash Defense](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/autopilot-warning-may-not-help-tesla-in-crash-defense/) - Telling Tesla drivers its Autopilot feature doesn’t mean their cars can drive themselves may not be enough to keep Elon Musk off the hot seat if the technology comes up short. This month, two Teslas equipped with Autopilot veered into barriers following disclosure of the first fatal wreck, a Model S slamming into a 18-wheeler crossing a Florida highway after the semi-autonomous car failed to distinguish the truck’s white trailer from sky.
- [Maryland High Court Finds Liability for Adults Hosting Underage Drinking Parties](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/maryland-high-court-finds-liability-for-adults-hosting-underage-drinking-parties/) - Adults who host underage drinking parties can be held civilly liable for injuries caused by a drunken guest, Maryland’s highest court ruled unanimously this week in what one lawyer calls a landmark decision. The Court of Appeals ruled in two lawsuits brought by victims of drunken driving incidents against adults who hosted parties that led to an underage guest becoming drunk.
- [Pokémon Go Fantasy Game Creates Real-Life Vulnerabilities](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/pokemon-go-fantasy-game-creates-real-life-vulnerabilities/) - As if texting and e-mail weren’t enough to capture people’s attention as they are walking or driving, now Pokémon Go is creating yet another reason to take your eyes off the road or not watch where you’re walking in the airport, at the mall or on the street. It’s only been available for a week in the United States, but Pokémon Go has become the latest technology craze to mesmerize gamers of all ages.
- [The Politics of Safety, Affordability and Building Codes: Viewpoint](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-politics-of-safety-affordability-and-building-codes-viewpoint/) - In April, some 1,200 home builders, inspectors, architects and engineers gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, to debate the standards that should guide construction of the next wave of U.S. houses. Engineers had a seemingly unobjectionable proposal: Make roofs in coastal areas less likely to fly off in a hurricane.
- [Ensuring your Families Safety beyond Insurance Part 3: Pool Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ensuring-your-families-safety-beyond-insurance-part-3-pool-safety/) - Summer has arrived in Las Vegas, with temperatures already reaching over 100, many families are headed to the pools to cool down. If you are lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard there is an added responsibility not only to maintain the pool, as well as safety must haves, and best practices to implement. Sadly, over 200 young children will drown in a backyard pool this year.
- [Worker's Compensation Claims Reasons for Denial](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-compensation-claims-reasons-for-denial/) - Worker’s Compensation claims are already a headache to deal with. Between completing the correct paperwork in a timely manner to OSHA breathing down your neck; it can be tremendously stressful for employer, employee, and carrier. To make things more difficult, 90% of independent medical reviews done by an independent party in California upheld the modification or denial of medical treatment as unnecessary.
- [Increases To Health Care Insurance Premiums Are Expected in 2017](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/increases-to-health-care-insurance-premiums-are-expected-in-2017/) - Increases to premium for individual health insurance may be on the horizon for 2017. Insurers everywhere are citing financial losses under Obamacare or ACA. The rates of these increases vary from state to state. In North Carolina, for example, Aetna is requesting 24.5% increase and Blue Cross by 18.8% while United Healthcare has decided to withdraw from the exchange market entirely. Many should not feel the hit of these increases due to the numerous tax credits available on the exchange.
- [Workers Feel Employers Value Productivity Over Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-feel-employers-value-productivity-over-safety/) - Despite most workers reporting that safety is a priority at work, about one-third believe their employers value productivity over safety, according to a new survey by the National Safety Council. Many workers, especially those in high-risk industries like construction, reported that “safety takes a back seat to completing job tasks,” according to a survey on employee perceptions of workplace safety released Monday by the Itasca, Illinois-based organization.
- [Cultivating Your Employees’ Financial Literacy Through Work Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cultivating-your-employees-financial-literacy-through-work-benefits/) - Too many Americans graduate high school, earn their college degrees, and land a job, yet still lack basic education or experience in financial planning. Additionally, large numbers of Americans have accumulated massive debt for a variety of reasons, including education, car repairs, or medical bills. This combination of excessive debt and financial illiteracy creates stress and decreases an employee’s ability to properly focus on and engage in his or her work. Such stress also contributes to increased healthcare costs. Companies have the power to mitigate the consequences of this financial illiteracy by providing financial education and guidance – in addition to typical work benefits – to their employees.
- [SHOP Tax Credits Reaching Expiration for Early Participants](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/shop-tax-credits-reaching-expiration-for-early-participants/) - The Affordable Care Act gives small businesses the option to offer a group healthinsurance plan through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace. Certain small businesses participating in the Marketplace are eligible to receive a tax credit. This Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which can be obtained solely through the SHOP Marketplace, is only available for two consecutive taxable years. While the use of the SHOP Marketplace has been attractive to some small businesses, it is possible that coverage procurement through the Marketplace will drop after the expiration of the two-year tax credit.
- [U.S. Credit Card Firms Slow to Upgrade Security](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-credit-card-firms-slow-to-upgrade-security/) - Visa and MasterCard are using security measures prone to fraud, putting retailers and customers at risk of thieves, The Home Depot Inc. says in a new federal lawsuit. It’s the latest giant retailer to raise the security concerns, with a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. Last month, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sued Visa Inc. over similar issues.
- [Fraud News Around The Nation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fraud-news-around-the-nation/) - Connecticut Bookmaker Gets Prison Time in Insurance Fraud Scheme A bookmaker who pleaded guilty to charges he shot a gambler with a stun gun and tried to burn down a Middletown restaurant in an insurance fraud scheme is headed to prison. The Hartford Courant reports 52-year-old John Barile of East Hartford was sentenced Tuesday to 71 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in February to charges of arson, insurance fraud, gambling and extortion.
- [The Ultimate How to Insurance Guide for Agents, Brokers, Underwriters and Adjusters U.S. Targets Internet Sites Selling Illegal Prescription Medicines](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-ultimate-how-to-insurance-guide-for-agents-brokers-underwriters-and-adjusters-u-s-targets-internet-sites-selling-illegal-prescription-medicines/) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, said that it took action last week against 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers. This effort was part of Operation Pangea IX, the Ninth Annual International Internet Week of Action, a global cooperative effort, led by INTERPOL, to combat the sale of illegal and potentially counterfeit medical products on the internet.
- [Disney Faces PR Crisis, Risk of Legal Action After Gator Attack](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/disney-faces-pr-crisis-risk-of-legal-action-after-gator-attack/) - June was supposed to have been a triumphant month for Walt Disney Co. theme parks, with the flashy opening of a long-planned resort in Shanghai and a new Florida attraction based on its wildly popular animated movie "Frozen." Instead, the company is facing a public relations crisis and the possibility of legal action after an alligator snatched and killed a toddler at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, legal and communications experts said
- [How Zoo Emergency Response Teams Handle Dangerous Animals](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-zoo-emergency-response-teams-handle-dangerous-animals/) - When a 400-pound gorilla grabbed a 3-year-old boy at the Cincinnati Zoo, the sharpshooter who killed the ape wasn’t from the police. Instead, the shooter was a specially trained zoo staffer on one of the many dangerous-animal emergency squads at animal parks nationwide.
- [The Downside of Merging Doctors and Hospital](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-downside-of-merging-doctors-and-hospital/) - Considering how much we already pay for health care, you have to wonder why doctors, hospitals and insurance providers so often fail to coordinate their patients’ care. Your primary care doctor, the hospital you visit and the various specialists you are sent to are typically part of different organizations that do not communicate effectively with one another. Balls get dropped and care suffers. In part, it’s a consequence of siloed medical practice.
- [Hackers Selling Access to 70,000 Company Computer Systems](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hackers-selling-access-to-70000-company-computer-systems/) - Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab says it has uncovered an online marketplace where criminals from all over the world sell access to more than 70,000 hacked corporate and government servers for as little as $6 each. Kaspersky discovered the forum after a tip from a European internet service provider. The market, called xDedic, is operated by hackers, who are probably Russian speaking, that have ditched their traditional business model of just selling passwords and have graduated instead to earning a commission from each transaction on their black market.
- [Attract and Retain Employees with Comprehensive Benefit Packages](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/attract-and-retain-employees-with-comprehensive-benefit-packages/) - A 2015 Glassdoor survey noted that 79% of employees favor more benefits/perks to a pay increase. Most small businesses lean toward a one-size-fits-all employee benefits package. However, such benefit packages are not a favorite among employees, or business owners who want to meet the diverse needs of their workforce. This has brought about an increase in the number of employees favoring consumerized employee benefits. With consumerized employee benefits, employees can pick and choose benefits that complement their lifestyle and financial goals. Heading the list of must-have benefits are Health Insurance Reimbursement and Retirement Saving Plans.
- [What Do You Get When You Combine Drones and Self-Driving Cars?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-do-you-get-when-you-combine-drones-and-self-driving-cars/) - On the property/casualty side, we’re looking more and more closely at drone technology, the underwriting side you can survey properties much more efficiently, much more accurately, and you can survey more dimensions than a human could on their own. Temperatures, and structural elements, as opposed to just what the naked eye can see. On the claims side you can assess damage in certain territories for where disasters have occurred, and which can immediately result in not just more accurate information but faster claims payout which is what we want for all of our insureds.
- [Chipotle Serves Up Lessons for Restaurant Brokers and Their Insureds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/chipotle-serves-up-lessons-for-restaurant-brokers-and-their-insureds/) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one-in-six Americans gets sick every year from contaminated food or beverages. Those in the restaurant industry cannot ignore the risks. The recent chain of events that roiled Chipotle Mexican Grill has given one insurance broker the perfect opportunity to talk about needed coverage options with clients.
- [Water Damage Commercial Property Insurance Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/water-damage-commercial-property-insurance-coverage/) - If your business has an HVAC system there is a threat of water damage. If your business has a bathroom facility there is a huge risk of water damage. A malfunctioning toilet or sink can quickly become a problematic water and hazmat issue. Businesses with a physical location can also be damaged by water from storms or floods. Very few businesses are not susceptible to range losses caused directly or indirectly by water. Insurance coverage plays a huge role in protecting a business from water damage. There are many insurance policies (and riders and endorsements) available to cover these risks and protect your business. It surprises me often when a business does not want water damage covered either included or added to the Commercial Property Policy.
- [Minimal Essential Coverage and Benefits Packages for Unique Business Owners](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/minimal-essential-coverage-and-benefits-packages-for-unique-business-owners/) - One continuing issue is the problem that health care reform poses for the staffing industry and similar employers. This type of business may find they are now obligated to offer health coverage to relatively short-term and employees who work variable hours. This will continue to be a learning curve for companies such as temp agencies.
- [5 Facts About Subrogation Arbitration](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/5-facts-about-subrogation-arbitration/) - A left-turn at the light with oncoming traffic; the collision occurs and now you are headed to intercompany arbitration on the subrogation claim as the parties dispute who was at fault. An all too familiar scenario for those adjusting auto losses, but an increasingly relevant fact pattern in the world of subrogation recovery. While 85-90% of all subrogation claims are resolved between carriers and self-insureds without a problem, it is the other 10-15% that can make the difference to the bottom line for insurance organizations.
- [Travelers: Training, Risk Mitigation Can Help Businesses Reduce Workers’ Comp Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/travelers-training-risk-mitigation-can-help-businesses-reduce-workers-comp-claims/) - A new report released by the Travelers Companies Inc., reveals that even minor injuries can substantially impact business productivity. The Injury Impact Report identifies the most common causes of workplace accidents and injuries through analysis of 1.5 million workers’ compensation claims filed between 2010 and 2014 from a variety of business sizes and industries.
- [Sorry, We Don't Take Obamacare, The Growing Pains of the Health Care Act...](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/sorry-we-dont-take-obamacare-the-growing-pains-of-the-health-care-act/) - AMY MOSES and her circle of self-employed small-business owners were supporters of President Obama and the Affordable Care Act. They bought policies on the newly created New York State exchange. But when they called doctors and hospitals in Manhattan to schedule appointments, they were dismayed to be turned away again and again with a common refrain: “We don’t take Obamacare,” the umbrella epithet for the hundreds of plans offered through the president’s signature health legislation
- [You Mean I Don’t Have to Show Up? The Promise of Telemedicine](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/you-mean-i-dont-have-to-show-up-the-promise-of-telemedicine/) - Aside from whatever a visit to the doctor costs you in money, it also costs you in time. A lot of it. End to end, the travel and waiting time for a doctor’s appointment can take several hours — often disrupting work or school. Only 17 percent of it — 20 minutes, on average — is spent actually seeing the doctor, according to a study by the University of Pittsburgh physician Kristin Ray and colleagues at the Harvard Medical School and the RAND Corporation.
- [Uptick in Fatal Crashes Involving Marijuana in Utah](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uptick-in-fatal-crashes-involving-marijuana-in-utah/) - Utah officials say the number of fatal car wrecks in Utah in which drivers tested positive for marijuana has more than doubled in the last three years, according to annual report from the state’s Department of Public Safety. An annual report from the department found that the number of fatal crashes involving drivers for testing positive for marijuana rose from 11 in 2012 to 38 in 2015, or an increase from 6 percent of crashes to 15 percent, The Deseret News reported.
- [Obama Administration Finalizes Rules on Company Wellness Programs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-administration-finalizes-rules-on-company-wellness-programs/) - A federal agency on Monday released final rules on how employers can offer workers financial incentives of up to 30 percent of the cost of their cheapest health insurance plans to participate in wellness programs without violating federal laws protecting the confidentiality of medical information
- [Will People Comparison-Shop for Health Care?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/will-people-comparison-shop-for-health-care/) - If patients know how much their medical care costs, they’ll shop around for the cheapest option — and over time, health care costs will go down. At least, that’s the idea behind the drive to improve price transparency, a strategy embraced by Donald Trump, among others.
- [Keep Employee Data Safe](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/keep-employee-data-safe/) - When a cyber breach occurs, lawsuits are usually not far behind. It’s a chain of events that has become de rigueur in the consumer realm when retailers experience a breach and it is bleeding over into the workplace, too.
- [OSHA Issues Final Electronic Recordkeeping Rule for Injuries](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-issues-final-electronic-recordkeeping-rule-for-injuries/) - The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its controversial final rule on Wednesday to expand electronic recordkeeping requirements for workplace injuries and illnesses and make such records publicly available.
- [Understanding Animal Liability Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/understanding-animal-liability-claims/) - An expert may be the single best defense in a case involving an animal causing damage or injury, according to a recent panel discussion on animal liability during the Property & Liability Resource Bureau annual conference in San Antonio. Experts can testify as to the behavior of a particular type of animal or breed. They can also testify as to how a particular type of animal or breed is typically confined.
- [Ensuring your Families Safety Beyond Insurance Part 2: Fire Safety and Escape Planning](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ensuring-your-families-safety-beyond-insurance-part-2-fire-safety-and-escape-planning/) - Your home is a place where family gathers to live life, sleep, and prepare for everyday outings. Your home is where memories are made, life happens, and where the majority of Americans spend a great deal of their time. From an insurance perspective, it is not only smart to know different ways to exit your home but also to be prepared by enacting a family escape plan in the event of an emergency situation, especially a fire. Homeowners insurance covers and protects your belongings but not your families. Be proactive in protecting your loved ones by creating a Fire Escape Plan.
- [Worker Intoxication Doesn't Exempt Employers From Reporting Injuries](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/worker-intoxication-doesnt-exempt-employers-from-reporting-injuries/) - Employers are not exempt from federal requirements to record workplace safety injuries and illnesses involving intoxicated workers, even if post-accident testing reveals the employee was drunk at the time of the incident.
- [Deliver Good News With Voluntary Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/deliver-good-news-with-voluntary-insurance/) - In today’s environment, expense control is a top focus for companies in light of low inflation rates, low productivity growth, limited pricing power and intense margin pressure. As employee-related costs rise to the top of companies’ financial statements, clients turn to you, the brokers, for solutions to reduce the contributing factors and get more out of the investments they are making.
- [Don't Ignore Social Media as a Risk Information Source](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/dont-ignore-social-media-as-a-risk-information-source/) - Imagine you regularly monitor a social media site in Country X, home to a small, but critical component in your supply chain. You start reading a blogger because he had mentioned your company a few months back. As time passes, you feel urgency in the posts and in related items on Twitter and elsewhere. The blogger raises questions about the country’s politics and economy.
- [Tivoli Village to Open its Second Phase in October](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tivoli-village-to-open-its-second-phase-in-october/) - Combined with the first phase, Tivoli will have a combined 370,000 square feet of restaurants and retail space, and 300,000 square feet of office space.
- [Healthcare Reform Summary of Benefits Updated Forms](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/healthcare-reform-summary-of-benefits-updated-forms/) - The federal agencies have finalized the new versions of the summary of benefits coverage (SBC) template. For all businesses, this template will be used starting for plan years beginning on or after April 1, 2017. Under the Affordable Care Act, group health plans and health insurance providers are now going to be required to provide a SBC to all plan participants during open enrollment for company benefit coverage. As per the Affordable Care Act, all businesses will now be required to provide additional information to their employees.
- [United Health Foundation Pledges $3 Million Toward New UNLV Medical School](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/united-health-foundation-pledges-3-million-toward-new-unlv-medical-school/) - A grant is nudging the nascent UNLV School of Medicine closer to its fundraising goals. The United Health Foundation has awarded the school a $3 million grant to develop educational programs and three planned community clinics.
- [Capstone Brokerage Seminar Alert](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-seminar-alert/) - Join Capstone Brokerage for our upcoming seminar May 4, 2016. This months topic, Search Engine Optimization presented by Mark Cenicola, President and CEO of Bannerview.com You don't want to miss this informative presentation.
- [Be Proactive Protect Your Heavy Equipment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/be-proactive-protect-your-heavy-equipment/) - Have you had a piece of construction equipment stolen? Have you had compressors, generators and other mobile equipment stolen that are left on a secure construction site or an unattended job site location?
- [Ensuring your Families Safety Beyond Insurance Part 1: Fire Prevention](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ensuring-your-families-safety-beyond-insurance-part-1-fire-prevention/) - It is imperative for every home to check for potential fire hazards in the home as well as to create an emergency family evacuation and safety plan. Fire prevention by definition is a measure of practices directed toward the prevention and suppression of destructive fires. I recommend creating a fire prevention checklist and plan as a family, that way everyone is involved.
- [Remote Workers Seem to Be Happier](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/remote-workers-are-happier/) - People who work remotely are happier, according to a new survey conducted by TinyPulse, an employee engagement firm.
- [Drunk Drivers Constitutional Rights](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/drunk-drivers-constitutional-rights/) - Can you be charged with a crime for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test when stopped on suspicion of drunken driving? It’s hard to think of a constitutional rights question that affects more people. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will take it up, considering whether the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure protects your breath and your blood from a warrantless search.
- [The Benefit Broker Differentiator in Wellness Initiatives](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-benefit-broker-differentiator-in-wellness-initiatives/) - As health care spending sky rockets, the buzz of implementing wellness programs is becoming louder. Employers want to control health care spending, see higher productivity rates, and increase employee satisfaction while struggling to find the right program. I’ve heard their statements many times “We are still trying to figure it out,” and “people are not engaged.”
- [There's a Coverage Gap With That App](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/theres-a-coverage-gap-with-that-app/) - Anyone who plans to make additional money as an Uber, Lyft or other ride-sharing service driver should be aware of the insurance gaps that may exist. Failure to consider them may expose the driver to unexpected consequences. One of the ride-sharing platforms states on its opening website page — “Signing up is easy — Sign up today and you’ll be on the road in no time. Plus, signing on takes less than 4 minutes. Don't wait to start making great money with your car.”
- [Employee Fraud: 6 Steps to Substantiating Your Claim and Recovering Losses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-fraud-6-steps-to-substantiating-your-claim-and-recovering-losses/) - Managing your company’s fidelity or employee dishonesty claim is a challenge. The process can be part insurance claim, part investigation and part financial audit. Most claims also involve human resources (HR) and legal considerations surrounding employee rights and termination, and they may necessitate referral to law enforcement or legal proceedings for civil recovery. For even the most experienced risk management teams, proper and timely claim submission requires careful deliberation and technical know-how.
- [How Agents Can Help Comply with PPACA](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-agents-can-help-comply-with-ppaca/) - As of Jan. 1, 2016, Hulsey reminded the audience, employers of 50 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees are required to provide health insurance to at least 95% of their employees or face a penalty. One key issue for employers is that many federal government entities are auditing small businesses with little to no coordination...
- [Microsoft Sues U.S. Government Over Data Requests](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/microsoft-sues-u-s-government-over-data-requests/) - Microsoft Corp. has sued the U.S. government for the right to tell its customers when a federal agency is looking at their emails, the latest in a series of clashes over privacy between the technology industry and Washington.
- [The Undeniable Convenience and Reliability of Retail Health Clinics](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-undeniable-convenience-and-reliability-of-retail-health-clinics/) - Many doctors’ offices are open only on weekdays and during business hours. This also happens to be when most adults work and when children attend school. A 2010 survey of 11 countries found that Americans seek out after-hours care or care in a hospital’s emergency room more often than citizens of almost any other industrialized nation. More than two-thirds of Americans with a below-average income did so. But this isn’t just a problem for the poor. About 55 percent of those with an above-average income did so as well.
- [4 Ways to Reduce Workers' Comp Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/4-ways-to-reduce-workers-comp-claims/) - In the high-risk manufacturing sector, where large-dollar claims are common, small to middle-market companies struggle to find experienced partners capable of providing targeted risk control and effective techniques to lower loss results and reduce the effect on the total cost of risk. Here are four tactics industrial companies can implement to reduce the cost of claims.
- [The Cost of Small Business Health Insurance By State](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-cost-of-small-business-health-insurance-by-state/) - As your small business evaluates health insurance, understanding cost is an important input. The cost of health insurance depends on a few factors such as: the type of health insurance purchased (ex: group health insurance or individual health insurance), the carrier and plan selected, your location, and your age (or employee census). This article breaks down the average cost of health insurance by state for two different small business approaches 1) individual health insurance with a defined contribution, and 2) group health insurance.
- [Carmakers Want Insurers to Help Boost Compliance with Recalls](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/carmakers-want-insurers-to-help-boost-compliance-with-recalls/) - Major carmakers want U.S. auto insurance companies to help persuade millions of American car owners to get recalled vehicles fixed.
- [Capstone Brokerage Seminar Alert!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-seminar-alert-2/) - Join Capstone Brokerage for our upcoming seminar April 20, 2016. This seminars topic, "Social Media Strategy" presented by Debbie Harris, Performance Intermedia President.
- [Specialty Underwriter Adds Cyber Extortion Endorsement](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/specialty-underwriter-adds-cyber-extortion-endorsement/) - Liberty International Underwriters said on Monday that it has launched a cyber extortion endorsement to its product recall and contamination insurance policy for food and beverage companies. This endorsement offers coverage to food and beverage policyholders for cyber extortion and consultant costs for acts against production and day-to-day operations, Liberty said in a statement.
- [Will Public Health Insurance Exchange Enrollees' Higher Costs Ease Over Time?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/will-public-health-insurance-exchange-enrollees-higher-costs-ease-over-time/) - The public health insurance exchange population likely will continue to be characterized by members who are sicker and costlier than people covered by group health plans, but sources say most health insurers are in it for the long haul.
- [Despite Fears, Affordable Care Act Has Not Uprooted Employer Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/despite-fears-affordable-care-act-has-not-uprooted-employer-coverage/) - The Affordable Care Act was aimed mainly at giving people better options for buying health insurance on their own. There were widespread predictions that employers would leap at the chance to drop coverage and send workers to fend for themselves.
- [Technology Transforms How Insurers Calculate Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/technology-transforms-how-insurers-calculate-risk/) - The world is a dangerous, unpredictable place — not a bad thing, perhaps, if you’re in the business of selling insurance, making loans or figuring out ways to prevent mishaps.
- [Top Homeowners Insurance Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-homeowners-insurance-claims/) - Weather incidents account for more than half of all homeowners insurance claims, with wind, pipes freezing and bursting, roof and flashing leaks and ice dams among the major causes of home damage during weather events. Fire-related claims are the most expensive, however.
- [Benefits of Surveillance, Social Media in Workers’ Comp Claims Investigations](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/benefits-of-surveillance-social-media-in-workers-comp-claims-investigations/) - By: Denise Johnson (Claims Journal) As workers’ compensation fraud costs top out at an estimated $7.2 billion a year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, insurers are looking at ways to combat the crime. There are several warning signs that a workers’ compensation claim may be fraudulent. These include Monday morning reports of an
- [Vehicle to Vehicle Communications Could End Need for Traffic Lights](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/vehicle-to-vehicle-communications-could-end-need-for-traffic-lights/) - Imagine a scenario where sensor-laden vehicles pass through intersections by communicating with each other, rather than grinding to a halt at traffic lights. A newly published study co-authored by MIT researchers claims this kind of traffic-light-free transportation design, if it ever arrives, could allow twice as much traffic to use the roads.
- [Insurance Costs 6 Times Greater for Wood Frame Versus Concrete Buildings](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-costs-6-times-greater-for-wood-frame-versus-concrete-buildings/) - The data for the study “Insurance Costs for Mid-Rise Wood Frame and Concrete Residential Buildings” was drawn from published literature and consultations with brokers, underwriters and property managers. Interviews with three underwriters and data from the Canadian Wood Council (CWC) show that builders’ risk insurance rates per $100 monthly for comparable wood and concrete buildings are on average $0.008 for concrete and $0.053 for wood. When excluding the rate provided by CWC for wood frame insurance, which was significantly lower than the rates provided by the underwriters, the average rate for wood buildings rises to $0.06, a factor of 7.5 times greater than that for concrete buildings.
- [The Benefits of Surveillance, Social Media in Workers’ Comp Claims Investigations](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-benefits-of-surveillance-social-media-in-workers-comp-claims-investigations/) - There are several warning signs that a workers’ compensation claim may be fraudulent. These include Monday morning reports of an injury that happened the previous week, conflicting descriptions of how the injury occurred, no witnesses and a history of claims, according to a 2011 white paper on the subject released by Employers, an insurer specializing in small businesses.
- [H.R. 4723: House Considers PPACA Tax Credit Payback Bill](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/h-r-4723-house-considers-ppaca-tax-credit-payback-bill/) - The House is considering H.R. 4723, a bill that would require all public exchange plan advance premium tax credit (APTC) users to pay any extra APTC subsidy money they get back to the government. House Ways and Means members approved the bill by a vote of 22-15 last week.
- [Garage Keepers and On-Hook Towing Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/garage-keepers-and-on-hook-towing-coverage/) - Garage Keeper’s liability coverage is an optional but recommended insurance coverage for business owners that store customer’s vehicles. It is specifically beneficial to have for a business that provides either towing service or parking service. Basically, a garage keeper’s liability policy will protect the customer’s vehicle while their automobile is stored for parking, during maintenance or for general storage needs.
- [Employers Wary of OSHA's Public Shaming Tactics For Severe Violators](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-wary-of-oshas-public-shaming-tactics-for-severe-violators/) - The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is stepping up its enforcement against severe workplace safety violators, raising concerns about publicly shaming employers and the large number of small employers on the list.
- [Health Insurers Working to Improve Provider Network Directories](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurers-working-to-improve-provider-network-directories/) - Some health insurers are hoping to ease headaches that can flare when customers try to confirm whether a doctor is covered in a plan’s network of providers. The trade association America’s Health Insurance Plans will soon start testing a more efficient way to update insurer provider directories, which are becoming critical for finding the right fit as insurance evolves and coverage networks shrink.
- [FDA Extends Required Warnings to Short-Acting Opioid Painkillers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fda-extends-required-warnings-to-short-acting-opioid-painkillers/) - Short-acting opioid painkillers will carry strong new warnings under U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements announced on Tuesday that will bring information about addiction and abuse in line with that on long-acting pills. The FDA’s action comes a week after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended doctors prescribe non-opioids, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen, for patients with pain unless they have active cancer or are receiving end-of-life care.
- [Health Insurance Gains Due to Obama's Law, Not Economy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurance-gains-due-to-obamas-law-not-economy/) - WASHINGTON — There's growing evidence that most of the dramatic gain in the number of Americans with health care coverage is due to President Barack Obama's law, and not the gradual recovery of the nation's economy. That could pose a political risk for Republicans running against "Obamacare" in the GOP primaries as they shift to the general election later this year. While the health care law remains highly unpopular in the party, the prospect of taking away health care coverage from millions of people could trigger a backlash if the eventual GOP nominee's plan to replace it is seen as coming up short.
- [Employers Summary of Benefits and Coverage Deadline Extended](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-summary-of-benefits-and-coverage-deadline-extended/) - Good news for some employers dreading the reporting of Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) to their employees. The Department of Labor recently extended the deadline. The benefit summaries will not have to be distributed until the first day of the first plan year that begins on or after April 1, 2017.
- [Employers Catch a Break on Updated Benefit Summaries](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-catch-a-creak-on-updated-benefit-summaries/) - Employers will have plenty of time to comply with upcoming regulatory changes to the annual summary of health care benefits and coverages they must distribute to employees, according to a U.S. Department of Labor notice. In a notice issued last week, the Labor Department said the new SBCs will not have to be distributed until the first day of the first plan year that begins on or after April 1, 2017.
- [How Insurance for Nonprofits Has Changed for the Better](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-insurance-for-nonprofits-has-changed-for-the-better/) - When Pamela Davis started in the insurance industry 26 years ago, there were few insurance markets willing to take on the unique risks of nonprofit organizations. Back then, says Davis, who is now president and CEO of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group, nonprofits were seen as substandard risks. But that was not because nonprofits were poor risks but because they were misunderstood and specialized risks, she maintains. “The premiums were far higher than they needed to be 25 years ago,” she said.
- [How Wage Insurance Could Ease Economic Inequality](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-wage-insurance-could-ease-economic-inequality/) - Wage insurance may not be on your radar, but it should be. It helps people who have lost their jobs and cannot find new ones that pay as well. That assistance can reduce economic inequality while providing incentives for unemployed people to go back to work quickly.
- [Do Pricier Treatments Drive Workers Comp Diagnoses?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/do-pricier-treatments-drive-workers-comp-diagnoses/) - BOSTON — A course of treatment is sometimes decided before an injured worker is even diagnosed, a speaker said during the Workers Compensation Research Institute's 2016 Annual Issues and Research Conference in Boston.
- [Public Health Insurance Exchange Signups Grow in 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/public-health-insurance-exchange-signups-grow-in-2016/) - Of those 12.7 million enrollees, 9.6 million selected coverage in the 38 states in which coverage is offered through the federal exchange, while 3.1 million selected coverage in the 13 states, including the District of Columbia who have their own exchanges. About 11.4 million people signed up for coverage in the public exchanges in the 2015 open enrollment season.
- [International Well-Being Scorecard For Employees Launched](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/international-well-being-scorecard-for-employees-launched/) - The international HERO Health and Well-being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer allows employers to evaluate their workplace health initiatives with an inventory of current best practices compiled by industry leaders, the organizations said Monday in a joint statement.
- [Home Depot Deal May Set Standard For Cyber Breach Settlements](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/home-depot-deal-may-set-standard-for-cyber-breach-settlements/) - The $19.5 million settlement Home Depot Inc. was able to reach in connection with its massive 2014 data breach was relatively low, which can be attributed to the difficulty plaintiffs in many related cases have had in successfully claiming damages, say experts.
- [Spring Cleaning, Ensure your Cleaners are Insured](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/spring-cleaning-ensure-your-cleaners-are-insured/) - The fresh air of spring has arrived and the weather has been so nice. I have been busy cleaning out my garage and starting to spring clean my home. I just called my cleaning service to set up a deep clean of my house and it got me thinking about how important it is to have a cleaning company that is licensed and insured.
- [Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Plan Rejected by Utah Lawmakers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/comprehensive-medical-marijuana-plan-rejected-by-utah-lawmakers/) - A proposal that would have made edible marijuana products legal in Utah for those with chronic pain has died, concluding a more than yearlong effort that was severely stunted after the Mormon church came out in opposition last month.
- [Why Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities Are on Rise](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-pedestrian-traffic-fatalities-are-on-rise/) - The number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents is expected to have risen by as much as 10 percent when final 2015 statistics are available. That would be the biggest increase ever recorded. The annual Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Spotlight on Highway Safety Report provides the first look at 2015 pedestrian fatality trends, based on data reported by state highway safety agencies.
- [Do You Really Need Rental Car Insurance? 8 Things to Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/do-you-really-need-rental-car-insurance-8-things-to-know/) - With every car rental transaction comes the slightly uncomfortable moment when the agent behind the counter tries to foist the company’s insurance on you. When this happened to me at Hertz at the Hilo International Airport in Hawaii a few weeks ago, I did what I always do: I firmly and politely said no, thank you.
- [Waste in Cancer Drugs Costs $3 Billion a Year, a Study Says](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/waste-in-cancer-drugs-costs-3-billion-a-year-a-study-says/) - WASHINGTON — The federal Medicare program and private health insurers waste nearly $3 billion every year buying cancer medicines that are thrown out because many drug makers distribute the drugs only in vials that hold too much for most patients, a group of cancer researchers has found.
- [Minimizing Risks of Renting Your Home](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/minimizing-risks-of-renting-your-home/) - Try as one might to vet tenants, the sharing economy involves risks. You should ask tenants why they will be renting, who will live in your home, whether they have pets and what they do for a living. Here are some of the lessons for homeowners based on our experiences as landlords and tenants.
- [Getting Claim Costs Under Control: Improve Your Loss Ratio Using These Proven Fundamentals](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/getting-claim-costs-under-control-improve-your-loss-ratio-using-these-proven-fundamentals/) - The property/casualty industry is undergoing significant challenges with increased claim severity in liability and physical damage claims. These increases are outpacing inflation and rate adequacy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2009 the average private passenger auto bodily injury claim was $13,891. In 2014, that average grew to $16,640 – an increase of almost 20 percent. The private passenger auto collision loss ratio has risen from 67.7 percent in 2010 to 78.3 percent in 2015 – a 16 percent increase. The loss ratio can be adversely impacted by claim handling, underwriting and rate inadequacy with claim leakage as a primary cause of loss ratio deterioration.
- [Obama Says Enrollment in Affordable Care Act Reaches 20 Million](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-says-enrollment-in-affordable-care-act-reaches-20-million/) - MILWAUKEE — President Obama said on Thursday that enrollment in health coverage under the Affordable Care Act had reached a new high, 20 million, and he called the law an overwhelming success in this city and around the nation despite Republicans’ implacable opposition.
- [Innovation Could Be Outcome of Multiemployer Plan Debate](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/innovation-could-be-outcome-of-multiemployer-plan-debate/) - With three multiemployer pension plans moving to cut benefits, pension advocates are pushing to derail the law that made such steps possible before there are more, while other experts press for new plan designs. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., the federal agency charged with insuring private-sector pensions, estimates that 1.5 million people are covered by severely underfunded multiemployer plans at risk of becoming insolvent. And the PBGC's own program for backstopping multiemployer plans is projected to be insolvent in as little as 10 years.
- [Apple Urges U.S. Government To Form Commission on Encryption Issues](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/apple-urges-u-s-government-to-form-commission-on-encryption-issues/) - (Reuters) — Apple Inc. on Monday urged the creation of a government panel on encryption to help resolve a standoff over national security and data privacy that began last week after the technology company refused a U.S. government demand to unlock an iPhone used in a mass shooting in California in December.
- [More Insurers Embracing Telehealth](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/more-insurers-embracing-telehealth/) - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama resisted paying for most telehealth services for years after their introduction. The insurer, which holds a near-monopoly of the state's commercial market, had cost concerns about the still-evolving technology that electronically connects patients with doctors and other clinicians.
- [Impact of Marijuana Laws Suggest Increased Use Seen Among Adults](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/impact-of-marijuana-laws-suggest-increased-use-seen-among-adults/) - Rising Rate of Marijuana Use, with Some Evidence of Harmful Effects Maxwell and Mendelson provide an update on recent state laws regarding marijuana and analyze available data on how those laws are affecting rates of marijuana use, attitudes toward marijuana, and other key issues. A few states have legalized possession/use of small amounts of marijuana, while several others have “decriminalized” marijuana. Most states now permit some types of “medical marijuana” use.
- [Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. Vehicles on Roads Today Have Open Safety Recalls](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nearly-1-in-5-u-s-vehicles-on-roads-today-have-open-safety-recalls/) - Nearly one in five vehicles on U.S. roads is in need of repair of a safety issue serious enough to be involved in a federal government recall, according to used-car history provider Carfax.
- [FEMA Says Californians Buy Record Number of Flood Policies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fema-says-californians-buy-record-number-of-flood-policies/) - Federal emergency officials reported Tuesday a surge in the number of California residents who have purchased flood insurance, most likely in response to a rainy El Nino winter.
- [What Percent of Health Insurance is Paid by Employers?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-percent-of-health-insurance-is-paid-by-employers/) - When evaluating a new or existing health insurance program, your company’s contribution strategy is an important consideration. In simple terms, how much will individual employees pitch in for coverage, and what percent of health insurance is paid by employers?
- [ObamaCare May Be Growing The Number of Unpaid Medical Bills](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-may-be-growing-the-number-of-unpaid-medical-bills/) - A big hospital chain’s surprise decision to write off a slug of bad debt may be a signal of much deeper consumer healthcare strains being caused by ObamaCare. Community Health Systems surprised analysts this week, announcing that among other things, the company would take a $169 million provision for bad debt. The write off was a big part of Community’s dismal fourth quarter earnings report, leading to a 22% drop in the company’s stock on Tuesday.
- [How Employer Joint Liability Is Changing](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-employer-joint-liability-is-changing/) - Businesses known for their uniforms are worried about lawyers in business suits in the wake of a change in the nation’s labor laws affecting their liability for employment practices. The change could unravel the franchise business and wreak havoc for thousands of companies and contractors, according to franchise industry groups and insurance professionals.
- [Tracking Workplace Injury: OSHA 300Forms](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tracking-workplace-injury-osha-300forms/) - OSHA requires workplace injuries to be tracked using special forms. One of the forms is called the OSHA 300A Summary. This form represents the total number of injuries and illnesses reported for the year.
- [Employee Retention - The Real Cost of Losing an Employee](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-retention-the-real-cost-of-losing-an-employee/) - For businesses to thrive in today’s economy, finding and retaining the best employees is important. This is especially true for small businesses and nonprofits competing with larger businesses, and larger budgets, for top talent.
- [Top 10 Workplace Discrimination Claims in 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-10-workplace-discrimination-claims-in-2015/) - Retaliation charges increased by nearly five percent in 2015 and continue to be the leading concern raised by workers across the country. Disability charges increased by six percent from last year and are the third largest category of charges filed.
- [Financial Budgeting and Savings on Personal Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/financial-budgeting-and-savings-on-personal-insurance/) - Creating a financial budget can seem daunting and scary for many Americans. The average American spends more then they earn and often on unnecessary items. With advances in technology, online shopping and the growing use of credit cards, most Americans don’t even know where to begin when it comes to introducing a budget.
- [End of the Road May Be Near for Side Mirrors](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/end-of-the-road-may-be-near-for-side-mirrors/) - BEFORE engineers dreamed of eliminating drivers in cars, they imagined eliminating the side mirrors. The protuberances are ugly, create aerodynamic drag, and their associated blind spots are the bane of parking-challenged drivers everywhere.
- [Number of Jobless Claims Rises More Than Expected](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/number-of-jobless-claims-rises-more-than-expected/) - WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday, suggesting some loss of momentum in the labor market during a sharp economic slowdown and stock market sell-off.
- [The Big Problem With High Health Care Deductibles](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-big-problem-with-high-health-care-deductibles/) - When Bernie Sanders released his long-awaited health care plan last month, it was light on the details. But it did include one major, crowd-pleasing promise: Under his Medicare-for-all proposal, no American would ever have to pay a deductible or co-payment to receive health care again.
- [Noisy Workplaces Contribute To Employee Hearing Loss](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/noisy-workplaces-contribute-to-employee-hearing-loss/) - Workers in industry sectors like agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and manufacturing had significantly higher risks of hearing difficulty, according to the study, which was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine in late January.
- [Insuring Las Vegas’s Constant Need for Change](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insuring-las-vegass-constant-need-for-change/) - There are unique careers and jobs here that mirror the cities constant need for change. So much has changed since I arrived to the “city of sin” in 1986 and I think Las Vegas will forever be “re-created.” I have seen more buildings and establishments change owners, be torn down and of course rehabbed. There is no where else in America with the insurance needs that Las Vegas has; it’s one of the reasons I love the insurance industry here. Tourism, Hospitality, Gambling and Night Life all create unique and constantly evolving insurance needs in Las Vegas.
- [Las Vegas, Unique Insurance Needs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-unique-insurance-needs/) - Las Vegas is a place where visitors and residents have almost everything at their fingertips, all hours of the day and night. Over the years many things have changed, but the hospitality industry has always been a constant in Las Vegas. Looking back, hospitality also played a huge role in my career. I have had the pleasure of working with several entertainment companies and nightclubs to ensure proper insurance coverage was in place for these facilities.
- [New Year, New Start](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-year-new-start/) - Every year, people make resolutions for many different things. Live healthier! is always a trend. After all, Gym memberships sky rocket in January, and salads become the lunch option of choice. Another common resolution is to get finances in order, which can help ease the burden of financial stress. I came across this easy savings plan last year that was so simple, I have to share.
- [U.S. Labor Department Issues Joint Employer Liability Rules](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-labor-department-issues-joint-employer-liability-rules/) - More U.S. companies could be classified as “joint employers” of workers employed by a staffing agency or contractor and held liable for labor violations tied to those staff, the U.S. Labor Department said in guidance published Wednesday. Joint employment has emerged as a major issue in franchising, contracting, temporary staffing and other arrangements in which companies use workers but do not directly employ them.
- [When Are Employee Wellness Programs No Longer Voluntary?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/when-are-employee-wellness-programs-no-longer-voluntary/) - Like many employers, Flambeau uses a wellness program to cut insurance costs by encouraging healthy employee habits. In the past, submitting to on-site tests of blood pressure, body-mass, and cholesterol meant saving a few hundred dollars. Now companies such as Flambeau have gone a step farther, denying healthcare entirely to those who don’t participate. People like Arnold must instead pay for more expensive coverage through the government’s COBRA program.
- [When is it Worth Giving Up Your Data? Americans Aren’t Quite Sure.](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/when-is-it-worth-giving-up-your-data-americans-arent-quite-sure/) - Would you trade information about when you’re in your house -- and in what rooms -- for the promise of cheaper energy bills, even if that means you’re sending this data to a distant tech company?
- [Visitation to Las Vegas Predicted to Hit 42.5M In 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/visitation-to-las-vegas-predicted-to-hit-42-5m-in-2016/) - Southern Nevada saw a record 42.3 million visitors in 2015, according to preliminary statistics issued this week by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Strong convention attendance figures boosted the total, which were reported Tuesday at the organization's monthly board of directors meeting.
- [Insurer Rewards Push Women Toward Mammograms](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/advertisement-health-essay-insurer-rewards-push-women-toward-mammograms/) - A 53-year-old woman on Medicaid in Washington State who has never had a mammogram elects to get one in return for a $15 gift card. A 35-year-old woman in Florida chooses to get her first mammogram because her insurer, Aetna, offers a $50 payroll check.
- [Overexertion Tops List of Workplace Injury Causes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/overexertion-tops-list-of-workplace-injury-causes/) - The most disabling nonfatal workplace injuries cost U.S. employers nearly $62 billion in 2013, according to Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety's 2016 Workplace Safety Index, published Thursday.
- [MGM Resorts to Charge For Parking at Las Vegas Strip Casinos](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mgm-resorts-to-charge-for-parking-at-las-vegas-strip-casinos/) - MGM Resorts International will break from a long-standing Las Vegas tradition and begin charging customers to park at the company's Strip resorts as part of a $90 million strategy to "expand and enhance" the company's parking infrastructure. The parking fees will go into effect sometime between April and June the company said in a Friday statement, which also announced plans for a $54-million, 3,000-space parking structure MGM will construct near the northwest corner of the Excalibur.
- [Health Insurance Premiums Fell In Exactly One State In 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurance-premiums-fell-in-exactly-one-state-in-2015/) - An analysis by Freedom Partners shows Mississippi was the only state to see a drop in health insurance premiums on the individual marketplace in 2015. The amount wasn’t much, minus 0.2 percent, but it was better than the other 49 states which all had increases under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
- [Smartphones Keep Young People Off the Road](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/smartphones-keep-young-people-off-the-road/) - Over the winter break, my teenage children observed, based on their friends and acquaintances, that young adults are much less eager to get their driver’s licenses than they once were, and that in general fewer young people have them. I was skeptical at first, but it turns out they’re right. In 1983, 92 percent of Americans aged 20 to 24 had a driver’s license. In 2014, just 77 percent did. Were it not for that decline, 3.5 million more young people would be drivers today.
- [How Even the Most Popular Group Health Plans Fall Short](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-even-the-most-popular-group-health-plans-fall-short/) - Group health insurance is a reality for many businesses, both big and small, but it's not always the “benefit” that companies would like it to be. Even the most popular group plans can sometimes fall short of expectations, and there are several reasons why it might not be the right solution for your business or your employees.
- [The Changing Surplus Lines Landscape in California and Beyond](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-changing-surplus-lines-landscape-in-california-and-beyond/) - The changing excess and surplus insurance landscape was an oft discussed topic on Monday, with experts describing the challenges and opportunities going forward. “The business that we have and the risk we see is going to be changing. No question.”
- [Outlook for U.S. Commercial P/C Insurance Still Negative: A.M. Best](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/outlook-for-u-s-commercial-pc-insurance-still-negative-a-m-best/) - Rating agency A.M. Best said it is maintaining its negative outlook on the commercial lines segment of the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) industry, despite relatively solid aggregate results over the past several years. The negative outlook indicates A.M. Best’s expectation of more downgrades than upgrades in the coming year. At the same time, A.M. Best is also holding over its stable outlook on the personal lines segment of the U.S. P/C industry.
- [U.S. Says 11.3 Million Americans Have Signed Up for 2016 Obamacare Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-says-11-3-million-americans-have-signed-up-for-2016-obamacare-plans/) - About 11.3 million Americans have signed up so far for individual health insurance in 2016 through HealthCare.gov and the state-based exchanges, the U.S. government said on Thursday. Enrollment for these plans, which were created under the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, closes on Jan. 31.
- [Obama to Veto Affordable Care Act Repeal Passed by Congress](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-to-veto-affordable-care-act-repeal-passed-by-congress/) - The House voted Wednesday to repeal most of Obamacare, sending legislation to President Barack Obama for the first time that would dismantle his biggest domestic policy achievement.
- [T-Mobile buys naming rights to new Las Vegas arena](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/t-mobile-buys-naming-rights-to-new-las-vegas-arena/) - Wireless operator T-Mobile has bought the naming rights to the $375 million arena being built by MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) that is set to open on the Strip in April. The building, informally called Las Vegas Arena for the past two years, is officially the T-Mobile Arena.
- [Safety Tips For New Years Eve](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/safety-tips-for-new-years-eve/) - Las Vegas is one of the world’s top destinations to bring in the New Year. The Las Vegas Strip shuts down to all cars and becomes an adult playground for pedestrians. Las Vegas knows how to start the New Year with a boom. Several hotels on the Las Vegas Strip synchronize fireworks to music and celebrate a fresh new year in style. It is important to think about one’s safety on a holiday that is known for a late night, parties and of course drinking.
- [Amazon to Customers: Throw Your Hoverboard Away](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/amazon-to-customers-throw-your-hoverboard-away/) - Companies rarely advocate for the destruction of their products, but given that some of Amazon’s hoverboards are spontaneously combusting (and destroying themselves), all bets are off. Now, after already pulling the product from both United States and United Kingdom sites earlier this week, Amazon is telling customers to throw away unsafe hoverboards.
- [Hyde Lounge nightclub to be part of Las Vegas Arena](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hyde-lounge-nightclub-to-be-part-of-las-vegas-arena/) - Nightclub and restaurant operator SBE Entertainment said Monday it will place a branch of its Hyde Lounge nightclub inside the $350 million Las Vegas Arena, which opens in April.
- [Happy Holidays!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/happy-holidays/) - Everyone at Capstone Brokerage would like to wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday. Be safe in your travels, stay warm in your homes, and enjoy family and friends.
- [Workplaces Review Emergency Plans After California Shootings](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workplaces-review-emergency-plans-after-california-shootings/) - The terror attack at a social services facility in California has become a sobering reminder to companies of how vulnerable workplaces can be when employees are confronted with active shooters.
- [What Small Business Employees Need to Know About Obamacare 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-small-business-employees-need-to-know-about-obamacare-2016/) - The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, has been put into motion and changed several times since its passing in 2010. As a result, business owners and employees alike are left wondering what the best options are for health insurance.
- [Determining & Reporting ACA Affordability Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/determining-reporting-aca-affordability-coverage/) - Affordability is based on the “self-only” (or, employee only) premium for the lowest cost option offered by the employer that meets the minimum value (MV) requirement. This applies even with employees who “buy-up” to a richer plan design alternative or enroll their dependents. If the lowest cost self-only health plan is 9.5% or less of your full-time employee’s household income, then the coverage is considered affordable. However, because you are unlikely to know your employee’s household income, you can determine whether you are offered affordable coverage under the various safe harbors for employer shared responsibility provisions.
- [Product Liability Explained](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/product-liability-explained/) - When it comes to product liability, as discussed last month, there are a number of parties that can be involved in the event of a claim. Product Liability claims arise when a product sold to a consumer causes injury and is considered defective or unreasonably dangerous. The very basic understanding of product liability rests in definition and the law.
- [How Much Car Do You Buy to Keep Your Teenager Safe?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-much-car-do-you-buy-to-keep-your-teenager-safe/) - So your teenager needs a car. Or maybe you need the teenager to have a car so you can get out of the chauffeuring business. But not a new car, right? No child needs that. Still, it has to be safe, with all of the latest safety equipment so if the driver does get careless, possibly as a result of texting, the car electronics will step in to help avoid a crash.
- [7 Simple Underwriting Questions Nobody Asks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/7-simple-underwriting-questions-nobody-asks/) - First, let’s be clear – this is only a SMALL sampling of simple questions agents and underwriters fail to ask! There are dozens of simple, common sense questions that are often skipped – why remains a mystery. Second, this article does not provide every answer or option available for each of these questions. This is not intended as a text book, the point of this short article is to raise your awareness of the need to ask questions, even or especially those that may seem basic. Because if you don’t ask, the lawyers will (and juries will be very interested in the simplicity of the questions).
- [The A B C’s of New IRS Employer Reporting Requirements](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-a-b-cs-of-new-irs-employer-reporting-requirements/) - The New Year brings yet additional IRS reporting responsibilities for some employers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many employers will now need to file a range of reporting forms reflecting compliance with the health care reform’s “shared responsibility” mandate to provide affordable health coverage to their employees. However, many are still uncertain about the requirements to provide employees with these new ACA disclosures.
- [7 Actions for Closing Out 2015 As If It Were a New Year](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/7-actions-for-closing-out-2015-as-if-it-were-a-new-year/) - Every year, we do it on the same day at the same time. The instant the calendar changes from the old year to the new one, we convince ourselves that this year will be different. We’re going to do everything we didn’t do in the past. It’s a predictable ritual; it’s become part of our DNA. Good faith efforts rarely work. “Stuff” gets in our way and throws us off course. The big challenge is ending the year with the same drive and resolve with which we started it. Here are seven actions that can help:
- [Understanding Premium Tax Credit Eligibility in 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/understanding-premium-tax-credit-eligibility-in-2016/) - Charts and graphs are helpful tools, but often they’re not enough to fully understand the complexities of health care and medical insurance. When it comes to the premium tax credit that many small-business employees are eligible for, they need all available details — and straightforward explanations
- [Uber Winning Support in States for Classifying Drivers as Contractors](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uber-winning-support-in-states-for-classifying-drivers-as-contractors/) - State legislators in Ohio and Florida are moving ahead with regulations governing Uber and other ride services that would designate all drivers as independent contractors, bolstering a critical but much-disputed aspect of Uber’s business model. The states would join North Carolina, Arkansas, and Indiana in requiring the contractor designation as part of new laws governing so-called transportation network companies, a Reuters review of state legislation showed.
- [How to Wrap That Toy Drone Christmas Gift in an Insurance Policy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-wrap-that-toy-drone-christmas-gift-in-an-insurance-policy/) - The next wave of hobby drones will be wrapped in boxes underneath Christmas trees before they fill the skies. If industry sales projections come true, the holiday season will put tens of thousands of relative novices at the controls of small unmanned aerial vehicles in densely populated cities and suburbs. All that amateurish swooping over houses and cars, spooking pets and dodging humans, will invariably lead to cracked windows and more than a few bloody injuries.
- [The Employer Guide to Selecting A Telehealth Service](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-employer-guide-to-selecting-a-telehealth-service/) - Seventy-four percent of employers plan to offer telehealth in 2016, up from just half in 2015! The rapid adoption of telehealth is typically credited as being driven by health care providers, but it’s actually employers who are leading this charge.
- [Affordable Care Act Plans Get 1 Million New Subscribers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/affordable-care-act-plans-get-1-million-new-subscribers/) - WASHINGTON — A million new customers have signed up for health insurance during the Affordable Care Act’s third open-enrollment season, Obama administration officials said Wednesday. They said it showed a widespread desire for coverage under the law.
- [Cyber Insurance Underwriting Moves from ‘Toddler’ to ‘Teen’ As Insurers Learn from Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-insurance-underwriting-moves-from-toddler-to-teen-as-insurers-learn-from-claims/) - Given the fact that the insurance industry paid out more than $400 million in highly publicized cyber liability insurance claims in 2014 alone, one might think that insurers would be shying away from the line. But one would be wrong, according to insurance professionals who specialize in cyber-related risks.
- [New Credit Card Chips Shift Liability to Retailers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-credit-card-chips-shift-liability-to-retailers/) - On Oct. 1, 2015, many of the insurance industry’s clients took on a lot more risk, and may not even know it. The Payment Card Industry, PCI, which is the self-regulating organization that oversees everyone that accepts or issues payment cards, set the date of Oct. 1, for point-of-sale machines to begin accepting “chip cards.”
- [Same-Sex Adoption Case Challenges What It Means to Be Parent](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/same-sex-adoption-case-challenges-what-it-means-to-be-parent/) - FRANKFORT, Ky. — The 9-year-old Kentucky girl calls the woman "nommy" and bears her middle and last name. They lived in the same household until the girl was 4, and "nommy" once carried the child on her insurance plan.
- [Shareholders at Anthem and Cigna Approve Merger](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/shareholders-at-anthem-and-cigna-approve-merger/) - A $48 billion deal that would create the nation’s largest health insurer inched closer to completion after shareholders of both Anthem and Cigna voted in favor of a buyout.
- [Health Spending in U.S. Topped $3 Trillion Last Year](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-spending-in-u-s-topped-3-trillion-last-year/) - WASHINGTON — Health spending in the United States last year topped $3 trillion — an average of $9,500 a person — as five years of exceptionally slow growth gave way to the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid and private insurance coverage, and as prescription drug prices resumed their sharp climbs, the government said Wednesday.
- [15 Automakers, U.S. Meet on Safety, Recalls, Hacking](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/15-automakers-u-s-meet-on-safety-recalls-hacking/) - Executives from 15 auto companies met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx Tuesday to discuss specific industrywide actions that can improve safety and prevent cars from being hacked. The meeting was convened after record numbers of cars have been recalled in the last several years, Namrata Kolachalam, the Transportation Department’s press secretary, said in an e-mailed statement.
- [IRS Health Care Forms 1094 and 1095, Are You Prepared?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/irs-health-care-forms-1094-and-1095-are-you-prepared/) - Earlier in 2015 when we filed our taxes for 2014 with our tax adviser, either in person or online, we were asked if we had individual medical insurance. Everyone was on the honor system; the individual mandate of the law states you will have to pay an annual fee or fine for not having health coverage. The penalty or fee is related to gross wages and family size. However, the IRS had no way to track this information until now. Welcome to the filing requirements under the ACA.
- [Product Liability… Who is Responsible?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/product-liability-who-is-responsible/) - It is estimated that the average American will spend at least $700 on gifts this holiday season. For the commercial industry that is good news. From importers, manufactures, distributors, wholesalers to retail stores, products have a long road to travel before they end up in American homes for the holidays. Product liability insurance plays a huge role in all entities that create products because defects can rest with any party in the products chain of distribution.
- [Cost Containment Strategies for Small Business Health Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cost-containment-strategies-for-small-business-health-benefits/) - Small businesses report that the cost of benefits is the number one operating challenge, and close to 90 percent of employers are prepared for insurance costs to rise each year. These facts suggest that a way to offer health insurance without concern about rising costs can be a huge benefit to any business – regardless of the size.
- [States Graded ‘A’ to ‘F’ for Extreme Weather Preparedness](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/states-graded-a-to-f-for-extreme-weather-preparedness/) - Many states across the country are unprepared to face the risks posed extreme heat, drought, wildfires, inland flooding, coastal flooding and other extreme weather events, according to a new report card. Only a small number of states – Alaska, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania – have taken strong action to prepare for future risks across the threats they face, according to the report card.
- [Telematics Changing Drivers’ Behavior: Insurance Research](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/telematics-changing-drivers-behavior-insurance-research/) - More than half (56 percent) of the 1,135 drivers participating in an Insurance Research Council (IRC) public opinion survey said they have made changes in how they drive since installing a telematics device provided by their insurance company in their primary vehicle.
- [10 Obamacare Facts Small Business Owners Must Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/10-obamacare-facts-small-business-owners-must-know/) - The passing of the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) usheredin an era of all Americans being put in charge of their own health insurance. Those without insurance are now required to purchase it, and some are eligible for help from the government. The real question for small businesses is how does Obamacare affect us? For small and medium-sized businesses, the following facts may be important to you.
- [Top Cyber Threats for 2016 and Next Five Years](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-cyber-threats-for-2016-and-next-five-years/) - Businesses and organizations should expect cyber criminals to attack through wearable devices, employees’ home systems, cloud services and automobiles within the next year, according cyber experts at Intel’s McAfee Labs. By 2020, individuals could be receiving payment for sharing their personal data and hackers could be manipulating markets in their favor through financial intelligence gathering, the experts also predict.
- [The Price of Price Optimization in Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-price-of-price-optimization-in-insurance/) - While a full definition is hard to come by, price optimization generally refers to an insurer’s practice of varying rates based on non-risk-related factors. Price optimization involves analysis and incorporation of data not related to expected cost for risk characteristics — that is, it involves factors not related to expected loss and expense experience. Such data may include the prior year changes in premium and whether policyholders renewed subsequent to such change.
- [Holiday Shopping Saftey](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/holiday-shopping-saftey/) - The weather outside is frightful… ok not quite here in Las Vegas, but it is chilly. The holidays are around the corner and, with many Americans already holiday shopping, the busiest retail season has begun. Yes I hate to admit it, I am one of them. While consumers are more driven to buy early, save money, and get the deal before it is too late, one should consider safety when it comes to holiday shopping. If you venture out on black Friday to score some major deals like me, be sure to take precautions when “stuffing” the car.
- [Many Say High Deductibles Make Their Health Law Insurance All but Useless](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/many-say-high-deductibles-make-their-health-law-insurance-all-but-useless/) - WASHINGTON — Obama administration officials, urging people to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, have trumpeted the low premiums available on the law’s new marketplaces.
- [DOL Issues Proposed Safe Harbor For State-Run Retirement Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/dol-issues-proposed-safe-harbor-for-state-run-retirement-plans/) - Labor Secretary Thomas Perez today announced a proposed safe harbor amendment that is expected to bring states around the country one step closer to getting into the retirement plan administration business.
- [Parents Flunk Child Car Seat Safety Checks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/parents-flunk-child-car-seat-safety-checks/) - Results from recent child car seat inspections in New York indicate that parents need to do a better job of buckling up their little ones. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office says 931 car seats were inspected at a series of state-run safety checks earlier this fall. Only 112 seats were installed correctly.
- [Regulators Urge Broader Health Networks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/regulators-urge-broader-health-networks/) - The nation’s insurance commissioners are recommending sweeping new standards to address complaints from consumers about limited access to doctors and hospitals in health plans sold under the Affordable Care Act.
- [Death Among Middle -Aged Whites](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/death-among-middle-aged-whites/) - Two Princeton economists startled other Americans — and themselves — when they uncovered a trend that had escaped the medical and scientific world: Between 1999 and 2013, white middle-aged men and women in the United States, especially those with only a high school education, began dying at a sharply increased rate, largely a result of problems with legal and illegal drugs, alcohol-related liver disease and suicide.
- [The Battle to Move U.S. Health Care From Paper to Digital Far From Over](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-battle-to-move-u-s-health-care-from-paper-to-digital-far-from-over/) - If you have gone online recently to pay a hospital bill, request a prescription refill, or look at lab results, you are among the minority of people across the U.S. using technology to monitor your health. Moving patient health records from a paper-based system to an electronic one has long been a dream and a goal of doctors, hospital administrators and policymakers, but the effort has been anything but seamless, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.
- [Allegiant Begins Major Expansion; New Flights Include McCarran](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/allegiant-begins-major-expansion-new-flights-include-mccarran/) - Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air began one of its largest expansions in years Thursday with the launch of several new flights, including six a week to and from McCarran International Airport. The discount carrier, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Co., began flights to and from Oklahoma City and St. Louis on Thursday and will inaugurate service to and from San Antonio on Friday.
- [Agencies Warn Americans to Stay Ahead of El Niño, Buy Flood Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/agencies-warn-americans-to-stay-ahead-of-el-nino-buy-flood-insurance/) - FEMA is encouraging families and communities to take steps now to prepare now for the threat of El Niño.
- [Why Consumers Often Err in Choosing Health Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-consumers-often-err-in-choosing-health-plans/) - It’s open enrollment season for almost every kind of health insurance in America. Millions of Americans using Medicare plans, employer-sponsored health insurance or Affordable Care Act marketplaces select health plans each fall. Many consumers face numerous options, and research shows that they make many mistakes, often paying more than they need to.
- [Injury Claims Become Commodities with Litigation Funding, Claim Aggregation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/injury-claims-become-commodities-with-litigation-funding-claim-aggregation/) - For all the black robes and ceremony, the American legal system often operates more like a factory assembly line than a citadel of individualized justice. Ninety- five percent of criminal prosecutions end in plea deals. Many defective-product claims settle in mass pacts that benefit attorneys more than putative victims. Now a legal dispute within a plaintiffs’ law firm that organizes massive torts is threatening to pull back the curtain on the mechanics of high- volume litigation.
- [Premiums for Health Insurance Bought on Exchanges to Climb in 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/premiums-for-health-insurance-bought-on-exchanges-to-climb-in-2016/) - The Obama administration said many consumers will see noticeable premium increases when buying health coverage on insurance exchanges in 2016, acknowledging for the first time what many health-care experts had predicted.
- [Auto Insurance Market to Shrink 60% by 2040: KPMG](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/auto-insurance-market-to-shrink-60-by-2040-kpmg/) - By: Andrew G. Simpson (Insurance Journal) October 2015 By the time today’s millennial insurance professionals are its top executives, the U.S. personal auto insurance industry will be a skeleton of its current self. Within 25 years, the private passenger automobile insurance industry will shrink by as much as 60 percent, according to a report by
- [Retail, Health Care Rate Spikes Expected For Cyber Policies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/retail-health-care-rate-spikes-expected-for-cyber-policies/) - Point-of-sale retailers and large health care firms can expect cyber insurance rate hikes of up to 150% on renewal next year, says Willis Group Holdings P.L.C., in a report discussing next year’s forecast for various lines of business. It expects that rates for cyber polices are expected to be flat to up 15% for companies that are neither point-of-sale retailers nor large health care entities.
- [Homeowners Build Home Designed to Withstand Wildfires](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/homeowners-build-home-designed-to-withstand-wildfires/) - By: Ann Butler, The Durango Herald (Claims Journal) October 2015 In 2002, while the Missionary Ridge Fire was burning almost 73,000 acres in southwest Colorado, the Front Range was closely watching the Hayman Fire, which burned more than 138,000 acres. For Jeff Bork and his wife, Pat Lavin, who were living in Summit County at
- [Crunch Time at Small Businesses as Health Care Demands Loom](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/crunch-time-at-small-businesses-as-health-care-demands-loom/) - Companies with 50 to 99 full-time employees must offer affordable insurance to employees and their dependents starting Jan. 1. They must also file tax forms with the government by Jan. 31 detailing the cost of their coverage and the names and Social Security numbers of employees and their dependents. While companies of all sizes are subject to the law must file the forms, smaller businesses without big staffs to handle the paperwork may have to hire someone to do it — at a cost of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- [Construction, Insurance, and Certificates Oh My!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/construction-insurance-and-certificates-oh-my/) - A big part of the construction industry is insurance. Why? Well, it is simple - construction is a risky business. All construction projects have a defined set of risks; bad weather, non-payment, safety concerns, construction defect, property damage, the list goes on and on. As a contractor and a consumer it is important to be sure all parties working on your home, or jobsite, have proper insurance coverage in all areas of risk.
- [2016 Healthcare Premium Increases, Are You Prepared?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2016-healthcare-premium-increases-are-you-prepared/) - Many Small business and individuals are noticing a common occurrence for health insurance premiums for 2016. An overall increase in premium is expected. It has been speculated that rate increases were coming down across the board since the passing of the Affordable Care Act. In 2016 the speculation is proving to be a reality for many
- [Benefits More Important Than Ever To Recruiters](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/benefits-more-important-than-ever-to-recruiters/) - A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 38 percent of professionals involved in recruiting “leveraged benefits to recruit employees at all levels during the past 12 months.”
- [Unlike Uber, On-Demand Office Service Cleans Up with Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/unlike-uber-on-demand-office-service-cleans-up-with-employees/) - Unlike other stalwarts of the on-demand economy, however, janitors and cleaners summoned through the Managed by Q app receive stable incomes, benefits, and the potential to earn promotions. This is only possible because Q hires its entire workforce of over 400 people as W-2 employees rather than relying on temporary labor from independent contractors. None of Uber’s over 160,000 U.S. drivers fall under this classification—yet.
- [The Added Protection of Flood Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-added-protection-of-flood-insurance/) - Flood insurance is available for commercial, home, and property coverage. Flood insurance can cover two types of property and it is important to purchase both when getting flood insurance. The first is Building Coverage which will pay to repair or replace the insured building and its foundation. The second is Contents Coverage which will cover the possessions in the building. It is important to remember that the land the building is on will not be covered.
- [Las Vegas Tourism Officials Push For More International Traffic](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-tourism-officials-push-for-more-international-traffic/) - The city's tourism marketing leaders continued their quest to draw more international traffic to Las Vegas Tuesday, signing an agreement with a South Korean business group and approving spending $375,000 on separate programs geared to boost foreign travel.
- [Workers Comp: The New Contractors Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-comp-the-new-contractors-risk/) - Employers are nervous about the changing nature of the employment relationship. The Department of Labor now presumes that almost all workers are employees, not independent contractors. The National Labor Relations Board now views temp workers to be essentially the same as regular employees.
- [Premium Cost Is top Concern for Health Insurance Shoppers: Survey](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/premium-cost-is-top-concern-for-health-insurance-shoppers-survey/) - More than half of those who looked but didn't buy anything on the new Obamacare exchanges said they couldn't find a plan they could afford, the survey found. And two-thirds who switched coverage said price was the main factor.
- [Why Drugs Cost 3 Times More in the U.S.](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-drugs-cost-3-times-more-in-the-u-s/) - U.S. prices for the world’s 20 top-selling medicines are, on average, three times higher than in Britain, according to an analysis carried out for Reuters. The finding underscores a transatlantic gulf between the price of treatments for a range of diseases and follows demands for lower drug costs in America from industry critics such as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
- [Insurance Plan Allows Homeowners To Guard Against Down-Payment Losses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-plan-allows-homeowners-to-guard-against-down-payment-losses/) - When you put down thousands of dollars to purchase a home, you’re taking a potentially serious financial risk: You could lose some or all of that money if the value of the house declines or a job transfer, illness or other life event forces you to sell the property during a dip in market demand.
- [Health Law Revision Would Stop Small Group Market Expansion](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-law-revision-would-stop-small-group-market-expansion/) - Recently, Congress passed a bipartisan change to the Affordable Care Act’s definition of a small employer, sending the measure to President Obama’s desk. If signed into law, the federal requirement to expand the small group market to mid-sized businesses in 2016 would be halted. Let’s take a quick look at what the bill is, and what it means for small and mid-sized employers.
- [FAA Hopes to Send Message with $1.9 Million Penalty Against Drone Photographer](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faa-hopes-to-send-message-with-1-9-million-penalty-against-drone-photographer/) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is proposing the largest fine to date against a drone operator as the agency cracks down on the booming use of unmanned aircraft in congested skies over populated areas.
- [General Mills Recalls 1.8M Boxes of Cheerios Due to Allergy Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/general-mills-recalls-1-8m-boxes-of-cheerios-due-to-allergy-risk/) - General Mills is recalling 1.8 million boxes of Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios produced at a plant in Lodi, California, saying the cereal is labeled gluten-free but actually contains wheat. The recall affects Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios that were made in July. The Minneapolis company said Monday wheat flour was inadvertently used in a gluten-free oat flour system. The use of wheat flour means the cereals are not gluten-free, and people with conditions like wheat allergies or celiac disease who consume them might suffer an allergic reaction or discomfort.
- [Insurers Respond Slowly to Growing Demand for Cyber Insurance: Timetric Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurers-respond-slowly-to-growing-demand-for-cyber-insurance-timetric-report/) - Insurance Journal, October 2015 The cyber risk insurance market is experiencing rapid development, with the size of global gross written premiums growing from US$850 million in 2012 to an estimated US$2.5 billion in 2014, according to a new report by London-based business intelligence company, Timetric. While the cyber risk insurance market is gaining traction due
- [With Flood Insurance Rare, Homeowners Have Little Recourse](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/with-flood-insurance-rare-homeowners-have-little-recourse/) - Many people in areas deluged by rains and flooding tides fed by Hurricane Joaquin are likely to be surprised to find that standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage from floodwater.
- [New Study Finds Crisis Services Largest Cost Associated with Cyber Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-study-finds-crisis-services-largest-cost-associated-with-cyber-claims/) - More than $75.5 million has been spent on cyber claims losses as reported in the latest Cyber Claims Study published by NetDiligence, a cyber risk assessment and data breach services company.
- [The Candidates on Health Care](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-candidates-on-health-care/) - While the Republican presidential candidates have been busy railing against Obamacare, the two leading contenders for the Democratic nomination have staked out radically different ideas on how to improve the American health care system.
- [Finding a Health Insurance Plan That Travels With You](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/finding-a-health-insurance-plan-that-travels-with-you/) - It’s easier than ever to travel to faraway places; explore remote islands; ski, climb, cycle, glide; and to do it all with your family in tow, or on your own. Should you buy travel health insurance before you set off? Or shrug and roll the dice? The answer depends on several factors, including what you plan to do and where (are you taking a literary walk in England or heli-skiing in Chile?), your age, health, existing insurance and appetite for risk.
- [Builders Risk Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/builders-risk-insurance/) - A builders risk insurance policies are an important part of the construction industry. If your business is involved in new construction or a remodel of a building you should consider a Builders Risk Policy to protect your investment in the project. A builder’s risk policy will protect a person’s or organization’s insurable interest in materials, equipment, and fixtures that are being used to construct or remodel a structure. The protection is added security in the event that the materials sustain physical loss from a covered cause.
- [State of Nevada Family Leave Laws](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/state-of-nevada-family-leave-laws/) - Here in the state of Nevada in addition to following the regular federal FMLA laws the state has instituted additional guidelines for local business to adhere to. There are some of the additional areas that Nevada requires a business to grant leave to employees.
- [Health Insurance Hurdles? 4 Times To Ask For Help](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurance-hurdles-4-times-to-ask-for-help/) - Millions of people each year find themselves in transition with their health care coverage. They may be leaving an employer and considering COBRA coverage, or may be nearing retirement and planning to enroll in Medicare. They may be able to use Medicaid for their children’s health care coverage or an exchange plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace with lower costs from subsidies.
- [Medical Professional Insurer Market Prepped for Consolidation: Fitch](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-professional-insurer-market-prepped-for-consolidation-fitch/) - The medical professional liability insurance market continued its years-long decline in 2014 in terms of net written premium volume, hammered by forces including worsening accident-year results and a rapidly evolving healthcare market, Fitch Ratings found. Despite its challenges, the MPLI market still managed to report a profit in 2014 and could be a target for consolidation, Fitch said.
- [As Banks Retreat, Private Equity Rushes to Buy Troubled Home Mortgages](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/as-banks-retreat-private-equity-rushes-to-buy-troubled-home-mortgages/) - Private equity and hedge fund firms have bought more than 100,000 troubled mortgages at a discount from banks and federal housing agencies, emerging as aggressive liquidators for the remains of the mortgage crisis that erupted nearly a decade ago.
- [Health Insurance Deductibles Outpacing Wage Increases, Study Finds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurance-deductibles-outpacing-wage-increases-study-finds/) - Four of five workers who receive their insurance through an employer now pay a deductible, in which they must pay some of their medical bills before their coverage starts, according to Kaiser.
- [Why Companies are Managing ACA Compliance with Technology](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-companies-are-managing-aca-compliance-with-technology/) - For most employers, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has brought increased healthcare costs and administrative time. One way employers are dealing with ACA compliance is with technology. In fact, the market of ACA compliance software is growing rapidly. From startups to payroll companies to veteran health insurance companies, there are a variety of companies offering compliance technology solutions to help employers manage compliance efficiently and accurately.
- [Uber, Lyft Drivers Already Racking up Citations at Las Vegas Airport](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uber-lyft-drivers-already-racking-up-citations-at-las-vegas-airport/) - Drivers with Uber and Lyft are already racking up citations after a week of doing business in Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport spokesman Chris Jones confirmed authorities cited 87 drivers as of last week for not being authorized to drop off or pick up passengers.
- [New venture touts $100 million for Vegas-Victorville express train](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-venture-touts-100-million-for-vegas-victorville-express-train/) - A newly formed Chinese-American joint venture said Thursday it has raised $100 million to help build a long-awaited high-speed train connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.
- [Underinsurance of Property Is Growing Global Challenge: Swiss Re Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/underinsurance-of-property-is-growing-global-challenge-swiss-re-report/) - The underinsurance of property risk – particularly natural catastrophe risks – has risen steadily over the past 40 years, even though claims payments have increased significantly during that period, according to Swiss Re’s latest sigma study.
- [Autonomous Cars Shift Insurance Liability Toward Manufacturers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/autonomous-cars-shift-insurance-liability-toward-manufacturers/) - Hacker attacks or faulty software could shift the burden of legal and regulatory liability toward makers of self-driving cars and away from customers, experts say, forcing regulators and insurers to develop new models.
- [Just How Costly, Fast-Growing Is Cyber Risk?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/just-how-costly-fast-growing-is-cyber-risk/) - Cyber risk is costing the global economy $445 billion annually, $108 billion of which comes from the U.S., according to a new report. The report from insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty also predicts cyber insurance premiums will grow globally from $2 billion per year today to more than $20 billion over the next decade.
- [Using Data Mining and Analytics to your Hotel's Advantage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/using-data-mining-and-analytics-to-your-hotels-advantage/) - Data mining and analytics – techniques for exploration and analysis of large quantities of data in order to discover meaningful patterns, trends and rules – helps hotels sift through massive data sets for meaningful relationships, where they can anticipate, rather than simply react to, customer needs. However, simply investing in data-mining technology may not guarantee success.
- [Property Valuations and Homeowners Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/property-valuations-and-homeowners-insurance/) - A home is the largest investment most Americans will make in their lifetime. During the loan process a home is often inspected and appraised. These services are used to help protect homeowners from purchasing a home with an existing issue, as well as to place value on a home to determine what the home is worth and the amount of loans that can be taken out on the property.
- [Managing the Costs of Long-Term Care Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/managing-the-costs-of-long-term-care-insurance/) - New York consumers are among the latest to receive word of double-digit increases in the premiums they must pay to keep their insurance coverage for long-term care.
- [How Population Shifts Are Changing Personal Lines Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-population-shifts-are-changing-personal-lines-insurance/) - There are “far-reaching implications” for personal lines insurers and the products and services they provide as the U.S. continues to undergo changes in its demographic structure, an industry report states. The third annual overview of personal lines insurance consumer markets by Conning Inc. offers insurers and distributors a look at changing trends, activities and growth opportunities in the market.
- [Women Truckers Outperform Men; More Recruited to Ease Labor Shortage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/women-truckers-outperform-men-more-recruited-to-ease-labor-shortage/) - Female truckers are sliding into long-haul cabs as companies seek to end a U.S. driver shortage, and they’re proving to be better behind the wheel than men. That’s no surprise to Stephanie Klang, 57, who used to drive in a team with her former husband. She stays on the road alone for up to five weeks and lives out of her truck with her cats as companions. “We’re more patient.”
- [Approaching Health Law Tax Is Not Just a Levy on Luxury](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/approaching-health-law-tax-is-not-just-a-levy-on-luxury/) - WASHINGTON — The last major piece of President Barack Obama's health care law could raise costs for thrifty consumers as well as large corporations and union members when it takes effect in 2018.
- [Shopping, Banking from Car Dashboards Opens Door to Identity Theft](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/shopping-banking-from-car-dashboards-opens-door-to-identity-theft/) - Hackers can already take control of a car. And as vehicles become rolling shopping malls, cybercriminals will have an opportunity to snatch your identity, too.
- [Treasury Increases Main Street America’s Surety Bond Capacity to $93.4 Million](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/treasury-increases-main-street-americas-surety-bond-capacity-to-93-4-million/) - The U.S. Department of the Treasury has raised The Main Street America Group’s NGM Insurance Company’s single surety bond capacity threshold to $93.4 million. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based super-regional property/casualty insurance carrier’s previous capacity was $90.5 million.
- [Franchise Parents, Staffing Firms Ruled Joint Employers Under Labor Law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/franchise-parents-staffing-firms-ruled-joint-employers-under-labor-law/) - More companies may be held responsible for labor-law violations committed by contractors and forced to negotiate wages and benefits with their workers under a decision by a politically split U.S. labor board. The National Labor Relations Board, in a closely watched case, on Thursday unveiled a new standard for determining which companies are “joint employers” of workers paid by another business such as a franchisee or contractor.
- [Crime Insurance is a Necessity](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/crime-insurance-is-a-necessity/) - Having one person handle all aspects of accounting puts a business in a VERY vulnerable position. There is no one there really checking that everything is accurate and watching the money so to speak. This leaves a lot of room for employee dishonesty. There are some basic controls that can be put in place to help eliminate such losses. The easiest may be an annual outside audit, to help lower the risk of fraud. Small business owners often feel close to their employees and put a lot of trust in them leaving little room for acknowledging dishonesty.
- [Family Medical Leave Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/family-medical-leave-act/) - The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was established in 1993. FMLA is a federal law that requires some employers to provide employees job-protected, unpaid leave for a qualifying medical condition as well as for new additions to the family. Typically the most common use of FMLA comes when an employee or spouse gives birth to a child.There are many other circumstances that qualify for FMLA
- [Auto Insurance Affordability Improves in Most States: IRC](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/auto-insurance-affordability-improves-in-most-states-irc/) - Personal auto insurance has become more affordable over time for all income groups, including low-to-moderate income groups, and in most states, according to a report from the Insurance Research Council (IRC). The industry group says the study also shows that the degree of improvement in auto insurance affordability is not being witnessed in other industries.
- [How to Administer Small Business Health Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-administer-small-business-health-benefits/) - As a small business owner or manager, you’re a jack-of-all trades. With so many demands on your time, managing health benefits cannot, and should not, be a full time job. That’s why when it comes to evaluating small business health benefit options, it is not just about the line item expense. Administration time is also an important factor to consider.
- [FTC Has Authority to Police Security , Court Says](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ftc-has-authority-to-police-security-court-says/) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday said the Federal Trade Commission has the authority to regulate cyber security and may pursue a lawsuit accusing hotel operator Wyndham Worldwide Corp. of failing to safeguard consumers' personal information.
- [1 in 4 Employers Seeing double Digit Premium Hikes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/1-in-4-employers-seeing-double-digit-premium-hikes/) - Proponents of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act can say the law is controlling health insurance costs all they want. But it seems employers do not agree. Nearly all employers — nine in 10 — say they’re facing increases in the premiums they pay for employee health plans, with nearly 25 percent of employers seeing rate increases in the double digits, according to new research out Thursday by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
- [Hit the Road, Summer Safety Part 3](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hit-the-road-summer-safety-part-3/) - Many Americans will take to the road this summer to explore nature’s beauty. Traveling by Recreational Vehicles (RV) has been a very popular activity that dates back to the early 1800’s. Owning a RV or motor home is like having a home away on wheels, travel possibilities become endless. Before you take to the road make sure your insurance policy is up to date and accurate. Ensure coverage in the event of an incident involving your RV and other land vehicles like ATV’s, Dirt Bikes Etc
- [The Dangers of Drowsy Driving](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-dangers-of-drowsy-driving/) - Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board cited a Walmart truck driver’s fatigue as the chief cause of a crash on the N.J. Turnpike last year that killed one man and seriously injured four others, including comedian Tracy Morgan.
- [Traffic Deaths, Costs On Pace to Reach Highest Since 2007](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/traffic-deaths-costs-on-pace-to-reach-highest-since-2007/) - Traffic deaths are 14 percent higher through the first six months of 2015 than they were during the same period in 2014, and serious injuries are 30 percent higher, according to the National Safety Council.
- [Cycling Deaths Among Kids Declined 92% in Last 40 Years](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cycling-deaths-among-kids-declined-92-in-last-40-years/) - The rate of cycling deaths among American children under the age of 15 has fallen 92 percent since 1975. That doesn’t mean the roads are safer—it may just mean kids are riding bikes less.
- [Health Law Sign-Ups Keep Growing; Uninsured Rate Declines](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-law-sign-ups-keep-growing-uninsured-rate-declines/) - Nearly a million people signed up for health insurance under President Barack Obama’s law even after the official enrollment season ended, helping push the share of uninsured Americans below 10 percent and underscoring how hard it could be for Republicans to dismantle the program.
- [Employee Benefits - 5 Advantages for Small Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-benefits-5-advantages-for-small-business/) - For a small business, keeping employees happy and productive is a key ingredient to success. While there are different ways to accomplish this, an employee benefits package is one place to start.
- [Jobless Benefits Applications Fall to a 15-Year Low](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/jobless-benefits-applications-fall-to-a-15-year-low/) - More people sought unemployment aid last week, but the average for the past month fell to the lowest level in 15 years, a sign that fewer employers are cutting jobs
- [Will Retailers be Ready for EMV by Oct 2015?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/will-retailers-be-ready-for-emv-by-oct-2015/) - In October 2015, the much-discussed Payment Networks’ Liability Shift associated with EuroPay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV) is due to take effect in the United States. It’s a major milestone for financial companies (meaning banks and credit unions), credit card issuers, retailers, and more. There is a great deal of information, and misinformation, afloat regarding the US EMV migration roadmap as presented by the Payment Networks. Shedding some light on the realities involved is helpful for everyone concerned. - See more at: https://www.paymentsleader.com/will-retailers-be-ready-for-emv-by-oct-2015/#sthash.srtKy4Ej.dpuf
- [Taxi Exec Calls Proposed Uber, Lyft Rules a 'Public Safety Disaster'](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/taxi-exec-calls-proposed-uber-lyft-rules-a-public-safety-disaster/) - An executive with one of Southern Nevada's dominant taxicab companies says the Nevada Transportation Authority's proposed regulations for transportation network companies "is going to represent a public safety disaster for Las Vegas."
- [31 Drugs, Including Viagra, Will Be Cut From CVS’s Formulary](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/31-drugs-including-viagra-will-be-cut-from-cvss-formulary/) - CVS Health, which operates the nation’s second-biggest pharmacy benefit manager, CVS Caremark, will exclude an additional 31 prescription medicines from insurance coverage next year, including Viagra and widely used treatments for diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
- [Buying Car Insurance for Teenagers Can Be a Balancing Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/buying-car-insurance-for-teenagers-can-be-a-balancing-act/) - Adding a teenager to a family’s auto insurance policy is a sure way to raise the premiums, but it’s usually less expensive than buying a separate policy, according to new research.
- [Millennials Expected to Change Benefits Landscape](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/millennials-expected-to-change-benefits-landscape/) - SAN FRANCISCO — Benefit offerings will continue to change as more millennials join the workforce, an expert said during the Disability Management Employer's Coalition's 2015 conference in San Francisco. There's a shift from employer-paid to voluntary benefits, partly because younger workers want customization, Lindsey Pollak, author and millennial workplace expert at Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.'s, said during a keynote session on Monday.
- [FDA's Approval of First 3-D Printed Pill Opens Up Endless Possibilities For Personalized Medicine](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fdas-approval-of-first-3-d-printed-pill-opens-up-endless-possibilities-for-personalized-medicine/) - “Imagine your printer like a refrigerator that is full of all the ingredients you might require to make any dish in Jamie Oliver's new book...,” chemist Lee Cronin says in a 2012 TedGlobal talk. Cronin, a professor at the University of Glasgow, goes on to describe how this idea could be applied to drugs, such as ibuprofen, by enabling a 3-D printer to follow a recipe given by a pharmaceutical company and produce whatever is needed, on the fly from a set of chemical inks.
- [Financial Planning Guide Offers Tips for Disaster Preparedness](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/financial-planning-guide-offers-tips-for-disaster-preparedness/) - More than 45 serious natural disasters struck the United States in 2014, ranging from severe storms and flooding to tornadoes, earthquakes, mudslides and wildfires, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency. Two thirds of which occurred between May and December. A disaster can hit anytime, anywhere, which is why it is important to make sure you and your family have a preparedness plan in place.
- [Recreational Drones: Do Homeowners’ Insurance Policies Provide Coverage?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/recreational-drones-do-homeowners-insurance-policies-provide-coverage/) - The rise in recreational uses of drones (more accurately described as Unmanned Aerial Systems or just “UAS”) has sparked much debate, including concerns over safety and privacy. The scenarios are rather simple to envision: Suppose a person insured under a standard homeowners’ insurance policy uses a small camera-equipped UAS, purchased online for less than $1000, and unexpectedly crashes it into a neighbor’s car, or uses it to take pictures of a neighbor’s children playing in their backyard.
- [Soaring Drug Prices Affecting Cost of Treating Workers’ Compensation Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/soaring-drug-prices-affecting-cost-of-treating-workers-compensation-claims/) - Drug prices — especially the cost of specialty drugs — are on the rise. This trend affects all areas of health care, but especially workers’ compensation. Average drug costs related to workers’ comp claims are going up, Stephanie Goldberg writes for Business Insurance.
- [Can Employees Access a Health Reimbursement Plan and Federal Subsidies?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/can-employees-access-a-health-reimbursement-plan-and-federal-subsidies/) - Under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), health insurance tax subsidies are available to the majority of individuals and families who do not receive insurance through an employer. If an employer offers a minimum level of coverage, employees are disqualified from the subsidies.
- [Employers Urged to Accommodate Workers' Chronic Conditions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-urged-to-accommodate-workers-chronic-conditions/) - When it comes to workers with chronic conditions, employers should focus on providing accommodations and support rather than managing a disease, an expert said during the Disability Management Employer Coalition’s 2015 conference in San Francisco.
- [Summer Fun on the Water - Summer Safety Part 2](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/summer-fun-on-the-water-summer-safety-insurance-part-2/) - By: Mary Thompson, Capstone Brokerage President, July 16, 2015 In Las Vegas summer is in full swing and the activities are endless, swimming, boating, camping and road trips. Many people enjoy summer water activities throughout the warm (rather HOT) season. Are your summer water toys properly covered by the right type of insurance policy? It
- [Why Having Long Term Disability Insurance in A Benefit Package is So Important](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/having-long-term-disability-insurance-in-a-benefit-package-is-so-important/) - LTD insurance is a policy that protects employees from loss of income if they are unable o work due to illness or injury for an extended period of time. A Long Term Disability claim will typically require an employee to be out of work more then 90 days. The benefit amount is based on a percentage of the individual’s gross income and is paid out weekly or monthly. Long Term Disability ensures that employees are able to receive a percentage of their income when they are unable to work.
- [Employee Theft & Dishonesty Are You Covered?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-theft-dishonesty-are-you-covered/) - There are two different insurance policies that will cover employee theft; a commercial package policy with a crime endorsement or a separate crime policy. Many business owners think that their commercial property coverage will protect them against employee dishonesty; however, typically property policies do not cover cash or funds and exclude accounts.
- [When NOT to File An Insurance Claim](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/when-not-to-file-an-insurance-claim/) - One of the main reasons for having insurance is to offset risk, especially major risks and losses. We pay many insurance premiums throughout our lives to various carriers for a multitude of different risks. When a possible claim occurs, an initial thought might be "I am finally cashing in on some of those premiums!"
- [Firms Interested in Driver Data Collected by Auto Insurers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/firms-interested-in-driver-data-collected-by-auto-insurers/) - The restaurants and doughnut shops that consumers pass on their commute would love to predict when they’ll be driving by. Their auto insurer may already know, and could be looking for a way to profit from that information.
- [Risk Management and How It Affects Your Insurance Needs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/risk-management-and-how-if-affects-your-insurance-needs/) - Risk Management is a process that involves identifying a company’s risk by an in-depth analysis. Once the risks are identified a business should then try to reduce, eliminate, or transfer the risk. As a business, simply having insurance is not enough. Risk management is a crucial part of a business’s structure. If you don’t know where you have a risk, then how can you properly be protected?
- [Tax-Free vs. Taxable Health Insurance Contributions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tax-free-vs-taxable-health-insurance-contributions/) - As a small business, there are different ways to contribute to employees’ health insurance. For example, the business can offer group health insurance coverage, reimbursement for individual health insurance, or a health insurance stipend.
- [Energy Commission Looks to Strengthen Grid’s Cyber Security](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/energy-commission-looks-to-strengthen-grids-cyber-security/) - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is proposing rules intended to improve the nationwide electric system’s cyber security. FERC said in a statement last week that it is seeking comment on seven updated critical infrastructure protection reliability standards proposed by the North American Electric Reliability Corp., an Atlanta-based industry group.
- [Drug Monitoring Programs Offer Step Toward Limiting Opioid Abuse](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/drug-monitoring-programs-offer-step-toward-limiting-opioid-abuse/) - At least 10 states require health care providers to access a prescription drug monitoring program before prescribing opioids, but workers compensation payers in all states should request providers do so to curb overprescribing, drug monitoring advocates say.
- [Business Groups Urge Amendments to Health Reform Law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/business-groups-urge-amendments-to-health-reform-law/) - “There are numerous bipartisan bills that could bring real relief to the employers we represent and their employees. We encourage you to work together to help advance these bipartisan changes” to the Affordable Care Act, the business groups wrote in their letter to members of the House and Senate.
- [Small-Business Owners Struggle With Workers Comp Fraud](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/small-business-owners-struggle-with-workers-comp-fraud/) - One in five small-business owners don’t feel prepared to identify workers compensation fraud, according to a survey by workers comp insurer Employers Holdings Inc. Around 13% of small-business owners said they are concerned that one of their employees would commit workers comp fraud by faking an injury or illness to collect benefits, and 21% said they’re unsure of their ability to identify workers comp fraud, according to the survey, released Tuesday.
- [Hipaa’s Use as Code of Silence Often Misinterprets the Law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hipaas-use-as-code-of-silence-often-misinterprets-the-law/) - How do people use, misuse or abuse Hipaa, the federal regulations protecting patients’ confidential health information? Let us count the ways:
- [Labor Department’s 6-Part Test for Classifying Employees, Independent Contractors](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/labor-departments-6-part-test-for-classifying-employees-independent-contractors/) - Misclassification of employees as independent contractors is increasing, “in part reflecting larger restructuring of business organizations,” wrote David Weil, the administrator of the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division, in his blog post entitled, “The Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s ‘Suffer or Permit’ Standard in the Identification of Employees Who Are Misclassified as Independent Contractors.”
- [Modern Doctors’ House Calls: Skype Chat and Fast Diagnosis](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/modern-doctors-house-calls-skype-chat-and-fast-diagnosis/) - TACOMA, Wash. — One night, when her face turned puffy and painful from what she thought was a sinus infection, Jessica DeVisser briefly considered going to an urgent care clinic, but then decided to try something “kind of sci-fi.”
- [Coming Soon: Marijuana ‘Breathalyzers’ for Police Testing of Drivers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/coming-soon-marijuana-breathalyzers-for-police-testing-of-drivers/) - As cannabis bans are relaxed in more U.S. states, the race is on to develop an instant roadside breathalyzer for police to test drivers who may be taking the “high” road. Vancouver-based Cannabix Technologies Inc., founded by a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, expects to be first out of the gate with a “pot breathalyzer” – a handheld device similar to those used to detect alcohol.
- [An Update on HRA Legislation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/an-update-on-hra-legislation/) - The stand-alone Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is dead for most employers. Or, is it? Two weeks ago, a group of legislators re-introduced the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act (S. 1697 and H.R. 2911). The legislation would allow small employers to once again use an HRA to reimburse employees for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- [Working Remotely Carries Benefits but Not Without Risks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/working-remotely-carries-benefits-but-not-without-risks/) - The benefits associated with employees working remotely carry with them challenges for employers, according to a new report from the Risk & Insurance Management Society, the organization said in a statement Monday.
- [Millions More of Americans Hit By Government Personnel Data Hack](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/millions-more-of-americans-hit-by-government-personnel-data-hack/) - Data breaches at the U.S. government's personnel management agency by hackers, with suspicions centering on China, involve millions more people than previously estimated, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
- [Double-Digit Premium Hike Requests Signal Start of Obamacare ‘Death Spiral’](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/double-digit-premium-hike-requests-signal-start-of-obamacare-death-spiral/) - Obamacare is exhibiting early signs of a “death spiral” as hundreds of insurance plans listed on the federally-run exchanges in 37 states and the District of Columbia request double-digit premium increases for 2016, says David Hogberg, a health care analyst and senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR).
- [FAA Approving 250 Drone Permits a Month Without Final Rules](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faa-approving-250-drone-permits-a-month-without-final-rules/) - The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing permits for the commercial use of drones at a rate of about 250 a month as it tries to meet the growing demand for unmanned aircraft while it develops rules for their use. Through the end of June, the agency had approved 714 permits, a 14-fold increase from 51 at the end of March, according to a database compiled by Bloomberg News using federal data. The FAA says it won’t have permanent rules in place until next year but in April instituted an expedited approval process using temporary standards.
- [Employer Payment Plans - What All Small Businesses Need to Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employer-payment-plans-what-all-small-businesses-need-to-know/) - Under the Affordable Care Act, employers who continue to use Employer Payment Plans are at risk of being fined a $100 dollars per day, per employee starting July 1, 2015. As a small employer who wants to help employees with their health insurance costs, you’ve likely asked, “What is an Employer Payment Plan? What are the fines? And, is there another way to help employees with the cost of health insurance?”
- [Safety Experts Warn Smart Car Dashboard Screens Distract Drivers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/safety-experts-warn-smart-car-dashboard-screens-distract-drivers/) - When it comes to dashboard displays that are more like smart phones, two things are clear: Customers want them, and automakers are intent on supplying them.
- [How Rental Car Insurance Offered by Credit Cards Varies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-rental-car-insurance-offered-by-credit-cards-varies/) - In the midst of moving from Atlanta to St. Louis last year, Thomas Nitzsche discovered his parked rental car had been hit by another car, causing $791 in damage. To keep costs low, he had rejected the “collision damage waiver” (CDW) insurance offered by the rental car company, which can run as much as $45 a day and can include a deductible.
- [With Merging of Insurers, Questions for Patients About Costs and Innovation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/with-merging-of-insurers-questions-for-patients-about-costs-and-innovation/) - By: Reed Abelson (NY Times) July 2015 The nation’s five largest health insurance companies are circling one another like hungry lions closing in on prey. On Friday, Aetna said it would acquire its smaller rival Humana to create a company with combined revenues of $115 billion this year. Anthem is stalking Cigna. UnitedHealth Group, now
- [How To Avoid Common Home Remodeling Mistakes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-avoid-common-home-remodeling-mistakes/) - Many common home remodeling mistakes are design related. If you don’t believe us, a quick Google search will show you a plethora of examples of design gone awry. Problems like doors slamming into ceiling fans and drawers hitting walls, not to mention additions that look like they haphazardly collided into the existing house, could easily be avoided with a good design.
- [Top 5 Issues In Often-Misunderstood Business Interruption Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-5-issues-in-often-misunderstood-business-interruption-insurance/) - The high costs related to business interruption should provide an impetus for companies to prep for them in advance, according to industry experts. During a recent webinar hosted by global broker Marsh, insurance experts detailed the top five issues related to business interruption and detailed why risk managers should anticipate all possible worst case scenarios in anticipation of loss.
- [Supreme Court Allows Nationwide Health Care Subsidies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/supreme-court-allows-nationwide-health-care-subsidies/) - WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that President Obama’s health care law allows the federal government to provide nationwide tax subsidies to help poor and middle-class people buy health insurance, a sweeping vindication that endorsed the larger purpose of Mr. Obama’s signature legislative achievement.
- [Short Term Disability Insurance Coverage is For EVERYONE](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/short-term-disability-insurance-coverage-is-for-everyone/) - By: Mary Thompson, Capstone Brokerage President, June 25, 2015 Why is having short term disability so Important? Many people feel that the need for short term disability is minimal. What most don’t realize is that a disability can occur at any time. If it is severe enough a person may be prevented from working, leaving
- [How Small Businesses Will Be Impacted by the Supreme Court Ruling](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-small-businesses-will-be-impacted-by-the-supreme-court-ruling/) - Small businesses are changing the way they offer employee health benefits. Owners and employees are saving up to 60 percent by giving money to employees to buy their own personal plans directly from insurance companies.
- [New Worker Classification Needed for Sharing Economy, Uber Drivers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-worker-classification-needed-for-sharing-economy-uber-drivers/) - As you may have heard, the on-demand car-service juggernaut lost a case early this month before the California Labor Commissioner on whether a driver was an independent contractor or an employee, and thus eligible for expense reimbursement. Uber is appealing that ruling in court, but it already faces a class-action lawsuit over the same issue in federal court in California and similar fights in Florida and Massachusetts.
- [Most Drivers Mum About Ridesharing, Although Many Agents Ask](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-drivers-mum-about-ridesharing-although-many-agents-ask/) - Roughly three quarters of ridesharing drivers don’t have ridesharing insurance, and nearly eight-in-10 conduct their ridesharing activities covertly and keep their insurer or agent in the dark. Two informal polls from a popular Forbes blogger known as The Rideshare Guy show there’s a lot of ridesharing going under the radar of insurance carriers and their agents despite the prevalence of livery exclusions in personal auto policies.
- [Health Care Premiums to Jump in 2016](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-care-premiums-to-jump-in-2016/) - Fueled by an influx of expensive prescription drugs, group health insurance premiums are expected to increase an average of 5% to 8% in 2016.
- [No Clear Rescue Plan If Supreme Court Ends Obamacare Subsidies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/no-clear-rescue-plan-if-supreme-court-ends-obamacare-subsidies/) - Millions of Americans could lose their insurance if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against President Barack Obama on his healthcare law. And with the decision due in the next two weeks, the government has no backup plan.
- [Insurers Unprepared for Self-Driving Car Disruption: KPMG](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurers-unprepared-for-self-driving-car-disruption-kpmg/) - The majority of property/casualty insurers do not expect autonomous or self-driving vehicles to have a real impact on their auto insurance business for another decade and have not adjusted their business models to prepare for the disruption. Many insurer executives also believe that government will slow the introduction of autonomous vehicles.
- [Where Cyber Insurance Underwriting Stands Today](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/where-cyber-insurance-underwriting-stands-today/) - “You would think the first question to ask would be: Do insured parties understand the elements and limitations of coverage?” said Kevin Kalinich, speaking on cyber risk. “The real first question is: Do the insurance companies understand?” Kalinich, global practice leader for cyber/network risk, at consulting firm Aon Risk Services, was a panelist at the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services 2015 Insurance Conference this week in New York where experts stressed the importance of underwriters working together to gain a better understanding of the market so they can properly assess and price cyber risk.
- [Start Offering Health Benefits to Find Your Small Business's Competitive Edge](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/start-offering-health-benefits-to-find-your-small-businesss-competitive-edge/) - As a small business owner, there are dozens of ways to measure success. Success is launching new ideas, profits earned, and contributions to the community and industry. But perhaps the most central among these is the impact small business owners have on the lives of employees.
- [Workers’ Compensation Eyes Telemedicine As Treatment Option](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-compensation-eyes-telemedicine-as-treatment-option/) - Cost savings, better access to care, immediate triaging of injuries and faster claims closings are just some of the benefits of telemedicine, according to workers’ compensation experts, who also say its use is growing. Telemedicine could potentially deliver more than $6 billion a year in health care savings to U.S. companies, but only if the technology is widely-adopted, according to a 2014 report by Towers Watson.
- [Understand MAGI with These 4 Surprisingly Simple Tips](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/understand-magi-with-these-4-surprisingly-simple-tips/) - Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI, is a measure used by the IRS to determine eligibility for certain deductions, credits (including premium tax credits), or retirement plans. Although the term MAGI is frequently used, few small business owners understand what it is, how it’s used, or how to calculate it. In this article, we’ll provide four surprisingly simple tips for understanding MAGI.
- [Nevada Hotels and Resorts Experts In Sustainability](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-hotels-and-resorts-experts-in-sustainability/) - evada Hotel and Lodging needs to let the world know just how sustainable they are! I am not talking about the “Sustainability” reports generated by internal Sustainability teams for investors. I am talking about the general public’s knowledge of what is behind the curtain. Las Vegas has just surpassed the 45 million annual visitor mark; in my mind that represents 45 million sustainability ambassadors for the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Industry. Now I know that most of the properties want their guests to experience Las Vegas; for me I want most of our visitors to know Las Vegas.
- [Why Businesses Should Never Pay Individual Health Insurance Premiums](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-businesses-should-never-pay-individual-health-insurance-premiums/) - Federal regulations prohibit businesses from paying directly for employee's individual health insurance premiums, outside of a Section 105 Medical Reimbursement Plan (e.g. a Health Reimbursement Arrangement or Healthcare Reimbursement Plan), or other IRS/HIPAA/ERISA-qualified tax-free vehicle (e.g. Section 125).
- [Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance – When Health Insurance Isn’t Enough!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uninsuredunderinsured-motorist-insurance-when-health-insurance-isnt-enough/) - There is no denying how important protecting your business is to your life and your livelihood. One of the necessary precautions to protect your business’ auto liability is having a solid commercial auto insurance policy that protects you, your company vehicles, and any of your employees that drive those vehicles.
- [Summer Safety Part One, Your backyard Oasis](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/summer-safety-part-one-your-backyard-oasis/) - Summer season has arrived! Temperatures are heating up, vacations are being planned, pools are opening, and my personal favorite it is BBQ season. Summer brings on a whole new need for personal insurance. If you own a home with a pool, have a trampoline, or intend on having people over this summer to enjoy the Las Vegas weather, be sure to check you insurance policy for proper coverage.
- [Safety Managers Turning to Data to Assess Risks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/safety-managers-turning-to-data-to-assess-risks/) - Safety professionals are increasing their focus on statistics and metrics relevant to business executives such as total cost of risk, a new study from Aon Global Risk Consulting, a unit of Aon P.L.C. finds.
- [Most 2015 Health Exchange Enrollees Keeping Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-2015-health-exchange-enrollees-keeping-coverage/) - The overwhelming majority of individuals who enrolled in plans offered through public health insurance exchanges during the 2015 open season have paid their premiums and still have active coverage, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday. As of March 31, 10.2 million of the 11.7 million Americans who opted for coverage, or just over 87%, paid premiums for their first month of coverage or still have time to pay the premium under exchange grace periods.
- [Third Straw at Plunging Lake Mead Nearly Complete](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/third-straw-at-plunging-lake-mead-nearly-complete/) - Six hundred feet down an elevator shaft near the shore of Lake Mead, the weight of Las Vegas’ future rests on a 19,000-pound plug at the mouth of a three-mile tunnel. The plug sits atop a domed cavern beneath the lake, holding back the pressure of millions of acre-feet of water.
- [Voluntary Benefits: A Key to Recruiting, Retaining the Best Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/voluntary-benefits-a-key-to-recruiting-retaining-the-best-employees/) - Because of the implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, voluntary benefits are getting plenty of attention as employers examine how they can adjust their offerings. But they’re also starting to realize that benefits packages, including voluntary benefits, could help with retaining and recruiting employees in addition to softening the blows that could accompany health care reform
- [Worried About Dying from Surgery, Hurricane, Plane Crash? Check Out the Odds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/worried-about-dying-from-surgery-hurricane-plane-crash-check-out-the-odds/) - Americans who worry about dying worry about the wrong things. That’s according to the National Safety Council, which kicked off National Safety Month by unveiling its annual list of Americans’ “Odds of Dying” from various causes.
- [Takata Agrees to Recall 34 Million Cars for Air Bag Replacement](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/takata-agrees-to-recall-34-million-cars-for-air-bag-replacement/) - Japanese air bag manufacturer Takata Corp. is doubling a recall of potentially deadly air bags to nearly 34 million vehicles, making it the largest automotive recall in American history, U.S. safety regulators said on Tuesday.
- [Preparation for a Department of Labor Audit](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/preparation-for-a-department-of-labor-audit/) - The DOL Audit can be completely random. Many employers are out of compliance with ERISA and don’t even know it. The DOL has substantially increased its auditing efforts. In fact, the DOL announced last year that their goal is to audit all businesses in the U.S. within the next 3-4 years.
- [20 Compelling Small Business Stats All Owners Need to Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/20-compelling-small-business-stats-all-owners-need-to-know/) - While the Great Recession seems like a thing of the past, small business owners are still recovering. And while optimism is growing, owners say top small business challenges for 2015 are financial security, recruiting quality employees, offering the benefits employees want, and creating a competitive edge.
- [Want to Increase Your Company's Value? Add Employee Health Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/want-to-increase-your-companys-value-add-employee-health-benefits/) - Small business owners are constantly analyzing and evaluating their budgets and bottom lines. Sometimes you have to cut back on certain things here and there. Other times, you add something to the budget in an attempt at a long term return. It may be tempting to opt out of providing health benefits, but there's long term value in offering them. This article outlines the ways adding health benefits can actually create more value to your small business.
- [Cyber Coverage Getting its Day in Court](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-coverage-getting-its-day-in-court/) - A court ruling in favor of an insurer in one case and coverage litigation in another — both involving cyber insurance policies — may mark the beginning of a new stage in the coverage as a growing number of firms obtain these policies.
- [3 Questions to Help Sort Student Health Coverage Choices](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/3-questions-to-help-sort-student-health-coverage-choices/) - A key question remains for many students who've finally settled on a college destination: How will they or their parents handle health care coverage?
- [How to Shop your Insurance the Smart way: Direct Versus Independent Insurance Agent](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-shop-your-insurance-the-smart-way-direct-versus-independent-insurance-agent/) - It is time to renew your policy. Hopefully you received a letter from your insurance agent suggesting an annual review of your policy needs. Maybe you even received a personalized phone call to help explain your rate for the coming year and options to offer you more coverage. Either the insurance carrier or your trusted insurance agent can send you a notice; but you have to make the decision if you would like to stay with your current carrier or shop around.
- [A Savvy Way to Afford Employee Health Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/a-savvy-way-to-afford-employee-health-benefits/) - Affording employee health benefits is a common human resources challenge for small and growing businesses. On one hand, we value the role health benefits play in compensation, recruiting, and retention. On the other hand, the cost is prohibitive even for the most profitable businesses.
- [Young Hispanics At Small Construction Firms at Highest Safety Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/young-hispanics-at-small-construction-firms-at-highest-safety-risk/) - Workers Comp Coverage Workers Comp Construction Business Risks Construction Worker Safety Construction workers who are Hispanic, young and employed by small firms likely face greater occupational safety challenges than almost any other employee segment or in any industry in the United States, a new report finds.
- [Las Vegas-Originated Website Tests Your Brain Health](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-originated-website-tests-your-brain-health/) - The site includes guidance on ways to protect cognitive abilities, from common-sense advice such as not smoking and wearing a helmet to the less-defined goals of building your brain reserve, having a purpose in life and staying positive.
- [Health Insurers Ordered to Heed Law on Free Contraception Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurers-ordered-to-heed-law-on-free-contraception-coverage/) - The Obama administration on Monday put health insurance companies on notice that they must cover all forms of female contraception, including the patch and intrauterine devices, without imposing co-payments or other charges.
- [First Licensed Autonomous Freight Truck Hits the Road in U.S.](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/first-licensed-autonomous-freight-truck-hits-the-road-in-u-s/) - In a ceremony at Hoover Dam, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) unveiled the Freightliner Inspiration Truck, what it says is the first licensed autonomous commercial truck to operate on an open public highway in the U.S.
- [State Says Medical Pot Businesses May Soon Start Operations](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/state-says-medical-pot-businesses-may-soon-start-operations/) - By: Eric Hartley (Las Vegas Review Journal) May 2015 After spending months in limbo, waiting for the state to hash out rules for testing medical marijuana, laboratories might be able to get to work soon. That moves patients one step closer to the first legal sales in dispensaries. A state health official said Tuesday that
- [Does The ACA Benefit Small Business Owners?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/does-the-aca-benefit-small-business-owners/) - The Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many small business owners have been asking the same question since the Law's introduction. "How does the ACA benefit my small business?
- [How Wearable Devices Could Disrupt the Insurance Industry](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-wearable-devices-could-disrupt-the-insurance-industry/) - Nearly 50 years after Captain Kirk began using his wrist communicator on the television show, Star Trek, wearable technology is taking hold. From Fitbit and Nike Fuelbands to Google Glass and Golden-I, the technology is influencing how people live and work.
- [Offer More Benefits to Make Employees Happy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/offer-more-benefits-to-make-employees-happy/) - Benefits exist because they appeal to employees in a different way than do hard dollars. But how rich should a benefits menu be at a company that’s determined to hang on to top performers and build a team by making great hires? And are the companies that offer solid plans communicating the value properly?
- [ER visits keep climbing under PPACA](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/er-visits-keep-climbing-under-ppaca/) - Emergency room visits have increased under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act despite the law’s promises and efforts to curb them, ER room doctors say. Three-quarters of emergency physicians say that emergency visits are going up, according to a new poll by The American College of Emergency Physicians. It’s a significant jump from just one year ago when less than half reported increases.
- [PPACA Requirements Expose Gaps Brokers Can Help Fill](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ppaca-requirements-expose-gaps-brokers-can-help-fill/) - The Affordable Care Act is providing more opportunities than ever for brokers to connect with clients on employee needs - and those connections can mean helping employers provide voluntary benefits that are good for both their clients and those they employ. For example, ACA is phasing in a requirement related to pediatric vision care.
- [OSHA Rule Protects Construction Workers in Confined Spaces](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/osha-rule-protects-construction-workers-in-confined-spaces/) - The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to increase protections for construction workers in confined spaces.
- [Department of Labor Audit](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/department-of-labor-audit/) - Every year thousands of ERISA-governed plans (group medical, dental, vision, STD, 401k,etc.) are selected for audit by governmental agencies. The Department of Labor (DOL) has authority to audit an employee benefit plan’s compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Audits are performed by the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and are completely random.
- [Capstone Brokerage is Hiring!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-is-hiring-2/) - We are looking for a talented and successful Front Desk/Office Administrator to represent our company as our ambassador of first impressions. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated, professional and can represent our company in a professional manor.
- [How Does the FLSA Affect Small Business?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-does-the-flsa-affect-small-business/) - Surely you’ve heard talk of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Perhaps you have questions like, what is it exactly? What are the implications for employers? How does the FLSA affect productivity at your place of business? What are the compliance components I need to know about? In this article we will discuss everything the FLSA entails so you can be up to date on the latest information.
- [Global Cyber Security Falls Short On Public and Private Fronts](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/global-cyber-security-falls-short-on-public-and-private-fronts/) - The private sector should become more actively involved in addressing the inadequate global cyber governance framework, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. said in a report issued Monday.
- [Behind The Scenes of a Las Vegas Marijuana Testing Lab](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/behind-the-scenes-of-a-las-vegas-marijuana-testing-lab/) - The space is no bigger than a good-sized office break room. On beige counters along the walls and on an island in the center sit off-white rectangular boxes that could be copiers or printers. But the several hundred thousand dollars of highly sensitive scientific equipment in this room — and others like it — will be key to ensuring medical marijuana sold in Nevada is safe.
- [Insurance Regulators Set Goals for Cyber Security Rules](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-regulators-set-goals-for-cyber-security-rules/) - The 12 principles, announced Friday “will serve as the foundation for protection of sensitive consumer information held by insurers as well as insurance producers and guide regulators who oversee the insurance industry,” said NAIC President Monica J. Lindeen, in a statement. Ms. Lindeen also serves as Montana commissioner of securities and insurance.
- [Specialty Drugs Helping to Drive Up Overall Pharmacy Costs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/specialty-drugs-helping-to-drive-up-overall-pharmacy-costs/) - Employees and retirees will see U.S. pharmacy cost increases reach the low double-digits by 2016 due in part to rising specialty drug costs, according to an analysis by Aon Hewitt released Monday.
- [Why Car Insurance Costs Less For Married Couples](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-car-insurance-costs-less-for-married-couples/) - A new report from InsuranceQuotes.com found that car insurance rates drop for married couples in most states. In fact, married couples pay less for car insurance than singles do, the report found.
- [Most Costly Insurance Claims and Proper Insurance Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-costly-insurance-claims-and-proper-insurance-coverage/) - I often have clients call and say what type of claim will cost me the most. I sort of laugh because honestly it is really hard to give them a correct answer… The variables to this question are endless. For example; Cost them how? Financially? Growth wise? Reputation wise etc.? The more I get asked the question it has me thinking; which types of claims are most common and have a history of being the most costly? So I decided to come up with the top three risks that small businesses are most vulnerable if not covered properly.
- [Senate Approves a Bill on Changes to Medicare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/senate-approves-a-bill-on-changes-to-medicare/) - The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved sweeping changes in the way Medicare pays doctors, clearing the bill for President Obama and resolving an issue that has bedeviled Congress and the Medicare program for more than a decade.
- [At What Age Can You Really Retire?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/at-what-age-can-you-really-retire/) - If you're in your late 40s or 50s, you may be wondering if there is a way to retire early.
- [Do We Need a Social Media Policy? 4 HR Tips for Small Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/do-we-need-a-social-media-policy-4-hr-tips-for-small-business/) - It’s a small business manager’s nightmare - an employee posts a brand-damaging photo online, and it goes viral. In fact, a growing small business challenge is how to manage employees’ social media use and its potential impact on company brand. One solution is to adopt a social media policy - guidelines for employees on appropriate social media use.
- [Multi-Family Residences, HOA's and Homeowners Insurance Needs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/multi-family-residences-hoas-and-homeowners-insurance-needs/) - Multi Family Residences are an affordable alternative to single family homes. In Las Vegas several new multi family units seem to have popped up over the years. There are several types such as condos, duplex’s, mid-rise, high rise, apartment style, and perhaps the most common in Las Vegas, the town home. One thing that makes multi-family properties unique is that they share something structurally in common with other owners. They are also typically managed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) or property management company.
- [Most Cyber Attacks Due to Trick Emails, Errors, Not Sophisticated Hacking](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/most-cyber-attacks-due-to-trick-emails-errors-not-sophisticated-hacking/) - When a cyber security breach hits the news, those most closely involved often have incentive to play up the sophistication of the attack. If hackers are portrayed as well-funded geniuses, victims look less vulnerable, security firms can flog their products and services, and government officials can push for tougher regulation or seek more money for cyber defenses.
- [Comp Reporting Plan Would Increase Employer Burden](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/comp-reporting-plan-would-increase-employer-burden/) - The Social Security Administration's proposal that workers compensation benefits be reported annually to the agency would increase insurers' and employers' paperwork and costs. “There is a potential here of an extra burden … and potentially extra costs for employers and carriers around the country,” said Rafael Gonzalez, Tampa, Florida-based vice president of strategic solutions at Helios Settlement Solutions, a unit of pharmacy benefit manager Helios.
- [What Are The Required Health Benefit Plan Notices?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-are-the-required-health-benefit-plan-notices/) - When your company offers a group health plan, there are several different notices you are required to provide to participants about their health benefits. Keeping track of the required notice requirements can be tedious and time-consuming, especially with the new Obamacare requirements, and especially for small and medium sized employers. However, failure to comply can lead to fees and penalties.
- [Clark County Enters the Cyber Age of — Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/clark-county-enters-the-cyber-age-of-insurance/) - Clark County government computer servers don’t store sensitive plans about upcoming feature films, like Sony Pictures Entertainment servers did when hackers breached the company and revealed emails with embarrassing comments about celebrities. The county isn’t a big retailer like Target, which also suffered a big data breach and compromised credit card information about customers.
- [Businesses Support Alternative to Sandoval Tax Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/businesses-support-alternative-to-sandoval-tax-plan/) - Officials representing some of Nevada’s major industries, from car dealers to retailers to manufacturers, sat at the witness table in the Assembly Taxation Committee hearing room Tuesday to support an alternative tax measure to fund Gov. Brian Sandoval’s plan to improve public education.
- [Property/Casualty Insurance Rates Holding Steady](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/propertycasualty-insurance-rates-holding-steady/) - P/C Insurers Risk Management Risk Management P/C Pricing Commercial property/casualty insurance rates in March were flat compared with those of the same month in 2014, Dallas-based electronic insurance exchange MarketScout reported Monday.
- [Employer Must Pay Full Disability Benefits to Worker With Long Injury History](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employer-must-pay-full-disability-benefits-to-worker-with-long-injury-history/) - Under the state’s “fresh-start rule,” an Iowa employer isn’t entitled to apportion its liability for permanent partial disability benefits in the case of a worker with a long history of work-related injuries, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled.
- [Obamacare Healthcare Reporting - Are You Prepared?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-healthcare-reporting-are-you-prepared/) - Under the Affordable Care Act (aka ACA or Obamacare), employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees are required to submit informational reporting about their employee healthcare coverage to the IRS, beginning January 2016.
- [Work Comp for PEOs and Their Client/ Employers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/work-comp-for-peos-and-their-client-employers/) - By: Christopher Boggs (Insurance Journal) April 2015 Professional employer organizations (PEOs) began their rise after the adoption of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 cleared a path for the creation and expansion of such entities. Between 700 and 900 professional employer organizations operate in all 50 states. According to the National Association
- [Employers’ Shift to Private Health Exchanges May Cost Employees More](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-shift-to-private-health-exchanges-may-cost-employees-more/) - To limit the rising cost of health care, U.S. companies are increasingly turning to private insurance exchanges that let employees shop for plans, according to research from Accenture Plc. About 6 million people got health insurance coverage via such online portals this year, up from 3 million in 2014, the consulting firm said Tuesday. Accenture expects that to jump to 40 million people, or about a quarter of those who get insurance at work, in 2018.
- [Nevada Senate Passes Bill Allowing 80 Mph Speed Limits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-senate-passes-bill-allowing-80-mph-speed-limits/) - Existing Nevada law allows a top speed of 75 mph. Gustavson said raising speed limits would help truckers and cut down on travel fatigue for all drivers.
- [Insurance Industry Says Cyber Threat Database Needed](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-industry-says-cyber-threat-database-needed/) - Cyber insurance is one of the fastest growing property/casualty insurance markets. But the sector remains the Wild West of risk prevention, a fast moving target with rapidly-evolving risk portfolios, along with losses and liabilities that remain hard to quantify.
- [Mental Health in Workplace: Employee’s Privacy vs. Employer’s Right to Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mental-health-in-workplace-employees-privacy-vs-employers-right-to-know/) - How do you stop a mentally ill person from sitting down at the controls of a jetliner, or a nuclear power plant, or from holstering a gun for a night on the beat?
- [Which Fringe Benefits are Tax-Free?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/which-fringe-benefits-are-tax-free/) - As small and growing businesses evaluate employees’ compensation packages, fringe benefits are inevitably part of the discussion. Fringe benefits are a way to supplement employees’ salary and can often be offered tax-free. Tax-free fringe benefits help small businesses offer a richer compensation package and employees appreciate the workplace perks such as health benefits, on-site meals, and tuition reimbursement.
- [Legal Marijuana Blurs Workplace Drug Policies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/legal-marijuana-blurs-workplace-drug-policies/) - NEW YORK — Expansion of legalized marijuana use for medicinal and/or recreational purposes figures to compound an already complicated web of management and workers compensation liability issues for employers.
- [Might Human Drivers Be Outlawed?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/might-human-drivers-be-outlawed/) - By: Andrew G. Simpson (Insurance Journal) March 2015 Tesla Motors co-founder and CEO Elon Musk thinks that human-driven cars could eventually be outlawed as computers show they can do a more efficient and safer job of driving. “In the distant future, [legislators] may outlaw driven cars because they’re too dangerous,” Musk told a group in
- [5 Ways Facebook Puts Your Home At Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/5-ways-facebook-puts-your-home-at-risk/) - In a world where technology is constantly evolving, we sometimes forget to take a step back and evaluate the amount of information we make available to the public. Our schedules fill up wither work duties and obligations and sometimes the easiest way to communicate with your friends and family is through social media. However, there are things we should keep in mind when sharing information to our friends on Facebook.
- [Top 10 Most, Least Expensive Cars to Insure](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-10-most-least-expensive-cars-to-insure/) - The cheapest 2015 models to insure include two minivans, seven sport-utilities and the tiny Smart ForTwo, according to an Insure.com ranking of the most and least expensive vehicles to insure.
- [Insuring Today's Lifestyle and Relationship Trends](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insuring-todays-lifestyle-and-relationship-trends/) - Life doesn’t always work out like the old rhyme,” first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage”. Today many young couples decide to cohabitate before marriage, some even have children prior to marriage.
- [Nevada Speed Limit Could Hit 85MPH Under Bill](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-speed-limit-could-hit-85mph-under-bill/) - The bill would allow the state transportation department to raise the maximum speed limit on certain roads to 85 miles per hour. The current maximum speed limit in Nevada tops out at 75 miles per hour primarily on a number of rural interstates.
- [How To Report on IRS Codes 6055 and 6056](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-report-on-irs-codes-6055-and-6056/) - The IRS will be sending multiple forms for tax year 2015 for employers to fill out and return to the IRS. These forms are the key to determine if individuals or employees have to pay a penalty or if they are really eligible to receive premium tax credits from the online Exchange/Marketplace. Please contact your broker, first, to distinguish if you are truly an Applicable Large Employer (ALE).
- [Average Truck Cargo Theft Worth $232,924 in 2014](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/average-truck-cargo-theft-worth-232924-in-2014/) - The average value of cargo stolen during 2014 increased by 36%, to $232,924, with cargo thieves becoming more professional, says FreightWatch International (USA) Inc. in its 2014 report issued Tuesday.
- [U.S. Prescription Spending Increase In 2014 Highest In Over A Decade](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-prescription-spending-increase-in-2014-highest-in-over-a-decade/) - Prescription drug spending increased 13.1% in the United States last year, attributed partly to an increase in spending for specialty drugs, according to Express Scripts Inc.
- [Consumer Credit Agencies Agree to Address Errors, Medical Debt](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/consumer-credit-agencies-agree-to-address-errors-medical-debt/) - By: Margaret Collins and Christie Smythe (Insurance Journal) March 2015 Buying homes, getting jobs and borrowing money will be easier after an agreement by the three biggest U.S. consumer credit reporting services with New York. “This is huge,” Chi Chi Wu, an attorney at Boston-based National Consumer Law Center, said of the deal announced Monday
- [Bill Would Exempt Independent Contractors From Minimum Wage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/bill-would-exempt-independent-contractors-from-minimum-wage/) - CARSON CITY — A Nevada bill that would exempt businesses from paying minimum wage to independent contractors earned praise Monday from business owners who say they want the flexibility to hire people on contract.
- [Public Radio Report Puts Spotlight on Workers’ Compensation’s ‘Grand Bargain’](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/public-radio-report-puts-spotlight-on-workers-compensations-grand-bargain/) - By: Andrew G. Simpson (insurance Journal) March 2015 Last week’s ProPublica/National Public Radio report putting a spotlight on the workers’ compensation system caught the attention of experts who were meeting in Boston to share research on how the system is performing at the same time the series was hitting the airwaves. The ProPublica/NPR report claims
- [Want Increased Productivity? Focus on Healthy Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/want-increased-productivity-focus-on-healthy-employees/) - By: Christina Merhar (Zane Benefits) March 2015 You've heard the buzz. Healthy employees increase productivity. But is this true? Various surveys say yes. Here’s a look at the statistics and 7 healthy employee ideas any small business can incorporate to increase productivity. The Stats - Healthy Employees Increase Productivity Skeptical that health employees really have
- [10 Essential Tax Tips for Small Businesses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/10-essential-tax-tips-for-small-businesses/) - Taxes. It’s not the time of year small business owners look forward to. It’s complicated. It’s time consuming. And for some, it’s expensive. But, it doesn't mean taxes need to be overwhelming.
- [Trucking Safety Chief Defends Driver Rest Regulations](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/trucking-safety-chief-defends-driver-rest-regulations/) - The trucking industry’s overseer is giving little ground to critics who asked Congress to loosen U.S. regulations and revise a rating system designed to root out unsafe carriers.
- [What is Co-Insurance: How Does it Affect Your Property Policy?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-co-insurance-how-does-it-affect-your-property-policy/) - The co-insurance clause in a property policy is one of the most confusing and misunderstood terms for policy holders. Co-insurance under a property policy is defined as: “the sharing of risk between an insurer and the insured” which is normally expressed as a percentage. Simply stated, the co-insurance clause affects the amount payable in the event of a partial or total loss.
- [Undermining Children’s Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/undermining-childrens-insurance/) - New York Times, Editorial Board, February 28, 2015 Senior Republicans in Congress are seeking major changes to the Children’s Health Insurance Program when the program’s money runs out in September. Their proposal, labeled a “discussion draft” for legislation yet to be written, could deprive more than a million children of insurance or force their families
- [Nearly 200 Distracted Drivers Ticketed in Nevada](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nearly-200-distracted-drivers-ticketed-in-nevada/) - Insurance Journal, February 2015 Nearly 200 people in the Reno-Sparks, Nev. area were cited for distracted driving during a special enforcement effort earlier this month. The Nevada Highway Patrol and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office joined Reno and Sparks police in the distracted driving awareness campaign. Between Feb. 12 and Feb. 23, they made a total
- [Properly Insuring Commercial Property](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/properly-insuring-commercial-property/) - Property insurance is one of the first types of insurance a business or property owner needs to have in place. Property insurance protects a businesses physical property against loss or loss of its income-producing abilities. The basic commercial property insurance policy protects a businesses investment in the building itself.
- [The Impact of IRS Code Sections 6055 and 6056 On Tax Filing](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-impact-of-irs-code-sections-6055-and-6056-on-tax-filing/) - This year there will be new challenges for everyone that files taxes. There is a new employer reporting system for Health Plan Coverage that the IRS will need in order to collect data to see if we are eligible to avoid the individual penalty.
- [Health Law Challenge Tests Supreme Court’s Firmness on Right to Sue](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-law-challenge-tests-supreme-courts-firmness-on-right-to-sue/) - By: Adam Liptak (New York Times) February 2015 WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has developed elaborate tests to determine if plaintiffs have standing to sue. But their essence, Justice Antonin Scalia once observed, is a four-word question: “What’s it to you?” To get into court, it is not enough to be unhappy about something. Only
- [2014 Workers’ Compensation Rates Ranked by State](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2014-workers-compensation-rates-ranked-by-state/) - The median index rate for workers’ compensation insurance fell to an all-time low in 2014 to $1.85 per $100 of payroll.
- [Healthcare Costs Hurt Small Businesses - 5 Ways to Lower the Cost](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/healthcare-costs-hurt-small-businesses-5-ways-to-lower-the-cost/) - All over the nation, healthcare costs are hurting small businesses. So much so that only 54% of small and medium sized businesses offer traditional healthcare to their workers today. The cost of healthcare is a huge small business challenge, leaving owners desperate for ways to lower the cost while still providing a health benefit to employees. Is there any silver lining? Yes. Compared to a decade ago, you have new options to lower healthcare costs.
- ["At-Fault" Accidents and Automobile Insurance ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/at-fault-accidents-and-automobile-insurance/) - A “safe driver” is every insurance companies dream client. They, much like the good driver, are easy to insure. The safe driver doesn’t typically get in car accidents, harm other drivers on the road, or receive moving violations.
- [Vegas Convention Authority Plans to Buy and Demolish the Riviera](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/vegas-convention-authority-plans-to-buy-and-demolish-the-riviera/) - The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday scheduled a special board meeting on Friday to consider acquisition of the 60-year-old Strip resort for $182.5 million.
- [Enrollment Period for Health Insurance Ends; Now the Tax Penalties Start](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/enrollment-period-for-health-insurance-ends-now-the-tax-penalties-start/) - The Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment period ended on Sunday. Well, almost. Some computer problems over the weekend have led the administration to give a one-week extension to people who tried and failed to sign up
- [U.S. Issues Draft Rules on Commercial Use of Drones; Insurers Welcome](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-issues-draft-rules-on-commercial-use-of-drones-insurers-welcome/) - The U.S. aviation regulator proposed rules on Sunday for commercial drone flights that would lift some restrictions but would still bar activities such as the delivery of packages and inspection of pipelines that have been eyed by companies as a potentially breakthrough use of the technology.
- [2014 One of Worst Years Ever for Vehicle Safety: NHTSA](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2014-one-of-worst-years-ever-for-vehicle-safety-nhtsa/) - By: Jeff Plungis and Jeff Green (Insurance Journal) February 2015 Carmakers recalled about 64 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, more than double the previous record set in 2004, according to official government data. The tally released Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closes the book on one of the worst years
- [Restricting Painkillers for Injured Workers Can Result in Unintended Costs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/restricting-painkillers-for-injured-workers-can-result-in-unintended-costs/) - While concerns about opioid use and dependence have raised alarms in workers compensation claims, medical experts say insurers and payers also should be wary of not providing enough treatment to injured workers suffering chronic pain.
- [Cyber Threat Sharing Bill Would Protect Private Companies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-threat-sharing-bill-would-protect-private-companies/) - A bill introduced in the Senate would provide private companies with a degree of protection against liability when sharing information on cyber threats with federal agencies.
- [Oh Dear, Using Dating Apps on Company Smartphone a Security Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/oh-dear-using-dating-apps-on-company-smartphone-a-security-risk/) - Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes research warning against the use of popular dating apps on corporate smartphones.
- [Investigators Suspect Anthem Breach Began with ‘Phishing’ of Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/investigators-suspect-anthem-breach-began-with-phishing-of-employees/) - The hackers who stole millions of health insurance records from Anthem Inc. commandeered the credentials of five different employees while seeking to penetrate the company’s computer network — and they may have been inside the system since December.
- [Top 10 Employment Discrimination Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-10-employment-discrimination-claims/) - While charges of employment discrimination against employers are declining overall, claims alleging retaliation against an employee for involvement in a complaint reached a record high in fiscal year 2014.
- [Uber, Taxi Battle Could Be Big Issue For Nevada Legislature](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uber-taxi-battle-could-be-big-issue-for-nevada-legislature/) - Lawmakers say a fight between Nevada’s taxicab industry and Uber, the ride hailing company that operated in the state this fall before a court decision prompted it to shut down, could be the biggest transportation issue this session in the Nevada Legislature.
- [Protecting Yourself From the Consequences of Anthem’s Data Breach ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/protecting-yourself-from-the-consequences-of-anthems-data-breach/) - Given the steady beat of security breaches, consumers may assume that a cybercriminal already has at least some of their personal information. But in the latest intrusion, at the health insurer Anthem, hackers got their hands on an especially valuable collection of sensitive information on millions of people.
- [Fraud Adds Up to 17% to Auto Insurance Injury Claims: IRC](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fraud-adds-up-to-17-to-auto-insurance-injury-claims-irc/) - A new study estimates that fraud and claim “build-up” add between $5.6 billion and $7.7 billion in excess payments to auto injury claims paid in the United States. The excess payments represented between 13 percent and 17 percent of total payments under the five main private passenger auto injury coverages, according to the study from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) of 2012 claims data.
- [House G.O.P. Again Votes to Repeal Health Care Law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-g-o-p-again-votes-to-repeal-health-care-law/) - The House passed a bill on Tuesday to repeal the Affordable Care Act for the first time in the new Congress, but Democrats appeared to show more zeal in defending the law than Republicans did in trying to get rid of it.
- [Labor Woes for a Rebounding Construction Market](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/labor-woes-for-a-rebounding-construction-market/) - With construction activity picking up steam all across the nation, insurers are expressing concern over how the construction sector will meet the growing demand for qualified labor. Insurers are concerned not only with the shortage of new workers but also with the aging of the current construction industry workforce across the country.
- [White House Targets Reinsurance Tax Deduction](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/white-house-targets-reinsurance-tax-deduction/) - The Obama administration is calling again to disallow the deduction for excess nontaxed reinsurance premiums paid to affiliates.
- [Single-Employee Pension Plans Must Provide Annual Funding Notices](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/single-employee-pension-plans-must-provide-annual-funding-notices/) - Single-employer defined benefit plan sponsors covered by ERISA have new guidelines for annual funding notices in a final rule published Monday by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration.
- [Employers Returning to Fast Track for Captive Benefits Funding Requests](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-returning-to-fast-track-for-captive-benefits-funding-requests/) - For the first time since 2012, employers are taking advantage of a fast-track procedure to gain U.S. Department of Labor approval of paying for employee benefits through their captive insurance companies.
- [Top Vehicle Claim Trends from 2014](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-vehicle-claim-trends-from-2014/) - The top five states in which a person was most likely to file an auto claim last year were all on the East Coast. December had the lowest volume of all vehicle claims of any month.
- [Employer Shared Responsibility in 2015 Under the Affordable Care Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employer-shared-responsibility-in-2015-under-the-affordable-care-act/) - Part of the Affordable Care Act is a provision that requires employers to either offer health insurance, or face a penalty (Penalty A). The employer mandate has been a topic that has been pushed back for many businesses. Now that 2015 is here, employers with over 50 full time equivalents (FTE) employees are subject to the “Employer Shared Responsibility” fee or payment.
- [Mental Illness Disability Claims Require Specialized Input](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mental-illness-disability-claims-require-specialized-input/) - More often than not, effective management of disability insurance claims related to mental illness requires a specialized understanding of the comorbid relationships they share with physical medical conditions.
- [Is Your Data Safe at Healthcare.gov?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-your-data-safe-at-healthcare-gov/) - If you’re concerned about online privacy, you’ve likely read a lot about what happens to the information you enter into sites like Facebook or Google. But now another website is generating privacy worries: Healthcare.gov.
- [Car Insurance and The Good Driver](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/car-insurance-is-like-betting-on-a-good-driver/) - Most insurance companies like to reward good drivers. Let’s face it, being a good driver to an insurance company is like hitting the lottery; no at fault claims, just a nice monthly payment for them to bank... After all, car insurance is really just an insurance company taking a gamble on individuals driving skills. The carrier just hopes they don't have to pay out big. Much like a Las Vegas casino tries to predict the over under in a football game...
- [Offering Healthcare Benefits That Say Something about Your Small Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/offering-healthcare-benefits-that-say-something-about-your-small-business/) - Healthcare benefits are a big part of any business, right? In fact, many candidates will specifically look at what your small business offers and even base their decisions to work for you upon your healthcare benefits. But, many small businesses struggle to offer healthcare benefits due to rising costs of group health insurance. Don’t worry, we’ve got a solution so you can offer healthcare benefits that say something about your small business: Premium reimbursement for individual health insurance.
- [Construction Insurance Trends to Watch in 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/construction-insurance-trends-to-watch-in-2015/) - Bolstered by a resurgent economy and renewed optimism, the construction industry is showing signs of significant growth. Payrolls are increasing, more projects are coming online and the scope of work is increasing. Ample insurance coverage is available for both commercial and residential projects, and pricing is stable with the exception of New York and a few other states where construction defect actions are prevalent.
- [Business Insurance and What Your Website is Telling Underwriters](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/business-insurance-and-what-your-website-is-telling-underwriters/) - Insurance underwriting applies to almost every type of insurance. Underwriting is the process of classification, rating and selection of risks. The underwriter evaluates applications to determine the risk involved in deciding to accept, or reject, the application. If an application is accepted they then determine the appropriate premium.
- [5 Productivity Hacks for You and Your Small Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/5-productivity-hacks-for-you-and-your-small-business/) - As a small business, you could probably use a few extra hands. But, in many cases, hiring more employees just simply isn’t an option. That leaves you with two options: let a few things slip through the cracks and hope they aren’t detrimental to your operations or find efficiencies in your day-to-day activities to make sure you’re able to accomplish everything that comes your way.
- [Tourist Group Expects 41.6 Million Vegas Visitors This Year](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tourist-group-expects-41-6-million-vegas-visitors-this-year/) - The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority isn’t satisfied with attracting a mere 40 million visitors to the city in 2014 — it’s upped the ante to 41.6 million by the end of this year
- [Enrollment Gains Seen in Nevada's Health Insurance Exchange](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/enrollment-gains-seen-in-nevadas-health-insurance-exchange/) - The federal Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that 47,784 Nevadans had enrolled between Nov. 15 and Jan. 9 in Nevada Health Link coverage through healthcare.gov. That was up from 40,285 people on Dec. 15, which was the deadline to apply for a plan that would have taken effect Jan. 1.
- [Obama, in Bid to Ease Home Buying, Cuts Mortgage Insurance Rate](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-in-bid-to-ease-home-buying-cuts-mortgage-insurance-rate/) - President Obama announced on Thursday new measures to try to assist a still-sluggish housing market, even as he hailed an economic recovery that he said was finally roaring ahead.
- [New Analysis Challenges Arguments for Repealing Tax on Medical Devices](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-analysis-challenges-arguments-for-repealing-tax-on-medical-devices/) - A tax on medical devices, imposed by the Affordable Care Act, has become a prime target for Republicans, some Democrats and a small army of lobbyists for the industry. But a new report from the Congressional Research Service challenges economic arguments that are being made to justify repealing the tax
- [Oil Prices Fall to Lowest Since 2009](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/oil-prices-fall-to-lowest-since-2009/) - HOUSTON — Oil prices took another sharp turn downward on Monday to levels not seen since the depths of the 2009 recession. Several international banks predicted even lower prices later this year because of an oversupplied global crude market.
- [Congress Evaluating the Employer Mandate's Definition of a Full-Time Worker](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/congress-evaluating-the-employer-mandates-definition-of-a-full-time-worker/) - One of the big Affordable Care Act headlines this week is whether the definition of a full-time worker will be changed from 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week.Congress Evaluating the Employer Mandate’s Definition of a Full Time Worker.
- [How Medicaid for Children Recoups Much of Its Cost in the Long Run](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-medicaid-for-children-recoups-much-of-its-cost-in-the-long-run/) - When advocates talk about the advantages of government health care, they often talk about a moral obligation to ensure equal access. Or they describe the immediate health and economic rewards of giving people a way to pay for their care.
- [How States Rate on Insurance Regulation, 'A' to 'F"](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-states-rate-on-insurance-regulation-a-to-f/) - Insurance Journal, January 8, 2015 Vermont gets a grade of “A+” and California and North Carolina get grades of “F” in the annual report card on state insurance regulation issued by the free market think tank, The R Street Institute. The 2014 Insurance Regulation Report Card judges how well states do regulating the business of
- [Federal Health Insurance Exchange Enrollment Nearly 6.6 Million: HHS](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/federal-health-insurance-exchange-enrollment-nearly-6-6-million-hhs/) - Nearly 6.6 million individuals signed up for health insurance plans through the federal exchange during the first seven weeks of the 2015 open enrollment season, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported Wednesday.
- [Obamacare Tax Stalls ‘Cadillac’ Health Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-tax-stalls-cadillac-health-plans/) - Large employers are increasingly putting an end to their most generous health-care coverage as a tax on “Cadillac” insurance plans looms closer under Obamacare.
- [Benefits Group Urges Delay of Health Reform Law's 95% Coverage requirement](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/benefits-group-urges-delay-of-health-reform-laws-95-coverage-requirement/) - Federal lawmakers should extend part of a 2014 Treasury Department regulation that phases in rules requiring employers to extend coverage to 95% of their full-time employees in order to avoid a big penalty under the health care reform law, an employer benefits lobbying group says.
- [House Passes Bill to Extend Terrorism Insurance Backstop Through 2020](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-passes-bill-to-extend-terrorism-insurance-backstop-through-2020/) - Moving quickly after the federal terrorism insurance program expired on Dec. 31, 2014, the House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to extend the terrorism insurance backstop until the end of 2020
- [The 7 Best Employee Benefits in 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-7-best-employee-benefits-in-2015/) - Employee benefits are not only a good way to get candidates and current employees to love your company, but they’re essential to recruiting and retaining as well. So, we’ve rounded up seven of the most sought-after and best employee benefits in 2015.
- [U.S. Drone Regulations Delayed](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-drone-regulations-delayed/) - The United States missed a year-end deadline for publishing new rules on remote-control aircraft, delaying an eagerly awaited step toward using drones in everything from farming to package delivery.
- [Workers’ Comp Insurers Unfazed by TRIA Failure For Now But Expect Quick Fix](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-comp-insurers-unfazed-by-tria-failure-for-now-but-expect-quick-fix/) - The expectation that the new Congress that convenes this week will act quickly to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is keeping workers’ compensation insurers in particular from altering their behavior at least for now, according to insurance executives.
- [Everything You Need to Know About Celebrating With Alcohol](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-celebrating-with-alcohol/) - Many of us will be raising our glasses to toast “new dreams, new days, new desires, and new ways” for the New Year. It is a time to reminisce about the past and hope for the future. While it is always important to moderate alcohol intake, it is especially important at this time of the year where there are more opportunities to drink. Let’s take a look at some important facts about alcohol that may help us make wise decisions.
- [How to Save on Homeowner’s Insurance When Buying a New Home, Part 2, What Homeowner’s Insurance Cost is Based On  ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-save-on-homeowners-insurance-when-buying-a-new-home-part-2-what-homeowners-insurance-cost-is-based-on/) - Many local Las Vegas residents are, once again, considering buying a home in the valley. Last month in, “How to Save on Homeowner’s Insurance When Buying a New Home” (link) I explained how homeowner’s insurance is an added cost to the “Price Tag” of a home.
- [Restaurant Scene Enjoys Rebound in 2014](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/restaurant-scene-enjoys-rebound-in-2014/) - Las Vegas’ restaurant realm staggered a bit for a few years during the worst of the recession. But, like the most dedicated Strip imbiber, it regained its footing during 2014 and partied on in high style, with openings — many of them justifiably celebrated — across the valley.
- [Being Uninsured in America Will Cost You More](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/being-uninsured-in-america-will-cost-you-more/) - By: The Associated Press, December 2014 WASHINGTON — Being uninsured in America will cost you more in 2015. It's the first year all taxpayers have to report to the Internal Revenue Service whether they had health insurance for the previous year, as required under President Barack Obama's law. Those who were uninsured face fines, unless
- [Protecting Individual Privacy in World of Wearable Devices](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/protecting-individual-privacy-in-world-of-wearable-devices/) - Article from Insurance Journal, December 2014 The increasing presence of wearable cameras — such as smartphones, Google Glass and lifelogging devices like the Narrative Clip and Autographer — has facilitated benefits in a variety of societal areas, including police investigations, lifestyle monitoring, and aiding patients with memory loss and families with autistic children. But for
- [Risk Modelers Working on Tools for Gauging Cyber Attack Risk](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/risk-modelers-working-on-tools-for-gauging-cyber-attack-risk/) - n as the Sony Corp. cyber attack laid bare the kinds of vulnerabilities that typically drive companies to buy insurance policies, the lack of a risk model for insurers means such protection is not always easy to get.
- [The Future of Accident Reporting](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-future-of-accident-reporting/) - The connected car is with us for good. When I present to organizations or groups such as at this year’s IBIS symposium in Barcelona or the ICAR Conference in Detroit, I always clarify that up front. For me that is an important component when looking at the strategic landscape.
- [What is the Average ObamaCare Premium?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-the-average-obamacare-premium/) - As a small business owner comparing health insurance options, you may be wondering how much ObamaCare premiums cost. In 2014, the average ObamaCare premium cost $346/month before federal subsidies, and $82/month if you received federal subsides. Of course, what you and your employees will pay for coverage depends on a few factors. Here's a look at the cost of individual health insurance through the ObamaCare Marketplaces.
- [4 Tips to Avoid a Christmas Tree Fire](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/4-tips-to-avoid-a-christmas-tree-fire/) - The first Christmas trees were decorated with candles. Tiny fires lit all over a dry, dying tree? Talk about an insurance risk.
- [The 3 Biggest Risks Associated with Holiday Parties](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-3-biggest-risks-associated-with-holiday-parties/) - But sweaters aren’t the only things that can get ugly during the holidays. While the Christmas season is a big time for get-togethers with family and friends, holiday home hazards, such as kitchen fires, decorative fires and theft are just some of the problems that can arise as a result.
- [How to Achieve Flexible Benefits at Your Small Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-achieve-flexible-benefits-at-your-small-business/) - In a time when health benefit costs can be almost unimaginable, your small business faces a difficult decision: keep your current group health insurance plan, or offer nothing at all. The truth is, not offering health benefits to your employees hurts your small business in the long run.
- [8 Most Devastating Data Breaches of 2014](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/8-most-devastating-data-breaches-of-2014/) - Data breaches had a ton of media attention in 2014, and with good reason: 43 percent of companies have experienced a data breach in the last year. That number is up 10 percent from the year before and it’s only expected to rise, according to a report from the Ponemon Institute.
- [How Are Businesses, Individuals Adjusting to Higher Health Insurance Costs?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-are-businesses-individuals-adjusting-to-higher-health-insurance-costs/) - We know thousands of Nevadans — some estimates run as high as 100,000 — are seeing steep premium increases as they move into Affordable Care Act-compliant plans for the first time in 2015.
- [Why Insurance Carriers Cancel Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-insurance-carriers-cancel-coverage/) - A cancellation is the termination of a policy at a date other than its expiration date. Clients often call our office wondering why they are receiving a cancellation notice from the insurance company.
- [Out-Of Pocket Expense Limits Under the Affordable Care Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/out-of-pocket-expense-limits-under-the-affordable-care-act/) - The Affordable Care Act has changed many things about how Americans will be covered under health insurance policies. One of the major changes in the Affordable Care Act is the limits that are now set forth by the law pertaining to the max out-of-pocket expense.
- [Want the Best Company Culture? Focus on Communication](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/want-the-best-company-culture-focus-on-communication/) - On any given day, the average individual will speak around 16,000 words, according to npr.org. It's no wonder that communitaction is so importnatn io everday life-- especially in the workplace. Without it, nothing would be accomplished and a company's culture would struggle to survive. As such, want to know how to have the best company culture? Make communication your focus.
- [HHS Offers Legal Immunity to Ebola Vaccine Makers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hhs-offers-legal-immunity-to-ebola-vaccine-makers/) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday offered liability protections to drugmakers rushing to develop Ebola vaccines and urged other countries to follow suit.
- [25% More Choice in the Marketplace for 2015, So Shop Around](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/25-more-choice-in-the-marketplace-for-2015-so-shop-around/) - The Health Insurance Marketplaces are open for enrollment, and all eyes are on the number of issuers, plans, and rates. According to a new report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), there are 25 percent more issuers to choose from in the federally-run Marketplaces and eight out of ten current consumers can get health insurance for $100 or less a month.
- [Dental gap: Coverage slips through reform's cracks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/dental-gap-coverage-slips-through-reforms-cracks/) - Dental care is a peculiar niche of the U.S. healthcare system. Even though teeth and gums are just as much part of the human body as kidneys or elbows, they are insured differently — a lot differently.
- [Congress Weighs Adding Terrorism Insurance to Spending Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/congress-weighs-adding-terrorism-insurance-to-spending-plan/) - Congressional negotiators plan today to release a bipartisan U.S. government spending proposal, just days before current funding ends, after resolving disputes over Republican policy proposals.
- [Younger Workers Med Costs Higher Than Older Workers in Longtail Workers' Comp Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/younger-workers-med-costs-higher-than-older-workers-in-longtail-workers-comp-claims/) - For services incurred between 20 and 30 years after an injury, the average annual workers’ compensation medical payments for claimants younger than 60 were greater than for those older than 60 at the time of treatment, according to findings of a recent National Council on Compensation Insurance study.
- [The Average Cost of Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-average-cost-of-health-insurance/) - Group health insurance coverage is a type of health policy that is purchased by an employer and is offered to eligible employees of the company, and to eligible dependents of employees. The premium cost is usually split between the employer and employee.
- [A Half-Million People Sign Up For Insurance During HealthCare.gov’s First Week](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/a-half-million-people-sign-up-for-insurance-during-healthcare-govs-first-week/) - By: Amy Goldstein (Washington Post) November 2014 Nearly a half-million people chose health plans through HealthCare.gov during the first week of the new open-enrollment period in the online insurance marketplace, federal health officials announced Wednesday. The figures show that nearly half of those who have just signed up for insurance do not currently have coverage
- [Underinsurance Remains Big Problem Under Obama Health Law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/underinsurance-remains-big-problem-under-obama-health-law/) - The Affordable Care Act, like most health care reform efforts, focuses on people without insurance. That’s fine, because those people do face significant problems obtaining health care in the United States.
- [GOP Lawmakers Urge Swift Movement on Federal Terrorism Insurance Backstop](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/gop-lawmakers-urge-swift-movement-on-federal-terrorism-insurance-backstop/) - A group of more than 40 Republican members of the House of Representatives are urging swift, long-term reauthorization of the federal government's terrorism insurance backstop program.
- [Study Finds Brain Effects in High-School Football Players Without Concussions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/study-finds-brain-effects-in-high-school-football-players-without-concussions/) - The findings from 24 high-school athletes suggest that a series of small, successive blows to the head can prompt changes in the brains of young people. The research was presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
- [Workplace Wellness Battle Could Jeopardize Firms’ Support for Obamacare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workplace-wellness-battle-could-jeopardize-firms-support-for-obamacare/) - Leading U.S. CEOs, angered by the Obama administration’s challenge to certain “workplace wellness” programs, are threatening to side with anti-Obamacare forces unless the government backs off, according to people familiar with the matter.
- [When P/C Insurance Carriers Can Cancel: The ‘Underwriting Period’ by State](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/when-pc-insurance-carriers-can-cancel-the-underwriting-period-by-state/) - Every state extends insurance carriers the right to cancel a newly-written policy during the first days of the policy period. This is commonly known as the new policy “underwriting period.”
- [Have You Had an Audit or Comprehensive Review of Your Business Insurance Needs Lately?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/have-you-had-an-audit-or-comprehensive-review-of-your-businesses-insurance-needs-lately/) - Effective risk management always starts with insurance. Companies need to regularly review their existing insurance coverage. There are two key components to auditing your coverage; reviewing past claims and determining potential future exposures.
- [How Do I Calculate My Health Insurance Premium and Tax Credit?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-do-i-calculate-my-health-insurance-premium-and-tax-credit/) - The Health Insurance Marketplaces are open for enrollment and you may be wondering what your health insurance premium and tax credit will be. Or if you're a small business owner adopting employer-funded individual health insurance, you may be wondering how much employees will pay for health insurance.
- [How to Save on Homeowner’s Insurance When Buying a New Home  Part One, Purchasing Homeowner’s Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-save-on-homeowners-insurance-when-buying-a-new-home-part-one-purchasing-a-homeowners-insurance-policy/) - Many individuals only take into consideration the cost or “price tag” of the home, not realizing there are several other expenses when it comes to being a property owner. One major thing to consider is homeowners insurance.
- [U.S. Safety Regulator Wants Nationwide Recall of Air Bags](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-safety-regulator-wants-nationwide-recall-of-air-bags/) - The U.S. auto safety regulator has told Japanese supplier Takata Corp. and five automakers to expand nationwide a regional recall of potentially lethal air bags, increasing pressure on the industry to move faster in a growing scandal.
- [How Offering Employee Benefits Can Put a Small Business Ahead When Hiring](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-offering-employee-benefits-can-put-a-small-business-ahead-when-hiring/) - Everyday a company somewhere is experiencing the hiring process. Ads are being placed, interviews are happening, and training is being conducted. Hiring is just the beginning, employee retention should be every businesses priority. Maintaining key employees saves businesses money, keeps customers happy and helps businesses run more efficiently.
- [More Americans Retiring Later Than They Expected](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/more-americans-retiring-later-than-they-expected/) - According to new research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), there has been a nearly 23-percentage-point drop in workers retiring early or close to their expected retirement after the markets crashed. Specifically, EBRI found that before September 2008 (the start of the recession), 72.4 percent of workers retired either before or shortly after (no more than one year) their expected retirement.
- [Why Can't Employers Pay For Employees To Go To The Exchanges?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-cant-employers-pay-for-employees-to-go-to-the-exchanges/) - On November 6, the Department of Labor issued FAQ Part 22, which directly addresses some recent efforts by employers to reimburse employees for participation in the exchange through Code Section 105, or through some type of other arrangement. Here are the questions, with shortened answers.
- [Hypothetically, Here’s How to Respond to a Data Breach](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hypothetically-heres-how-to-respond-to-a-data-breach/) - Here are two takeaways from the discussion: 1. every data breach, like every company, is different and 2. there is more gray than black-and-white in terms of how and when to respond.
- [Some Hiccups, but Federal Health Exchange Website Is in Good Health](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/some-hiccups-but-federal-health-exchange-website-is-in-good-health/) - The Obama administration said Sunday that 100,000 people had submitted applications for health insurance on the first day of open enrollment, and it offered practical advice to consumers who had been locked out of their accounts.
- [Feds, States Add Help For Health Care Open Enrollment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/feds-states-add-help-for-health-care-open-enrollment/) - The federal and state health insurance exchanges open for business Saturday amid guarded optimism that the seemingly successful window-shopping period on HealthCare.gov earlier this week suggests things will go better than last year's torturous roll-out.
- [States Race to Improve Health Exchanges as Open Enrollment Nears](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/states-race-to-improve-health-exchanges-as-open-enrollment-nears/) - Across the country, many of the states that created their own insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act are rushing to complete improvements before Saturday, when a new open enrollment period begins. Though some had smooth sailing last year, a few experienced worse technical problems than the federal marketplace serving 36 states, which had a disastrous rollout.
- [Forget the AC, Vegas Embraces the Great Outdoors for Entertainment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/forget-the-ac-vegas-embraces-the-great-outdoors-for-entertainment/) - Las Vegas Boulevard’s newest entertainment venues are using one of Nevada’s greatest resources — the great outdoors.
- [New HealthCare.gov Opens Early to Allow for Review of Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-healthcare-gov-opens-early-to-allow-for-review-of-plans/) - The Obama administration said Sunday that consumers could shop for health insurance and compare their options on HealthCare.gov starting Monday, even before the open enrollment period formally begins five days later.
- [Old vs. New GM at Issue in Ignition Switch Class Action](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/old-vs-new-gm-at-issue-in-ignition-switch-class-action/) - General Motors Co. told a judge that claims in a $10 billion customer class-action over ignition flaws are “misleading” and should be dismissed.
- [Nevada Highway Patrol Promoting Safety Around Big Rigs in Vegas Area](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-highway-patrol-promoting-safety-around-big-rigs-in-vegas-area/) - Insurance Journal, November, 2014 The Nevada Highway Patrol is planning a “Badge on Board” enforcement blitz this week in the Las Vegas area to promote traffic safety around big rig trucks. Trooper Loy Hixson says the effort comes after Nevada ranked third in a national comparison of high-performance states for commercial motor vehicle enforcement. Insurance
- [Is Your Business Ready for the ACA Employer Mandate in 2015?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-your-business-ready-for-the-aca-employer-mandate-in-2015/) - With 2015 right around the corner, employers and their brokers are assessing how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate impacts their healthcare offerings, and their bottom line. Under this provision, some U.S. employers will pay a fee for not offering health insurance. Is your business ready for the employer mandate?
- [Valley Retailers Already Rolling Out Black Friday Deals](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/valley-retailers-already-rolling-out-black-friday-deals/) - By: Rachel Moore (Fox 5 News) November 2014 Most kids haven't even finished eating their Halloween candy, but that hasn't stopped major retailers from rolling out holiday deals. Black Friday may be a thing of the past, as many of those deals can already be found. Take a trip to nearly any of the Valley's
- [Corporate Boards Aware of Cyber Risk, But Majority Don't Act On Cyber Security](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/corporate-boards-aware-of-cyber-risk-but-majority-dont-act-on-cyber-security/) - Two-thirds of corporate boards are very concerned about cyber security, but just 44% say they have made a decision on the topic, according to a board governance survey released Tuesday.
- [Health Plans that Fail ACA Minimum Value Test To Get One-Year Pass: IRS](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-plans-that-fail-aca-minimum-value-test-to-get-one-year-pass-irs/) - By: Jerry Geisel (Business Insurance) November 2014 Group health care plans that do not provide coverage for hospital care will not pass the health care reform law’s “minimum value” test, but the Internal Revenue Service is giving a one-year pass to existing or soon to be implemented plans excluding the coverage. Ending months of uncertainty
- [Who Was Helped Most Under the ACA?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/who-was-helped-most-under-the-aca/) - At its most basic level, one of the primary goals of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to reduce the number of uninsured Americans. The ACA, and more specifically, the individual shared responsibility provision and medicaid expansion, have already led to a significant drop in the number of uninsured Americans in 2014.
- [Capstone Brokerage is Hiring!](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-is-hiring/) - We are looking for a talented and successful Front Desk/Office Administrator to represent our company as our ambassador of first impressions. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated, professional and can represent our company in a professional manor. The role of the Front Desk/Office Administrator Position is to makes sure all guests entering our office feel welcome. All incoming phone calls on our multi-line system are answered with a smile and an urgency to help direct them to someone who can help them. All incoming faxes to our fax server are promptly forwarded to their respective parties. Help keep the office in order as well as assisting with other office related tasks which can includes administrative support.
- [HHS Form For Health Reform Law Reinsurance Fee to be Availble Friday](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hhs-form-for-health-reform-law-reinsurance-fee-to-be-availble-friday/) - A long-awaited form employers will use to provide the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with information regulators will need to calculate the amount of a “reinsurance” fee mandated by the health care reform law will be available online starting Friday, HHS disclosed.
- [Homeowners Insurance Claims and the Holidays](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/homeowners-insurance-claims-and-the-holidays/) - Halloween and the upcoming holidays bring many visitors to homes across the United States. Many people may not be aware of risks around the home that lead to homeowner’s insurance claims. Some may be surprising. As a homeowner it is best to have knowledge and be prepared of these risks. These are some common homeowner’s insurance claims that spike during the holidays.
- [Ebola and Your Health Insurance Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ebola-and-your-health-insurance-plan/) - Currently in the United States one of the biggest concerns is the spread of Ebola. It is a hot topic on the nightly news and it seems everyday there is more breaking information about the virus that is haunting Africa.
- [HHS Prescribes $840 Million to Help Doctors Transform Their Practices](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hhs-prescribes-840-million-to-help-doctors-transform-their-practices/) - The federal government will spend $840 million over the next four years to help doctors move their practices away from a volume-based business model to one that's focused on rewarding them for good patient outcomes.
- [IRS Announces Maximum 401(k) Plan Contribution Limits for 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/irs-announces-maximum-401k-plan-contribution-limits-for-2015/) - The maximum contribution that can be made to 401(k) plans in 2015 will rise to $18,000, up from the current $17,500 limit, while the maximum catch-up contribution employees age 50 and older can make to the plans will increase to $6,000, up from $5,500, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday.
- [Clark County OKs Medical Pot Regulations Taxes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/clark-county-oks-medical-pot-regulations-taxes/) - The 40-page ordinance is the first one for the county’s medical marijuana industry. It’s intended to regulate all aspects of the industry in unincorporated areas, which include dispensaries, cultivation facilities, production facilities and laboratories.
- [Property and Casualty Rates Soft, But Aviation Rates Could Soar in 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/property-and-casualty-rates-soft-but-aviation-rates-could-soar-in-2015/) - Commercial property and casualty rates will continue to be soft during 2015 as other lines like commercial aviation and in some cases cyber coverage could show strength, according to a new report released Tuesday by Willis Group Holdings P.L.C.
- [Update on Ebola in U.S.: New CDC Protocols, Rapid Response Team, Czar](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/update-on-ebola-in-u-s-new-cdc-protocols-rapid-response-team-czar/) - The United States issued stringent new protocols on Monday for health workers treating Ebola victims, directing medical teams to wear protective gear that leaves no skin or hair exposed to prevent medical workers from becoming infected.
- [Las Vegas' Hottest Trend: Reinventing The Visitor Experience](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-hottest-trend-reinventing-the-visitor-experience/) - After a quarter century of trying to confine tourists, Las Vegas is doing an about face and taking it to the streets.
- [U.S. Says Consumers Must Renew Health Insurance Policies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-says-consumers-must-renew-health-insurance-policies/) - he Obama administration began notifying consumers on Wednesday that they should return to the federal health insurance marketplace to renew coverage for next year.
- [ CDC Steps Up Ebola Risk Management, Names Expert Team for Hospitals](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cdc-steps-up-ebola-risk-management-names-expert-team-for-hospitals/) - A team of infection experts will be sent to any U.S. hospital with a confirmed Ebola case, according to the nation’s top disease control official, who said such a group could have prevented the infection of a Dallas nurse who cared for a patient with the deadly virus.
- [Back to HealthCare.Gov to Shop for Plans in Open-Enrollment Period for 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/back-to-healthcare-gov-to-shop-for-plans-in-open-enrollment-period-for-2015/) - On Nov. 15, the second open-enrollment period will begin for individual health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Those who didn’t sign up previously can enroll for coverage starting in 2015, and those who are already covered can renew or change their policies.
- [How the New HealthCare.gov Stacks up With the Old](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-the-new-healthcare-gov-stacks-up-with-the-old/) - HealthCare.gov, the website for health insurance under President Barack Obama's health care law, has been revamped as its second enrollment season approaches. But things are still complicated, since other major provisions of the Affordable Care Act are taking effect for the first time.
- [10 Signs You Should Switch Your Employees to Individual Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/10-signs-you-should-switch-your-employees-to-individual-health-insurance/) - Small businesses and nonprofits can't afford to pay the rising costs of group health insurance. Nonetheless, healthcare benefits are an important part of recruiting and retaining the best employees.
- [Is Ebola Compensable Under Workers’ Compensation?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-ebola-compensable-under-workers-compensation/) - Two tests must be satisfied before an illness or disease can be considered occupational and thus compensable under workers’ compensation.
- [Possible Liability When Employees Use Vehicles In Your Business](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/possible-liability-when-employees-use-vehicles-in-your-business/) - Auto exposures can create some of the biggest and ghastly losses facing companies whether a large corporation or small business. Business owners who wouldn’t think of allowing employees to operate dangerous machinery or their children to drive their personal auto without safety rules and policies in place allow these scenarios to happen and usually with unbelievable consequences.
- [California Could Save $124M-$420M a Year With Closed Comp Drug Formulary](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/california-could-save-124m-420m-a-year-with-closed-comp-drug-formulary/) - California’s workers compensation system could see pharmaceutical costs cut by $124 million to $420 million a year if the state adopted a closed prescription drug formulary like ones used in Texas and Washington state, according to the California Workers’ Compensation Institute.
- [Marijuana Insurance Industry: How High Can It Go?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/marijuana-insurance-industry-how-high-can-it-go/) - Legal cannabis markets in the United States are expected to grow 700 percent over the next five years, according to an industry report titled, “The State of Legal Marijuana Markets 2nd Edition,” published by The ArcView Group.
- [Sneak peek at Downtown Summerlin Ahead of Grand Opening](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/sneak-peek-at-downtown-summerlin-ahead-of-grand-opening/) - Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- The grand opening of Downtown Summerlin is on Thursday, Oct. 9 and then we'll be able to experience it for ourselves.
- [Vegas Enacts Rules for Rental Party Houses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/vegas-enacts-rules-for-rental-party-houses/) - Las Vegas leaders took another stab at regulating the city’s oft-maligned “party houses” Wednesday, voting almost unanimously for a bill to crack down on sometimes raucous short-term vacation rentals.
- [Nevada Last In Nation For Flu Shots](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-last-in-nation-for-flu-shots/) - Report from Centers For Disease Control (CBS Local) September 2014 RENO, Nev. (AP) — A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Nevada ranks last in the nation for flu vaccination rates. The Reno Gazette-Journal first reported on the study for the 2013-2014 flu season that has Nevada 50th on the
- [Data Breaches Prompt Insurers to Boost Cost of Retailers' Cyber Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/data-breaches-prompt-insurers-to-boost-cost-of-retailers-cyber-coverage/) - Major retailers should expect higher rates and retentions and lower coverage limits for their cyber insurance following several major data breaches since spring 2013, but much depends on persuading underwriters about the effectiveness of retailers' cyber defenses.
- [FAQ Will We Pay a Penalty in 2015 for Not Offering Health Insurance?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faq-will-we-pay-a-penalty-in-2015-for-not-offering-health-insurance/) - here has been a lot of confusion surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA’s) employer shared responsibility (ESR) provision, also called the employer mandate. Many employers are wondering about whether the ESR affects their business.
- [Don't Panic! 4 Tips for Small Businesses as 2015 Open Enrollment Approaches](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/dont-panic-4-tips-for-small-businesses-as-2015-open-enrollment-approaches/) - With open enrollment 2015 coming up in November, small businesses are considering how to offer the best benefits at the most affordable price in 2015.
- [Federal and State HIX To Offer 25% More Carriers for 2015 Enrollment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/federal-and-state-hix-to-offer-25-more-carriers-for-2015-enrollment/) - Those who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s state and federal exchanges will have more choices for coverage beginning in 2015, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report released Tuesday.
- [The Importance of Scheduling Items of Value On Homeowners Insurance Policies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-importance-of-scheduling-items-of-value-on-homeowners-insurance-policies/) - Homeowners Insurance covers most items in your home in the event of theft, fire, or loss but there are a few exceptions.
- [Study: 2.7M Children Could Lose CHIP Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/study-2-7m-children-could-lose-chip-benefits/) - As many as 2.7 million children could lose health coverage or benefits next year if Congress does not renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to a study by the conservative American Action Forum.
- [Surplus Lines Rate Hikes to Slow As Competition Grows](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/surplus-lines-rate-hikes-to-slow-as-competition-grows/) - Two insurance rating entities see slowing rate increases for the surplus lines segment in the coming months as competition grows.
- [Do You Need Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage as a Small Business?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/do-you-need-commercial-auto-insurance-coverage-for-your-small-business/) - Sometimes as a business owner it can get confusing as to whether or not you need to have a commercial auto policy in place. Automobile liability insurance, at a minimum, is required by most states whether a vehicle is used by a company or individual.
- [Demand for Liability Insurance to Rise Again](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/demand-for-liability-insurance-to-rise-again/) - Claims severity and demand for liability insurance will increase as economic growth accelerates and because of technological, social and regulatory changes, according to a new report from Swiss Re.
- [U.S. to End Coverage Under Health Care Law for Tens of Thousands](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-to-end-coverage-under-health-care-law-for-tens-of-thousands/) - The Obama administration said on Monday that it planned to terminate health insurance for 115,000 people on Oct. 1 because they had failed to prove that they were United States citizens or legal immigrants eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. I
- [Employers guide to Helping Employees Seek Proper Medical Care Utilizing Health Insurance Coverage  ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-guide-to-helping-employees-seek-proper-medical-care-utilizing-health-insurance-coverage/) - Here in Las Vegas it may still seem like summer with record temperatures and high humidity. The fact of the matter is fall/winter should be upon us. The colder months will bring cold and Flu season, and a very busy time for doctors across the valley, making getting in to your primary care physician the same day more difficult.
- [Millennials Aspire to Be Workplace Leaders; Seek Training: Survey](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/millennials-aspire-to-be-workplace-leaders-seek-training-survey/) - As the 80 million millennials (ages 18-33) start to play a larger role in the U.S. workplace, they aspire to lead in business in the next five years, according to a new survey.
- [Latest Good News in Health Spending: Employer Premiums](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/latest-good-news-in-health-spending-employer-premiums/) - We’re in the midst of a rare slowdown in the growth of health spending. That slowdown just hit the employer health insurance market.
- [Ebola Virus Prevention](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ebola-virus-prevention/) - Ebola Virus has saturated the recent news headlines producing public fear of contracting this virus. However there is no reason to start panicking, Dr. William P. Sawyer, Infection Prevention Specialist, says "if you understand the role your hands play in the contraction and spread of infections".
- [3 Things That Will Drive Your Life Insurance Premiums Through The Roof](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/3-things-that-will-drive-your-life-insurance-premiums-through-the-roof/) - By: Les Christie (CNN Money) What you'll pay for a life insurance policy can vary dramatically; men pay higher premiums than women, older policyholders pay more than younger ones and smokers pay more than non-smokers. But just how much does your age, gender or smoking habit cost you? InsuranceQuotes.com evaluated life insurance premiums for the
- [Average U.S. Hotel Rate Nearly Hit an All-Time High in First Half of 2014 ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/average-u-s-hotel-rate-nearly-hit-an-all-time-high-in-first-half-of-2014/) - The first half of each year includes several large-scale events for hotels, such as the Super Bowl, spring break, graduations and Memorial Day. This year, hotels also have rising economic confidence to thank for rates reaching near record highs.
- [Surplus Lines Stable, but Near-Term Profits Expected to Remain Weak: Reports](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/surplus-lines-stable-but-near-term-profits-expected-to-remain-weak-reports/) - The surplus line industry is stable, but profit margins may shrink in the near term as average rate increases diminish on various lines of coverage, says A.M. Best Co. Inc. in a report.
- [Health Chief Seeks to Focus on Insurance Site](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-chief-seeks-to-focus-on-insurance-site/) - Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the secretary of Health and Human Services, said Monday in her first major speech that she wanted to move beyond the politics of health care and work with members of both parties to improve the management and operation of HealthCare.gov, the website used by millions of people to sign up for insurance coverage.
- [3 Big Challenges for Small Businesses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/3-big-challenges-for-small-businesses/) - Starting a small business can be demanding. Small business owners today have many obstacles to overcome. This article contains the top three challenges that small business owners face and how to overcome them.
- [High on Marijuana Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/high-on-marijuana-insurance/) - Specialty brokers looking to get insurers hooked on emerging industry. The legal marijuana industry in the United States is experiencing tremendous growth.
- [Usage-Based Insurance Overcoming Privacy Concerns, Gaining Traction](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/usage-based-insurance-overcoming-privacy-concerns-gaining-traction/) - Consumers as well as commercial fleet managers are becoming more accepting of usage-based insurance (UBI) in which a telematics device is used to track driving behavior as safety and savings benefits appear to be trumping concerns over privacy.
- [Obamacare Gets Second Chance at Federal Appeals Court](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-gets-second-chance-at-federal-appeals-court/) - The nation's second-most powerful court will reconsider a ruling by a three-judge panel that jeopardized President Obama's health care law.
- [Reclassification of Opioid Painkillers May Boost Workers Compensation Costs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/reclassification-of-opioid-painkillers-may-boost-workers-compensation-costs/) - Tighter controls on opioid prescription painkillers issued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration last month may increase workers compensation costs in the short term, but over the long term they could help reduce overuse of opioids
- [Bracing for New Challenges in Year 2 of Health Care Law](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/bracing-for-new-challenges-in-year-2-of-health-care-law/) - The first year of enrollment under the federal health care law was marred by the troubled start of HealthCare.gov, rampant confusion among consumers and a steep learning curve for insurers and government officials alike.
- [California Officals Gearing Up for Obamacare Open Enrollment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/california-officals-gearing-up-for-obamacare-open-enrollment/) - Looking to avoid the pitfalls and confusion that surrounded the launch of Obamacare, California is gearing up to get 1.2 million people to renew their health policies for next year.
- [Cyber Attacks on Banks Color Terrorism Insurance Renewal Debate](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-attacks-on-banks-color-terrorism-insurance-renewal-debate/) - Bankers and U.S. officials have warned that cyber-terrorists will try to wreck the financial system’s computer networks. What they aren’t saying publicly is that taxpayers will probably have to cover much of the damage.
- [High Health Plan Deductibles Weigh Down More Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/high-health-plan-deductibles-weigh-down-more-employees/) - Just as employers replaced pensions with retirement savings plans, more large companies appear to be in a similar cost-sharing shift with health plans. Besides making workers responsible for more of their care, employers hope these plans will motivate employees to comparison-shop for medical services — an admirable goal but one that some say is hard to achieve.
- [Capstone Brokerage Is Stregthening the Economy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/capstone-brokerage-is-stregthening-the-economy/) - Jade Anderson, Capstone Brokerage Founder and CEO Is Strengthening the economy one Entrepreneur at a time.
- [Hopeful Outlook for Worker's Comp](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hopeful-outlook-for-workers-comp/) - As we pass the halfway point of 2014, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is relatively optimistic about the outlook for the workers’ compensation market in America.
- [Obama Administration Offers Birth Control Fix For Religious Groups](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-administration-offers-birth-control-fix-for-religious-groups/) - Seeking to quell a politically charged controversy, the Obama administration announced new measures Friday to allow religious nonprofits and some companies to opt out of paying for birth control for female employees while still ensuring those employees have access to contraception.
- [Affordable Care Act Exemptions Mean Millions Don’t Have to Sign Up](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/affordable-care-act-exemptions-mean-millions-dont-have-to-sign-up/) - By: Nick Madigan (Miami Herald) August 2014 Exemptions allow medical bill-sharing groups to help members pay costs — without Affordable Care Act insurance. When she was eight weeks old, Ashlyn Whitney suffered a severe respiratory-tract infection that put her in an intensive care unit for 12 days. “Because she was so young, she couldn’t handle
- [Is Your Company Impacted By the Latest Provisions to the Affordable Care Act?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/is-your-company-impacted-by-the-latest-provisions-to-the-affordable-care-act/) - Recent provisions were passed that make small businesses exempt from the employer’s responsibility of the Affordable Care Act for 2015. According to the U.S. Treasury Department this will help 96% of employers.
- [A First Look at Individual Health Insurance Rates for 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/a-first-look-at-individual-health-insurance-rates-for-2015/) - Open enrollment is right around the corner, and several states have released initial rate filings for individual health insurance plans that will be offered on and off the public Health Insurance Exchanges.
- [The Importance of Timely Reporting of Workers' Compensation Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-importance-of-timely-reporting-of-workers-compensation-claims/) - imely Reporting of workers’ compensation claims are a key element in the workers’ compensation claims process. Prompt reporting of work-related injuries and illnesses can achieve better outcomes and lower overall workers’ compensation claims costs which are beneficial to an insured’s premium.
- [States Still Grappling with Surplus Lines Tax Sharing](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/states-still-grappling-with-surplus-lines-tax-sharing/) - Things have changed a bit for the surplus lines industry since the Non-admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act, (NRRA) part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform legislation, passed in 2010.
- [What are the ACA Cost Sharing Subsidies?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-are-the-aca-cost-sharing-subsidies/) - Under the Affordable Care Act, cost sharing subsidies, or cost sharing reductions (CSRs), are discounts for lower-income families to help with out-of-pocket medical expenses. This article provides frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the ACA cost sharing subsidies.
- [Government Action, Insurance, Software Product Liability Urged for Cyber Security](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/government-action-insurance-software-product-liability-urged-for-cyber-security/) - Alarmed by mounting cyber threats around the world and across industries, a growing number of security experts see aggressive government action as the best hope for averting disaster.
- [Tax Credits Covering 76% of PRemiums for Healthcare.gov Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/christina-merhar-christina-merhar-august-5-2014-at-330-pm-1-inshare-according-to-the-u-s-department-of-health-human-services-hhs-87-percent-who-purchased-health-plans-through-healthcar/) - According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), 87 percent who purchased health plans through Healthcare.gov in 2014 qualified for premium tax credits, with the tax credit covering 76 percent of the premium cost.
- [Credit Card Council Releases Cyber Risk Mitigation Guidance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/credit-card-council-releases-cyber-risk-mitigation-guidance/) - The payment card industry’s regulatory organization has issued guidance to help merchants and others reduce credit card security risks.
- [New Medicaid enrollments top 7 million under Obamacare ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-medicaid-enrollments-top-7-million-under-obamacare/) - More than seven million Americans have gained health coverage through government programs including Medicaid since enrollment in Obamacare health insurance was launched October 1, the U.S. administration said on Friday.
- [County commissioners Approve New Arena, Resort on Las Vegas Strip](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/county-commissioners-approve-new-arena-resort-on-las-vegas-strip/) - Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A new arena and resort will soon be coming to the Las Vegas Strip.
- [Millions of Uninsured Americans Exempt From ObamaCare Penalties in 2016. Report Finds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/millions-of-uninsured-americans-exempt-from-obamacare-penalties-in-2016-report-finds/) - A new congressional report has estimated that more than 25 million Americans without health insurance will not be made to pay a penalty in 2016 due to an exploding number of ObamaCare exemptions.
- [Back to School Safety Tip and Insurance for Your College Student](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/back-to-school-safety-tip-and-insurance-for-your-college-student/) - Many families are preparing for back to school. I see ample amounts of school supplies, dorm furniture and almost every retail clothing store in Las Vegas has a sign that says back to school sale. It is quite honestly my second favorite time to shop retail (first being Black Friday during the holiday season).
- [New Initiative for Medical Tourism Unveiled](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-initiative-for-medical-tourism-unveiled/) - Most destinations that position themselves as medical tourism centers have world-class health-care facilities that Southern Nevada would never be able to match.
- [Contractor's CGL Policy Doesn't Cover Subcontractors' Faulty Work: Appeals court](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/contractors-cgl-policy-doesnt-cover-subcontractors-faulty-work-appeals-court/) - A construction company's commercial general liability insurance policy does not provide coverage for faulty workmanship or subcontractor negligence, says an appeals court, in upholding a lower court ruling.
- [July Commercial Property/Casualty Rates up 1.5%: MarketScout](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/july-commercial-propertycasualty-rates-up-1-5-marketscout/) - Commercial property/casualty insurance rates rose an average of only 1.5% in July over those of a year earlier, Dallas-based electronic insurance exchange MarketScout reported Tuesday.
- [Employee Eligibility for Premium Reimbursement Health Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employee-eligibility-for-premium-reimbursement-health-plans/) - With a premium reimbursement health plan, the employer sets up a formal health plan to reimburse employees tax-free for individual health insurance. The employer designs the plan, determines employee eligibility, and sets healthcare allowance amounts. Employees purchase health insurance, and premium reimbursement software takes care of the rest.
- [ How to Get the Best Rates on Life Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/how-to-get-the-best-rates-on-life-insurance/) - Life insurance is supposed to provide peace of mind. But for many, the approval process gives them nothing but nightmares.
- [North Las Vegas Revises Financial Outlook](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/north-las-vegas-revises-financial-outlook/) - North Las Vegas looked for a break in its gloomy fiscal forecast Monday, unveiling a flurry of potential economic growth initiatives at the first of three planned “financial summit” meetings on the state of the city’s finances.
- [Obama Administration Seeks Review Health-Care Aid Ruling ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-administration-seeks-review-health-care-aid-ruling/) - The Obama administration asked the full U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington to reconsider a three-judge panel’s ruling that customers on the federal marketplace authorized by the health-care overhaul are ineligible for subsidies to buy insurance.
- [UnitedHealth’s $173M Fine May Be Warning to P/C Insurers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/unitedhealths-173m-fine-may-be-warning-to-pc-insurers/) - By: Don Jergler (Insurance Journal) July 2014 A decision by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to fine UnitedHealth Group $173.6 million for violations having to do with the Unfair Business Practices Act, the Unfair Insurance Practice Act and unfair claims settlements may be a wakeup call for not just health, but life and property/casualty insurers,
- [Downtown Summerlin Could Set Standard For Mixed-Use Projects in US](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/downtown-summerlin-could-set-standard-for-mixed-use-projects-in-us/) - Folks, wait till you see what they’re building in that section of town that now bears the formal name Downtown Summerlin. Rest assured that it will be a proud moment for all of Southern Nevada, and not just for residents of Summerlin, once the regional retail center opens in about two months.
- [HealthCare.Gov Better But Tech Glitches Still a Concern](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/healthcare-gov-better-but-tech-glitches-still-a-concern/) - Year two of Obamacare “won’t be perfect,” a top Obama administration official said as the government’s website to sell health insurance plans continues to be developed.
- [House Votes to Proceed with Lawsuit Against Obama](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-votes-to-proceed-with-lawsuit-against-obama/) - The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives voted to sue President Barack Obama’s administration over implementation of his 2010 health-care law.
- [5 Things Small Employers Need to Know About Individual Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/5-things-small-employers-need-to-know-about-individual-health-insurance/) - ess than half of all small employers are currently offering health insurance because it is too expensive. That’s over 2.3 million small employers that aren’t offering health insurance to their employees.
- [Total Cost of Risk for Businesses Rose 2% in 2013: RIMS](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/total-cost-of-risk-for-businesses-rose-2-in-2013-rims/) - The average total cost of risk (TCOR) for businesses rose two percent from $10.70 per $1,000 of revenue in 2012 to $10.90 per $1,000 of revenue in 2013.
- [Gains Seen for Medicare, but Social Security Holds Steady](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/gains-seen-for-medicare-but-social-security-holds-steady/) - Medicare’s financial condition improved significantly in the last year, thanks in part to the Affordable Care Act, but the outlook for Social Security is basically unchanged, the Obama administration said Monday.
- [Obesity Linked to Increased Fatigue in the Workplace](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obesity-linked-to-increased-fatigue-in-the-workplace/) - U.S. workplaces may need to consider innovative methods to prevent fatigue from developing in employees who are obese.
- [Primary-Enforced Texting Laws Save Drivers’ Lives: University Research](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/primary-enforced-texting-laws-save-drivers-lives-university-research/) - New research appears to confirm that laws against texting while driving do reduce traffic fatalities if they are primary enforcement laws.
- [Ex-Obama Aide’s Statements in 2012 Clash With Health Act Stance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/ex-obama-aides-statements-in-2012-clash-with-health-act-stance/) - A former adviser to the Obama administration on health policy made public statements in 2012 that undercut arguments it is now making in court about the government’s authority to subsidize insurance premiums.
- [Health Insurers to Pay $330M in Premium Rebates](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurers-to-pay-330m-in-premium-rebates/) - U.S. health insurers will send out about $330 million in rebates to employers and individuals this summer under President Barack Obama's health care reform law, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday. The law, often called Obamacare, requires insurance companies to refund customers when they spend less than 80% or 85% of health care premiums they collect for medical care.
- [D.C. Appeals Panel Deals Big Blow to Obamacare Subsidies](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/d-c-appeals-panel-deals-big-blow-to-obamacare-subsidies/) - Millions of Americans are not entitled to government health insurance subsidies under Obamacare because of the way the law is written, a divided three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
- [Supreme Court Ruling Will Test Range of Health Reform’s Contraceptive Mandate, More Employers May Drop Some Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/supreme-court-ruling-will-test-range-of-health-reforms-contraceptive-mandate-more-employers-may-drop-some-coverage/) - The U.S. Supreme Court's pivotal ruling last month that the federal government cannot force family-owned, private employers to directly provide contraceptive coverage could have wider reaching implications for private companies and benefits administrators.
- [Insurance Industry Welcomes Senate Approval of Seven-Year TRIA Extension](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-industry-welcomes-senate-approval-of-seven-year-tria-extension/) - Insurers and other industry groups are welcoming Thursday's 93-4 Senate vote to extend the federal terrorism insurance backstop for seven years.
- [New Ads Promote Las Vegas As Ideal for Conventions, Trade Shows](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-ads-promote-las-vegas-as-ideal-for-conventions-trade-shows/) - As business travel is rebounding, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has unveiled a series of advertisements promoting the city as a place to have conventions and trade shows as well as corporate meetings.
- [Automakers Race to Be First With Driverless Cars](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/automakers-race-to-be-first-with-driverless-cars/) - Nissan Motor Co. will introduce cars that park themselves by 2016, Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said, as the Japanese carmaker rushes to be among the first to offer automated driving.
- [Malaysia Airlines Girds for New Insurance Battle](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/malaysia-airlines-girds-for-new-insurance-battle/) - The Malaysia Airlines jetliner crash in Ukraine could spark hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation claims and protracted legal disputes between the airline, insurers, governments and victims' families, according to aviation-insurance experts.
- [Firms Dropping Birth Control Coverage Must Inform Employees](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/firms-dropping-birth-control-coverage-must-inform-employees/) - Closely held companies that decide to drop insurance coverage of birth control for religious reasons have 60 days to tell their employees after they end the benefits, the Obama administration said.
- [Distressed-Sales Figures Sully Otherwise Healthy Housing Indicators](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/distressed-sales-figures-sully-otherwise-healthy-housing-indicators/) - When the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors released its latest numbers July 7, the median price was bumping up against $200,000 for the first time since 2008.
- [10 Basic Things a Hotel Must Offer Guests](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/10-basic-things-a-hotel-must-offer-guests/) - Here are 10 Basic Things a Hotel Must Offer Guests. Hoteliers and hotel employees: pay close attention to ensure your hotel can deliver on these guests expectations.
- [Company Health Insurance Rate Increases Will Lead to Rate Review as Part of Health Care Reform According to the Affordable Care Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/company-health-insurance-rate-increases-will-lead-to-rate-review-as-part-of-health-care-reform-according-to-the-affordable-care-act/) - any small businesses offering company health insurance coverage have faced premium rate increases over the years. Some of my clients really start to stress at the time of renewal because they have been hit with hikes as high as 75% in the past. Rate increases are straining on American families as well as small businesses.
- [Cyber Insurance Risk potential for Las Vegas businesses](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cyber-insurance-risk-potential-for-las-vegas-businesses/) - Insurers are eagerly eyeing exponential growth in the tiny cyber coverage market but their lack of experience and skills handling hackers and data breaches may keep their ambitions in check.
- [New Boss Says He Can Turn Around Nevada Health Insurance System](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-boss-says-he-can-turn-around-nevada-health-insurance-system/) - The new boss of the failed state health insurance system believes he can make it work to help low-income citizens get health coverage.
- [House Committeee Approves Patent Reform Measure](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-committeee-approves-patent-reform-measure/) - A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Thursday approved a draft bill aimed at reining in companies that seek licensing fees for invalid patents or are otherwise dishonest in writing what are known as “demand letters.”
- [Obscure Rule Restricts Health Law’s Expansion of Care for Addicts](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obscure-rule-restricts-health-laws-expansion-of-care-for-addicts/) - EAST HAZEL CREST, Ill. — On its surface, the Affordable Care Act seems like a boon for addiction treatment centers like the South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, housed in a no-frills former hotel outside Chicago.
- [USDA Extends California Salmonella Chicken Recall to Bases](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/usda-extends-california-salmonella-chicken-recall-to-bases/) - Federal regulators widened the recall of salmonella-tainted chicken produced by California-based Foster Farms to include products believed to have been send to military bases in five states to feed personnel and their families, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday.
- [Aim of Nevada Anti-Fracking Suit to Block Drilling](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/aim-of-nevada-anti-fracking-suit-to-block-drilling/) - A rural Nevada group is asking a federal judge to block the sale of oil and gas leases they say will be used for hydraulic fracturing and other development that poses a much greater threat to sage grouse and other wildlife than the U.S. government claims.
- [Study Tracks Rise in Attorney Involvement in Auto Insurance Claims](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/study-tracks-rise-in-attorney-involvement-in-auto-insurance-claims/) - Attorney involvement in auto insurance claims is on the rise and varies significantly by state, according to an insurance industry study.
- [Las Vegas 4th of July Celebrations and Summer Fire Safety Tips](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-4th-of-july-celebrations-and-summer-fire-safety-tips/) - Well folks if you haven’t noticed… Summer is here. This week here in Vegas our temps have been around 110-115. We have had high heat warnings crossing the television screens and the news is reminding us to take our pets indoors and keep young and elderly hydrated. It happens every summer like clock work, Vegas just HEATS up...
- [Claims Subrogation Process](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/claims-subrogation-process/) - What is the subrogation process in a claim? Many times, to the benefit of the insured, the subrogation progress is initiated by the insurance carrier after closure of the initial claim. When subrogation occurs, the claims process has not yet ended.
- [Hands-on: New hotel chief removes ‘L’ from LVH marquee](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hands-on-new-hotel-chief-removes-l-from-lvh-marquee/) - By: Richard Velotta (LVRJ) July 2014 David Siegel took the first step toward rebranding his newest Westgate resort Tuesday with a high-altitude assist to change the most visible sign on the property. He got the L out of the LVH marquee. Before a gathering of employees, family members and TV cameras, Siegel climbed into the
- [Supreme Court Rejects Contraceptives Mandate for Some Corporations](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/supreme-court-rejects-contraceptives-mandate-for-some-corporations/) - WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that requiring family-owned corporations to pay for insurance coverage for contraception under the Affordable Care Act violated a federal law protecting religious freedom.
- [Supreme Court Rules Obama's 2012 NLRB Recess Appointments Invalid](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/supreme-court-rules-obamas-2012-nlrb-recess-appointments-invalid/) - By: Judy Greenwald (Business Insurance) June 2014 The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday held that three appointments to the National Labor Relations Board made by President Barack Obama in January 2012 while Congress was between pro forma sessions are invalid, rendering moot about 600 rulings subsequently issued by the board since then. However, the unanimous
- [Fewer Accidents Occur at Companies That Understand Safety Vs. Compliance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/fewer-accidents-occur-at-companies-that-understand-safety-vs-compliance/) - Companies that acknowledge the difference between safety and compliance are less likely to see workplace accidents caused by complacent employees, according to an official with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- [Affordable Care Art, Medicaid Expansion Won't Allay Demand For Free Clinic](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/affordable-care-art-medicaid-expansion-wont-allay-demand-for-free-clinic/) - The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion in Nevada won’t dent demand for a free clinic serving the region’s poor, a nonprofit group’s leader said.
- [At Acute Care Hospitals, Recovery Is Rare, but Comfort Is Not](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/at-acute-care-hospitals-recovery-is-rare-but-comfort-is-not/) - By: Gina Kolata (New York Times) June 2014 NEW BRITAIN, CONN. — Propped up in a hospital bed, a 75-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, must make an agonizing decision. Should he keep struggling until the illness inevitably kills him, dependent on a ventilator, unable to walk or eat or move?
- [Defective Airbags Prompt Recalls for Honda, Mazda, Nissan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/defective-airbags-prompt-recalls-for-honda-mazda-nissan/) - Honda, Mazda and Nissan are recalling millions of vehicles globally for defective airbags manufactured by supplier Takata Corp. that could possibly explode.
- [2 Ways Employers Can Contribute to Employees' Personal Health Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/2-ways-employers-can-contribute-to-employees-personal-health-plans/) - Employers and agents often ask, "How can employers contribute to employees' personal health insurance plans?" There are two main ways to provide an employer-funded contribution to employees' personal health insurance plans.
- [Who Pays For Security Breaches?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/who-pays-for-security-breaches/) - With data breaches on the rise and seemingly no end to the damage that a breach can have on an organization, the issue of who pays is heating up.
- [House Panel Unveils TRIA Extension Bill](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-panel-unveils-tria-extension-bill/) - Property/casualty insurers are welcoming the unveiling of a House terrorism insurance bill as a sign of progress even though there are provisions in it they oppose.
- [Homeowners Should Always Hire Licensed Contractors to Avoid Homeowners Insurance Claims and Major Headaches](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/homeowners-should-always-hire-liscensed-contractors-to-avoid-homeowners-insurance-claims-and-major-headaches/) - With spring in the air many homeowners are thinking about projects that they would like done around the home. Some are creating extravagant “honey do lists” while other are thinking about hiring companies to complete more labor intensive projects.
- [The Insurance Implications of Google’s Self-Driving Car](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-insurance-implications-of-googles-self-driving-car/) - Google has announced a truly self-driving car that lacks a steering wheel, brakes or anything else that allows a driver to control its movements.
- [The State Exchanges are Here Now What?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-state-exchanges-are-here-now-what/) - Here in Nevada we had a rough start with the state exchange. The company Xerox that was hired and since been fired to create the software for Nevada’s exchange failed miserably.
- [3 Alternative Tech Startup Cities With Less Traffic, More Housing (Infographic)](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/3-alternative-tech-startup-cities-with-less-traffic-more-housing-infographic/) - Silicon Valley’s powerful entrepreneurial economy has resulted in some major downsides: gridlocked traffic, high housing prices and a growing and aggressive tech backlash. Today, three cities previously known more as vacation destinations are now legitimate alternatives to Silicon Valley life at a much more affordable price. For the adventurous startup or mature tech company, there's life beyond red taillights,
- [ Stakes for P/C Insurers ‘High’ If Congress Shifts TRIA Burden: Moody’s](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/stakes-for-pc-insurers-high-if-congress-shifts-tria-burden-moodys/) - If Congress acts to extend the federal government backstop for terrorism insurance, the new version will likely impose higher deductibles and risk retentions on U.S. property/casualty insurers, says Moody’s Investors Service in a new report.
- [On the Road: Are America’s Guardrails Dangerous?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/on-the-road-are-americas-guardrails-dangerous/) - Before dawn on Feb. 23, Darius Williams ran his Nissan Sentra off a North Carolina interstate at 80 miles per hour. A length of guardrail pierced his door, according to the police report, driving the 24-year-old’s body into the opposite back seat.
- [10 Things to Know About Employee Practices Liability Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/10-things-to-know-about-employee-practices-liability-insurance/) - According to a study of employment practices litigation data released by Hiscox in April 2014, the average U.S.-based business with at least 10 employees has a 12.5 percent chance of having an employment liability charge filed against them.
- [Private Health Care Exchanges Enroll More Than Predicted](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/private-health-care-exchanges-enroll-more-than-predicted/) - Employers are moving more quickly than forecasted to offer health insurance to their workers through private exchanges, according to new data from Accenture, a consulting firm.
- [Health Insurers Push For Change to Obamacare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-insurers-push-for-change-to-obamacare/) - Health insurance companies are urging lawmakers to widen the availability of cheap, bare-bones coverage under ObamaCare that they say could entice more consumers to enter the marketplaces.
- [Insurance Claims Process and What to Expect](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/insurance-claims-process-and-what-to-expect/) - Many years ago an insurance claims adjuster would get into a company vehicle with their Polaroid camera, calculator, note pad and perhaps Dictaphone in hand. They would visit the scene of the claim and survey it.
- [New Master-Plan Community Underway in Northwest](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-master-plan-community-underway-in-northwest/) - In another recovery milestone, a new master plan is set to get underway in northwest Las Vegas.
- [Nevada Parks Look at Visitor Centers, Passport System for Funding](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-parks-look-at-visitor-centers-passport-system-for-funding/) - The Great Recession wasn’t kind to state parks in Nevada. Since 2009, the parks budget has been cut by 60 percent, leaving administrator Eric Johnson little choice but to chop personnel and maintenance resources.
- [ Hospital Charges Surge for Common Ailments, Data Shows](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hospital-charges-surge-for-common-ailments-data-shows/) - Charges for some of the most common inpatient procedures surged at hospitals across the country in 2012 from a year earlier, some at more than four times the national rate of inflation, according to data released by Medicare officials on Monday.
- [Las Vegas Continues Record Pace for Tourism](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-continues-record-pace-for-tourism/) - Las Vegas continued its record pace for visitor volume in April as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Wednesday reported 3.5 million came to Southern Nevada, a 3.5 percent increase over April 2013.
- [Cal/OSHA Launches Crackdown on Falls in Construction](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/calosha-launches-crackdown-on-falls-in-construction/) - Construction employers should expect aggressive enforcement from the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) in the coming weeks, according to a May 27, 2014, agency announcement.
- [MasterCard Offers Zero Liability on ATM Transactions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mastercard-offers-zero-liability-on-atm-transactions/) - MasterCard Inc., the world’s second largest debit and credit card company, said it is extending its zero liability policy in the United States to include all PIN-based and ATM transactions.
- [Navigating Medicare Policy on Physical Therapy and Other Services](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/navigating-medicare-policy-on-physical-therapy-and-other-services/) - By: Ann Carrns (New York Times) May 2014 For years, some people on Medicare had difficulty getting insurance coverage approved for physical therapy, occupational therapy and other treatments. The prevailing approach was that if the therapy was not helping to improve a patient’s condition, then it was not eligible for coverage. “They’d get denied because
- [What is Content Liability and How Does it Apply to Cyber Liability](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/what-is-content-liability-and-how-does-it-apply-to-cyber-liability/) - Cyber Liability is becoming extremely important for all businesses. The way we do business has changed drastically over the past decade.
- [Employers Want Workers to be Accountable for Their Own Health: Survey](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-want-workers-to-be-accountable-for-their-own-health-survey/) - Employers want employees to be responsible for their own healthcare insurance Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the recent survey healthier worker tend to be more productive.
- [Uber Eyeing Vegas, and Cab Companies Not Happy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/uber-eyeing-vegas-and-cab-companies-not-happy/) - Depending on who you ask, Uber is either the greatest transportation innovation of the decade or one of the biggest dangers the riding public has ever encountered.
- [Nevada Will Dump Xerox as Health Insurance Exchange Contractor](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-will-dump-xerox-as-health-insurance-exchange-contractor/) - The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange board voted unanimously Tuesday to end its relationship with Xerox, the vendor contracted in 2012 to build the exchange’s Nevada Health Link website.
- [Final Rule Released on Health Insurance Exchanges](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/final-rule-released-on-health-insurance-exchanges/) - The Final Rule on Health Insurance Exchanges in Las Vegas has been set forth. Some of the key highlights: The final rule requires issuers to use standardized notices when renewing coverage or discontinuing products. The final rule reduces states' ability to regulate navigators. The final rule confirms the parameters for the 2015 premium stabilization programs including the temporary reinsurance program, the temporary risk-corridor program, and the permanent risk-adjustment program. The final rule adds a requirement that a plan's procedures must include an expedited (no more than 24 hours) coverage determination process for exigent circumstances and requires the plan to cover the drug for the duration of the exigency.
- [SBA Launches Accelerator Competition to Award $2.5 Million for Small Business Startups](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/m-news-press-releases-sba-launches-accelerator-competition-to-award-2-5-million-for-small-business-startups-about-sba-what-we-do-sba-team-sba-locations-sba-newsroom/) - The SBA is launching a $2.5 million competition for accelerators and other entrepreneurial ecosystem models to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each.
- [Timeline for 2015 Health Insurance Marketplace Plans and Rates](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/timeline-for-2015-health-insurance-marketplace-plans-and-rates/) - The 2015 Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period is right around the corner, and the industry is already buzzing about plan offerings and rates.
- [‘Degassing’ North Dakota Crude Oil Before Shipping Among Safety Ideas](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/degassing-north-dakota-crude-oil-before-shipping-among-safety-ideas/) - After a spate of fiery derailments, the scramble to make North Dakota’s Bakken crude oil safer when it’s being transported on trains has focused on better tracks, slower speeds, and reinforced railcars that bypass urban areas.
- [Healthcare Coverage Renewing "As Is" Under the Affordable Care Act](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/healthcare-coverage-renewing-as-is-under-the-affordable-care-act/) - Renewing Healthcare coverage as is under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is perhaps a thing of the past. Rise in Cost under new healthcare regulations make it difficult to remain on the same benefits plan. The Affordable Care Act has changed the future of healthcare coverage in Las Vegas and Across the United States.
- [Abby's Purple Bag Project](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/abbys-purple-bag-project/) - Have you heard of Abby’s Purple Bag Project? Well you should look it up if you haven’t.
- [Axing Obamacare's Employer Mandate Would Do Little Harm, Study Says](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/axing-obamacares-employer-mandate-would-do-little-harm-study-says/) - The effects of Axing the Obamacare employee mandate could possbily lessen business opposition to the controversial law. The Affordable Care Act Employer mandate is complex and may reduce the number of business that offer insurance.
- [Staying on Parents’ Plan May Lead to Healthier Paychecks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/staying-on-parents-plan-may-lead-to-healthier-paychecks/) - One of the earliest pieces of the health-care law to go into effect — and one of the easiest to understand — was the one that allowed adults under age 26 to remain on their parents’ insurance plan. It has long been clear that the policy has somewhat increased the insurance rate among young adults.
- [Nevada Leaders Gamble on Drones for Economic Boost](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevada-leaders-gamble-on-drones-for-economic-boost/) - Drones maybe coming to Las Vegas many companies show interest. For insurance coverage of drones contact Capstone Brokerage.
- [The Need for Renter's Insurance In Las Vegas and Across the U.S. Has Risen](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-need-for-renters-insurance-in-las-vegas-and-across-the-u-s-has-risen/) - Renters insurance in Las Vegas and throughout the United States is not required by law. Many people simply don’t see the necessity. However, the need is extremely important especially in the situation of a catastrophe. With the economy in Las Vegas taking such a huge hit over the past several years many individuals were forced to sell their homes and become renters. In the United States there are more renters now then their have been in the last 19 years. American home ownership is at the lowest percentage since 1995, according to the U.S. Census.
- [Employers Must Notify Laid-Off Workers of COBRA, and New Exchange Options](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/employers-must-notify-laid-off-workers-of-cobra-and-new-exchange-options/) - On Friday May 2, the federal administration issued a proposed rule requiring employers to inform laid-off workers of their coverage options under COBRA, as well as the option to buy individual health insurance coverage through their state's Health Insurance Exchange.
- [The Risks of Dining Out and How Insurance Can Help](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-risks-of-dining-out-and-how-insurance-can-help/) - Eating out may be less work, but that doesn’t mean there is less risk, according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which finds that Americans are more than twice as likely to get sick from a foodborne illness or contamination from dining out than they are eating at home.
- [Safety Agency Pressures Graco to Recall More Child Seats](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/safety-agency-pressures-graco-to-recall-more-child-seats/) - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is increasing pressure on Graco Children’s Products to recall about 1.8 million car safety seats the agency deems dangerous, and has ordered a series of tests. The goal, the agency said, is to see how long a malfunctioning buckle would delay freeing an infant during an emergency.
- [Harsh Winter Helps Push Las Vegas Toward Record Tourist Numbers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/harsh-winter-helps-push-las-vegas-toward-record-tourist-numbers/) - Southern Nevadans can thank the polar vortex for contributing to the local tourism economy. In January and February when Las Vegans were pulling out the shorts and flip-flops, parts of the Midwest and East Coast cowered in one of the coldest winters on record.
- [Bonds Not Insurance but Operate More Like a Bank](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/bonds-not-insurance-but-operate-more-like-a-bank/) - By: Bill Kenealy (Business Insurance) April 2014 Why is the fidelity and surety market so different from other parts of the insurance industry? One reason is that commercial bonds are not technically an insurance product, said Kimberlee Wells, Des Moines, Iowa-based director of commercial under-writing for Nationwide Fidelity & Surety. “Bonds are not insurance,” she
- [White House Calls For New Standard to Alert Consumers to Data Breaches](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/white-house-calls-for-new-standard-to-alert-consumers-to-data-breaches/) - The White House on Thursday called on Congress to pass legislation to create a national standard for telling consumers when their data has been hacked, one of six policy recommendations from a 90-day review of data and privacy.
- [ Alliance Battles to Save Fannie and Freddie](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/alliance-battles-to-save-fannie-and-freddie/) - The investor Bruce R. Berkowitz is providing seed money for a new group that is running advertisements in newspapers and on television to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage finance companies that lawmakers are trying to wind down.
- [Health Spending Gains as Obamacare Patients Use the Plans ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-spending-gains-as-obamacare-patients-use-the-plans/) - By: Alex Wayner (Bloomberg) April 30, 2014 Higher consumer spending on health services, increased prescriptions for costly medications and more elective surgeries suggests Americans are using the insurance they gained under Obamacare. Consumer purchases of health services surged 9.9 percent at an annualized rate in the first quarter from the prior three months, the highest
- [Workers Comp Fee Schedules Don't Guarantee Savings: Study](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-comp-fee-schedules-dont-guarantee-savings-study/) - Workers compensation physician fee schedules can help control costs, but a higher maximum reimbursable amount might lead providers to charge more for workers comp services than patients covered by group health plans, according to a report released Tuesday.
- [U.S. Advises Avoiding Internet Explorer Until Bug Fixed](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-advises-avoiding-internet-explorer-until-bug-fixed/) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security advised computer users to consider using alternatives to Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer browser until the company fixes a security flaw that hackers have used to launch attacks.
- [Administration Begins Search for New Contractors to Run Health Care Site](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/administration-begins-search-for-new-contractors-to-run-health-care-site/) - The Obama administration has begun a wide-ranging search for companies to run the online federal health insurance exchange, seeking new talent to prevent a repeat of problems that immobilized the website last fall.
- [Health Savings Account - HSA 2015 Rules & Requirements](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-savings-account-hsa-2015-rules-requirements/) - The IRS recently announced the health savings account (HSA) rules and requirements for 2015. The HSA 2015 contribution limits, minimum required HDHP deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums have been increased from 2014.
- [Clark County School District Moves to Ban E-cigarette Use](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/clark-county-school-district-moves-to-ban-e-cigarette-use/) - While smoking cigarettes or using tobacco products on Clark County School District campuses is prohibited, the use of e-cigarettes is allowed because of a loophole in the district’s smoking policy, which officials began closing Thursday.
- [Forecast Cut on Spending for Health](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/forecast-cut-on-spending-for-health/) - The Congressional Budget Office has reduced by one-third its estimate of how much more states will spend on Medicaid in the coming decade because of the Affordable Care Act. In early February, the budget office estimated that state spending on Medicaid and a related program for children would
- [IRS Bumps Up Health Savings Account Contribution Max for 2015](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/irs-bumps-up-health-savings-account-contribution-max-for-2015/) - The maximum contributions that can be made to health savings accounts will increase $50 for individuals and $100 for families in 2015.
- [Affordable Care Act Could Have ‘Modest’ Effect on Other Insurance Costs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/affordable-care-act-could-have-modest-effect-on-other-insurance-costs/) - The expansion of health insurance accomplished under the Affordable Care Act may alter costs for several major types of liability insurance, although any such changes are likely to be modest, according to a new RAND Corp. report.
- [Healthcare.gov Users Urged to Change Passwords Over Heartbleed Fears](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/healthcare-gov-users-urged-to-change-passwords-over-heartbleed-fears/) - No security breach has been detected but online healthcare enrollees are warned to change their passwords as a precaution against the programming flaw. The government is reportedly carrying out a review into the Heartbleed bug.
- [Data Breach Coverage Within Cyber Liabilty Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/data-breach-coverage-within-cyber-liabilty-insurance/) - The news has been focusing on data breaches at several large companies over the past few months. Companies such as Neiman Marcus and Target recently had their credit card systems hacked into. This allowed access to patrons’ personal information, putting them at risk for things such as bank fraud and identity theft.
- [Affordable Care Act Checklist for Businesses in 2014](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/affordable-care-act-check-list-for-businesses-in-2014/) - It is important for employers who sponsor group health plans to review their compliance with key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2014, many aspects of the new regulations have taken affect.
- [ What’s Next for Cyber Insurance?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/whats-next-for-cyber-insurance/) - There’s a saying in the cybersecurity industry that there are two types of businesses today: Those that have been breached and know it and those that have been breached and just don’t know it.
- [Federal Insurance Office Seeks Comments on Auto Insurance Affordability](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/federal-insurance-office-seeks-comments-on-auto-insurance-affordability/) - The insurance office within the U.S. Treasury is looking into whether minorities and low and moderate income Americans have access to affordable auto insurance.
- [Boston Marathon Attacks Convinced Smaller, Midsized Firms to Buy Terror Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/boston-marathon-attacks-convinced-smaller-midsized-firms-to-buy-terror-insurance/) - For landlord Peter Zagorianakos, terrorism insurance wasn’t a necessity until the bombs went off last April at the Boston Marathon and revealed a frightening pattern.
- [Budget Office Lowers Estimate for the Cost of Expanding Health Coverage](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/budget-office-lowers-estimate-for-the-cost-of-expanding-health-coverage/) - The insurance expansion under the Affordable Care Act will cost $1.383 trillion over the next decade, more than $100 billion less than previous forecasts, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday.
- [In a Minor Car Accident, What You Need to Know](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/in-a-minor-car-accident-what-you-need-to-know/) - The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will no longer be responding to non-injury accidents as of March 3, 2014. Many people now need to know what to do if they are in a minor, non-injury, accident.
- [Auto Recalls On Rise Following Toyota-GM Cases](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/auto-recalls-on-rise-following-toyota-gm-cases/) - After Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Co. — two of the largest carmakers — were criticized for dragging their feet before calling back defective models in recent years, automakers are accelerating safety actions. Recalls recently climbed to records in Japan and China, while in the U.S., the 2014 pace is well ahead of last year’s, when the tally rose to the highest since 2004.
- [Should we have expected this week’s big surprise on employer health insurance?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/should-we-have-expected-this-weeks-big-surprise-on-employer-health-insurance/) - By: Jason Millman (Washington Post) April 2014 There's one Obamacare number that stands out above the rest this week -- 8.2 million. That's how many people have taken up employer-sponsored insurance since September, and most of them were previously uninsured, according to a Rand Corp. survey issued Tuesday. The Rand survey, which naturally comes with
- [Spike In Use of Compounded Medications Leads Workers Comp Cost Increases](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/spike-in-use-of-compounded-medications-leads-workers-comp-cost-increases/) - By: Sheena Harrison (Business Insurance) April 2014 The utilization and cost of compounded medications in workers compensation claims spiked last year, while the costs of antidepressants and non-narcotic painkillers also continued to rise, according to a report released Thursday by pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Inc. The use of compounded medications, which include oral and
- [U.S. Warns Businesses on Major Web Technology Bug ‘Heartbleed’](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-warns-businesses-on-major-web-technology-bug-heartbleed/) - A newly discovered bug in widely used Web encryption technology has made data on many of the world’s major websites vulnerable to theft by hackers in what experts say is one of the most serious security flaws uncovered in recent years.
- [Nightclubs Looking For the Next Big Thing to Keep Record-Setting Crowds Coming](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nightclubs-looking-for-the-next-big-thing-to-keep-record-setting-crowds-coming/) - At least, that’s what nightlife guru Jon Taffer said while getting ready for his annual Nightclub & Bar Show to open in late March. During an interview with the Las Vegas Business Press, Taffer noted that nightlife operator Jesse Waits said that he has come up with the next big idea — he just has to implement it.
- [Sliver of Medicare Doctors Get Big Share of Payouts](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/sliver-of-medicare-doctors-get-big-share-of-payouts/) - A tiny fraction of the 880,000 doctors and other health care providers who take Medicare accounted for nearly a quarter of the roughly $77 billion paid out to them under the federal program, receiving millions of dollars each in some cases in a single year, according to the most detailed data ever released in Medicare’s nearly 50-year history.
- [Same Sex Retirement Benefits Retroactive to June 2013, IRS Rules](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/same-sex-retirement-benefits-retroactive-to-june-2013-irs-rules/) - Employers are not required to retroactively offer qualified retirement benefits to married same-sex couples for plan years predating the U.S. Supreme Court's partial overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
- [GM’s Mid-Sized SUVs Gets Good News in Insurance Safety Test](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/gms-mid-sized-suvs-gets-good-news-in-insurance-safety-test/) - General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain earned the top marks among mid-size sport-utility vehicles in a test designed to simulate one of the deadliest types of front-end collisions.
- [Obama Administration Reverses Proposed Cut to Medicare Plans](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obama-administration-reverses-proposed-cut-to-medicare-plans/) - Medicare has reversed proposed payment cuts to private heath plans in the popular Medicare Advantage program for the second straight year amid strong pushback from health insurers and Capitol Hill.
- [Las Vegas Trims Fee Incentive Program For Taverns, Urban Lounges](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/las-vegas-trims-fee-incentive-program-for-taverns-urban-lounges/) - Taverns and urban lounges that sell liquor have been getting a break on their one-time origination fees as an incentive to bring businesses downtown.
- [With An Eye On 2016, Louisiana's Jindal Offers Healthcare Plan](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/with-an-eye-on-2016-louisianas-jindal-offers-healthcare-plan/) - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who is testing the waters for the 2016 presidential race, on Wednesday unveiled a set of ideas on U.S. healthcare policy that he said could take the place of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.
- [U.S. Regulators Warn Banks About Rise in Cyber Attacks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-regulators-warn-banks-about-rise-in-cyber-attacks/) - A group of top U.S. regulators on Wednesday warned about the threat of rising cyber attacks on banks' websites and their cash machines, urging the industry to put proper measures in place to guard against fraud.
- [Top 5 Riskiest States for Employee Lawsuits: Hiscox](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/top-5-riskiest-states-for-employee-lawsuits-hiscox/) - Four states – California, Illinois, Alabama and Mississippi – along with the District of Columbia, are the top five riskiest places in the country for employee lawsuits.
- [U.S. to Mandate Rearview Cameras on Vehicles by 2018](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/u-s-to-mandate-rearview-cameras-on-vehicles-by-2018/) - The U.S. government said on Monday it will require new cars and light trucks sold in the United States to have rearview cameras by May 2018, a regulation intended to prevent drivers from backing into pedestrians.
- [Health sign-ups surge toward 7M](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-sign-ups-surge-toward-7m/) - WASHINGTON — A surge of interest and last-minute technical glitches marked the final day of enrollment in health insurance through federal and state websites Monday, as a target once thought out of reach -- 7million enrollees -- suddenly seemed possible.
- [Supreme Court Rules FICA Taxes Are Due on Severance Payments](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/supreme-court-rules-fica-taxes-are-due-on-severance-payments/) - The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that taxes are due for Social Security and Medicare on severance packages paid to workers who are laid off involuntarily,
- [Malaysia Jet’s Mystery Disappearance Leaves Liability Riddles](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/malaysia-jets-mystery-disappearance-leaves-liability-riddles/) - As the final hours of Malaysian Air Flight MH370 remain wrapped in mystery, the question of who bears full liability for the jet’s disappearance is also unresolved
- [Technical and Medical Device Convergence Exposes New World of Risks](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/technical-and-medical-device-convergence-exposes-new-world-of-risks/) - By: Graeme Newman (Insurance Journal) March 2014 When the acclaimed television drama series Homeland climaxed with a devious plot by terrorists to kill America’s vice-president by hacking into his electronic pacemaker, critics mocked the ludicrousness of the idea deeming it as simply far-fetched fiction. However, the storyline was thought of as credible by those in
- [Millions of Americans Remain Uninsured Despite Big Health Care Push](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/millions-of-americans-remain-uninsured-despite-big-health-care-push/) - Alan Thacker wants health coverage, but he can’t get help in his home state of Georgia. Mary Moscarello Gutierrez no longer can afford insurance in New Jersey. Justin Thompson of Utah refuses to be forced into the president’s health law.
- [Doing Business Now and Cyber Liability](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/doing-business-now-and-cyber-liability/) - The way we do business in America has changed drastically over the years. Most businesses used to consist of a store front, advertisement in the newspaper or phone book and referrals from a satisfied customer.
- [New Identity Theft Protection Company to Provide Investigative, Recovery Services](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/new-identity-theft-protection-company-to-provide-investigative-recovery-services/) - By: Insurance Journal, March 2014 New company, N.J.-based ID360, has been formed to offer comprehensive investigative and recovery services to identity theft victims. The company is comprised of recovery specialists and a national network of former federal, state and local law enforcement professionals and former prosecutors who have worked in the public and private sectors.
- [Why Purchase Gap Insurance?](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/why-buy-gap-insurance/) - When you go to buy a new car many things may come up; extended warranties, road side assistance, gap insurance… Many Americans just say, “OK” to it all because car salesmen can be pretty persuasive. While extended warranties and road side assistance really are personal preference based on an individual’s needs, gap insurance can be an absolute necessity.
- [Nevadans Blocked By Health Exchange Bugs Get Another 60 Days to Sign Up](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/nevadans-blocked-by-health-exchange-bugs-get-another-60-days-to-sign-up/) - Anyone who attempted to sign up for health insurance with Nevada’s failed insurance exchange will have another 60 days to try to complete the sign-up process, a state board decided Thursday.
- [White House Turns Up Heat, Nabs NBA’s Shane Battier to Sell Injury-Prone Athletes On Obamacare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/white-house-turns-up-heat-nabs-nbas-shane-battier-to-sell-injury-prone-athletes-on-obamacare/) - By: Ben Wolfgang (Washington Post) March 2014 Having already targeted Hispanics, blacks and moms, the White House is using the kickoff of March Madness as a way to argue Obamacare will help cover sports injuries — an effort to reach out to the young, active adults critical to the overall success of the health care
- [Tourism is Lifeblood of Las Vegas Economy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tourism-is-lifeblood-of-las-vegas-economy/) - LAS VEGAS -- Tourism is the lifeblood of Las Vegas and a new report is showing positive signs for the economy. Most notably, the convention business is seeing some major growth.
- [More than 5 million Now Enrolled In Health Exchanges](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/more-than-5-million-now-enrolled-in-health-exchanges/) - WASHINGTON — More than 5 million people have signed up for health insurance through the federal and state exchanges, Department of Health and Human Services officials said Monday.
- [President Obama Will Sign Flood Insurance Relief Bill](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/president-obama-will-sign-flood-insurance-relief-bill/) - By: Andrew Taylor (Insurance Journal) March 2014 President Barack Obama is set to sign into law a bipartisan bill relieving homeowners living in flood-prone neighborhoods from big increases in their insurance bills. The legislation, which cleared Congress on Thursday, reverses much of a 2012 overhaul of the government’s much-criticized flood insurance program after angry homeowners
- [‘Jubilee’ Revived: Last Las Vegas Showgirl Show Readied for Reopening](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/jubilee-revived-last-las-vegas-showgirl-show-readied-for-reopening/) - By Mike Weatherford (Las Vegas Review Journal) March 2014 As Frank Gatson Jr. goes about overhauling “Jubilee,” he knows a lot of people are watching him. Maybe even the ghost of Donn Arden. “I truly believe he’s helping me,” the man now in charge of “Jubilee” says of the man who created it. “Not to
- [Many Could Escape Obamacare Individual Mandate Due to Exemptions](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/many-could-escape-obamacare-individual-mandate-due-to-exemptions/) - Obamacare’s requirement that all Americans carry insurance or face penalties, part of the effort to gain universal coverage, may not be much of a rule at all.
- [The Future of Drones in the Insurance Industry](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/the-future-of-drones-in-the-insurance-industry/) - By: Denise Johnson (Insurance Journal) March 2014 After a catastrophe hits, mobile units filled with adjusters are on site to evaluate property damage. Flash forward five years and an insured may never meet the property adjuster handling his or her claim. Instead, a drone is sent to evaluate damage within hours of it occurring. Claims
- [Health Mandate Won’t Be Delayed, Sebelius Says](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/health-mandate-wont-be-delayed-sebelius-says/) - By: Robert Pear (NY Times) March 2014 WASHINGTON — Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said Wednesday that the Obama administration would not extend the deadline for people to sign up for health insurance or delay the requirement for most Americans to have coverage. And she declined to say whether the administration
- [Study: Margin Tax Hits Consumers With $60 Million in Higher Insurance Rates](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/study-margin-tax-hits-consumers-with-60-million-in-higher-insurance-rates/) - A study by Applied Analysis, a Las Vegas based economic research firm, shows that if the proposed margin tax ballot measure is passed this November, Nevada consumers could face $60 million each year in higher insurance costs for their automobiles, homes, life and health.
- [Concussion Awareness in Sports](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/concussion-awareness-in-sports/) - By: Rizzie Love, Capstone Account Manager As spring approaches and kids are starting up sports again, it is important that parents and coaches are aware of the dangers of concussions in young athletes. Concussions in children do not only happen on the field. Some children fall at the playground, run into other children at school
- [Bars and Restaurants Get Innovative with Guest-Facing Technology ](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/bars-and-restaurants-get-innovative-with-guest-facing-technology/) - Expect to see guest-facing technology offered in more and more bars and restaurants, from tablets to mobile apps that enhance the customer experience. Industry analysts predict guest-facing technology in restaurants will continually become the norm as consumers get more comfortable using it and bar and restaurant owners work to reduce their labor costs and increase efficiency.
- [Increase in Cyber Attacks Costing Millions, Stressing Internet](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/increase-in-cyber-attacks-costing-millions-stressing-internet/) - Crashing websites and overwhelming data centers, a new generation of cyber attacks is costing millions and straining the structure of the Internet.
- [Affordable Care Act's Changing Landscape Challenges State Division of Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/affordable-care-acts-changing-landscape-challenges-state-division-of-insurance/) - The Affordable Care Act is like the weather: If you don’t like it, wait five minutes and it will change.
- [Replacing Hotel CRCs With Mobile Service Centers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/replacing-hotel-crcs-with-mobile-service-centers/) - By: Linchi Kwok (Multibriefs) February 2014 Not long ago, central reservation centers (CRCs) brought in the most sales for the hotel and lodging industry, but people now plan trips online and use online travel agents (OTAs) such as Expedia and Priceline. Many hotels have developed enhanced e-commerce sites and guaranteed travelers they could find the
- [Obamacare Expected to OK Renewal of Extended Plans for 2 Years: Report](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/obamacare-expected-to-ok-renewal-of-extended-plans-for-2-years-report/) - By: Alex Wayne (Insurance Journal) March 2014 Americans who kept their health plans that didn’t comply with Obamacare requirements will be able to renew those policies for two more years, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Obama administration, which has been deliberating the issue since November, is expected to announce today the
- [House Passes Flood Insurance Bill; Key Senators Sign On](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/house-passes-flood-insurance-bill-key-senators-sign-on/) - By: Andrew Simpson (Insurance Journal) March 2014 The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday evening passed legislation to curb some of the premium increases in the nation’s flood insurance program that have been causing “sticker shock” for property owners. H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, sponsored by Reps. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters
- [Cybersecurity Framework Unveiled](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/cybersecurity-framework-unveiled/) - The federal government's recommendations to address cybersecurity risks target critical infrastructure industries such as utilities, but the voluntary standards can help any company potentially mitigate legal liability from data breaches or other cyber threats.
- [Workers Comp Changes Reducing Payments to California Surgery Centers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/workers-comp-changes-reducing-payments-to-california-surgery-centers/) - Recent workers compensation reforms in California have reduced fees paid to ambulatory surgery centers by more than one-quarter, according to a study released this week by the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California and the California Workers' Compensation Institute.

## Pages

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- [Recreational Vehicle Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/recreational-vehicle-insurance/) - Need Recreational Vehicle Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage can save you money on Recreational Vehicle Insurance. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
- [Motorcycle ATV and Boat Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/motorcycle-atv-and-boat-insurance/) - Need Motorcycle, Boat or ATV insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage can save you money on Motorcycle, Boat or ATV insurance. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
- [Personal Life Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/personal-life-insurance/) - Personal Life Insurance Preparing for your family's welfare in the event that you are no longer able to provide for them is a task that should not be put off. Regardless of your current station in life, there are always others who depend upon you. If you are the parent of young children, the responsibility
- [Auto Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/auto-insurance/) - Need Automobile Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage offers Auto Insurance at affordable rates! Call Capstone Brokerage of Las Vegas today!
- [Homeowners and Renters Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/homeowners-renters-insurance/) - Need Homeowner's or Renter's Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage cans save you money on Homeowner's Insurance. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
- [Individual Disability Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/individual-disability-insurance/) - Need Personal Disability Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage can save you money on Personal Disability Insurance. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
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- [Medical Malpractice Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/medical-malpractice-insurance/) - Need Medical Malpractice Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage can save you money on Medical Malpractice Insurance. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
- [Group Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/group-health-insurance/) - Need Group Health Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage offers Group Health Insurance and Employee Benefit Plans. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
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- [Directors Officers Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/directors-officers-insurance/) - Need Directors and Officers Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage are experts in Directors & Officers and Employment Practice Liability Insurance.
- [Commercial Property Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/commercial-property-insurance/) - Need Commercial Property Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage are Risk Management Experts in Commercial Property. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
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- [Transportation Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/transportation-insurance/) - Need Towing & Recovery Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage provide a comprehensive array of Towing & Recovery Insurance. Call Capstone Brokerage today!
- [Technology Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/technology-insurance/) - Technology Insurance Keeping up with the fast-paced changes and advancements in the Technology Industry requires a tech-savvy Risk Management partner like Capstone. Our Technology Experts work with you to ensure that your Risk Management Strategies are forward focused, so that each new area of exposure is addressed promptly and adequately. Risk Management for the Technology
- [Security Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/security-insurance/) - Need Security Guard Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage provides a comprehensive and flexible Security Guard Insurance program. Call Capstone Brokerage!
- [Retail and Wholesale Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/retail-and-wholesale-insurance/) - Retail and Wholesale Insurance Capstone Retail clients cover a wide spectrum; from small, locally owned Boutiques to Franchised Retail Stores to Online Retailers. Our Wholesale client base is just as broad; from paper products to flooring products to electronics. Each unique product and product delivery method requires its own specialized Risk Management assessment and Loss
- [Professional Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/professional-insurance/) - Professional Insurance As a professional, your clients rely on you to provide them with trustworthy guidance in your area of expertise. You should expect that same professional guidance from your Risk Management provider, and with Capstone, that is exactly what you will receive. Our Risk Management Advisors are well-trained in identifying areas of exposure related
- [Mining and Energy Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/mining-and-energy-insurance/) - Mining and Energy Insurance Capstone is a leader in Safety Program Development and Risk Management. Capstone plays a proactive role in identifying and mitigating risk factors through industry specific training and analysis for our clients in the Mining and Energy Industries. In the event of a loss, our individual claim representatives work closely with our
- [Manufacturing Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/manufacturing-insurance/) - Manufacturing Insurance Capstone has the experience and high service rating that our clients in the Manufacturing Industry expect. Our Industry Specialists will tailor your Risk Management Solutions to fit your specific area of manufacturing. Assessment of risk areas such as product recall, extended warranty and trade show coverage are just some of specialty areas which
- [Hospitality Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/hospitality-insurance/) - Need a Hotel Casino insurance program in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage provides risk management and insurance programs to many major Hotel Casinos in Las Vegas.
- [Entertainment Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/entertainment-insurance/) - Need insurance for your Night Club, Bar or Tavern in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage is the leading Insurance Broker in the Night Club, Bar and Tavern Industry.
- [Builders Risk Construction Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/builders-risk-construction-insurance/) - Need Builders Risk Insurance in Las Vegas? Capstone Brokerage are experts in Builders Risk and Course of Construction. Call Capstone Brokerage of Las Vegas now!
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## FAQs

- [Rene Griffith | Pieros Itialian Cuisine | Comptroller](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/rene-griffith-pieros-itialian-cuisine-comptroller/) - We have been extremely pleased with the service provided to us by the Capstone firm, and have been very satisfied with their ability to continue to provide us with coverage that is unique to our business. Read full testimonial here
- [Greg Matiya | Desert Diecutting](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/greg-matiya-desert-diecutting/) - I have had the opportunity to work with Rocco on several product lines and on each occasion have been impressed with his interest in providing the product that best fits our needs while being very conscience of cost. His attitude and personally suit him well for dealing with people and providing the service that we
- [Cinderela Ivory Co | Quality Home Care](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/cinderela-ivory-co-quality-home-care/) - Capstone is a very reliable and professional entity. Their staff is very friendly, helpful and informative. They will walk you through the process and provide guidance when needed. Highly recommended.
- [Cliff Jackson | Eagle Promotions | Controller](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/cliff-jackson-eagle-promotions-controller/) - We have worked with Rocco Abate and Capstone Brokers for several years and have found them to be very professional. It is a pleasure to work with this team. They are very helpful and responsive to any and all questions and policy issues.
- [Daniel Valvo | V & V Industries, Inc | President](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/daniel-valvo-v-v-industries-inc-president/) - V & V Industries, Inc. has been a customer of Capstone Brokerage for approximately two years. The first year they were able to save our company about 30% from our previous provider and this year another 25%. In these hard economic times, those savings can mean life or death for a smaller company like ours.
- [JoAnn Ficca | Ficca Construction, LLC](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/joann-ficca-ficca-construction-llc/) - Kathleen does a lot more than just tell us what is needed, she explains how things work and provides perspective that would be difficult to find elsewhere. Additionally, her advice and counsel often spills beyond the world of bonds to many other areas of insurance we encounter when running our construction company. Read Full Testimonial
- [Rose Kincaid | VP Business Op's | Six Star Cleaning](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/rose-kincaid-vp-business-ops-six-star-cleaning/) - Hmmm, how can I describe the BEST insurance agency in Las Vegas? I will start off with the fact that Capstone is truly a blessing for our company. Keith is the most efficient and coolest broker ever…always available for his clients around the clock! Angie rocks in every way that counts when it comes to
- [Amy Matthews | Big Traffic Mobile Billboards](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/amy-matthews-big-traffic-mobile-billboards/) - Capstone provides our company with fast and efficient service, with claims service that is second to none. Our agent is always available, and the service team is sharp and personable!
- [Barry Schreiber | Westland Group](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/barry-schreiber-westland-group/) - We have insured two apartment complexes, one shopping center and a retail store through Capstone Brokerage. Your customer service has been the best of any insurance company with whom we have done business. The customer service staff at Capstone has always been available to us. We appreciate the fine service. There is nothing worse than
- [Monique McLemore | Personal Home & Auto](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/monique-mclemore-personal-home-auto/) - Having held insurance with multiple agencies in the past, we decided to transfer all of our accounts over to Capstone. Capstone has not only saved us money, but they have been the best agency to answer all questions, small and big. Not only is their customer service the best around, but they are quick and
- [Alan Strauss | President | Stewart & Strauss, LLC](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/alan-strauss-president-stewart-strauss-llc/) - Capstone. Capstone. Capstone. Need I say more? Being in business since 1977 we have had several insurance companies over the years but none as professionalism as Capstone. We deal with several agents at Capstone for our diversified portfolio and find all their staff to be top notch. A special Thanks to the Personal Insurance team,
- [Paul Weiss | Weiss & Weiss](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/paul-weiss-weiss-weiss/) - Capstone meets all of our firm's insurance needs and provides great service.
- [Linda Young | Director of Insurance | Wynn/Encore](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faqs/linda-young-director-of-insurance-wynnencore/) - I truly enjoy working with Capstone. Their people are thoughtful and truly professional. I am very impressed by the knowledge of the staff. In dealing with my service team, I feel like I am their only client.

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Workers Compensation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/workers-compensation/)
- [Health Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/health-insurance/)
- [Company News](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/company-news/)
- [Business Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/business-insurance/)
- [Employee Benefits](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/employee-benefits/)
- [Personal Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/personal-insurance/)
- [Safety Topics](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/safety-topics/)
- [Benefits Resources](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/benefits-resources/)
- [Risk Management Resources](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/risk-management-resources/)
- [Construction](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/construction/)
- [Entertainment](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/entertainment/)
- [Healthcare](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/healthcare/)
- [Hospitality](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/hospitality/)
- [Manufacturing](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/manufacturing/)
- [Mining & Energy](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/mining-and-energy/)
- [Professional](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/professional/)
- [Retail & Wholesale](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/retail-and-wholesale/)
- [Security](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/security/)
- [Technology](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/technology/)
- [Transportation](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/transportation/)
- [BOP](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/bop/)
- [Commercial Auto](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/commercial-auto/)
- [Personal Auto](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/personal-auto/)
- [Commercial Property](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/commercial-property/)
- [Directors & Officers](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/directors-and-officers/)
- [Employment Practice Liability Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/employment-practice-liability-insurance/)
- [General Liability](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/general-liability/)
- [Medical Malpractice](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/medical-malpractice/)
- [Bonding](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/bonding/)
- [Nightclubs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/nightclubs/)
- [Restaurants](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/restaurants/)
- [SBA Bonds](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/sba-bonds/)
- [Homeowners Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/homeowners-insurance/)
- [Healthcare Reform](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/healthcare-reform/)
- [Cyber Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/cyber-insurance/)
- [Crime Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/crime-insurance/)
- [Tourism](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/tourism/)
- [Seminars](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/category/seminars/)

## Tags

- [Las Vegas Tourism insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tag/las-vegas-tourism-insurance/)
- [Homeowners Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tag/homeowners-insurance/)
- [Driving Safety](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tag/driving-safety/)
- [company news](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tag/company-news/)
- [news article](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/tag/news-article/)

## Feature Sets

- [default-features](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/feature-sets/default-features/)
- [Builders Risk Construction Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/feature-sets/builders-risk-construction-insurance/)
- [Casino and Hospitality Insurance Programs](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/feature-sets/casino-and-hospitality-insurance-programs/)
- [Night Club Bar Tavern Insurance](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/feature-sets/night-club-bar-tavern-insurance/)
- [Owner Controlled Insurance Program](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/feature-sets/owner-controlled-insurance-program/)

## Box Sets

- [default-boxes](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/box-sets/default-boxes/)

## FAQ Categories

- [testimonials](https://www.capstonebrokerage.com/faq-category/testimonials-2/)