Latest Small Business Headlines

All the headlines from our Small Business Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Small Business Enhancements

Dec 6 2004 // Nuts & Bolts: The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. is now offering a package of eight key coverages tailored to the needs of small businesses with enhancements to Chubb’s “ForeFront Portfolio.” The...

States Loathe to Lose Say Over Insurance Plans

Nov 8 2004 // Strong objections are being voiced in the states to part of President Bush’s prescription to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses. The principal worry is that states will lose the ability to...

B&W to Discontinue Small Business WC Product

Oct 26 2004 // Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. announced that its Indiana-based Sagamore Insurance Company subsidiary will no longer market and underwrite workers’ compensation coverage for small businesses. “This product line,...

Small Businesses Struggle to Stay Afloat in Hawaii’s Tumultuous Workers’ Comp Market

Oct 25 2004 // The issues surrounding Hawaii’s workers’ compensation system have been a topic of debate for agents, brokers, politicians and small businesses over the past several months as reform attempts to fix the troubled...

Illion to Lead CNA Small Business Unit

Oct 21 2004 // Chicago-based CNA Financial Corp. announced that Larry Illion has joined CNA insurance companies as senior vice president of CNA Small Business, a $650-million business operation. Prior to joining CNA, Illion worked for...

Myron Steves Adds Zurich NA Small Business

Oct 13 2004 // Houston-based Myron F. Steves & Company announced an expansion of its Commercial Standard Lines department. Zurich North America Small Business has been added as a part of the group of companies currently...

Disaster Recovery Planning Heads Report Partnership to Help Businesses Prevent Loss

Oct 12 2004 // The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the Global Partnership for Preparedness (GPP) have announced a partnership to pilot test a new disaster planning toolkit at the launch of the Global Partnership for...

Feeling the Crunch

Oct 11 2004 // Hawaii’s workers’ compensation system has been a hot topic in recent months – although the system has been on the industry’s radar for some time now. A recent study by the Oregon Department of...

N.H. GOVERNOR DEFENDS HEALTH LAW:

Sep 20 2004 // Gov. Craig Benson is defending legislation that allows health insurers in New Hampshire to set rates based on such risk factors as age and health as too new a law to be judged properly. Benson said the law has been working...

SBA Economic Injury Loans Help W. Va. Businesses Following Storms

Sep 14 2004 // The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that low-interest loans to replenish working capital are available to West Virginia small businesses impacted by the July storms and subsequent federal disaster...

Grow Small Commercial Accounts with a “Producer-Free Zone”

Sep 6 2004 // There are myriad reasons and methods for restructuring your agency. In my June 7, 2004, column I suggested completely eliminating your personal and commercial lines departments and replacing them with combined direct...

Fla. Notes ‘Bridge Loans’ Available Following Charley

Aug 25 2004 // Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has announced the activation of Florida’s Small Business Emergency ‘Bridge Loan’ Program to provide emergency, short-term loans to businesses located in counties most severely...

In N.H. Governor’s Race, Four Candidates Differ On State’s Handling of Insurance Issues

Aug 2 2004 // Was it a good idea to let New Hampshire’s health insurers use workers’ health history in setting rates for the state’s smallest businesses?Republicans Craig Benson and Charles Tarbell say the jury is...

AIG Small Business Launches WorldRisk TravelPak

Jul 26 2004 // AIG Small Business, a unit of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries of American International Group Inc. (AIG), introduced WorldRisk TravelPak(SM), a comprehensive package of international coverages designed for...

WEST VIRGINIA GOV. SAYS ENOUGH DOCTORS EXIST FOR NETWORK:

Jul 19 2004 // Gov. Bob Wise announced recently another step toward bringing health care to all West Virginians – making insurance available to uninsured small businesses. As part of the Governor’s Health Insurance Plan for...

Sacramento Broker Sentenced for Selling Small Business Phony Insurance

Jul 13 2004 // Suzanne Rita Beall was sentenced on July 12 to three years in state prison for grand theft, possession of forged documents with intent to defraud and embezzlement from an elder, at the Yolo County Superior Court in...

The Hartford Names Drago to Head P/C Field Operations

Jun 25 2004 // The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.announced that Dana A. Drago has been appointed executive vice president of field, sales and service for its property-casualty operations, effective July 15. Drago joins The...

W. Va. Gov. Says Enough Doctors Exist for Network

Jun 24 2004 // Gov. Bob Wise announced this week another step toward bringing health care to all West Virginians – making insurance available to uninsured small businesses.As part of the Governor’s Health Insurance Plan for...

Big Problems for Small Business

Jun 7 2004 // Health insurance, liability insurance and workers’ compensation are the top three problems facing America’s small business owners, at least that’s what a study from the National Federation of Independent...

Some 1,800 Kansas Small Businesses Surveyed About Health Insurance

Jun 3 2004 // About 1,800 small business employers across Kansas recently received a survey in the mail that could help policymakers find ways to make health insurance more accessible and affordable, according to a statement released by...