Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.insur From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: insur Thu, Mar 26 1992 Date: Thu, 26 Mar 92 05:44:31 EST Message-ID: 03-26 0000 DECISIONLINE: Insurance USA TODAY Update March 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PRUDENTIAL IMPROVES: Prudential Insurance, the USA's largest life insurer, reported a big improvement in last year's results. Prudential's surplus and reserves, a key measure of its financial health, grew 21% or $1.7 billion to $9.7 billion, the largest jump in its history. Prudential is owned by policyholders, not shareholders, so it isn't required to calculate its results to show profits or losses. FARM LEADERS DEBATE HEALTH CARE: Without a farm bill to occupy them, Michigan Farm Bureau leaders focused instead Wednesday on wetlands and health insurance legislation. The 110 farmers from 46 of Michigan's 83 counties said at their 32nd annual lobbying blitz in Washington, D.C. that they feel a congressional redistricting plan approved by a panel of federal judges last Monday will bolster agriculture's hand. HEALTH FACILITIES MAY NOT STAY: The Michigan group joined an American Farm Bureau lobbying push to provide full tax deductions for health insurance costs, now at 25% for farmers. Farm bureau vice president Wayne Wood of Marlette, Mich., said while his area has adequate health care facilities, he is concerned whether they'll remain for the future. He said "100% (health insurance tax) deductibility is the way to go." MEDICAL PRICES INCREASE: The medical care component of the consumer price index increased 0.8% in February, for a 12-month rate of 7.9%, according to the Labor Department. The overall CPI rose a modest 0.3% in February, for a 12-month rate of 2.8%. The index for medical care commodities - prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and medical supplies - jumped 1% in February, compared with a 0.8% increase in January. NAIB FORMS TASK FORCE: The National Association of Insurance Brokers has formed a Task Force to study workers' compensation issues such as 24-hour coverage, cost containment, and state regulation of the system. Preliminary discussion by the group has produced agreement on the need to preserve and enhance a private market system for coverage. LIABILITY FOR STORAGE TANKS: The 2nd edition of Liability for Storage Tanks, a resource for dealing with the complex problems associated with leaking tanks, is now available for $105 a copy from the Practicing Law Institute. Call 212-756-5700 or write the Sales Department, PLI, Dept. CNA9, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019. ASTHMA COSTS ADD UP: Asthma care cost the nation $6 billion in 1990, says a report in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. Included: $1.6 billion for hospital care, $1 billion for medication, and $1 billion in lost wages for parents who stayed home with sick children. Doctors say costs could be reduced if more of the 15 million asthma sufferers in the U.S. got treatments to prevent serious symptoms. DRUG COMPANY PHONES PATIENTS: Drug company G.D. Searle & Co. will phone thousands of patients beginning in April to remind them to take their medicine - Calan SR, a widely prescribed blood-pressure drug. Patients in the four-week program will be called daily the first week, then less often; they'll also be reminded when refills are due. The program is the latest in a growing effort to address noncompliance. NUCORP TO PURCHASE INSURER: Nucorp Inc., a parent company of United Capitol Insurance Co., Wednesday said it plans to acquire Surewest Financial Corp. Surewest Financial is the holding company for specialty insurer Western Surety Co., an insurance underwriter of small fidelity and non-contract surety bonds. GARAMENDI TO RELEASE SURVEY: California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi will release the results of a survey of Oakland:Berkeley fire victims and their insurance companies April 1 in Oakland. The survey will reveal how much the average homeowner lost in the fire, the degree to which victims were adequately insured, and the number of complaints filed by victims against their insurance companies. HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE PLANNED: Leading health care providers will discuss the role of primary care in coordinating affordable and accessible health care at a conference sponsored by several federal agencies such as the Health Care Financing Administration and Centers for Disease Control. The National Primary Care Conference will be held in Washington at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H St., N.W., on March 29-31. Insurance Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM