Thursday, March 24, 2011
New York State Announcement
ALBANY - The New York State Senate today passed a bill that would prevent insurance fraud by making it a felony to intentionally cause a vehicle collision. The legislation, sponsored by Senator James L. Seward (R-C-I, Oneonta), targets criminals who capitalize on vulnerable motorists in attempts to profit from insurance claims.
“Criminals who stage car accidents recklessly put lives at risk for their own financial gain while at the same time forcing all New Yorkers to spend more on auto insurance,” Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Seward said. “Innocent people should not be made unwitting pawns in a criminal enterprise. This legislation provides a bona fide deterrent to those who commit no-fault fraud, and will improve highway safety and reduce insurance costs for all.”
“Criminals trying to rip off the system by staging auto accidents are also putting innocent lives in jeopardy,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said. “This bill would crack down on the practice by creating tough new criminal penalties for staging car accidents, and it would have the added benefits of reducing fraud, lowering insurance costs and making our streets safer.”
Senator Seward’s bill was prompted by the 2003 death of Alice Ross, a 71-year-old grandmother who was killed as a result of a staged auto accident. Many others have also fallen victim to similar insurance fraud schemes, with women and elderly drivers most often targeted for these accidents because they are less likely to be confrontational after an accident, thereby making it easier for criminals to engage in this activity. In addition to the potential risk of injury or death, there are significant economic impacts to the state, with estimates that no-fault insurance fraud costs insurance companies and their policyholders $1 billion per year.
This bill would establish tough penalties by creating a new crime of staging a motor vehicle accident. A person could be convicted of a class B, C, or D felony depending on prior criminal history, specifics of the staged incident, or if injury or death occurred. The bill would take effect on the first November after enactment.
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
“Criminals who stage car accidents recklessly put lives at risk for their own financial gain while at the same time forcing all New Yorkers to spend more on auto insurance,” Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Seward said. “Innocent people should not be made unwitting pawns in a criminal enterprise. This legislation provides a bona fide deterrent to those who commit no-fault fraud, and will improve highway safety and reduce insurance costs for all.”
“Criminals trying to rip off the system by staging auto accidents are also putting innocent lives in jeopardy,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said. “This bill would crack down on the practice by creating tough new criminal penalties for staging car accidents, and it would have the added benefits of reducing fraud, lowering insurance costs and making our streets safer.”
Senator Seward’s bill was prompted by the 2003 death of Alice Ross, a 71-year-old grandmother who was killed as a result of a staged auto accident. Many others have also fallen victim to similar insurance fraud schemes, with women and elderly drivers most often targeted for these accidents because they are less likely to be confrontational after an accident, thereby making it easier for criminals to engage in this activity. In addition to the potential risk of injury or death, there are significant economic impacts to the state, with estimates that no-fault insurance fraud costs insurance companies and their policyholders $1 billion per year.
This bill would establish tough penalties by creating a new crime of staging a motor vehicle accident. A person could be convicted of a class B, C, or D felony depending on prior criminal history, specifics of the staged incident, or if injury or death occurred. The bill would take effect on the first November after enactment.
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Updated Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/HarryBowersAgency is the Facebook link to my insurance agency page
Allstate Benefits
Allstate Benefits Extends Coverage of Dependent Children to Age 26
As an added benefit for our policy/certificate holders, Allstate Benefits is voluntarily expanding coverage for children to age 26 regardless of student or marital status. We are initiating this change to correspond with medical plan mandates even though our products are not among those required to comply.
Although we are working on the administrative changes necessary to make this elected change with a tentative completion date of mid-July, and all state filings are being submitted; this change is effective immediately. Once the administrative changes are complete and state approvals are given, an addendum to the policy/certificate will be sent to current insureds. Policy and certificate holders with our currently marketed products will receive a letter outlining the enhancement in coverage, and their options moving forward. This change does not waive any other policy provisions, and benefits are subject to all limitations and exclusions, pre-existing conditions and other provisions of the policy.
Harry
As an added benefit for our policy/certificate holders, Allstate Benefits is voluntarily expanding coverage for children to age 26 regardless of student or marital status. We are initiating this change to correspond with medical plan mandates even though our products are not among those required to comply.
Although we are working on the administrative changes necessary to make this elected change with a tentative completion date of mid-July, and all state filings are being submitted; this change is effective immediately. Once the administrative changes are complete and state approvals are given, an addendum to the policy/certificate will be sent to current insureds. Policy and certificate holders with our currently marketed products will receive a letter outlining the enhancement in coverage, and their options moving forward. This change does not waive any other policy provisions, and benefits are subject to all limitations and exclusions, pre-existing conditions and other provisions of the policy.
Harry
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