April 2011 extras
Increased risk management for guaranteed withdrawal benefit products
Ottawa has prescribed more rigorous rules for segregated fund reserves. Funds with guaranteed withdrawal benefits have responded by putting an emphasis on risk management. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) sounded the alarm after the commercial paper and high risk mortgage debacles of 2007, and the liquidity […]
American healthcare system propels premiums
Everyone agrees that the U.S. health system induces acute financial malaise among insurers. “Health care costs in the US are higher for foreigners than for nationals,” says Pierre Saint-Onge of Tour+Med. Patrick Lavoie of Securiglobe adds that: “hospitals are shunting costs to international patients, in the wake of President Obama’s […]
Snowbirds still active
In travel insurance, the “snowbird” market is nothing to sneeze at. The winter migration is thriving, and older travellers are more active than ever. “We’re seeing real dynamism among retirees. They are increasingly curious,” says Pierre Saint-Onge, of Tour+Med. “They’ll go anywhere from Boston to Paris.” Robin Ingle, of Ingle […]
