May 2008

Stripping the job of an insurance company to its basic components reveals a gritty truth: insurance companies make money by collecting more than they pay out.  A successful operation depends on exercising good judgment on what risks to insure (or charging high enough premiums).  Unfortunately, an insurer can also vigorously oppose attempts to obtain coverage

     Unlike California, Hawai`i law does not statutorily impose strict disclosure requirements when an insurance enrollment application mandates that disputes be resolved solely by arbitration.  California courts, on the other hand, narrowly construe an insurer’s attempt to limit disputes to arbitration, as evidenced by the recent decision in Rodriguez v. Blue Cross of California

      In a prior post, we noted that much of Honolulu has yet to be mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for flood insurance purposes.  This leaves neighborhoods unrated for flood insurance, resulting in high premiums even for areas not prone to floods. 

     An informative story appearing over the weekend in