Captives

Captives are starting to feel the squeeze of market conditions, low-investment yields, and issues in the global-financial markets, according to A.M. Best, which reports that a composite of 209 captives it follows reported a decline in net income for 2011.

Medical Malpractice insurers are struggling against a dwindling client base, a soft market, burgeoning jury awards and new federal health-care regulations as they try to retain current business and attract new clients.

As the workers compensation line continues to experience poor underwriting results and strong momentum toward rate increases, more companies are turning toward forming captives to combat rising costs, a Marsh executive says.

The medical-liability insurance industry has recently seen positive results and is working to minimize the peaks and valleys that it has historically seen, according to Brian K. Atchinson, the new president and chief executive officer of the Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA).

The medical-liability insurance industry has recently seen positive results and is working to minimize the peaks and valleys that it has historically seen, according to Brian K. Atchinson, the new president and chief executive officer of the Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA).

Grounding no longer sounds so bad: Driven by financial incentives, new captives are choosing to stay closer to home.

Despite their recent growth among midsize companies, these small-size risk vehicles arent for everyoneand may attract unwanted attention from the IRS

The battle between the National Risk Retention Association and the Government Accountability Office rages on as the private group has publicly criticized a GAO report calling for clarification of a federal law regulating risk retention groups.