Index to 2002 Best's Review Articles.

Agent/Broker Issues

From Mountains to Molehills. Work backlogs can be cleared if agencies attack the inefficiencies and change their procedures.January, p. 56.

The Perfect Partnership. Alliances between insurers and distributors require precise design, based on four essential elements. January, p. 73.

Mix and Match. Insurers are using various combinations of agents, the Internet, work-site marketing and direct marketing to shape the 21st century distribution system.April, p.30.

* Looking at Life Sales in a New Light.April, p.36.

The New Producers. Insurers have a great opportunity to tap into banks' large customer bases, but they have to be willing to think like banks. May, p. 45.

The Next Hurdle. Brokers say July 1 reinsurance renewals will be the true test for the industry. May, p.57.

First Lady of Wall Street. Ernesta Procope took a small insurance agency in Brooklyn, N.Y, and made it into a full-service broker she believes is the largest minority-owned and woman-owned brokerage in the country She did it by never giving up.July, p. 39.

Rude Awakening. Insurance agents need to recognize the advantages and responsibilities of their independence and communicate them better to the public. July, p.87.

Three-Way Street. Life insurers must communicate their value proposition to wholesalers, retailers and customers. August, p.91.

Dream Site. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co.'s Web site has attracted 16,000 agent users and has saved the company $2 million a year. September, p.22.

In the Know. Capacity is limited and terms are tough, but managing general agents who have established their expertise are enjoying a flush of business. September, p. 62.

Knowing the Value. Tracking and recording expense detail helps an agency and a valuation analyst determine what the organization is worth to an outside buyer. September, p. 88.

Two Sales to Make One. Agents need to put as much time and effort into preparing a case for the carrier as they do for the client. October, p. 108.

Auto

Best Friends. Auto-body shops, former symbols of mom-and-pop businesses, are evolving into streamlined networks and offering attractive cost solutions for auto insurers. April,p. 60.

* Fraud: The Ugly Side of the Relationship.April, p.61.

A Fine Incentive. A study shows that states with higher penalties for driving without insurance tend to have fewer uninsured motorists. July, p. 57.

Proof Positive. More and more states are asking insurers to help them keep tabs on auto coverage electronically. July, p.59.

Hit From Behind. Even low-speed rear-end auto crashes can lead to claims of severe injuries. A new study examines what really happens to drivers and their cars in a variety of circumstances. October, p. 59.

* The Black Box Knows. October, p.60.

Beyond Repair. Under the diminished-value concept, an auto insurer must reimburse a policyholder not only for repair of a damaged vehicle, but for any loss in value. Will this new liability spread? October, p.62.

Banking and Insurance

No Sale. Despite Gramm-Leach-Bliley, there are still obstacles holding back bank and insurance company mergers. May, p.50.

Banking on Policyholders. Insurers that establish banks face the challenge of reshaping consumer attitudes about financial transactions.July, p.44.

* Applications for Bank Charters.July, p.45.

Attractive New Addition. Some banks are finding that acquiring agencies is the most profitable and least risky way to break into the insurance business. September, p.66.

* Commerce Bank Seeks Agencies With Strong Management. September, p. 67.

* Agency Culture Is Important to Wachovia Bank. September,p.70.

Over the Threshold. Before banks will enter unions with insurers, ways must be found to reduce risks and maximize profit potential. October, p. 101.

Bioterrorism

Prognosis: Unknown. Insurers' liability for losses caused by bioterrorism or the threat of bioterrorism is too new to be clear cut. January, p.49.

Captives

Growth Spurt. Captive managers across the industry expect substantial increases in the number of new capitve formations and the resurrection of existing, dormant captives as the property/casualty market hardens. February, p. 50.

* Protected Cells Gain Appreciation. February, p. 51.

* Not Just Bean Counters. February, p. 52.

* Dublin Is a Doorway to European Business. February, p. 54.

Best's Captive Directory Update. February, p. 56.

A Captive Solution. Steep hikes in property/casualty premiums have a variety of companies looking to form a captive insurance company. September, p. 74.

* Tips for a Successful Captive. September, p. 76.

Careers

Finding Higher Ground. The insurance industry has plenty of employment opportunities, but companies need to rethink job descriptions and benefits packages to lure job seekers into an industry rarely considered exciting or lucrative. January, p. 34.

* Wholesalers Fueled by Passion. January, p. 36.

Moving On. Several former insurance commissioners have parlayed their experience into new opportunities. March, p. 36.

* Garamendi Seeks Re-Election in California. March, p. 37.

* Long Journey Leads to Ethics Post for Atchinson. March, p. 38.

* Hunter Chooses Consumer-Advocacy Role. March, p. 39.

* Kaiser Applies the Law to Insurance. March, p. 40.

* Nelson Follows Political Path. March, p. 42.

* Nichols Finds the Right Fit. March, p. 44.

* Reider Exports His Insurance Expertise. March, p. 45.

* Regulatory Focus Leads Willis to Create New Insurer. March, p. 46.

Catastrophe Coverage

Storm Warning. If Hurricane Andrew struck the same area today, insured losses could be nearly double what they were 10 years ago. June, p. 20.

* Building a Better Building Code. June, p. 22.

* Public/Private Effort Provides Florida Hurricane Insurance. June, p. 24.

* Catastrophe Reinsurance Becomes More Expensive and Harder to Get. June, p. 26.

Waiting in the Wings. High-impact, low-probability catastrophes, such as meteorite crashes and giant tsunamis, are changing from "what ifs" to realities for insurers. June, p. 30.

* Polluted Water Can Trigger Insurance Claims. June, p. 32.

Commercial

Reassessing the Value of Insurance. The current economic climate has commercial insureds looking at risk financing in a new light. August, p. 66.

Managing Life Risk Options. Unable to offer umbrella catastrophe coverage to corporate customers, direct writers may instead partner with reinsurers on accidental-death carve-outs. December, p. 88.

Company Profile

Entrepreneurial Spirit Bears Fruit. Over the past dozen years, Hartford Life has transformed itself from a niche marketer to the fastest-growing major life company, almost entirely through an entrepreneurial culture and good strategic decisions. February, p. 67.

* Mutual Fund, 401(k) Enrollment Growing Fast. February, p. 69.

* Customer Service Buttressed With New Technology. February; p. 70.

* Hartford Exports Its Skills. February, p. 70.

* Annuities Paved the Way for Other Investment Products. February; p. 72.

* Turning Down Business Was Key to Building Group Benefits. February, p. 74.

* Reaching the Right People in Life. February, p. 76.

Sharpening the Focus. UnumProvident is in the latter phases of a multiyear reorganization plan to become the leading disability writer and win the favor of equity and ratings analysts. August, p. 74.

* From the Desk of J. Harold Chandler. August, p. 76.

* Bringing Products and Marketing Technology. August, p.78.

* Getting Workers Back to Work. August, p. 80.

* Staying in Touch. August, p. 82.

The Ultimate Niche. USAA's commitment to serving only people connected to the military, and its unusual structure and sales strategy; set it apart from the rest of the insurance industry. November, p.30.

* On Alert. November, p.32.

* USAA Assists Sept. 11 Survivor Efforts. November, p.34.

* Historical Highlights. November, p.36.

* Meet the Members. November, p.38.

* Little Marketing, Big Payoff. November, p.40.

Markel Scores Big by Playing Small. The nation's fourth-largest excess and surplus lines insurer writes risk that others turn away from and does it with underwriting and investment discipline--plus a sense of humor. December, p.55.

* A Rising Star Hitched to Jitney Buses. December, p.59.

* Humor, Apples and Flowers. December, p.60.

* Selling a Rainbow of Markel's Products. December, p.61.

* Scratch and Dent Sales. December, p.62.

Demutualization

Riding the Demutualization Wave. Restructuring of the life insurance industry has exceeded expectations, and more is likely June, p.92.

Make Me a Perfect Match. A sponsored demutualization can be an attractive affiliation option between complementary companies. October, p.50.

Life in the Public Eye. Newly demutualized life insurers adjust to the glare of shareholder scrutiny. November, p.22.

* Taking the Mutual Holding Company Route. November, p.24.

* Demutualizations: The State of Conversions in 2002. November, p.29.

Directors and Officers

Navigating Rough Seas. Directors and officers writers find tough economic times give rise to litigation in this rapidly growing market. January, p.52.

Cover Charge. Premiums for professional liability insurance for public companies are likely to skyrocket following years of escalating claims and recent high-profile cases. May, p.65.

Building a Better Model. Enron's downfall should alert directors and officers writers that their underwriting models must be accurate, up to date and effective for their entire policy portfolio. November, p.66.

Disability Coverage

When the Dust Settles. It may be years before insurers see the last of the disability claims related to Sept. 11. June, p.77.

Making Up for Lost Time. Absence management plans are gaining greater acceptance with employers, adding business opportunities for insurers. December, p.34.

Distribution

A Direct Link. Network-enabled pricing, quoting and issuance can lead to savings for insurers. February, p.89.

Mix and Match. Insurers are using various combinations of agents, the Internet, work-site marketing and direct marketing to shape the 21st-century distribution system. April, p.30

* Alliances, Acquisitions Build Direct-Selling Channels. April, p.32.

* Working on Work-Site Sales. April, p.34.

E-Commerce

Electronic Battlefield. Insurers are using e-business initiatives to attract and retain customers and, most importantly, to increase market share. January, p.80.

What Works Online. Some insurers have found the key to unlocking online sales. May p.24.

* Progressive's Goal: Make Online Buying Easy May p.28.

* Alliances Help American Life Harvest Sales. May p.30.

* Inreon: Setting the Stage for Reinsurance Deals. May, p.31

* Choice Is Key to Quotesmith's Selling Strategy May, p.32.

* IdentityWeb: Linking Agents and Customers. May, p.34

Estate Planning

Preserving the Family Fortune. With the phaseout of the estate tax far from certain, life insurers stress the need for the wealthy to protect their assets. May, p.82.

* Ups and Downs of the Modern Federal Estate Tax. May, p.83.

Near-Death Experience. Opinion: Permanent repeal of the estate tax is highly unlikely May, p.89.

Excess and Surplus

Going With the Flow. The excess and surplus market is absorbing more business from the standard markets. October, p.79.

Financial Planning

A Matter of Trust. In today's environment of complex financial products and an aging affluent population, insurers are finding new--sometimes radical--ways to help their clients plan for the future. December, p.22.

* The Life Settlement Option. December, p.24.

* Planning Needs Foster New Products, Services. December, p.26.

* A Designated Field. December, p.28.

* `I'd Rather Do It Myself.' December, p.30.

Fire

Trial by Fire. Terrorism and nuclear exclusions are limited in states that adhere to the Standard Fire Policy. April, p.50.

* Standard Fire Policy Dates Back to 19th Century April, p.52.

Globalization

Solving the Global Disconnect. Insurers that are taking new technologies across the world should be sure they have a strategy in place. January, p.75.

Globalization Challenges. January, p.76.

Global Bonanza. Economic, demograhic and political changes offer great opportunities for private health insurance around the world. May, p. 96.

Land of Opportunity. Industry insiders are optimistic about the potential of Latin America despite recurring economic crises. November, p. 43.

* Setting Up Shop in Latin America. November, p.44.

Southern Exposures. In order for U.S. insurers to compete in the Latin American markets, they will have to modify and adapt their underwriting guidelines and procedures, especially those related to beneficiary designations and medical reports. November, p.46.

Health

A Remedy for Rising Drug Costs. Health insurers can mitigate the ever-increasing cost of prescription drugs with careful attention to business. March, p.80.

A Weighty Issue. Health insurers are helping policyholders lose weight to help trim claims costs. May, p.99.

Healthy Selection. Less than a decade after the managed-care revolution began in earnest, new styles of health plans are on the market. Proponents see them as the next major trend in health insurance. June, p. 82.

* Consumer-Driven Plans Emerge Coast to Coast. June, p.84.

A New Card Deal. Health-care discount plans are tapping into the huge uninsured market. Should health insurers take notice? July, p.73.

Multiple-Choice Question. Disease management, cost shifting and prescription-drug initiatives are some of the strategies insurers are using to stabilize health-care expenses. August, p. 20.

* An End in Sight? August, p. 22.

Making It Personal. By educating and engaging the plan member, the health-care industry can empower insureds to improve their health and lower costs. September, p. 108.

Catch a Falling Star. Health-plan performance may be peaking as the dynamics of the market shift. October, p.104.

Appetite Control. New HIAA chairman says Americans need to be weaned from their love of cheap health care. November, p.87.

Generic Remedy. Pharmacists and physicians can become partners in lowering drug costs for insurers. December, p.86.

Homeowners

Home Sweet Home. Insurers are examining the risks and advantages of writing joint homeowners and renters policies for unmarried domestic partners. April, p.53.

Shelter From the Storm. While a sharp increase in the frequency of small weather-related events has many large carriers retrenching in the homeowners line, smaller insurers generally are faring well in this market. November, p. 53.

Index

Index to 2001 Best's Review Articles. January, p.90.

Industry Strategies

Starting Over. Industry leaders say 2002 will be a year of dramatic changes in underwriting and pricing policies. Also, a faltering economy, lingering asbestos claims and growing mold claims will continue to present challenges. January, p. 20.

2001: Terror, Mold and More. 2001 will be remembered for the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York, downed four commercial planes, killed thousands and created the biggest losses in insurance history. January, p.24.

Two Oars Row Better Than One. If managed effectively, alliances offer a powerful way to gain new capabilities and market reach. February, p.84.

Thumbs Up for Specialization. Insurance companies with focused strategies are rewarded with higher market valuations April, p.96.

Shadows of Success. Despite their low profile, good actuaries make important contributions to the overall success of insurance organizations. May, p. 53.

Insuring Victory. Insurance professionals learn how to run for public office at their political boot camp. June, p. 34.

Setting the Stage. Sponsorships help open the doors to business for insurers. June, p.38.

* A Magical Connection. June, p.40.

Mutual Understanding. Being a mutual allows Northwestern Mutual Insurance Co. to look farther into the future than its Wall Street competitors, says Edward Zore, chief executive officer. July, p.36.

Offshore Underbelly. The ability to perpetrate insurance fraud offshore is enhanced by the capabilities of the Internet. The financial loss to insurers is compounded by the loss of trust in the industry that fraud causes. July, p.49.

Checking It Out. Still stinging from the Enron and World-Com debacles, insurers are investigating board members and executives before investing in the companies they lead. October, p. 35.

Meet the Candidates. On Nov. 5, voters will elect the top insurance regulator in five states. October, p.41.

Maximizing the Market. If this hard market doesn't last long, it's more critical than ever to seize the opportunities. October, p.85.

Doing the Right Thing. Now more than ever, the insurance industry needs to be a model of corporate ethics. November, p.70.

Inland Marine

Seeking Security. Inland marine insurers, especially in the transit area, will be the first to know if security has really improved. December, p.67.

Insurance Scoring

Giving Credit Its Due. Insurers, agents, legislators and consumers battle to define the role of insurance scoring. May, p.37.

* Insurers Address Flurry of Insurance-Scoring Legislative Initiatives May, p. 38.

* Insurance Scores Predict Potential for Loss. May, p.40.

* Consumer-Friendly Approach. May, p.42.

Leading Writers

Property/Casualty, Top Writers by Net Premiums Written--2001. July, p.27.

Life, Top Writers by Admitted Assets--2001. July, p.29.

Reinsurance, Top Writers by Line--2001. August, p. 32.

Property/Casualty, Top Writers by Line--2001. August, p.50.

Life, Top Writers by Line--2001. September, p. 102.

Asset Distribution, Top Property/Casualty Writers--2001. October, p.36.

Asset Distribution, Top Life Writers--2001. October, p.38.

Auto, Top Writers by Line and by State--2001. October, p.66.

Surplus Lines, Top Groups--2001. October, p.82.

Homeowners Multiple Peril, Top Writers by Line and by State--2001. November, p. 56.

Ordinary Life Average Policy Size and Lapse Ratios, Top Writers--2001. November, p.84.

Fixed Individual Annuities, Top Writers--2001. Fixed Group Annuities, Top Writers--2001. November, p. 86.

Ocean Marine, Top Writers--2001. December, p.70.

Inland Marine, Top Writers--2001. December, p.71.

Fire & Allied, Top Writers--2001. December, p.74

Life Insurance

Cashing Out. Big banks and insurers are putting money into the business of buying unwanted life insurance policies, a trend that foreshadows growth for the still-new industry. April, p.92.

* Is There Still Room for Viaticals? April, p. 93.

* Life Settlement Criteria. April, p.95.

Life/Health

Blues Review. Blue Cross & Blue Shield plans find conversion to for profit status fraught with red tape. March, p. 74.

Demand Performance. As the American work force gets older, group health insurers feel prepared to handle the growing demand for health care. April, p.85.

Keep It Simple. Laws and documents intended to help or protect insurance policyholders sometimes backfire. June, p.94.

The Proper Balance. New solvency standards are forcing health-care providers to find the right combination of reinsurance and risk retention to maintain adequate surplus. July, p.79.

Critical Mass. Critical illness coverage holds promise for insurers, but not without support from producers. August, p.88.

A+ for College Cash. Changes in the rules for 529 college savings plans are drawing some big life insurers into the business. November, p.78.

Going Formal. Brazil's widespread "informal economy" left many citizens outside the tax system but ill-prepared for retirement--until a new product arrived to encourage more saving. December, p.82.

Litigation

Litigation Anticipation. New collaborative strategies can help insurers prepare for increased managed-care-related litigation. May, p.92.

Corralling Class Actions. Fighting lawsuit abuse is about changing public attitudes. August, p.71.

Swift Justice. Insurers can cut legal claims costs by streamlining the decision-making process that determines whether to settle or proceed to trial. November, p.48.

Lloyd's

A No-Name Market? Lloyd's faces a struggle in breaking its three-century embrace with private capital. March, p.25.

* Toe to Toe. March, p.26.

Long-Term Care

Hope for a Healthy Marketplace. The nation's financially stressed long-term-care system needs an environment more friendly to private payors and private providers. April, p. 75.

* Building a System That Works. April, p. 77.

* Head of N.Y. Nursing Homes Champions Reform. April, p.81.

Insuring an Independent Lifestyle. Consumer needs and government regulations have expanded long-term-care insurance to cover myriad services, but the evolution isn't complete. April, p.82.

LTC Needs Some TLC. Opinion: Sluggish sales of long-term-care insurance can be transformed with a simple "kiss." September, p. 106.

Raising America's LTC IQ. Insurers must teach their clients the benefits of planning for long-term care early, as well as the consequences of waiting. November, p.75.

Loss Management

Shocks and Bonds. Recent events may brighten the prospects for the issuance of catastrophe bonds. February, p. 64.

Adding Up the Skills. Enormous opportunity awaits firms that master the ability to combine quantitative and managerial skills. September, p. 91.

Driving the Defense. Insurers and policyholders can differ on the best way to manage a defense. October, p. 87.

Managed Care

Step Right Up. In the competition among health plans for popularity and enrollment growth, PPOs are attracting bigger crowds. March, p.68.

* Financial Trends, HMOs. March, p.72,73.

Management

Facing the Future, Cost controls, customer service, niche marketing and integrated financial services head the list of strategic concerns for life insurers. March, p. 77.

* Strategies for Success. March, p. 78.

Making His Mark. Christopher M. "Kip" Condron is hoping to use his extensive background in banking and financial services to position Axa Financial and its insurance subsidiary to compete for consumers' savings. April, p. 89.

Make Time for Training. Several methods exist to help employees stay current in their jobs. June, p.71.

Setting the Pace. Leading insurers employ similar intelligent-growth strategies to outperform their competitors. July, p.24.

Evolution Theory. Adaptability is the strategic imperative for insurers in the evolving industry ecosystem. August, p. 43.

Market Competition

Battle of The Blues. Two of the largest and most successful health plans in Pennsylvania have severed a long-standing relationship. Who is poised to win the fight for the lucrative market of Central Pennsylvania? October, p.90.

* What's at Stake. October, p.94

* Looking for Recognition: A Hand and a Blue Man. October, p. 98

Marketing

Stirring America's Melting Pot. As the ethnic population rises in the United States, insurers are beginning to take a hard look at marketing strategies to target these growing populations. February, p.28.

* Reaching Diverse Groups Through the Internet. February, p.30.

* Creating a Brand Presence. February, p. 32.

* Advertising to Multicultural Populations. February, p.31.

Medical Malpractice

Make No Mistake. A new hand-held device for physicians is predicted to reduce the number of medical errors by up to 50%. Will it also mean lower medical-malpractice premiums and claims? August, p. 99.

* Legislation Offers Relief for Technology-Funding Headache. August, p. 100.

Crisis Coast to Coast. Health-care providers and regulators urge medical liability reform. September, p. 83.

The Right Reforms. Experts call California's Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act a medical-liability role model. December, p.49.

Medical-Malpratice Tort Reform Trouble Spots. December, p. 52.

Medical-Malpractice Reform: On the Way to Recovery. December, p. 52.

Meetings and Conventions

Here, There and Everywhere. Insurance industry trade groups will be meeting in style in 2003. But the style is a matter of choice-from the elegance of the Waldorf-Astoria to the fun of Disney World, meetings are scheduled in a variety of places throughout the United States and even Canada and Bermuda. December, p.42.

Mortality

Approaching Immortality. Insurers calculate how a new CSO Table, listing mortality through age 120 years, would affect their reserves, pricing and products.. October, p. 26.

* Building the Table. October, p. 27.

* Insurers Use Different Table for Annuities. October, p. 28.

* Medicare Taxed by Longer Lives. October, p. 30.

* LTC Insurers More Concerned With Morbidity. October, p. 32.

People to Watch

People to Watch In 2002. Insurance is more than companies and numbers. Here are a few of the people likely to affect the course of the industry in 2002. January, p. 40.

Policy Yields

Anticipating the Benefits. About $80 billion is allocated to ordinary life insurance purchases each year, suggesting the paramount importance of understanding differences in policy yields between whole life and universal life. January, p. 66.

Privacy Issues

Secret Identity. Insurers have spent countless hours working to meet policyholder privacy requirements. Now the results are paying off in customer satisfaction and retention. June, p. 45.

* Insurers Keep Watchful Eye on California. June, p. 46.

* HIPAA Still a Work in Progress. June, p. 48.

Promotional Insurance

Playing the Odds. Corporate sponsorship of athletes, teams and sporting events is on the rise, and insurers are taking on the risk. February, p. 58.

Property/Casualty

Get With the Program. Insurers and managing general agents in program business have one eye trained on underwriting results and the other on the hard-hit reinsurance market. March, p. 47.

* Kempes Puts Programs to the Test. March, p. 48.

* Markel Insurance: Looking for Needs. March, p. 50.

* New Association Brings Program Professionals Together March, p. 52.

Identity Indemnity. Insurers are launching coverage for one of the fastest-growing white-collar crimes--theft of personal information and the use of it to make fraudulent purchases. March, p. 54.

* Minimizing the Chances of ID Theft. March, p. 56.

* The Reality of Being a Victim. March, p. 58.

Common-Sense Claims Reduction. Insurers must recognize the need to educate construction contractors about coverage and liability, to solve the problem of rising claims costs. April, p. 57.

Hard Market Hits Fairways. After nearly a decade of competing intensely for new policies, insurers of golf courses are raising rates and turning down some business. May, p. 61.

On the Defensive. Companies and their insurers must consider jurors' attitudes about employer responsibility to successfully defend against sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits. May, p. 70.

* Research: Pretrial Opinions Stacked Against Employers. May, p. 71.

* Nine Ways to a Successful Defense. May, p. 72.

Laws and Profits. There are reasons to believe that the industry will quickly return to declining rates and low profits. May, p. 79.

Taking Flight. Since Sept. 11, travel insurance rates and sales have been on an upswing. June, p. 53.

Adding It Up. To make itself attractive to potential buyers, an agency must show that it is profitable--and that it will stay that way. June, p. 73.

Outsourcing for Success. By outsourcing claims, insurers are free to deploy their resources toward developing and sustaining core competencies. June, p. 74.

The Risk of Watching. After years of dodging baseballs, hockey pucks and errant race cars, spectators are faced with a new threat --terrorism. Liability coverage has become expensive or unavailable for promoters, event organizers and venue owners. July, p. 52.

* Rising Premiums Cause Air-Show Cancellations. July, p. 53.

* Spectator Deaths and Injuries. July, p. 54.

The Four-Letter Threat. Insurers are applying the experience they've gained from handling mold claims to abate costs and prevent future payouts. July, p. 62.

* Uncovering Mold Myths. July, p. 63.

Compelling Resolution. Arbitration clauses are becoming standard provisions in reinsurance contracts. July, p. 70.

Inside the Black Box. Hurricane models undergo a rigorous screening process to pass muster in Florida. Other hurricane-prone states look to Florida to set the standard. August, p. 58.

All in the Numbers. A judge has determined that the World Trade Center dispute must go to trial. August, p. 73.

The Matter of Data. A recent court decision rejected the notion that damage to information stored on computers is insured as "property damage." November, p. 73.

Growing Captives. Captives are popular in the mortgage-insurance industry because they offer lenders a vehicle for managing credit risk. December, p.78.

Public Opinion

Now Showing. Hollywood's portrayal of insurance receives mixed reviews. March, p. 30.

* 'John Q' Distorts Reality, Blues Says. March, p. 31.

* Lights, Camera, Insurance. March, p.32.

Regulation

Gathering Support. The American Council of Life Insurers is working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to modernize regulation by allowing insurance companies the choice of federal or state oversight. January, p.63.

Staying the Course. As insurers navigate the changing regulatory environment, they have set their sights on speed-to-market rules, which are in the early stages of use and are facing growing pains in 2002. February, p.43.

* Iowa Commissioner Stresses Modernization. February, p.44.

* Top 10 Speed-to-Market Regulations. February, p.46.

* State vs. Federal Oversight. February, p.47.

State vs. Federal. Insurers and regulators continue to debate the pros and cons of insurance regulation as it is--on a state-by-state basis--and as some would like it to be--with an option for federal oversight. Proponents of state regulation rally around modernizing a system that has proven effective for more than 130 years. Those in favor of the federal option say it would relieve competitive pressures and allow companies to operate on a global level. April, p.40.

The Regulation Debate. It was state vs. federal at a conference for the life insurance industry, and debaters found little common ground. July, p.82.

* American General Gets "Gung Ho" After Acquisition by AIG. July, p. 83.

Reinsurance

Bermuda Bound. Bermuda is quickly becoming crowded with new insurers, which will need strong management, good underwriting and a little luck to reap long-term success. March, p. 20.

* Bermuda: Insurance Oasis in the Atlantic. March, p.21.

* The New Bermudians. March, p.22.

Being Clear Up Front. There are more areas of potential reinsurance coverage disputes than you may think. May, p.77.

Many Happy Returns? Investors are delighted to ride the Bermuda gravy train for now, but experience shows they'll eventually look to get off. One option is to go public. July, p.32.

Reinsurance Rebound. After a period of soft-market conditions and lax underwriting capped by the Sept. 11 disaster and the Enron fallout, reinsurers are finally beginning to see the market turn in their favor. August, p.26.

* Moving Beyond Boilers. August, p.28.

* Life Insurers Seek More Risk Takers. August, p. 30.

Renaissance Man. James Stanard blends technical wizardry with steely discipline and a dollop of common sense to make RenaissanceRe a consistent winner. August, p. 40.

A Backup Plan Is Needed. Without federal terrorism support, insurers would have only a few equally unattractive choices to protect their financial viability. September, p.92.

Risk Management

Terrorism Propels Change. The World Trade Center catastrophe could lead to further limits or restrictions on existing insurance products. January, p. 58.

Demands for Coverage Increase as Cyber-Terrorism Risk Is Realized. January, p. 59.

Ready for Anything. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the resulting losses across multiple lines have renewed interest in enterprise risk management. February, p. 34.

* Enterprise-Risk Models Look at the Big Picture. February, p.35.

Revealing the Wrongs. Enterprise risk management is mired in misconceptions that must be understood before efforts can be successful. February, p. 38.

Unfolding the Layers. Terror expenses may follow the Y2K path, with most insureds likely to accept terror prevention as a cost of doing business. March, p.64.

Unprecedented Exposures. The 40th RIMS conference will address the new challenges faced by risk managers ranging from terrorist attacks to toxic mold and accounting irregularities. April, p.22.

* RIMS Leadership Pursues International Scope. April, p.23.

Looking at Risk Anew. Some aspects of risk management--particularly subrogation and crisis response--are getting a closer look since the Sept. 11 attacks. April, p.64.

Growing Captives. More Japanese captives are forming in Hawaii, because it offers economic, legislative and cultural advantages. April, p.70.

Risk Takes Center Stage. The RIMS convention examined how the terrorist attacks and corporate bankruptcies have changed the art of risk management. June, p.60.

Share and Share Alike. Corporations can create savings incentives by the way they allocate the cost of risk internally. November, p.61.

Self-Insurance

A Little Help. Employers are turning to consultants and brokers to take the hassle out of self-funded health plans. September, p. 59.

* Build Your Own Plan. September, p.60.

Selling

Staying in Touch With the Public. So far, insurers have maintained good graces with consumers since Sept. 11, 2001. But with rates on the rise, the industry will need to be extra diligent to stay in favor. February, p.62.

Customer--The Greatest Asset. Building a strong customer base takes more than a sales mentality; it requires an operational approach. March, p.62.

Consumers Are Driving Change. The economic climate is right for defined-contribution health plans, a change that will create new strategic issues for insurers and providers. March, p.83.

Breaking Apart the Monolith. Outsourcing should be considered for parts of insurers' core business. April, p.73.

Data Decisions. How much insurers value control of customer data will determine how they deal with account aggregation. April, p.99.

Bound by Red Tape. Politics and regulatory procedure hinder industry attempts to set fair rates, make insurance prices affordable and handle claims more efficiently. May, p.81.

What's in a Brand? The importance of national and local brands in individual sales depends on the experience and expertise of the producer. May, p. 102.

Life Choices. More consumers buy whole life policies, but those who opt for term life are buying policies with higher coverage amounts. June, p.88.

Cyber-Risks Create Coverage Gaps. The Internet poses a large risk for corporations, whose general liability policies often don't provide proper coverage for cyber-terrorism and other technological exposures. July, p.72.

Trying Too Hard. Insurers are spending time and money developing complex Internet sales strategies, when what's really needed is a simpler approach. August, p.97.

Common Denominators. Faster ways to underwrite individual life policies will help insurers reach more producers and different customers. September, p.95.

* Reinsurer: Doctor Statements Replaceable, But Not Medical Tests. September, p.98.

A Model Approach. Added to managers' experience and intuition, analytic models can improve distribution performance. September, p.111.

Ties That Bind. Strong field representatives drive customer satisfaction and retention by nurturing good relationships. October, p.55.

Calling the Shots. A poorly designed interactive voice response system can turn customers away. October, p.88.

Tried and True. Today's environment generally features yesterday's challenges. November, p.69.

Lessons From Japanese Auto Makers. Product architecture offers a solution for the insurance industry's poor productivity gains. November, p.90.

Courtroom Trauma. It's time to highlight the role that trial lawyers can play in causing insurance prices to rise. December, p.77.

Surety

Building on Solid Ground. Recent mergers and acquisitions have consolidated much of the surety market among several multiline companies. And despite recent losses, surety remains a profitable and consistent business. May, p.75.

Technology

Addressing Multiple Needs. Straight-through processing allows insurers to concentrate on agents as well as customer self-service and claims processing. January, p.83.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouse Is. Operational modeling can justify information technology investments. February, p.92.

Update the Claims Process. The level of sophistication needed by handlers to do their jobs has soared. Yet, the telephone, copier and fax machine remain the most commonly used technology tools. February, p.94.

Banding Together. Regional insurers are forming alliances to upgrade technology and grow their businesses. March, p.85.

* Drivers of the New Strategy for Regional Insurers. March, p.86.

At Your Service. With new technology costing millions of dollars, insurers are turning to application service providers. March, p.88.

Replacing Humans With Machines. The insurance industry has begun to

leverage artificial intelligence to cut costs and improve efficiency. But technology will never completely supplant human reasoning. March, p.94.

Switching Gears. Electronic rate and form filing can hasten product approvals, but adaptation is hampered by technological incompatibility and administrative procedures. April, p.101.

In Sync With Customers. Making the right technology investments is only part of the formula for insurers to achieve profitability, growth and market leadership. The key is to achieve a holistic understanding of customers and organize to act on that knowledge. April, p.105.

* Insurers to Boost E-Business Spending, Survey Finds. April, p.105.

Core Capabilities Limit Innovation. Often, underwriting, policy-administration and claims-management infrastructure is so restrictive that it cannot support business strategies, regardless of cost. April, p. 108.

Staking a Claim to a Tech Advantage. It is not enough to adopt the newest technologies. There must be a strategy in place to maximize the investment. May, p. 105.

Delving Into Distribution. An analytical approach using customer-level detailed data can provide insurers with a clear understanding of the efficiencies and effectiveness of each channel. May, p. 108.

A Common Language. Internet platforms help insurers communicate more easily with service providers and vendors and can result in significant loss reductions and savings. June, p. 96.

Serving Up the Middle Market. Insurers can regain the middle market by using the right software and databases to speed up policy underwriting and issuance. June, p. 99.

Unleashing Value in the Finance Unit. Technological tools will enable the financial unit of an insurance company to provide more specific data more quickly and at a lower cost. June, p. 103.

Deleting the Risk. Hackers invading corporate Web sites by using more sophisticated techniques fuel the market for cyber-risk insurance. July, p. 88.

* Wireless Communications: The Next Big Risk? July, p. 90.

Location, Location, Location. New threats of man-made catastrophes sharpen the need for mapping technology to assess density of exposures and proximity to potential targets. July, p. 92.

All Things Considered. Consumers are looking for more than low prices when they shop for insurance online. August, p. 104.

Determining the Value of IT. Cash flow offers the best assessment of whether an insurer's technology spending is a worthy investment. August, p. 108.

Rebuilding From Within. Ohio Casualty Group's tech-savvy management team is banking on technology to make the company more competitive. September, p. 19.

E-Quicksand. Insurers and policyholders must take steps to avoid the latest dangers in cyber-attacks, e-mail, operations and privacy. September, p. 25.

Justifying the Cost. To help mitigate risks that IT investments pose, insurers can employ business technology management to better calculate the return on investment. September, p. 112.

Custom-Made Contacts. Call centers are morphing into one-stop customer-service shops equipped with more sophisticated skills and tools. October, p. 109.

Quashing Health-Care Costs. Consolidating data marts into enterprise data warehouses is helping contain rising health-care costs. October, p. 114.

Getting It Right the First Time. The push is on for healthcare insurers to use information technology to make claims processing more accurate and less costly November, p. 91.

* System Boosts P/C Claims Processing: InsureWorx. November, p. 92.

* Especially for Auto Claims: ProcessClaims. November, p. 94.

* Going Paperless in Personal Lines: Plymouth Rock. November, p. 95.

Capitalizing on Components. New, integrated component-based software helps insurers cut costs, bring products to market faster and support a customer-focused orientation. November, p. 98.

Been There, How'd They Do That? E-Fusion 2002 revealed an insurance industry with both feet firmly planted on the Internet. December, p. 92.

* E-Fusion Award Recognizes Innovative Construction Management Program. December, p. 94.

* Getting in Sync. December, p. 96.

* XML Spoken Here. December, p. 96.

* XML Aids Cross-Company Collaboration. December, p. 96.

* London Bridge. Lloyd's new Blue Mountain venture is designed to ease the flow of data among insurers and brokers without forcing them to abandon proprietary systems. December, p. 97.

* Building Blocks. December, p. 98.

* It Takes Two. December, p. 98.

* Technology: The Cure for Empire Blues. December, p. 99.

* Humana Makes Health Plan Digital. December, p. 99.

* Keep It Simple. December, p. 100.

* Creating a Channel. December, p. 100.

* Banks Loom Large. December, p. 100.

* Digitizing Claims. December, p. 101.

* Using Technology to Court Agents' Favor. December, p. 101.

* Litigation Alert. December, p. 101.

* India: The Back Office. December, p. 101.

* Base Buying on Real Need. December, p. 102.

* Spending Money to Make Money on Tech Ventures. December, p. 102.

* Learning by Example. December, p. 103.

* Purchasing for a Start-Up. December, p. 103.

* Online Sales and Service. December, p. 103.

* Portal Introduced for Auto Insurers. December, p. 104.

* Hang Up and Make Money. December, p. 104.

* Insurers Focus on Specialty Markets. December, p. 104.

* Farmers' Odyssey December, p. 105.

* Market Ecosystem. December, p. 105.

The Value of Collaboration. Online information-collaboration approaches can help insurers to improve and streamline specific business processes. December, p. 107.

Terrorism

Playing for Keeps. A bioterrorism war game teaches professionals from the insurance, health-care, pharmaceutical and government sectors what they each must do to be ready for an attack. August, p.84.

One Year Later. Sept. 11 was a watershed event for the insurance industry. Never before had one catastrophe affected so many lines of insurance--aviation, commercial property, disability, workers' compensation, group life. At the time of the disaster, the market was emerging from years of poor underwriting results. Sept. 11 accelerated the price firming. Now, a year later, the industry has responded: in the short term, by raising rates and, in the long term, by looking at risk like it never has before. September, p. 34.

* Cat Models Look to Predict Losses From Future Attacks. September, p. 36.

* The New Bermudians. September, p. 38.

* London Market: The Subscription Prescription. September, p. 40.

* Federal Terrorism Backstop Unresolved. September, p. 42.

When Unimaginable Risk Became Reality. Nelson Chanfrau, risk manager for the owner of the World Trade Center, survived the collapses of both towers Sept. 11. September, p. 47.

* Many WTC Firms Remain in Manhattan. September, p.50.

* Moving Forward: The Responsibilities Continue. September, p. 52.

On the Trail of Terror. Insurers that do business with known terrorists or drug traffickers may face stiff penalties under new rules enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. September, p. 55.

Underwriting

Lessons Learned. In the wake of the Sept. 11 catastrophe, insurers need to return to the basics. January p. 60.

Self-Diagnosis Threat. At-home medical tests could present underwriting challenges if insurance applicants with-hold vital information. January, p. 70.

Raising Standards. Higher prices for property insurance are not enough; underwriters must refocus on the basics to overcome years of relaxed underwriting. February, p. 66.

Picking Up the Pace. The president of the Association of Home Office Underwriters talks about speedier underwriting and the quest for knowledge. February, p. 82.

Changing With the Times. Insurers, now aware of their vulnerability when insuring high-profile institutions, are forced to be more selective in the risks they accept. March, p. 67.

The Allure of the Internet. Is the emergence of online intermediaries selling group insurance products a threat or an opportunity for insurers and local agents? May, p. 103.

A Call for Cautious Creativity. Navigating the alternative market requires special skills, such as technical underwriting. Insurers must also consider the quality of the alternative-market entity. July, p. 66.

Faster, Cheaper, Better. The process of life underwriting continues to evolve. Today's marketplace demands speed, without sacrificing protective value. July, p. 84.

Talent Scouts. Demand for underwriting talent has outstripped supply. Insurers are using salaries and advancement possibilities to lure and hold on to underwriters. August, p. 60.

The Demand for Data. Today's underwriters strive to gather and apply more information than ever about disease when considering life insurance applications. August, p. 94.

Pay Now or Pay Later. The dwindling number of master underwriters and the industry's lack of commitment to developing them pose a grave threat to insurers. November, p. 89.

Playing It Safe. Allegations of abuse and other risks make it more difficult to underwrite child-care centers. December, p. 46.

* Emerging Risks. December, p. 48.

Less Is More. The key to getting value from customer data is to keep both the data and the analysis simple. December, p. 91.

Variable Annuities

Life After the Fall. In light of the drop in the stock market, scale will play an increasingly important role in the variable annuity market, and insurers will re-examine their overall approach to offering investment-oriented products. February, p. 78.

Workers' Compensation

Signs of Stress. Sept. 11, rising medical expenses and increased litigation are driving up workers' comp claims costs, causing insurers to review premiums and underwriting. August, p. 46.

* The Role of Mental Stress Coverage in Workers' Comp. August, p. 48.

A New Attitude. Three workers' compensation insurers improved their financial results through fundamental change. December, p. 38.