Morning Briefing: Driverless cars might end up as a boost for insurers

Driverless cars might end up as a boost for insurers… Health plan exchange aims to protect last 2 insurers… More Americans trust Clinton on health care…

Insurance News

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Driverless cars might end up as a boost for insurers
There has been much speculation about the impact of the expected growth of driverless cars on the insurance industry with many expecting vehicle manufacturers to take on the liability – and the premiums – for insuring their products.

However, there could actually be a boost for the insurance sector if a model proposed in the UK is adopted.
The British government’s Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles has released a new whitepaper as part of a consultation process which includes a specific proposal for insuring the vehicles which would extend compulsory auto insurance to cover product liability when drivers have handed full control to the vehicle.

Therefore, rather than insurers losing out to self-insurance schemes by driverless car manufacturers such as Google, existing auto policies would require additional coverage. The UK government proposal says that drivers (or their insurers) would rely on courts “to apply the existing rules of product liability and negligence to determine who should be responsible.”
 
Health plan exchange aims to protect last 2 insurers
The health insurance exchange in Connecticut says it will meet with the last two insurers available to consumers in the state amid viability concerns.

Anthem and ConnectiCare are continuing to offer coverage through Access Health CT following the decision of UnitedHealth to stop offering policies citing financial viability; and a supervision order ending new plans from co-op insurer HealthyCT.

Jim Wadleigh, the CEO of the exchange told the Associated Press that “we need to collaborate with the carriers to help them to be financially sustainable in the future.” Although the two remaining insurers have assured Wadleigh of their intention to provide coverage for at least a year, the longer term situation of yet to be secured.
 
More Americans trust Clinton on health care
A greater proportion of Americans trust Hillary Clinton on health care issues than Donald Trump, a new poll has found.

The research by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows 46 per cent of respondents say Clinton better represents their health care views with 32 per cent saying the same of Trump and 15 per cent saying neither.
The majority (56 per cent) also believe that too much is being said about health care by Trump compared to 35 per cent who say that of Clinton.

On the Affordable Care Act, more respondents trust the Democrats (49 per cent) than the Republicans (38 per cent) but 47 per cent have an unfavorable view of Obamacare compared to 40 per cent who view it favorably.
 

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