Insurance Information

Insurance in Northern Ireland: Historic Difficulties


No doubt most readers will have heard of the Northern Ireland "troubles" or possibly seen some of those ghastly images from the seventies, eighties and early nineties on your television screens. Thankfully the worst of those dark days seem to be over. Unless you are a Northern Ireland resident you probably won't be aware of the impact the "troubles" has had on insurance premiums in that part of the world, especially on motor vehicle insurance rates.

The lawless activities of those times saw a huge increase in vehicle theft for use in criminal activities or to build hastily erected roadblocks, usually resulting in cars, vans and buses being burnt out. So called "joyriding" was then and still is a big problem in parts of Belfast and Londonderry where youths steal cars of all makes and models to race each other on public roads, an unbelievably reckless pastime which has resulted in many deaths of both driver and innocent pedestrian. No wonder then that the major insurance underwriters who were prepared to do business in Northern Ireland charged hefty premiums compared to average premiums in England, Scotland and Wales.

With the advent of the "peace process" and the considerable period of normality that has come about since the mid nineties one would expect insurance premiums to have fallen significantly, however this has not been the case, leading to accusations from some quarters of profiteering on the part of the major insurers. An average automobile premium in England is around £200 ($360) while in Northern Ireland the average is closer to £600 ($1080) in my experience. Seventeen year old newly qualified drivers in Ulster can expect to pay a crippling £2000 ($3600) for their first motor insurance cover.

The underwriters and major insurance brokers retort that driving standards are poorer in Northern Ireland and our shameful road safety record does back this up to some degree. They also cite a higher claims rate and larger accident compensation payouts from the courts as another significant factor contributing to higher premiums in Northern Ireland and this is a valid point.

I personally believe that there has to be a middle ground. High insurance premiums affect us all and have a negative impact on our economy which is only just starting to recover from a long period of conflict. Perhaps more rigorous testing of our new drivers, advanced tests for experienced drivers, tougher sentences for car crime and road safety public awareness campaigns would allow major underwriters to charge less and bring benefit to us all.

George McGonigal
Northern Ireland Insurance Centre

George is webmaster of an online insurance resource for Northern Ireland motorists. We bring under one roof insurers who cover Northern Ireland that can offer online quotations to allow our visitors to compare rates in the comfort of their own homes.Car Insurance Northern Ireland: Competitive insurance quotes online.


MORE RESOURCES:

MLive.com

MSU health insurance policy raises ire
Lansing State Journal
Since last fall, Michigan State University has required all newly admitted undergraduates to have health insurance that covers in-patient and out-patient services. Those who don't have insurance and don't obtain it elsewhere are automatically ...
MSU is requiring freshmen to have health insurance or join its planDetroit Free Press

all 4 news articles »


TomTom moves into insurance for drivers
Reuters
Fleet tracking technology is basis for consumer insurance * Drivers get feedback to improve driving, cut premiums * Expects new product offering to grow 10 pct in 3-5 years * To focus growth in European insurance market in 2012 By Roberta Cowan ...
TomTom Announces Ground-Breaking Insurance PartnershipMarketWatch (press release)
TomTom Enters Insurance Telematics Market in the UKGPS Business News

all 9 news articles »


Tampabay.com

Citizens boosted home values to raise insurance premiums, suit says
Tampabay.com
By Toluse Olorunnipa, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE — Florida homeowners filed a class-action suit against Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Tuesday, claiming the state-run insurer is systematically overvaluing properties in order to ...
Spiking insurance rates prompts suit against CitizensSarasota Herald-Tribune
Lawsuit says Citizens Insurance is unfairly inflating premiumsPalm Beach Post
Debates Rage in Tallahassee Over Insurance, Abortion, PrisonsWCTV
Wink News
all 59 news articles »


Chattanooga Times Free Press

Local Catholic leaders oppose birth control insurance requirement
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Supporters of the ruling point out that 28 states already require insurance plans to cover contraception if they cover other prescription drugs, although many states have broader religious exemptions than the new federal one. Tennessee does not have a ...
Midwest Voices | Catholic objections to birth control insurance benefits ...Kansas City Star
Contraception and insuranceChicago Tribune (blog)
Government gets backlash from imposing birth control in health insurance plansWVLA-TV
Orlando Sentinel (blog) -PR Newswire (press release) -eMaxHealth
all 1,374 news articles »


Farm Futures

Crop insurance's growing value
News & Observer
News reports out of USDA's Risk Management Agency underscore that point all too clearly: With some 15 percent of all crop insurance claims yet to be processed, crop insurance companies have paid out a record $9.1 billion so far in indemnity payments to ...
Record Indemnities Underscore Value of Crop Insurance as Key ToolFarm Futures
Farm bill: 'Safety net' for farmers could be reshaped in 2012California Farm Bureau

all 3 news articles »


Long-term care insurance: The long and short of it
Chicago Tribune
Little wonder that older Americans are investing in long-term care insurance. Nursing home costs are often cited when arguing in favor of long-term care insurance. "What long-term care insurance really does is give you choice and options," says Jesse ...
Connecticut Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Information Website LaunchedNewsReleaseWire.com (press release)

all 2 news articles »


Officials say flood insurance important
In-Forum
FARGO – Officials say a decision to not renew flood insurance could have costly implications months before new flood-plain maps come out. FARGO – Officials say a decision to not renew flood insurance could have costly implications months before new ...
FEMA: More Facts About the National Flood Insurance Program (pt. 2)7thSpace Interactive (press release)

all 9 news articles »


County health insurance plan considered
nwitimes.com
VALPARAISO | The head of a Cincinnati-based health care consulting and benefit administration firm said he can save Porter County $4 million a year on its health insurance costs. The claim from Thomas Quigley of ClaimLinx came during a Porter County ...
Porter County Council examines health coverage for employeesPost-Tribune

all 2 news articles »


Brockton City Council defeats health insurance changes
Wicked Local
The vote in the City Council's Finance Committee Monday night was a foregone conclusion about halfway into the two-hour debate on whether or not to adopt the state's municipal health insurance reform law in Brockton. If adopted, it would have given the ...
Brockton poised to be only third community to reject health insurance lawEnterprise News

all 2 news articles »


MF Had $190 Million of Insurance for Corzine, Professionals
BusinessWeek
6 (Bloomberg) -- MF Global Holdings Ltd.'s insurance unit issued $190 million of liability policies for Jon Corzine and other professionals through May to cover costs of defending against allegations of wrongdoing, according to a court filing.
Customers seek access to MF Global insurance sumsChicago Tribune

all 19 news articles »

Google News

home | site map | contact | Partners
© 2006 - insurance-information.cliczoom.com