Forbes adds Aflac to 'best-managed' firms list

Forbes magazine has chosen Georgia insurance giant Aflac as one of America's best-managed firms.

This also makes the ninth year the American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus has made the financial magazine top 400 Big Business grade.

The 53-year-old family-run business is a Fortune 500 company, with some 40 million policyholders worldwide.

Forbes editors chose the company based on an array of data covering one to five years, that include sales growth and stock market returns.

AFLAC CEO Dan Amos, last month announced he was foregoing a 13-million dollar, “golden parachute” severance package as a goodwill gesture in light of the nation's severe economic situation.

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New insurance for "green" homes

Green insurance is now available to Georgia homeowners. The policies cover environmentally-friendly homes with elements like solar panels and recycled building materials. The program guarantees that a damaged or destroyed home will be rebuilt with green methods and materials. Georgia joins 26 other states where green insurance is available. About two dozen Georgia homeowners have signed on so far.

MCG considers extending health insurance benefits to domestic partners in Augusta

The Medical College of Georgia, the state's only public medical university, may ask the state for health insurance benefits for the domestic partners of its faculty members.

The faculty is voting this week on whether MCG should extend the benefits.

Bill Andrews, vice chairman of MCG's academic council, says domestic partnerships are increasing, and that the issue will increasingly factor in to the recruitment and retention of faculty.

"We want to make sure that we have a good strong faculty here at MCG that represents a cross section of the country at this point," he said.

MCG will take the matter before the state's board of regents if the faculty approves the idea.

Two other state universities, the University of Georgia and Georgia State University, have requested similar benefits from the regents in years past, with no luck. A spokesman for the board of regents says the issue is still "under advisement."