A ranking member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee is seeking answers to the bizarre action by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services that has apparently thwarted ...  Read →  Read Story

California man burned by razor claims, jailed for insurance fraud

A Palmdale, Calif., man will spend more than 14 years in prison for trying to sue several razor manufacturers over the same injury, collecting $9,500 as a result.  Read Story

Optima Health earns ‘excellent’ accreditation from NCQA

Virginia Beach, Va.-based Optima Health received an “Excellent” accreditation for the 11th consecutive year from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial health plans and 10th consecutive year for its Medicaid HMO product, Optima Family Care.   Read Story

Maryland wins $9.5 million judgment in ‘free lunch’ fraud scheme

An Upper Marlboro, Md., man is liable for $9.4 million in restitution and another $100,000 in fines for violating Maryland’s securities laws.  Read Story

Insurer, two agents to pay $74,500 to settle discrimination claims

GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co. and two of its authorized agents have reached a settlement on allegation that they discriminated against people because of religion by advertising special benefits and discounts on homeowners’ insurance only to “churchgoers” and “persons of faith.”  Read Story

Five New Jersey residents indicted in insurance fraud ‘give up’ schemes

Five New Jersey residents were indicted by separate grand juries for falsely reporting the theft of their cars, which had actually been instead sold to undercover police officers.  Read Story

New York insurance department receives NAIC accreditation

Following a comprehensive review, the New York State Insurance Department is now accredited through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Financial Regulations Standards and Accreditation Program.  Read Story

Agent group reminds Congress of value agents offer in health decisions

A national insurance agents’ trade association is reminding Congress that whatever health care reform comes, consumers must not be denied access to the advice of licensed, professional, independent insurance agents.  Read Story

Aetna to provide Medicare Advantage plans to retired Pa. employees

The Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund has selected Aetna as the sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees statewide.  Read Story

Poll: Insurance company leaders see 2010 more brightly than this year

Insurance companies are more bullish about 2010 than this year, according to a poll of company executives, who say they anticipate that underwriting profits will be hard to come by in the next one to three years.  Read Story