N.Y. State Insurance Fund expands disability benefits offerings

The New York State Insurance Fund will start offering enriched disability benefits, providing up to five times the statutory coverage, April 1.  Read Story

Drug dealing, Medicaid fraud case nets 15 guilty pleas in New Jersey

Fifteen defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in a black-market prescription narcotic drug ring that involved Medicaid being billed for phony doctor visits and medicines never dispensed.  Read Story

Del. regulator sees ‘outstanding’ state, federal health reform issues

Applauding federal health reform as a “landmark piece of legislation,” Delaware’s insurance commissioner voiced support for retaining the independence of state regulators, but also sees issues to address in the coming weeks and months.  Read Story

O’Malley names team to implement health care reform in Maryland

Federal legislators are expected to finish their work on health care legislation this week, but for Maryland officials, the work is just beginning.  Read Story

Health care reform could ‘atomize’ small-group insurance markets

Health care reform signed into law by President Barack Obama could lead to the demise of small-group insurance market in the U.S., according to the chief executive of one of the nation’s Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates.  Read Story

Virginia Democrats fire back, seeking cost for health reform bill suit

Virginia Democrats want to know how much of taxpayers’ money will be used to fight federal health reform mandates being challenged by the state’s attorney general.  Read Story

Senate exempts independent agents from data collection mandate

A national independent insurance agents’ group is applauding a U.S. Senate panel for approving an amendment to financial reform legislation freeing its membership from onerous data collection.  Read Story

R.I. Blues pay record fine, to reimburse $1.8 million over ratings

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island will pay $1.8 million in restitution and a record fine of $325,000 through an agreement with state regulators over how it “misinterpreted” the way health status should be calculated.  Read Story

Auto insurer to reimburse nearly $1 million to New York policyholders

A New York-based automobile insurer will pay out $992,000 to customers it overcharged and pay a $360,000 fine for improperly imposing a 30% rate hike.  Read Story

‘Significant impact’ boosts McDonnell to president at Penn Mutual

Two years after joining the Horsham, Pa.-based insurer, Eileen McDonnell has been promoted to president at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.  Read Story