Consumer-directed health plan enrollment jumped 27% in 2009

New research indicates that more consumers are selecting consumer-directed health plans, led by small businesses.  Read Story

More questions than answers for Pa. agents in federal health reform

PAHU President Shelly Bloom: “We are still reviewing a 2,700-page bill and conflicting timelines of changes and regulations. I think there have been more questions recently [from members] and we need to wait for the answers from the federal government.”  Read Story

‘Fear of the unknown’ looms for Virginia agents with reform law

After more than a year of debate, Washington, D.C., has put its punctuation mark on federal health reform, but for many agents’ groups, it appears to be less of a period and more of a question mark.  Read Story

Maryland agents taking ‘wait and see’ stance on federal law’s impact

Mark Haraway, president of the Maryland Association of Health Underwriters, told IFAwebnews.com the group, like many other agents’ organizations, is still interpreting the sweeping changes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Read Story

Regulating property-casualty insurers like banks raises costs, III says

Subjecting property-casualty insurers to bank-style regulation would increase insurance costs for consumers and penalize insurance companies for the sins of other entities within the broader financial services arena, according to an industry economist.  Read Story

Fla. man third arrested, linked to suspected auto insurance fraud

Eight months after its first arrest, the Collier County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office arrested what it believes is the final suspect in an insurance fraud scam, culminating an undercover operation.  Read Story

AmeriHealth New Jersey to close coverage gap ahead of national reform

AmeriHealth New Jersey has announced that it will extend health insurance coverage to young adults up to age 26 already covered by their parents’ plans until mandates under national health reform begin.   Read Story

Judge clears three USI MidAtlantic employees accused of conspiracy

Story updated with quote from Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

More than a year after being accused of charges including forgery and tampering with public records, three employees of USI MidAtlantic ...  Read →  Read Story

ACLI turns to Twitter to speed up messages to public

In a sign of the times, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) has launched its presence on the social media platform Twitter.  Read Story

North Carolina insurance agent arrested, accused of commissions scam

A Raleigh, N.C., insurance agent faces charges of obtaining property by false pretense after regulators allege he submitted bogus applications to receive more than $22,000 in commissions.   Read Story