Empire ‘significantly expands’ its member lab networks

Empire BlueCross BlueShield, New York's largest insurer by medical membership, “significantly expanded” its HMO and PPO/EPO and Indemnity Reference Laboratory networks, according to the company.  Read Story

Reforms to provide temporary defined-benefit pension funding relief

Federal reform legislation will enable employers that sponsor defined benefit (DB) pension plans to potentially receive billions of dollars in temporary pension funding relief, according to a new analysis.  Read Story

N.J. brokerage CEO admits to misappropriating $300,000 in premiums

The chief executive of the now-defunct Northern Financial Group insurance brokerage in Bayonne, N.J., pleaded guilty to misappropriating more than $300,000 in insurance premiums from Lincoln General Insurance Co.  Read Story

Health reform’s uncertainty puts top health insurers on ‘sell’ list

Brokerage Edward Jones says the stocks of the three health insurers it covers – Aetna, UnitedHealth Group and Wellpoint – warrant a “sell” rating, not the prior “hold” rating because of federal health reform.  Read Story

Deepwater Horizon spill won’t end ‘soft’ market in commercial lines

The Deepwater Horizon oil disaster isn’t big enough to move the property-casualty sector to raise prices or end the soft market in the commercial lines, according to a Towers Watson analysis.  Read Story

N.J. opens doors on its high-risk health insurance pool

New Jersey opened NJ Protect, a state program to cover about 21,000 uninsured residents with pre-existing medical conditions.  Read Story

Pa. to open high-risk insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions

Pennsylvania this week will open a high-risk insurance program for uninsured individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario announced.  Read Story

MetLife to sell more stock to buy AIG’s foreign life unit

MetLife Inc will sell more than $3 billion of stock – or 50% more than it planned – to fund its acquisition of American International Group’s foreign life insurance business of American International Group, according to Reuters.  Read Story

Federal judge says Virginia’s challenge of health reform may proceed

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s suit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health reform law can continue.  Read Story

Capital BlueCross unveils MyCare Advisor comparison tool

Capital BlueCross launched MyCare Advisor, an online suite of transparency tools that assists people in understanding and comparing cost, quality and satisfaction among providers.  Read Story