Former county GOP head in N.C. accused of bilking insurers of $16,000

The former leader of the Lenoir County (N.C.) Republican Party was charged in connection with an alleged scheme to obtain advanced insurance commissions for which he was not entitled.  Read Story

Reciprocal insurer PURE chasing wealthy with national expansion

The Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is expanding nationally in an effort in part to follow the money, according to its chief executive.  Read Story

PHOENIX — UnitedHealthcare has signed a contract that lets its commercial-plan customers have access to the Mayo Clinic’s doctors, hospitals and clinics.

Former N.J. brokerage partner admits role in $20 million fraud scheme

A former partner of the New Jersey-based insurance brokerage firm Smith Gatta Gelok pleaded guilty to preparing fake applications for commercial insurance clients as part of a $20 million fraudulent loan scheme.  Read Story

CareFirst looks at ‘bending the cost curve’ with medical home program

The Maryland Health Care Commission recently approved CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s plan to launch its Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) program.  Read Story

N.Y. union, others exempted from raising minimum annual health benefits

About 351,000 members of a New York teachers union are among nearly 1 million people for whom the new health reform law’s elimination on the cap on insurance costs will not apply.  Read Story

Brown & Brown buys two N.Y. employee benefits firms

Brown & Brown has acquired Martin Benefits Consulting and Martin Human Resources, companies that offer employee benefits in the tri-state area.  Read Story

Insurer paying $101,000 in fines, restitution for rate violations

Mid-Atlantic Vision Service Plan Inc. was ordered to pay $101,000 in restitution and fines for improperly applying unapproved rates to more than 200 groups between last year and this year, according to Maryland Insurance Administration records.  Read Story

Does your business have what it takes to consistently win in today's market? How about keeping your customers loyal? If you think the price of your products or services is the reason you are attracting or not attracting and maintaining customers, think again. Today's customers are savvy and want much more from their relationship with your company than just a low cost.  Read Story

New Jersey man accused of insurance fraud, theft by deception

A Burlington County, N.J., man was indicted for allegedly collecting insurance monies to which he was not entitled, according to authorities in New Jersey.  Read Story