Vermont considering shift to single-payer health care approach

Vermont legislators are considering the possibility of creating the nation’s first single-payer health insurance system to control health care costs.  Read Story

New York insurance superintendent represents region to NAIC

The New York insurance superintendent was elected to the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the group of state insurance regulators.   Read Story

I am not a Constitutional expert. I do not know precedent regarding cases involving the federal government encroaching on state’s rights as set forth in the Constitution. I just want to get that out of the way before anyone reads my next statement.  Read Story

HHS wants to force health insurers to justify all rate hikes over 10%

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to force health insurance companies to justify any rate increases of 10% or more, starting next year.  Read Story

MetLife Inc., the biggest U.S. life insurer, changed its compensation guidelines to spare top executives from pay comparison with their counterparts at Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Stanley, Hunt, DuPree & Rhine enhanced its consumer-directed health plan administration services so that brokers and agents can offer customized plans designed to simplify the administration and management of Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) for plans.  Read Story

Some insurance agencies giving time off, parties; others play Grinch

Insurance agency owners plan a mixed bag of approaches to handling work hours during the next two weeks as they deal with the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays, according to an IFAwebnews.com poll.  Read Story

Utah has again tapped a local health insurance brokerage to find a leader for its online Health Insurance Exchange.

Medical malpractice damage limits do not affect health care costs

Medical malpractice cases have no effect on health care costs, a South Florida personal injury and medical malpractice law firm said.  Read Story

Obama ends uncertainty about income, estate tax rates for 2011, 2012

President Barack Obama signed into law Dec. 17 a tax compromise bill that preserves Bush-era income tax rates for two years, while establishing a maximum estate tax rate of 35% on inheritances exceeding $5 million through 2012.  Read Story