N.Y. insurers’ improve performance; agents still hope for better pay

New York insurance companies’ performance improved in the last year, although companies were rated lower for how fairly they pay producers, a new survey of agents shows.  Read Story

Maryland bill to create single-payer system excludes insurance agents

The Maryland General Assembly has scheduled a March 9 public hearing on a bill that would take a far more aggressive approach toward health reform in the state than passed at the federal level last year.  Read Story

N.Y. securities lawyer, five others charged in alleged pump and dump stock scheme

Six individuals were charged in an indictment in South Florida with defrauding investors in an alleged stock manipulation scheme between 2003 and 2008, and in a civil complaint for allegedly violating federal securities law.  Read Story

U.S. Supreme Court passes on illegal workers’ benefits eligibility case

The U.S. Supreme Court declined an opportunity to resolve a vexing issue involving workers’ compensation payments to illegal workers, where judges in eight states, including Pennsylvania and Virginia, have disagreed.  Read Story

A wholesale brokerage operation launched a practice specializing in cyber liability coverage, which protects businesses against the damages that come from identity theft, data breach and other forms of cyber crime.  Read Story

Seward’s bill aims to reduce fraud, costs in N.Y. no-fault system

A New York senator introduced a bill to “enact comprehensive reforms to reduce fraud, abuse and the associated costs in the New York no-fault system.”  Read Story

Redefining ‘fiduciary’ could mean higher costs for 401(k)s, IRAs, experts say

The definition of “fiduciary” being proposed by the U.S. Labor Department could do more harm than good for workers and employers, according to two industry experts.  Read Story

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania, based in Monroeville, Pa., has been recast as part of its Philadelphia-based sister company, AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania, under the name UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.  Read Story

Cincinnati tax service owner jailed for preparing hundreds of false tax returns

A Cincinnati, Ohio, man was ordered to serve 30 months in prison for aiding and assisting in preparing false client tax returns and filing a false individual income tax return.  Read Story

Talk isn’t cheap for employees trying to understand workplace benefits

Employees have a clearer understanding of the benefits available to them at work if they participate in a one-on-one benefits counseling session during enrollment, a new study finds.  Read Story