Federal court in Ohio rules health reform law constitutional

A federal appeals court in Cincinnati ruled the federal health reform law constitutional, the latest in a string of conflicting rulings regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Read Story

A $5 billion fraud suit against bond insurer MBIA over its 2009 breakup is not preempted by New York’s Insurance Law, the Court of Appeals ruled yesterday.

Consumers taking full advantage of guaranteed withdrawal on annuities

Customers buying variable annuity policies with guaranteed withdrawal benefits understand the purpose of the policies and are using them to their advantage, a new survey says.  Read Story

Calif. doctors, others charged in $17 million workers’ comp. scheme

Two doctors and two others were charged in an Orange County grand jury indictment accusing them of participating in a $17 million workers’ compensation overbilling scheme.  Read Story

GALVESTON -As lawmakers in Austin passed a bill restricting litigation against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the storm insurer of last resort proposed a 5 percent rate hike ...  Read →  Read Story

Employee health plan enrollment falls, but may rise with health reform

Employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) eroded “significantly” in the last decade, although federal health reform is expected to reverse the decline for small employers, two studies say.  Read Story

Optima Health to offer access to HCA Virginia Health System network

The Optima Health network has formed a partnership with VCA Virginia Health System for much of the state.  Read Story

Roger Peterson, a longtime employee of the state Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, is in line for a sixfold pay increase when he leaves Wisconsin state employment ...  Read →  Read Story

John Hancock agrees to return $4 million to Md. policyholders

John Hancock Insurance Cos. will pay about $4 million in overdue insurance and annuity payments to Maryland policyholders as part of an agreement over the results of an abandoned property audit.  Read Story

Consumers want MIA transparency, broker input on insurance issues

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) should make itself more transparent to consumers, and also should give brokers better access to information, said consulting firm officials in a public hearing June 23.  Read Story