A Red Rock, Ariz., man accused of posing as a lawyer in a $12,500 insurance scam was indicted on charges of fraud by an Arizona grand jury.

Natural disasters cost insurance companies more than $32 billion in direct insured losses in the first nine months of 2011, nearly double the average of other years, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Equias Alliance was selected by 10 state associations, including Maryland Bank Services and the Pennsylvania Bankers Association Services Corp., as their exclusive provider for bank-owned life insurance (BOLI), and executive and director benefits consulting services.

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.

Wellpoint, an Indianapolis, Ind.-based national health benefits provider, acquired a senior-focused health care delivery program as it seeks new opportunities in response to the effects of federal health reform.

A Tempe, Ariz., insurance agent, who along with his insurance agency had their Arizona insurance licenses revoked two years ago, has been indicted on 20 charges related to his alleged business operations.

The new president of the Professional Insurance Marketing Association, one of a number of newly elected officers, predicts more spending on insurance marketing this year.

Allstate Corp. said its profitability was within its annual outlook, despite higher catastrophe losses, lower net investment income and increased frequency of auto claims, especially in New York and Florida.

Digital Insurance said it intends to “aggressively” implement its growth strategy in 2011 after closing 2010 with $17 million in acquisitions.

National insurance distribution company Confie Seguros acquired Seguros Sin Barreras, an insurance brokerage and financial services company serving Hispanic customers in 49 states.