Mercury Insurance, a multi-line insurance organization operating in 13 states, is offering a new commercial auto insurance product it says uses technology to enable its independent agents to more easily rate, qualify and issue new business.

Two insurance agents in Lakeland, Fla., were arrested Feb. 3 for allegedly stealing more than $422,000 from the brokerage for which they worked and from where their mother retired.

The Maryland Insurance Administration has approved the Cigna‘s acquisition of Bravo Health, a Baltimore, Md.-based operator of Medicare Advantage plans.

Attorneys general from 11 states and Washington, D.C., have filed court papers in the federal health reform law case, arguing that the individual mandate forcing all Americans to buy health insurance, starting in 2014, is constitutional.

About 30 health insurance agents and brokers in Florida sent letters to the state insurance commissioner’s office, urging him to work harder to free their commissions from the administrative portion of the new medical loss ratios included in health reform.

A Jacksonville, Fla.-based Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance subsidiary agreed to acquire Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Highmark‘s Medicare subsidiary.

A Wake Forest, N.C., man pleaded guilty Nov. 29 to his role in a $2.7 million workers’ compensation scheme, according to Florida insurance regulators.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired a Tallahassee, Fla.-based employee benefits communication and enrollment firm as it seeks to expand in the voluntary benefits market.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not address Virginia’s appeal of the federal health reform law during a scheduling conference Nov. 22.

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the federal health reform law, focusing itself on the individual mandate, with an expected ruling by June 2012.