The National Association of Health Underwriters is urging its membership to contact their senators to support a bill that would exempt agent and broker commissions from the medical loss ratios controlling health insurers’ spending.

National health insurer Aetna will offer individual health insurance to Costco members in nine states, including Pennsylvania and Virginia.

A Tampa, Fla.-based managed care services provider will pay $137.5 million to the federal government and nine states to settle four lawsuits accusing the company of violating the federal False Claims Act.

A San Diego, Calif.-based holding company has bought a managing general insurance agency and a private auto insurance company as it seeks to expand its national footprint.

A Patchogue, N.Y.-based insurance adjustment company is opening an office to serve the northern and western portions of New Jersey, according to company officials.

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.

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

A Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization says that the federal health reform should be declared unconstitutional because it is cannot function without the individual mandate, which the group also argues is unconstitutional.

A Northumberland, Pa.-based company with more than 230 independent insurance agency franchise partners in seven states, intends to add partners in Georgia in the second quarter.

A group of people in Columbus, Ga., were sentenced recently for submitting fraudulent claims against their supplemental insurance policies with their insurer to fraudulently obtain more than $500,000.