Pennsylvania has enrolled about 1,600 people in the high-risk health insurance pools, established with federal health reform earlier this year.

Two insurance agent trade groups say they want Congress will “fix” how medical-loss ratios will be calculated with health reform because the proposed formula factored could “negatively impact” agent and brokers, and their commissions.

Insurance companies that require doctors to ask permission before performing treatment negatively affect patient care, a survey shows, and most doctors wish the system was automated.

The Washington, D.C.. council unanimously passed a bill imposing new limits on health insurance premium hikes for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, D.C.’s largest health insurer, as well as other health plans.

Health care service costs for commercial and Medicare insurance programs are rising at a slightly lower rate, according to a Standard & Poor’s analysis.

Brighton, N.Y., town officials selected a health insurance proposal offered by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield instead of participating in a health care consortium, a move that should save them about $2 million over three years.

Health insurance agents and brokers in Maryland have formed a coalition whose objective is to ensure their jobs are maintained as the state implements health reform.

Regence BlueShield, a Washington State health insurer, was ordered to pay $148,000 for improperly paying claims for the removal of intrauterine devices since 2001.

While Republicans are pushing for a full repeal of the federal health reform law, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, expects Congress to kill one provision.

The Medicare open enrollment period has begun, giving beneficiaries a chance to determine the best coverage options to meet their health care needs for 2011. The annual open enrollment period runs from today (Nov. 15) through Dec. 31.