The number of people covered by Medicaid managed-care programs increased 8% in 2010, according to new research from a Kennebunk, Maine, firm.

The U.S. Senate managed to slimly uphold President Barack Obama‘s controversial birth control policy, voting 51-48 to halt a Republican push to free employers and insurers companies from having to provide coverage for contraceptives, despite their religious or moral objections.

The largest specialty insurance brokerage in the U.S. acquired a New York-based 401(k) investment and advisory firm, seeking to expand its presence in the Northeast.

Texas insurance regulators expect a decision soon from the Obama Administration on whether they can delay forcing insurers to pay rebates to health plan members if the companies exceed new medical loss ratio requirements.

The latest estimates of catastrophic losses from August’s Hurricane Irene project total property damage at $4.3 billion, with the worst damage in New Jersey and North Carolina.

The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season ended Nov. 30 after producing seven major hurricanes, including three major ones, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big I) recently recognized 18 independent insurance agent associations with Excellence in Insurance Education Awards at its education convocation in Minneapolis, Minn.

State-regulated health care and insurance provided by the private sector, without any federal government involvement, would be more competitive, efficient and cost-effective, state and health care officials said at a conference July 18.

A Maine-based company had its Pennsylvania license revoked in May for using unlicensed agents to sell supplemental health insurance policies in Pennsylvania.

Denver-based registered investment advisor Curian Capital has added new sales staff in eight new territories, including South Jersey, Northwest North Carolina and Washington, D.C.