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.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department approved the merger of Harleysville Mutual and Nationwide Mutual insurance companies with conditions designed to protect the Harleysville brand and its Pennsylvania operations for several years.

Austin Mutual Insurance Co., a Minnesota-based regional property-casualty insurer, is affiliating with The Main Street America Group, a super regional property-casualty insurance carrier building its midwestern footprint.

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.

New insurance requirements for retailers selling fireworks have set off legal sparks in Michigan, as the companies have filed suit against the state.

A total of 19 states and Washington, D.C., reached an agreement with The Prudential Group, one of the largest life insurance companies in the U.S., in a case involving its unclaimed property practices.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department issued final rules for its medical loss ratio, declining the request of insurance agent trade groups and state insurance regulators to exempt agent and broker compensation.

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.

A Michigan-based firm says it experienced health cost savings after investing in a private exchange and defined-contribution plan designed by three Blue health insurers to simplify insurers’ health benefit offerings.