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.

Pennsylvania’s auditor general said the state’s largest workers’ compensation carrier failed to hold a contractor who received nearly $4.9 million over two years accountable for the terms of the contract.

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.

Selective Insurance Co. of America, a subsidiary of Branchville, N.J.-based Selective Insurance Group, announced two appointments: Dana D. Shutters as vice president, operational excellence; and Katherine L. Slonina as assistant vice president, regulatory compliance officer.

A dentist in Philadelphia and his daughter were indicted for allegedly defrauding insurance companies of more than $5 million with a fraudulent medical bill scheme.

Similar bills filed in the Pennsylvania House and Senate would give the state more power to negotiate contracts between insurers and health care providers, including Highmark and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

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.

Highmark introduced a new individual insurance plan, effective Feb. 1, that it says offers simple health insurance coverage with a low premium, low deductible and predictable copayment structure.

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.