Aetna has launched Aetna Whole Health in western Va., one of its first new health benefit plan using the accountable care organization (ACO) model.

A plea agreement appears to have been reached in a case where a Costa Rican man allegedly led a $670 million life settlement scheme, according to an Associated Press report.

A group of New Jersey residents pleaded guilty to an insurance fraud and theft ring, operating out of a Philadelphia auto body repair shop.

Two Leesburg, Va., men, an accountant and a lawyer, pleaded guilty to an insurance scheme to fraudulently acquire $500,000 in life insurance proceeds from the accountant’s daughter.

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.

Lawsuits and legislation about natural gas harvesting in the Marcellus Shale region and nationwide is underway and expected to spread, eventually reaching the insurance industry.

The National Association of Health Underwriters has moved to Washington, D.C., putting it closer to elected officials who play such a large role in determining the future role of insurance agents and brokers.

BenefitMall, a national broker services company based in Dallas, added a new service, company payroll services, to its roster of offerings.

An organization that educates legislators on insurance issues is working with insurance associations to create a model legislation for states concerning misuse of certificates of insurance.

State Auto Financial Corp. estimates that its third quarter 2011 results will include between $60 million and $63 million in pre-tax catastrophe losses, some from second quarter catastrophes.