Latest Health Insurance Headlines

All the headlines from our Health Insurance Topic Page, ordered by recency.

North Carolina Insurers Still Hoping for Medical Loss Ratio Waiver

Feb 13 2012 // The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is going overtime as it decides whether to stick with federal standards that could mean $12 million in rebates for more than 58,000 North Carolina residents who buy their...

Regulation: Health Insurers Must Put More Premiums into Medical Care

Feb 9 2012 // The California Office of Administrative Law approved Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones’ request to make permanent an emergency regulation he issued last year that requires health insurers to put a larger share of...

$1.5M New West Deal Before Montana Insurance Commissioner

Feb 8 2012 // State regulators are examining a $1.5 million proposal by an Oregon insurer to take over a portion of Montana’s third-largest health insurance company as part of a government anti-trust settlement. Commissioner of...

Long-time California Lobbyist Looks to 2012 Legislation Affecting Insurance

Feb 6 2012 // John Norwood is one of California’s best known legislative advocates for the insurance and financial services sectors. Norwood, principal of Norwood & Associates, has garnered recognition for his political work...

Del. Regulator Offers Advice on Healthcare Options for Early Retirees

Jan 24 2012 // Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart expressed concern for soon-to-retire Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964), many of whom will face the uncertain prospect of finding alternative health...

Pennsylvania Whistleblower Claims Hospital Medicare Fraud

Jan 24 2012 // A former northwestern Pennsylvania cardiologist says in a lawsuit a hospital improperly paid doctors who performed unnecessary procedures on patients, including two who died. The suit filed this month by Dr. Tullio...

Should Insurers Cover Experimental Treatments?

Jan 24 2012 // When your health insurance provider denies an experimental treatment or a high-cost drug, how much are you willing to pay for the care you believe you need? Barby Ingle, a former cheerleading and dance coach at Washington...

Health Insurers in Arizona Face Federal Scrutiny

Jan 18 2012 // Health insurance companies in Arizona are facing scrutiny from Washington as federal authorities have taken over reviews of rate increases of 10 percent or more from the state. The Arizona Republic reported that federal...

Murderer, Fake FBI Agent, Amateur Arsonist Enter Insurance Fraud Hall of Shame

Jan 17 2012 // A cash-strapped businessman torches his home then massacres five people to keep witnesses from testifying. A cop shoots himself to steal workers’ comp money. Two scammers stuff a coffin with a mannequin and cow parts...

Oklahoma Charges Former Agent with Embezzlement, Unlawful Insurance Sales

Jan 12 2012 // The Oklahoma insurance regulators announced that a Tulsa area man has been charged unlawfully selling health insurance to Oklahoma customers. The Oklahoma Insurance Department said Terry L. McCrackin, 64, was charged in...

Medicare Liens and Settlements Following United States v. Stricker

Jan 9 2012 // Reaching a settlement amount between the carrier and a plaintiff over a personal injury claim is sometimes the easiest part of a settlement where Medicare liens are involved. Medicare is a payer of last resort, which...

Consumer Group Hammers Mercury Rate Increase Filing in California

Jan 9 2012 // A California consumer group is challenging a rate hike bid by Mercury Insurance because the group claims the company is trying to pass along the costs of its political campaigning. But the insurer says those costs are not...

Oklahoma Commissioner Disappointed in Denial of MLR Waiver Request

Jan 5 2012 // Oklahoma’s top insurance regulator believes the medical insurance market is headed for “disruption” as a result of the medical loss ratio component of federal health insurance reform After...

Some Uninsured Americans Turn to Daily Deal Sites for Health Care

Dec 31 2011 // The last time Mark Stella went to the dentist he didn’t need an insurance card. Instead, he pulled out a Groupon. Stella, a small business owner, canceled his health insurance plan more than three years ago when his...

New York Unions Sue State Over Retiree Health Insurance Costs

Dec 29 2011 // Unions representing state workers in New York have filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Cuomo administration challenging an increase in health insurance contributions for thousands of retirees. According to the...

Coventry Health Care to Run Nebraska Health Insurance Pool

Dec 29 2011 // Coventry Health Care of Nebraska will be the new health plan administrator for Nebraska’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool. The state program is designed to provide health insurance for Nebraskans who can’t...

Consumer Group Hammers Mercury Rate Increase Filing in California

Dec 22 2011 // A California consumer group is challenging a rate hike bid by Mercury Insurance because the group claims the company is trying to pass along the costs of its political campaigning. But the insurer says those costs are not...

Internet Business Told to Stop Misrepresenting Kansas Health Exchange

Dec 22 2011 // An Internet business operating out of Washington state has been told to cease misrepresenting itself as linked to any official Kansas health insurance exchange. Kansas Commissioner of Insurance Sandy Praeger has ordered a...

D.C. Commissioner Recommends Reviewing Policies for Winter Activities

Dec 20 2011 // Washington, D.C.’s top insurance regulator is advising consumers to review their insurance policies and see whether they are covered for common winter activities. William White, commissioner for the District of...

Illinois Warns of Fraudulent Health Insurance

Dec 19 2011 // The chief executive of a company allegedly selling fraudulent health insurance says he is fully cooperating with the Illinois Department of Insurance to resolve the matter. Donald Chew, president and CEO of ReAssurance...