Insurance companies are pushing for lengthy delays in the enactment of a law that would require them to summarize the benefits plans they provide. According to the Affordable Care Act, health insurance providers must summarize their policies to within four pages of easily understood content. The law is meant to provide consumers with a better understanding of the benefits they will be receiving and what their policies do and do not cover. The Department of Labor, however, has announced that it will not be forcing insurance companies to be adhering…
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Department of Health and Human Services seizes control of rate review process in Arizona
Arizona insurance companies are falling prey to federal insurance regulators as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seizes control of the rate review process in the state. Last year, federal regulators began reviewing rates proposals from a company that sought approval for a 40% increase. Regulators decried this as one of the most unreasonable rate proposals they had seen since the passing of the Affordable Care Act and have vowed to fully investigate proposals coming from 32 other health insurance companies. Federal regulators will be reviewing any proposal…
Read MoreFederal Insurance Office receives 150 comments on how to modernize the U.S. health insurance regulatory system
In October of last year, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) issued a request for commentary on how to modernize health insurance regulations. The commentary period ended in December with the agency receiving more than 150 suggestions on what to do. Now, the FIO is using the comments it has received to help build a report regarding the regulatory system in the U.S. When completed, the report will be given to Congress and used to help plan a course of action for the future. Michael McRaith, director of the FIO, attended…
Read MoreING Group to abandon plans for combined insurance and investment operations in Europe and Asia
The ING Group, a Dutch financial institution working in the banking and insurance industries, has announced that it will be abandoning its plans for a combined European and Asian insurance investment operation. The company cites economic turmoil in the European region as the primary reason for its change of heart. Future investment and insurance plans are still a possibility for the future, if the European financial crisis is resolved appropriately. The company still has a keen interest in the Asian market, however, and plans to pursue alternative schemes to expand…
Read MoreAllstate makes changes to its controversial agent commissions plan
Allstate has announced that it will be revising its compensation plans for independent insurance agents. The company will be revising its commission strategy and pay system for agents, with the changes to take affect beginning in 2013. The new changes will be enforced throughout 2013, but the insurer has not yet revealed plans on what will happen thereafter. Allstate’s changes aim to reduce compensation for most agents, save for captive agents that work solely with the company. The insurer plans to cut commissions by 1%, bringing independent agents’ base commission…
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