The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) gathered this week to vote on a controversial resolution that would have drastic effects on a consumer protection clause of the Affordable Care Act. The provision would have saved consumers nationwide approximately $1 billion in premiums while offering them protections from future rate hikes. The provision is also part of the controversial medical loss ratio provision of the health care law – which requires insurers to pay no less than 80% of their premium money on medical care. Regulators have been divided on…
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Delaware insurance regulators recover $1.8 million in premiums after nine-month investigation
Delaware residents are in for some good news as Insurance Commissioner Karen Stewart declares the recovery of more than $1.8 million in premiums. The money was recovered from a number of insurance companies that have been under investigation for the past nine months. These companies had been the subject of consumer complaints, which were funneled to Stewart through the Department of Insurance. The funds will begin being issued to consumers next year. Fraud and malpractice have been a problematic issue for the state’s insurance industry for some time. In order…
Read MoreRegulators seize control of Arizona’s PMI mortgage insurance branch
Arizona insurance regulators have seized control of a subsidiary of PMI Group, an international private mortgage insurance company. The seizure comes as the latest development in the ongoing struggle between regulatory authorities and the insurers involved in the 2008 mortgage crisis, which was a major factor in the recent economic recession. According to the Arizona Superior Court, regulators have full control of the company and will begin refunding 50% of claims beginning this week. PMI is the second mortgage insurer to be subject to such action in the U.S. When…
Read MoreChanges to annuity regulation spur more transparency in the insurance industry
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a national standard-setting and regulatory support organization comprised of insurance regulators from across the country, have passed new amendments to the Annuity Disclosure Model Regulation. The regulation determined how insurers released information regarding annuity payments to consumers. Previously, such information was withheld as much as possible by insurers, but the new amendments require that this information be put into the limelight for all to see. Changes to the rule will also require insurers to detail the practices they use in determining annuities and how…
Read MoreNew health care rule enacted assigned to oversee insurance industry changes
A major provision of the Affordable Care Act is about to come into play. Beginning yesterday, September 1, health insurance companies will be subjected to stricter scrutiny when it comes to raising premiums. When proposing rate increases, insurers will now have to submit written justification for their want of higher rates. These justifications will be open to the public for the sake of transparency and insurance regulators will be able to reject rate proposals if the justifications are not satisfactory. The new rule is meant to curb the seemingly relentless…
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