Insurance denial case involving gay men in New York to be investigated by state

HIV insurance denial discrimination

State financial regulators will be looking into reports of discrimination against homosexual men. New York financial regulators are looking into recent reports of insurance denial involving gay men. The story originated in the New York Times and stated that gay men were being denied long-term care, disability and life insurance because of a preventative medication they were taking. The men were taking a medication to help boost their protection against H.I.V. when they applied for coverage. If the insurance denial allegations are true, it may mean that the insurers’ practices…

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Minnesota and New York file Trump administration lawsuit over health care funding cuts

Minnesota Health Insurance Trump Administration Lawsuit

The states have sued the administration for having slashed federal funding for their low-income populations. The state of Minnesota has filed a new Trump administration lawsuit, challenging the decision to cut federal funding for the state’s public health care program. The program is designed to assist those who are employed but who remain below the poverty line. Attorney General Lori Swanson first announced the legal action at the end of last week. The purpose of Minnesota’s Trump administration lawsuit is to stop the federal government for being able to put…

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New York auto insurance rate calculation factors may soon drastically change

New York auto insurance rate calculations

A new proposed rule would stop education and employment from affecting a policyholder’s premiums. State Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo proposed a change to the New York auto insurance rate calculations. The change would stop insurance companies from using a motorist’s education level or job from being used as a factor in determining that driver’s rates. The only exception is if the insurance company can prove the job status or education level directly affects driving. The proposed New York auto insurance rules change would only allow insurers to continue using…

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Zenefits slapped with unlicensed insurance sales fine

auto insurance practices fine penalty

New York regulator has fined the startup $1.2 million for selling health benefits without adequate licensing. Zenefits, a health benefits broker, has been hit with a $1.2 million fine by the financial services regulator in New York. The penalty was issued for allowing unlicensed insurance agents to advise, negotiate and sell health insurance policies. This is only the most recent regulatory strike against the software startup and is likely to be a painful one. Zenefits is no stranger to being accused of unlicensed insurance activities. The first of these issues…

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New York auto insurance companies may be stopped from asking a person’s occupation

New York Auto Insurance

The state regulator is considering implementing a ban on the use of a customer’s job to calculate premiums. New York auto insurance premiums calculations may soon deviate from strategies used by most U.S. states. The industry regulator is currently deciding whether or not to ban the practice of using a customer’s occupation as a factor in calculating rates. The New York Department of Financial Services has asked leading insurers why the practice is used. It has requested this information from Allstate Corp., the Geico unit at Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Progressive…

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