http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.comAs the total news source for the life, health and financial services industry, National Underwriter Life & Health is uniquely positioned to provide agents and brokers with timely, insightful information. With the largest, most experienced team of editors in the industry, National Underwriter is able to identify, analyze and comment on the latest trends and events for their significance to the market every business day. Available in print, online and via e-newsletters, National Underwriter helps life and health agents navigate the specialty markets and sort through critical developments whenever and wherever they are in their day. Our mission is to provide today's top life and health agents with the information they need to make serious business decisions.enhttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/Style%20Library/Images/nul-logo-new.gifhttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Senate-Health-Bill-And-So-It-Begins----.aspxAutomation and Technologyabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Senate-Health-Bill-And-So-It-Begins----.aspxMembers of the Senate have started debating whether they ought to debate the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act bill, and Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu now says they favor letting the bill come up for discussion.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Recession-Slams-SSDI-Claims-System.aspxAutomation and TechnologyCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Recession-Slams-SSDI-Claims-System.aspxRising unemployment rates and state budget cuts are threatening to make Social Security Disability Insurance program application backlogs even worse than they are today.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Fed-Gives-Peek-At-AIG-Support-Programs.aspxAutomation and TechnologySpecialty Linesabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Fed-Gives-Peek-At-AIG-Support-Programs.aspxTwo entities formed to help American International Group Inc. unwind complicated financial transactions cut their principal balance levels this fall.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Wilton-Re-To-Reinsure-Bankers-Life-Policies.aspxSpecialty LinesCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Wilton-Re-To-Reinsure-Bankers-Life-Policies.aspxConseco Inc. says it has agreed to a reinsurance arrangement that could increase the company’s overall risk-based capital ratio by 9 percentage points.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Labor-Withdraws-Investment-Advice-Regs.aspxAutomation and Technologyabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Labor-Withdraws-Investment-Advice-Regs.aspxThe Obama administration has decided to cancel implementation of a final rule that was approved in January and work on rewriting and reissuing some of the regulations that were in the final rule.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/PBGC-Seeks-Comments-On-Private-Pension-Insurance.aspxAutomation and TechnologyPersonal Lines CoverageSpecialty Linesabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/PBGC-Seeks-Comments-On-Private-Pension-Insurance.aspxThe Pension Benefits Guaranty Corp. is expressing concerns about use of annuities in efforts to shut down defined benefit pension plans.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/House-Takes-Back-Medicare-Provider-Rate-Cut.aspxAutomation and Technologyabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/House-Takes-Back-Medicare-Provider-Rate-Cut.aspxMembers of the U.S. House of Representatives have voted 243-183 for H.R. 3962, a bill that would repeal a 21% Medicare physician fee reduction that is set to take effect in January 2010.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/ThirdQuarter-Stats-Pour-In.aspxCoverage and Policy IssuesPersonal Lines CoverageCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/ThirdQuarter-Stats-Pour-In.aspxLife insurers had success with selling indexed annuities and whole life in the third quarter, but a tougher time with variable annuities and variable life products.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/NAIC-Panel-Posts-Insurance-Solvency-Draft.aspxAutomation and TechnologySpecialty LinesCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/NAIC-Panel-Posts-Insurance-Solvency-Draft.aspxThe Financial Condition Committee at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners has unveiled a preliminary version of a proposed U.S. Insurance Solvency Framework.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Transamerica-Rolls-Out-Fund-Platform-For-Retirement-Units.aspxCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Transamerica-Rolls-Out-Fund-Platform-For-Retirement-Units.aspxA new retirement plan mutual fund platform can give sponsors with a minimum of $1 million in plan assets access to 300 funds from 35 families.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/GettingHired-To-Launch-ReturnToWork-Service.aspxCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/GettingHired-To-Launch-ReturnToWork-Service.aspxA firm that helps people with disabilities find employers wants to help disability and workers’ compensation claimants.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Guide-Charts-LTC-Insurance-Savings.aspxCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Guide-Charts-LTC-Insurance-Savings.aspxA long term care insurance industry group is offering a consumer guide to reducing the cost of LTC coverage.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Web-Exclusive-Keep-It-Simple-Sweetie.aspxCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Web-Exclusive-Keep-It-Simple-Sweetie.aspxTerri Orem writes about the reality that workers tend to sign up for the benefits they understand.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Tech-Bits-TriZetto-Novell.aspxCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Tech-Bits-TriZetto-Novell.aspxTriZetto Group Inc. is getting ready to introduce a system that can help health insurers and other payers tailor benefits and incentives to suit the needs of individual plan participants.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Personnel-Changes-Prudential-Conseco-Others.aspxSpecialty LinesUndesignatedCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Personnel-Changes-Prudential-Conseco-Others.aspxPrudential Financial Inc. has named Robert Falzon treasurer and John Fleurant controller.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/Exclusives/2009/11/Pages/Take-A-NeedsBased-Approach-.aspxCustomerService@sbmedia.com (Terri Orem)Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/Exclusives/2009/11/Pages/Take-A-NeedsBased-Approach-.aspxConsumer confusion about insurance is quite real. Employers and their employees have difficulty understanding insurance products.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Reid-Lugs-Out-Senate-Health-Bill.aspxAutomation and Technologyabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Reid-Lugs-Out-Senate-Health-Bill.aspxThe main Senate health bill -- the 2,074-page Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- has arrived.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Industry-Groups-The-Reid-Bill-Wont-Work.aspxAutomation and TechnologyCoverage and Policy IssuesMergers and AcquisitionCustomerService@sbmedia.com (ARTHUR D. POSTAL)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Industry-Groups-The-Reid-Bill-Wont-Work.aspxInsurance carrier and producer groups say they believe the Senate’s new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act bill would backfire, by making health care and private health coverage even harder to afford than they are today.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/ACLI-CLASS-Act-Still-Unsound.aspxAutomation and TechnologyCustomerService@sbmedia.com (ARTHUR D. POSTAL)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/ACLI-CLASS-Act-Still-Unsound.aspxThe American Council of Life Insurers says the revised federal long term care insurance program proposal in the new Senate health bill is about as shaky as earlier versions of the proposal.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Senate-Health-Bill-Antitrust-Lurks-In-The-Wings.aspxAutomation and TechnologyCustomerService@sbmedia.com (ARTHUR D. POSTAL)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Senate-Health-Bill-Antitrust-Lurks-In-The-Wings.aspxDrafters left health insurer antitrust repeal out of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act bill, but a repeal amendment probably will surface when the bill reaches the Senate floor.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/PBGC-Some-Firms-Enrich-Execs-Shaft-Pension-Plans-.aspxAutomation and Technologyabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/PBGC-Some-Firms-Enrich-Execs-Shaft-Pension-Plans-.aspxCorporate sponsors of 10 underfunded pension plans paid 40 executives a total of $350 million before dumping responsibility for the plans on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Rosen-To-Lead-NAILBA.aspxAutomation and TechnologyCoverage and Policy IssuesMergers and AcquisitionSpecialty LinesUndesignatedCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Rosen-To-Lead-NAILBA.aspxMark Rosen has been elected chairman of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Aetna-To-Cut-35-Of-Jobs.aspxSpecialty LinesUndesignatedCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Aetna-To-Cut-35-Of-Jobs.aspxA health insurance says it expects to eliminate about 1,200 of its 35,500 positions by March 31, 2010.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Highline-Data-Releases-3Q-Performance-Stats.aspxSpecialty LinesCustomerService@sbmedia.com (NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/Highline-Data-Releases-3Q-Performance-Stats.aspxA financial services data vendor is now marketing third-quarter statutory financial statement for most U.S. life and health companies.http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/NAIC-Panel-Seeks-Comments-On-ACLI-Derivatives-Proposal-.aspxAutomation and TechnologySpecialty Linesabell@nuco.com (ALLISON BELL)Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 PSThttp://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/11/Pages/NAIC-Panel-Seeks-Comments-On-ACLI-Derivatives-Proposal-.aspxA team of insurance regulators is seeking public comments on an American Council of Life Insurers proposal concerning the effects of derivatives-based hedging programs on life insurer risk-based capital calculations.