Slideshow

5 New Attempts at Annuity Humor

July 17, 2018

Because, let's face it, people who live in fear of longevity need some laughs.

News

Council Profiles U.S. Charitable Gift Annuity Market

July 17, 2018

Charitable organizations with rapidly growing gift annuity operations are getting more of the donations in the form of larger property gifts, and fewer…

ESG Investing

5 Wild Cards That Could Brighten Q2 Life and Annuity Issuer Earnings

July 17, 2018

One team of analysts describes life and annuity stocks as 'undervalued, and washed-out.'

News

ACA Risk-Adjustment Death Could Squeeze Some Insurers: Fitch

July 16, 2018

Analysts at the firm say the big Blue Cross and Blue Shield carriers should be fine.

Behavioral Finance

Insurers, Life Settlement Firms Clash Over UL Cost-of-Insurance Hikes

July 16, 2018

State lawmakers said they want to let litigation play out before they consider taking any action.

No One Even Knows What 'Best Interest' Means, Industry Groups Say

July 16, 2018

The groups argue that agents and brokers selling annuities in the real world need rules they can understand.

Health Price Trends at Large U.S. Employers Look Good: Mercer

July 16, 2018

Argentina and Egypt look like a mess.

Bill Could Strip ACA Premium Subsidies from New York and Pennsylvania Residents

July 13, 2018

H.R. 6311 could block ACA subsidy support for residents of states with abortion benefits mandates.

News

Mason, LiST and Windsor: 3 New Life Settlement Announcements

July 13, 2018

Mason Finance now has a license to provide life settlements in California.

Independent Marketers Post Higher Final Expense Life Sales

July 12, 2018

The average age of a purchaser was about 63, according to new Life Insurers Council data.

ESG Investing

Firm Completes $129.6 Million LTCI Commission Receivables Securitization

July 12, 2018

A team at KeyBanc Capital Markets handled the transaction.

New Program Can Help Supplemental Insurance Holders Start Claim Process

July 12, 2018

A UnitedHealth unit says a team can help a worker collect critical illness, hospital indemnity or accident benefits.

Ascensus Acquires Two Retirement Plan TPAs

July 12, 2018

One of the administrators is in New Jersey. The other is in California.

Portfolio Construction

Annuity Issuers Add Tools Aimed at RIA Market

July 12, 2018

Nationwide and Great American have harnessed the power of Monte Carlo simulation systems.

Men Take ‘Bonding Leave,’ Too: New York State Family Leave Insurer

July 12, 2018

ShelterPoint says men account for about 28% of bonding leave claims.

Portfolio Construction

MassMutual Prepares to Build 17-Story Tower In Boston

July 12, 2018

MassMutual plans to add 2,000 jobs in Massachusetts but consolidate elsewhere.

Feds Are Pushing Navigators to Promote AHPs, Short-Term Health

July 11, 2018

CMS notes that life insurance agents can apply for 2019 ACA Navigator program grants.

News

House Passes International Insurance Standards Bill by a Voice Vote

July 11, 2018

The American Council of Life Insurers opposes the bill.

Mutual Funds

Some Commenters Tell the SEC They Still See Annuity Problems

July 10, 2018

You may think there's already enough oversight. Some consumers, and some financial professionals, disagree.

ESG Investing

7 Top Brett Kavanaugh Life, Health and Pension Opinions, for Agents

July 10, 2018

The Supreme Court pick has favored a life agent, Anthem, the ACA, Medicare managers, airline pilots, and critics of the CFPB.

New Mexico Insurer Welcomes ACA Risk-Adjustment Freeze

July 10, 2018

One of the five surviving CO-OPs says the risk-adjustment rules tend to hurt smaller, newer issuers.

Life Insurers, P&C Insurers Clash Over International Standards Bill

July 10, 2018

Life insurers and reinsurers say they want U.S. negotiators to have more flexibility.

New Report Shows Why Some Issuers Hate the ACA Risk-Adjustment Program

July 09, 2018

Court rulings permitting, the Blues could get $2.3 billion. Kaiser, Centene and Molina could pay $2 billion.

Centene Completes Acquisition of New York State Plan

July 09, 2018

The Fidelis Care deal could give Centene a better understanding of the Basic Health Program plan market.

5 Reasons the New ACA Risk-Adjustment Storm Could Blow Over, for Agents

July 08, 2018

CMS Administrator Seema Verma says the obstacle is a judge in New Mexico.

3 Amazing Facts About Retirement Saving in Switzerland

July 06, 2018

An insurer-backed group says Switzerland clearly has the best employer plan system.

3 Lessons About Paycheck Protection Awareness

July 06, 2018

Carol Harnett says she has learned three important things about getting consumers' attention.

Life-LTC Hybrid Sales Soar: LIMRA

July 05, 2018

About 25% of new U.S. life premiums paid for policies offering LTC or chronic illness benefits.

Life Products Look Great in the 'Emerging Markets': Swiss Re

July 05, 2018

In the 'emerged markets,' life insurance product performance continues to underwhelm.

Health Insurance

5 Weird New Facts About Trump's ACA Exchange System

July 03, 2018

One discovery: The average number of HealthCare.gov enrollments per producer increased, by 32%.

5 New Policies for People With Bodies

July 03, 2018

Here's a look at disability and gap-filler policies from Standard, MGIS, Voya and Colonial Life.

Much Consumer Interest in Medicare Advantage Is Soft: Deft

July 02, 2018

Deft Research survey results show interest in Medigap plans appears to be firmer.

Life Insurance Strategies

Millennials Are Learning to Love Life Benefits

July 02, 2018

Maybe the change is due partly to worker demographic shifts. A Transamerica center has numbers.

4 Reasons the Estate Tax Could Come Roaring Back

July 02, 2018

The current generous estate tax exclusion levels could be short-lived, insurance exec Howard Sharfman warns.

Insurtech Tadpoles Swim With the Frogs

June 29, 2018

Collective Health, Envestnet's insurance exchange and ONE talk about their alliances.

Genworth and China Oceanwide Keep Deal Talks Alive

June 29, 2018

Genworth could use capital from China Oceanwide to enable future growth opportunities.

New York Regulators Impose $15 Million Fine Over Life Notice Problems

June 28, 2018

The case involves a block of Aviva life policies acquired by one company and reinsured by another.

4 Top Election Result Implications for Agents

June 28, 2018

One thing is certain: Oklahoma will be getting a new insurance commissioner.

Life Insurance Strategies

Millennials May Care Deeply About Long-Term Care Benefits

June 27, 2018

Carriers may be afraid to sell it, but workers seem to like it almost as much as life insurance.

Some Advisors Call for Early Long-Term Care Planning

June 27, 2018

Half of a large bank's high-net-worth advisors start LTC talks when the client relationship starts.

Hannover Re Backs OneAmerica Life-Based LTC Product

June 27, 2018

A Hannover Re executive says his company likes OneAmerica's experience in the LTC hybrid market.

Annuities

Life Agents Should Not Face ANY Best Interest Standard: Annuity Group

June 27, 2018

Fixed Annuity Consumer Choice Campaign leaders are blasting the SEC and NAIC standards efforts.

Annuities

Health Fog Gives You an Opening: Nationwide Exec

June 26, 2018

Whether you've been selling annuities, health or turnips, Medicare can be a conversation starter.

5 Benefits Trends on Prudential's Radar Now

June 26, 2018

Financial wellness is a thing. But.... how do you measure that?

Health Insurance

Medicare Looms Over Health Agents' Meeting

June 25, 2018

One major session dealt with how agents can cope with adversity.

Million Dollar Round Table Brings the World to Los Angeles

June 22, 2018

The program book is available in English, two versions of Chinese — and Bahasa.

Annuities

Indexed Annuity Issuers Wants Slice of 401(k) Default Option Market

June 22, 2018

Elizabeth MacGowan urged a DOL council to help put indexed annuities on the QDIA menu.

Supreme Court Sides With Retirement Planning Advisor

June 22, 2018

The case, which was decided on procedural grounds, shows that recommending asset-allocation strategies can be tricky.

Annuities

Indexed Annuities Star in 5th Circuit DOL Fiduciary Rule Opinion

June 21, 2018

The ruling has (probably) killed the rule dead.

Health Insurers Look Inward at AHIP Annual Meeting

June 21, 2018

Carriers are looking for ways to make themselves more efficient, and enrollees healthier.

Annuities

Jackson Backs New Lifetime Income Alliance With Video

June 21, 2018

Barry Stowe, the unit's CEO, says the industry needs to work together to improve Americans' retirement financial security.

New Stand-Alone LTCI Player Continues to Move Forward

June 21, 2018

National Guardian Life now has LTC Partnership program approvals in 13 states.

Health Insurance

Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan to Base New Health Company in Boston

June 20, 2018

Atul Gawande, a surgeon, will face some of the headwinds blowing at Trump's association plans.

Medicare Drug Plans May Get Authorization System Update

June 20, 2018

A bill calling for tech changes, H.R. 5773, passed in the House Wednesday by a voice vote.

AXA Equitable Posts First Earnings Since the IPO

June 20, 2018

Commissions and other distribution-related payments increased 4.1%, year-over-year.

House Republican Budget Plan Hazy on Health Details

June 19, 2018

'Traditional Medicare' could end up looking more like the Medicare Advantage program.

Trump's Association Health Plans Will Be Like Big Employer Plans: DOL

June 19, 2018

MHPAEA mental health parity rules will apply. ACA benefits package rules won't.

Medicare Pays Well for Nursing Home Care: Senior Housing Group

June 19, 2018

Private-pay patients of all kinds pay only about 19% more for skilled care than Medicaid patients do.

Health Insurance

Molina and Centene Announcements May Boost ACA Exchange System

June 18, 2018

Florida awarded Molina two Medicaid contracts. New York approved a Centene acquisition.

Health Insurance

New Reinsurance Firm to Offer Some Employer Stop-Loss

June 18, 2018

Sequoia Re's CEO has been head of health at PartnerRe.

Cigna CEO Set to Lead AHIP in 2019

June 18, 2018

Ken Burdick of WellCare is on track to be the chair of the health insurer group in 2020.

Companies Form Lifetime Income Outreach Alliance

June 14, 2018

The list of founding organizations includes many major annuity issuers.

Jim Allsup Publishes Guide to the SSDI Claim Determination Maze

June 14, 2018

A professional maze runner reveals some of what he knows about the twists and the turns.

Life Insurance Strategies

California Regulators Continue Life Reinsurance Captive Fight

June 14, 2018

Doug Ommen says California has adopted the same accounting framework laws that he applied to a company's captives.

Appeals Court Rejects Health Insurers' Plea for Billions in Subsidy Money

June 14, 2018

Two judges say insurers had no contract with the ACA risk corridors program. The dissenter says the ruling is unfair.

Consumers With Advisors More Likely to Follow Market Volatility News: MDRT

June 13, 2018

About half of the consumers with advisors said they would talk to the advisors before changing their portfolios.

Health Insurers Mount Major Defense of 'Coverage at Work'

June 13, 2018

One goal is 'Cadillac plan tax' repeal. Another is protecting the current group health tax advantages.

DOL to Help MetLife and Brighthouse Shut Down Abandoned Plans

June 12, 2018

Officials at the EBSA division say they hope to get assets to about 20,000 participants.

California Regulators Blast Accordia and Athene Over Policy Administration

June 12, 2018

Officials say the companies have done too little to help policyholders hurt by a system-migration-related billing freeze.

Securian Moves Into Multi-Employer Retirement Plan Market

June 12, 2018

Securian will fund the plans with group annuity contracts from Minnesota Life.

Non-Variable Life Sales Rise 2%: Wink

June 12, 2018

For indexed life buyers,  the popularity of the S&P 500 index increased.

News

Supreme Court Likes Minnesota's Life Beneficiary Designation Law

June 11, 2018

The justices ruled 8-1 that Minnesota's law has only a minimal impact on insurance contracts.

Supreme Court Likes Minnesota's Life Beneficiary Designation Law

June 11, 2018

The justices ruled 8-1 that Minnesota's law has only a minimal impact on insurance contracts.

Annuities

Genworth Clears Major Obstacle to Completing China Oceanwide Deal

June 11, 2018

The companies still need approvals from insurance regulators in Delaware, New York and other jurisdictions.

Economy & Markets

US Is Putting China in a Stronger Bargaining Position: Evan Greenberg

June 11, 2018

The new U.S. approach to trade "abdicates leadership and isolates our country," the Chubb CEO said at an S&P conference.

HHS Chief Calls for Shift to State-Based Health Coverage Grants

June 10, 2018

Alex Azar II said at a recent hearing that Congress is to blame for the lack of cost-sharing reduction subsidy payments.

Health Insurance

Trump's Team Asks Court to Let ACA Underwriting Rules Die in 2019

June 08, 2018

Trump's DOJ says the court handling the Texas v. USA case should leave the rest of the ACA in place.

Q1 Indexed Annuity Sales Looked Great: IRI

June 08, 2018

Variable annuity sales fell, but the variable annuity asset total rose.

Health Insurers Look Great, for Now: Rating Agencies

June 07, 2018

One cloud is the possibility that Congress could find a way to kill the premium tax credit subsidy.

Annuities

New York Life's CEO Still Likes the Retail Annuity Market

June 07, 2018

Ted Mathas says selling many annuities over time helps keep the company flexible.

Health Insurance

Bond Analyst Thinks LTCI Reserves Could Triple Over Next 10 Years

June 06, 2018

Robert Hauff said he believes most active, diversified issuers will muddle through.

Investors Helping Life Insurers Shift to Pension Transfer Market: Analyst

June 06, 2018

Employers are facing $3 trillion in pension liabilities. One barrier is a primitive risk transfer origination process.

Insurers Give Congress 3 Ideas for Making HSAs Work Better

June 06, 2018

But a professor said the accounts do little to improve access to care, or health care system efficiency.

Life Insurance Strategies

Life Application Activity Drifts Lower: MIB

June 06, 2018

Application volume for consumers ages 60 and older increased slightly.

Financial Services Companies to Unite Against Asset Looters

June 05, 2018

About 30 companies have agreed to send representatives to an in-person meeting June 13.

Kansas City Life Agrees to Pay $77.2 Million for Grange Mutual Life Unit

June 05, 2018

Kansas City Life says Theresa Mason would continue to be the president of Grange Life.

Mutual of America Chairman Emeritus, and Peacemaker, Dies at 91

June 05, 2018

In his spare time, William Flynn helped spur ceasefires in Northern Ireland.

Annuities

U.S. Life Insurers Are Still Shifting Toward Harder-to-Sell Assets: S&P

June 05, 2018

Analysts say limits on customers' ability to cash out quickly should shield insurers from liquidity worries.

Life Insurance Strategies

Group Life Plans Are Protecting More Workers: Gen Re

June 05, 2018

Premium revenue from in-force plans increased 4%. Revenue from new plans soared past 10%.

Long-Term Care Insurance Still in Investors' Doghouse: Morgan Stanley

June 04, 2018

Analysts at the firm say transferring LTCI risk to another entity may be difficult.

Medicare Drug Plan Subsidies Could Rise Like a Rocket: CBO

June 04, 2018

Medicaid is, and would continue to be, the biggest federal spending sponge.

Variable Universal Life Premiums Grow Again: LIMRA

June 04, 2018

Overall life sales fell 2% in the first quarter.

Ways and Means Turns Attention to Health Accounts

June 04, 2018

Ways and Means could soon kick off an effort to expand HSAs and similar programs.

Athene Completes $19 Billion Voya Annuity Reinsurance Deal

June 04, 2018

Athene has said it wants to add to do business with Voya's annuity distributors.

Medicare Supplement Issuers Keep Claim Ratios Under Control

June 02, 2018

UnitedHealth and Mutual of Omaha continued to be the market leaders.

Annuities

Some Life Insurers Are Wondering What to Do With Themelves

June 01, 2018

Life issuers appear to be much more eager than property-casualty issuers to change markets.

Humana Adds Dental Plan Aimed at Coverage Continuation Market

June 01, 2018

Consumers who had dental insurance before can get immediate coverage for basic and major services.

Health Insurance

Genworth Updates Website

June 01, 2018

The company continues to highlight long-term care funding more than mortgage insurance.

Annuities

Cornell Capital-Led Group Now Controls Hartford Life

May 31, 2018

The new owners say they will probably add jobs as they separate Talcott Resolution from Hartford Financial Services.

How Dr. Bill Wants to Change Health Insurance Now

May 31, 2018

This proposal could shape what you can offer your health insurance clients.