Health insurance reform legislation drafted for the Senate Finance Committee would create a network of nonprofit cooperatives as an alternative provider for the coverage, according to an outline obtained by National Underwriter.

Strong voter push-back over controversial health care reform proposals, cost concerns and the political vacuum left by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy are likely to prompt Congress to ultimately pass more moderate, "reform-lite" legislation.

Insurance agents have won a critical change in the House Energy and Commerce Committee version of health care reform legislation that allows them to remain a crucial part of the distribution system.

The death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. could put Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., an advocate for giving insurers a federal charter option, in line to become the new chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, sources said.

Two Florida commercial and personal lines insurers with 18,000 policyholders have been ordered into liquidation, it was announced.

The Democratic leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has asked 52 health insurers to provide detailed information on their compensation and other financial information by Sept. 4.

Superfund litigation--as measured by the number, duration and complexity of cases--decreased from fiscal years 1994 through 2007, the General Accounting Office said.

The alternative risk transfer industry is eyeing compromise proposals for health care cooperatives as a substitute for the "public option" in health care delivery overhaul legislation, as an opportunity for the industry.