The National Flood Insurance Program has expired and been shut down after a lone senator blocked omnibus legislation that included renewal of NFIP.

Despite deep divisions within its own ranks and united opposition from Republicans, Democrats appeared to be moving closer and closer at year's end to landmark legislation.

Crop insurance carriers and independent agents say the U.S. Agriculture Department's latest proposed cuts in subsidies in the program as well as a "soft cap" on agents' commissions are both unwarranted and hurtful.

The National Flood Insurance Program has expired and been shut down after a lone senator blocked omnibus legislation that included renewal of NFIP.

Legislation repealing the antitrust exemption afforded health insurers through the McCarran-Ferguson Act, but keeping the shield intact for medical malpractice carriers, was approved overwhelmingly last week by the U.S. House of Representatives.

President Obama's proposal for a federal agency to regulate health insurance rates will in practice apply only in states where the regulators lack full rate review authority, state insurance regulators said.

Life insurance industry representatives attacked proposed health care legislation today that would tax mid-to-upper income individuals on income earned from annuities and other investments.

The House overwhelmingly approved legislation repealing the antitrust exemption afforded health insurers through the McCarran-Ferguson Act--but further action on the legislation is unlikely.