House Republicans today sought to put new pressure on the Department of Health and Human Services over the medical loss ratio issue.

Independent insurance agents and healthcare agents say they will continue to pursue their goal of a medical loss ratio exemption despite a recent rejection of their request by the Department of Health and Human Services

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners request for an exemption from the medical loss ratio provisions of the healthcare reform law for insurance agents has been rejected.

The Senate is preparing to vote on legislation next week which would extend the current National Flood Insurance Program for at least six months, confirming that the outlook for a long-term extension for the program any time soon remains cloudy at best.

Republican legislators from Florida and a trade group for Bermuda insurers are renewing their concerns about the potential high cost of raising taxes on offshore insurers as a means of addressing budget deficit and debt concerns.

The Senate Banking Committee is being urged to drop a provision in flood-insurance legislation that would require homeowners and businesses to purchase federal flood coverage even if their properties are protected by levees.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., defended the Dodd-Frank Act, saying Repubicans critical of the bill acknowledged it was necessary.

The Treasury Department will hold a public hearing Dec. 9 to gain industry views on what it should recommend in an upcoming report on modernizing and improving insurance regulation.