Rather than work to destroy the health reform bill passed by Congress, the insurance industry and Republican lawmakers should work to improve it over the next few years, suggests NU Editor Sam Friedman on his blog at www.NUSamSoapBox.com.

The Hartford has announced that it plans to repay the $3.4 billion it borrowed from the Treasury last year under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Worldwide natural catastrophes and man-made disasters cost insurers $26 billion last year

Risk retention group leaders are urging prompt House action on legislation introduced this month that will allow RRGs to sell commercial property insurance.

State insurance commissioners said they will work to implement aspects of federal health care reform where they are required to do so, but acknowledged that state legislatures could still challenge the reforms.

Aon Consulting has signed an agreement to acquire J.P. Morgan Compensation and Benefit Strategies, a division of J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services, LLC. Financial terms were not released.

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. said first quarter catastrophe losses from earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, U.S. windstorms and Storm Xynthia in Europe, will be between $25 million and $35 million.

Leslie Porterfield, a Foremost Insurance Group independent agent who doubles as a professional motorcycle rider, has made it into the Guinness World Records book for speed, her company said.