Direct insurance regulation is likely to remain a state rather than federal function, Illinois Insurance Director Michael McRaith predicts.

Willis Group Holdings Chair and Chief Executive Officer Joe Plumeri reiterated his position that his firm will not take contingent commissions, even if a five-year-old agreement banning them is lifted.

They're located in Canada, Florida and a Mississippi Gulf Coast town still reeling from Hurricane Katrina. They have as few as 10 employees and as many as 250.

The authority of federal regulators to oversee and liquidate large, troubled insurance companies should be significantly pared back in legislation Congress is considering to deal with systemic risk to the economy, industry leaders are arguing.

Insurance agents are voicing dismay over health care reform legislation passed by the House late Saturday, and are hopeful that a more acceptable product can be produced by the Senate.

The U.S. Senate's vote to continue the National Flood Insurance Program for only 46 days drew fire from an insurance agent group, which warned against playing "Russian roulette" with policyholders.

A.M. Best Co. said concerns about Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s plans to buy Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad have led it to put the company's insurance subsidiaries' ratings under review.

Legislation to repeal the antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurers has been modified to include scrutiny of those insurers practices, an insurance trade group said.