Swiss Re started the year in a tough spot, having reported a big loss for 2008 thanks in large part to ill-advised credit default swaps, and without enough capital on hand to maintain its "AA" rating from Standard & Poor's.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is demanding that Humana stop telling subscribers that current health care reform legislation could cause them to lose benefits and services provided through the Medicare Advantage program.

A compromise bill calling for nonprofit cooperatives rather than a government plan as an alternative health insurance source was unveiled in the U.S. Senate last week.

The Direct Marketing Association's Insurance and Financial Services Council announced two awards for a Marsh brokerage subsidiary.

Health care delivery system reform legislation unveiled Wednesday by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., allows cafeteria plans to offer qualified long-term care insurance--a priority of the LTC industry.

Marsh Inc. has acquired the largest independent manager of captive and third-party insurance companies in Bermuda, International Advisory Services Ltd.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. said it will pay a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share on outstanding common stock, payable on Nov. 16 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 9.

A webinar reviewing the current Medicare Secondary Payer law and exploring the coordination of benefits, post electronic reporting is scheduled for Sept. 23, noon-1:00 p.m. EDT.