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U.S. House Representative from Michigan Hansen Clarke (D) proposed legislation on July 13, 2012 that would prohibit insurance companies from using credit scores to determine automobile insurance rates.   The bill, H.R. 6129, is titled the “Ban the Use of Credit Scores in Auto Insurance Act,” and was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. …
Read More Bill to Ban the Use of Credit Score in Insurance Rating Introduced into United States House of Representatives

SEBELIUS: MOST STATES WILL PARTICIPATE IN MEDICAID EXPANSION
In a speech on July 11, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius expressed confidence that most states will participate in the expansion of the Medicaid program provided for in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). …
Read More Healthcare Update: Sebelius: Most States will Participate in Medicaid Expansion; New Funding Made Available for Health Insurance Exchanges

As of July 2, 2012, the seasoning requirements under NJAC 11:1-10.4 for foreign and alien property and casualty insurers have been reduced.  Now, an insurer seeking a New Jersey Certificate of Authority to transact property and casualty insurance must have only three (3) years of qualifying operating history instead of five (5) years. …
Read More New Jersey Reduces Seasoning Requirements for Foreign and Alien Property and Casualty Insurers

Florida has amended its captive law pursuant to H.B. 1101, reducing minimum capital and surplus requirements for industrial insured captives, expanding the lines of insurance that may be written by captives, and recognizing pure and special purpose captive insurance companies as distinct from traditional Florida domestic insurers. …
Read More Florida Amends Captive Law

In perhaps the most widely anticipated Supreme Court decision since Bush v. Gore in 2000, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) was upheld on Thursday in a narrow 5 to 4 decision. Many believed that the Court would hold the law unconstitutional because of a provision known as the “individual mandate,” which requires most U.S. citizens to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. …
Read More Healthcare Update: Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of Affordable Care Act

In June 2012, the Senate Committee on Insurance passed Assembly Bill 999 by a vote of five to three.  The bill, sponsored by Commissioner Jones and the California Department of Insurance, modifies the long-term care insurance premium rate development process and requires that consumers be permitted to review policy language before purchasing a policy. …
Read More California Senate Committee Passes Long-Term Care Bill

The Texas Supreme Court recently issued its landmark opinion in the rehearing of Texas Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ruttiger, No. 08-0751 (Tex. June 22, 2012).  The opinion was originally issued on August 26, 2011, but was withdrawn after the Court granted the parties’ motion for a rehearing on February 17, 2012. …
Read More Texas Supreme Court Holds that Workers’ Compensation Carriers are Not Subject to Common Law Bad Faith Claims