Life Insurance Quote Overview

A recent unprecedented increase in unauthorized and illegal health insurance plans, spurred by rising health care costs and increasing numbers of uninsured, has left approximately 100,000 people with millions of dollars in medical debts and no coverage, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.

With an average increase of 13 percent since 2002, autom insurance premiums show no sign of leveling, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 National Auto Insurance Study. Despite increasing costs, customer satisfaction with auto insurance providers has stabilized after a two-year slide.

History books will tell you the 1600s and early 1700s were the Golden Age of piracy, when merchant ships lived in constant fear of attack by the dread brigands who sailed the high seas with impunity, plundering and looting at will.

General Electric Capital Assurance Company, Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, and Clarica Life Insurance Company were among 54 companies downgraded by Weiss Ratings, Inc., in its recent review of 1,144 life and health insurers.

Florida lawmakers have given their blessing to a bill that legalizes the practice of linking insurance premiums to credit ratings. The industry-backed bill now goes to Gov. Jeb Bush, who is expected to sign it.

Associates Insurance Company, Connecticut Medical Insurance Company, Gerling Global Reins Corp of America, Healthcare Indemnity Inc., Sterling Casualty, and Washington Casualty were among 73 companies downgraded by Weiss Ratings, Inc., in its recent review of more than 2,200 property and casualty insurers.

71 Life and Health Insurers Downgraded; 22 Upgraded in Recent Review

Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Kemper Investors Life Insurance Company, Phoenix Life Insurance Company, and AIG Life Insurance Company were among 71 companies downgraded by Weiss Ratings, Inc., in its recent review of 983 life and health insurers.

Maryland insurance regulators have imposed a $400,000 fine on CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield for violations that include wrongfully denying claims and failing to process a majority of HMO claims within 30 days.

A federal court has issued an injunction and frozen the assets of a Canadian enterprise that charges consumers' credit cards and debits their bank accounts without authorization. According to the FTC, the defendants initially sold phony credit card loss protection and then moved into selling discount medical cards.

A California jury's $31.7 million verdict against UnumProvident, the nation's largest disability insurer, is just one of a number of legal problems the company faces. More than 2,500 policyholders have sued the company accusing it of fraud and breach of contract, there is at least one class-action suit pending and regulators in two states are conducting inquiries.

Overly idealistic expectations lead to bad results

Treadmill sales always go up in January. With people resolving to lose weight and get in shape for the new year, purchasing a piece of exercise equipment just seems logical.

But anti-inflammatory drugs may mask evidence of prostate cancer
Daily aspirin has long been suggested for some people at risk of heart trouble. Now, researchers at Vanderbilt University say aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is significantly associated with lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, especially among men with prostate cancer.

Canadian patients may be getting treatments they don't need

Asthma may not been nearly as common as doctors think it is. A new research study, led by Ottawa researcher Dr. Shawn Aaron, suggests that the condition may be over-diagnosed by up to 30 per cent in Canadian adults.

Doctors frustrated with paperwork, lack of time to see patients

A survey by the Physicians' Foundation has uncovered what it calls widespread frustration and concern among primary care physicians nationwide, which could lead to a dramatic decrease in practicing doctors in the near future. The survey examined the causes behind the doctors' dissatisfaction, the state of their practices and the future of care.

Products distributed in U.S. and Puerto Rico

Nestle USA is voluntarily recalling two production codes of Nestle Nesquik Strawberry Powder because the drink mix that may contain small fragments of aluminum. The recalled product is packaged in 21.8 ounce containers.

Differences attributable to lack of access to care

Racial disparity in the control of high blood pressure contributes to the deaths of almost 8,000 black men and women in the United States annually, according to a first-of-its-kind study published in the Annals of Family Medicine by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers.

Multivitamin "cocktail" shows promise in animal trials

A growing number of Americans--from troops returning from war to students with music blasting through headphones--are suffering from impairing noise-induced hearing loss. Add in aging baby boomers who attended too many rock concerts in their youth and about 10 million people in the U.S. have some hearing impairment.

Inflammation seen as the key to rapid tumor growth

The debate over links between red meat and dairy consumption and the risk of cancer have raged for years, often with political overtones. But scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say there could be a way those two food products could contribute to the increased risk of cancerous tumors.

But more people need to quit for real progress to be made

Fewer U.S. adults smoke, but cigarette smoking continues to impose substantial health and financial costs on society, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Recession also means many people will lack coverage

With the economy rushing headlong into recession, thousands of people are suddenly finding themselves unemployed. Perhaps just as distressing, they are finding themselves without health insurance.