Health Care Plans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two Democratic senators are demanding more transparency about premium increases from health insurers and warning them against blaming higher rates on a newly passed reform law.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. health insurers took in 7 percent more revenue from premiums from individual, group and other policies in 2009 than in the previous year, even as the number of those people with coverage fell, according to a report released on Thursday.

Health insurers expect costs to drive up claims payouts more than 10 percent next year. The costs that dictate employer-provided health insurance plans will climb more than 10 percent within the next 12 months, and financially pressured companies may pass more of this increase along to their workers through next year's benefits plans, according to an Aon Consulting report.

The costs that dictate employer-provided health insurance plans will climb more than 10 percent within the next 12 months, and financially pressured companies may pass more of this increase along to their workers through next year's benefits plans, according to an Aon Consulting report.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California regulators are seeking fines of up to $9.9 billion from a unit of health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc, citing mismanaged medical claims, failure to pay doctors and other lapses.

Health Net Inc. board member Thomas Farley dies. Health insurer Health Net Inc. said Thursday that board member Thomas Farley died earlier in the week at the age of 75.

Health insurer Humana names CEO Michael McCallister as chairman of the board. Health insurer Humana Inc. on Thursday named long-standing CEO Michael B. McCallister as chairman, succeeding David A. Jones Jr. who has resigned from the post but will remain on the board.

Investors were not happy with the results . Medco Health Solutions Inc. (NYSE: MHS, Stock Forum) has fallen ill in 2010, and the stock doesn?t look like it will embark on the road to recovery anytime soon. The year started out on a high note, with MHS soaring to an all-time high of $66.94 on Jan. 15., but the stock peaked early, and has been locked in a steady decline ever since. What's more, MHS' price action was dealt another blow on July 22, when investors reacted negatively to the company's second-quarter earnings report.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia was no riskier to the heart than a rival, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday, a finding that contradicts earlier studies and adds new fodder to the roiling debate over the drug's safety.

Trade group sues over Calif. rules that prevent insurers from dropping some policyholders. A trade group is suing California's insurance regulator to halt new, stiffer rules aimed at the illegal practice of dropping policyholders after they become ill with an expensive ailment.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has subpoenaed five more insurers in a widening probe into whether the industry has defrauded families of deceased members of the military.

Summary Box: Medco ramps up research efforts in $730M cash deal for United BioSource. WHAT IS HAPPENING: Medco Health Solutions Inc. expanded its research capabilities Monday by agreeing to buy United BioSource Corp. for $730 million.

WHAT IS HAPPENING: Medco Health Solutions Inc. expanded its research capabilities Monday by agreeing to buy United BioSource Corp. for $730 million.

Medco expands research efforts with $730 million deal for research adviser United BioSource. Pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. said Monday it will buy United BioSource Corp., which helps companies run studies of newly-approved drugs and medical devices, for $730 million in cash.

Pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. said Monday it will buy United BioSource Corp., which helps companies run studies of newly-approved drugs and medical devices, for $730 million in cash.

Correction: WellPoint notes story. In a headline and story Aug. 12 about WellPoint Inc., The Associated Press erroneously reported the total amount of senior notes sold by the health insurer. WellPoint's senior notes totaled $1 billion, not $100 million.

WellPoint wraps up sale of $100 million in senior notes due 2020 and 2040. Health insurer WellPoint said Thursday it completed its sale of two sets of senior notes worth a combined $100 million.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are cracking down on the growing number of companies that fraudulently sell so-called medical discount plans by telling consumers they work like health insurance and cover medical costs.

Molina prices 4 million share offering at $27 per share to pay back debt. Molina Healthcare Inc. will price its 4 million share offering at $27 each.

New claims for jobless benefits rise to 479K