John Hilton

3 days ago | insurancenewsnet.com | John Hilton

Shares of UnitedHealth Group dived Thursday after the insurer reported weak first-quarter earnings and slashed its outlook for the remainder of 2025. “It is an outlook that I’m extremely disappointed to share with you,” said John Rex, chief financial officer. “This reflects the profile of patients served at Optum Health. It also reflects significantly increased care activity across the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.”UnitedHealth shares closed down nearly $131 a share, or 22%.

1 week ago | insurancenewsnet.com | John Hilton

AuguStar Retirement got the annuity industry's attention this week by announcing a 24% premium bonus on its fixed indexed annuity. The OrionShield 10-year FIA offers a new tiered premium bonus structure, AuguStar said in a news release. The structure allows clients to select up to a 24% premium bonus credited to their initial premium on day one. The new premium bonus options are even available for ages 81-85, the release noted.

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | John Hilton

Annuity sellers, and everyone along the distribution chain, have long dreamed of technology that could reduce transaction times from weeks to hours. That time has come. Carriers are eagerly signing on to a new paperless transaction process for annuity transfers that is cutting cycle times by 94%. The overall “Digital First” project was led by the Insured Retirement Institute.

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | John Hilton

A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel partially reversed a lower-court ruling last week in a California term policy lapse lawsuit. The lawsuit is the latest challenge based on California’s 2012 insurance code update, which requires life insurers to give a 60-day grace period and notification of termination at least 30 days prior to any action. The law also gives consumers the right to designate a third party to receive notices of unpaid premiums or impending termination.

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | John Hilton

A California judge is giving plaintiffs until late April to file a fourth amended complaint alleging that Cigna used a computer algorithm to improperly deny claims. Judge Dale A. Drozd awarded Cigna a partial summary judgment last week, leaving a narrow opening for plaintiffs to keep their class-action lawsuit alive.