Live Insurance News

More people are gaining access to health insurance in Rhode Island

September 16, 2015September 15, 2015 S.Vagus

Survey shows that state’s uninsured population is falling The number of people in Rhode Island that do not have health insurance coverage continues to fall. According to a new survey from Gallup, which was commissioned by the state, the number of people using the state’s insurance exchange to find coverage has increased significantly. These people have found that it is easier to find affordable coverage through exchange marketplaces. The exchange has also become popular because it offers access to federal subsidies that can make coverage less expensive. Uninsured population is…

Lawmakers want to do away with Rhode Island’s health insurance exchange

March 5, 2015March 4, 2015 Nordstrom

Lawmakers want the federal government to control the state’s health insurance exchange Some lawmakers in Rhode Island want to see control of the state’s health insurance exchange ceded to the federal government. The new director of the exchange, however, wants the state to remain in control of the exchange, called HealthSource RI. Director Anya Rader Wallack believes that the state has managed its own exchange successfully, and should continue to do so for the sake of the health insurance market. The Rhode Island exchange has managed to perform well while…

Health insurance rates set to rise in Rhode Island

July 22, 2014July 19, 2014 Marc

Higher rates approved by state’s insurance regulators Rhode Island Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Hittner has announced that rate proposals from the state’s health insurance companies have been approved for 2015. Insurers are seeking rate increases in order to balance out the losses that they incur from the cost of medical care. Many people have purchased insurance coverage over the past several months and are beginning to visit doctors and receive treatment for their conditions. In order to recover from the costs of these treatments, as well as other financial issues that…

New law in Rhode Island aims to protect consumers and insurers from hurricanes

May 25, 2012 S.Vagus

Legislators pass new law ahead of hurricane season New legislation has been signed into law in Rhode Island by Governor Lincoln Chafee and will provide homeowners with additional protection from hurricanes. Last year, homes throughout the state suffered damages caused by Hurricane Irene. The state was able to recover from the natural disaster, but legislators took note of what they considered to be problems in Rhode Island’s insurance system. The legislation aims to solve these problems and improve the state’s defenses against future hurricanes. Homeowners to be protected against consecutive…

Rhode Island Insurance Commissioners wins new powers from the state Superior Court

October 13, 2011 S.Vagus

Rhode Island’s Superior Court has passed a ruling granting the state’s Insurance Commissioner, Christopher F. Koller, the power to regulate contracts between insurance companies and health care providers. The ruling stems from events that unfolded in 2008 when Koller nullified a contract between Rhode Island’s Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance company and the Care New England hospital group. The contract would have brought major benefits to the medical group at the expense of consumers, Koller claimed. In response, Care New England filed a suit against the Insurance Commissioner to…

Rhode Island legislator suspected of insurance fraud, charged with misappropriation of funds

September 2, 2011September 2, 2011 S.Vagus

A lawmaker from Rhode Island is being accused of insurance fraud. Representative Leo Medina was charged with misappropriation of funds yesterday stemming from an policy check issued late last year. The check was a payout from a life insurance policy which was originally intended for one of Medina’s friends whose daughter had died. Medina allegedly kept the majority of the money for himself after helping his friend, who does not speak English, obtain a payout from an insurance company. Insurance fraud has been a growing concern throughout the nation in…

Rhode Island insurance agency taps into the online market with new website and innovative marketing strategy

July 23, 2011May 14, 2013

Mansfield Insurance Agency, a small insurance company based in Westerly, Rhode Island, is taking an interactive approach to customer service. The agency is launching a new website and digital marketing campaign and will be seeking to improve connectivity in the market. Many insurers are turning to the Internet to better care for the needs of policyholders and to make it easier to connect with potential customers. More consumers are turning to the Internet to purchase insurance, presenting a valuable opportunity to companies tapping into the market. The agency launched their…