Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.insur From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: insur Tue, Feb 25 1992 Date: Tue, 25 Feb 92 06:35:01 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Insurance USA TODAY Update Feb. 25, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network LEVI STRAUSS EXTENDS BENEFITS: Levi Strauss & Co. Monday became the largest U.S. employer to extend health benefits to unmarried partners of its U.S. employees. The policy, which takes effect June 1, applies to any unmarried worker who lives with and shares finances with a lover. Levi says the new policy reflects its desire for a workplace that doesn't discriminate based on sex, race, origin or marital status. GAY COUPLES TO BENEFIT: Though Levi Strauss & Co.'s policy announced Monday to extend health benefits to all unmarried partners of it's U.S. employees, it is expected to be used primarily by homosexual couples. Unmarried couples will be eligible for the same benefits as married ones, but benefits for an unmarried lover are considered taxable income. Levi is the world's largest clothing manufacturer. STATE FARM TO REFUND $37.1M: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. said Monday that $37.1 million is being refunded to Ohio policyholders, and rates will drop for some customers March 1. The refunds and rate reductions are due to low accident rates in the state over the past six months. The firm last returned money in 1984. WILENSKY CHANGING JOBS: Gail Wilensky, head of the agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid, is moving to the White House staff as a deputy to domestic policy czar Clayton Yeutter, it was announced Monday. Wilensky, administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration since 1990, helped put together health reform proposals President Bush unveiled in early February. S&P ASSIGNS `A' RATING: S&P has assigned its single-`A'-plus claims-paying ability rating to Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield. The rating for Arkansas BC & BS is based on its profitable book of Medicare supplement business, its operating efficiencies, its strong capitalization, and its increasing diversification of sources of income as a result of subsidiary business development. PHOENIX MUTUAL HAS INCREASES: Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co. Monday reported increases for 1991 in assets, assets under management, insurance in force, investment income, and dividend payments to policyholders. Highlights: Total assets of $6.8 billion, up from $6.6 billion in 1990; total insurance in force of $79.4 billion, up from $6.4 billion in 1990. HMO ENROLLMENT INCREASES: Enrollment in HMO's increased by nearly 1.2 million in the USA during the first half of 1991, according to InterStudy. From January to July 1991, total enrollment in the nation's 559 HMO's grew by 3.5% to 36.5 million, with 35 million people in traditional HMO's and another 1.5 million in open-ended plans, reports AHA News. CONVICTIONS INCREASE: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia's financial investigations department increased its number of convictions from six in 1990 to 14 in 1991, with recoveries increasing by 40% to $1.4 million. Through antifraud efforts and follow-ups to calls on its toll-free fraud hotline, BC and BS of Virginia has recovered more than $3.6 million over the past four years. HEALTHCARE, OUCH DEAL COMPLETED: James C. Smith, president and CEO of HealthCare COMPARE Corp., said Monday that the merger between the company and Occupational-Urgent Care Health Systems, Inc., has been completed. In the merger, each outstanding share of OUCH common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.93 of a share of HCCC common stock. OUCH is now a wholly owned subsidiary of HealthCare COMPARE Corp. PANEL CONSIDERING RULE CHANGE: A state licensing panel in Alabama is considering a proposed rule to allow paramedics to work in hospital emergency rooms. The state nurses association opposes the plan, saying hospitals were using it to cut costs. Hospitals say they want to use paramedics because it is difficult to find nurses for rural areas. MONEY RELEASED: In Columbus, Ohio, state comptrollers Monday released $16 million for hiring more investigators, a Workers' Compensation Bureau officer said. The state legislature in 1991 put $36 million of the bureau's budget into a reserve fund, citing a claims backlog and unpaid bills. AETNA TO CUT JOBS: As part of an ongoing reorganization, Aetna Life & Casualty Co. will eliminate about 620 jobs when it consolidates field offices that handle propoerty:casualty claims later this year. The cuts represent about 9.4% of 6,600 field positions. Some of the layoffs will come through attrition. Insurance Editor: Jason Smith. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002250000D0225 INTE- R D Haitians-can-be-sent-home............. A D0225 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM