Voluntary Benefits

California's insurance watchdog said Thursday that Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to reduce its rate increase for 630,000 policyholders.

Insurer MetLife Inc., which sold its bank deposits in January, says it is no longer a bank holding company.

There are a half-dozen subtle drivers of growth that account for the almost unbroken string of annual sales increases for the voluntary industry.

As the market is preparing for the health care exchange system in 2014, voluntary benefits are expected to play a larger role, says Andrea Meyer, benefit manager of WorkSmart Systems Inc. Even under health care reform, medical insurance is projected to continue with its high deductibles, and voluntary benefits complement...

Sirona Dental Systems' fiscal first-quarter earnings were nearly unchanged due to an international sales slump and higher costs.

Shares of Allstate Corp. on Thursday rose to their highest level since September 2008 on news that the company posted a surprise fourth-quarter profit despite hefty losses related to Superstorm Sandy.