Voluntary Benefits

With cuts to health benefits plans, employers are looking for ways to add value to employees. And one way to do that is by offering more voluntary benefits.

Shares in American International Group Inc. tumbled on Monday, deepening a slide that's brought the insurer's shares to the lowest point since March 2010 and stoked concerns over whether the U.S. government will be able to make a profit off an upcoming sale of AIG stock.

Prudential Financial Inc. on Wednesday said that its first-quarter profit rose 10 percent as sales of its insurance products and annuities increased and investment income rose.

Think you know everything about disability insurance? Take CIGNA's pop quiz

Some health insurers have been benefiting from a slowing growth rate in health care use, contributing to a stronger performance for the companies as they have reported improved earnings recently.

Cancer is the leading cause of long-term disability claims for Unum — and has been for a decade — according to 2010 data collected by the insurance company.