United States: Insurance Laws and Products

The Trump administration has finalized sweeping changes to healthcare price transparency rules, requiring health plans and insurers to standardize machine-readable pricing files, attest to data accuracy through executive certification, and provide consumers with personalized cost information by phone. These regulations, effective December 2026 through July 2028...

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, applying New Hampshire law, held that a Related Claims provision in an employment practices liability policy barred coverage for an employment discrimination lawsuit because an administrative complaint was first made before the Policy Period. Urena v. Travelers Casualty & Sur. Co. of Am., 2026 WL 2322160 (1st Cir. Aug. 11, 2026). The court found that the Related Claims provision in the policy’s General Terms and Conditions applied to EPL claims.

Washington's Insurance Commissioner has announced significant amendments to insurance claims handling regulations that will reshape how insurers investigate and process claims in the state. The changes, effective October 2026, introduce new requirements for mitigation approvals, investigation standards, and claimant communications that could substantially impact insurer operations and liability exposure. These regulatory updates come in response to a surge in consumer complaints and litigation, establishing

After hearing arguments in April 2026, a Seventh Circuit panel declined to overturn a lower court ruling dismissing a union fund’s challenge to an Arkansas rule affecting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The case is Central States Southeast & Southwest Areas Health & Welfare Fund et al. v. McClain, Case Number 25-2727, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Antarctic expedition cruise operators navigate a complex web of international treaties, maritime regulations, and voluntary industry standards that govern operations in one of the world's most remote destinations. As tourism to Antarctica reaches record levels, understanding the interplay between the Antarctic Treaty System, IMO Polar Code, flag-state requirements, and IAATO guidelines becomes essential for compliance, liability management, and operational success.

PHI Health LLC has filed suit against Anthem, alleging that the insurer and health plans it administers have failed to pay about $30 million in final payment determinations issued under the No Surprises Act (NSA)’s independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. The suit, which PHI filed in an Indiana federal district court, seeks over $1.3 million in interest on the payments that Anthem is accused of withholding.

Skadden attorneys examine the unique legal considerations in insurance brokerage M&A transactions, exploring how deal structures must be carefully crafted to protect value in a people-driven business where client relationships and key personnel are paramount. The discussion covers earn-outs, reinvestment mechanics, restrictive covenants, and bespoke warranty packages tailored to the distinctive nature of brokerage deals.

The NAIC has proposed significant revisions to statutory accounting principles that would restrict bond treatment for multi-collateral structured credit investments deemed to carry "significant embedded asset-liability management risk." This analysis examines the regulatory concerns driving the proposal, evaluates whether the proposed framework appropriately addresses those concerns, and identifies potential unintended consequences for insurance company investors and the broader structured credit markets.

State legislatures and regulatory bodies are reshaping the telehealth landscape through new laws addressing reimbursement parity, remote patient monitoring coverage, controlled substance prescribing, and clinical supervision standards. These July developments reveal how policymakers are balancing expanded access to virtual care with targeted safeguards and compliance requirements that affect healthcare providers, digital health companies, and technology platforms across multiple jurisdictions.