2026 MAR 06 (NewsRx) — By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News — According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a trademark application has been made for “OPTIBEN” by Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company, representing Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company. This application was made available to the public on February 20, 2026.
The serial number for this application is 88279399.
The international trademark goods and services class code for this trademark application is 036.
As submitted by the applicant, this trademark application relates to the following goods and services: Insurance claims processing in the field of supplemental health, dental, vision claims; insurance services, namely, underwriting, issuance and administration of supplemental health, dental, vision insurance; administration of employee benefit plans concerning insurance and finance.
The registrar information for this application is: Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Company, 7 River Bend Place, Flowood, MS 39232, UNITED STATES.
(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)
Partnership will bring a modern, next generation insurance solution to consumers
AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Continental General Insurance Company (together with its affiliates, “Continental General” or the “Company”) today announced it has partnered with Reframe Financial (“Reframe”), a leading Insurtech company, to bring the next evolution of the Reframe LifeStage insurance solution to market for consumers.
Reframe LifeStage is a next-generation hybrid product built for the worksite and association market, designed to help today’s working-age adults access financial protection and prepare for the future. The solution combines Indexed Universal Life insurance, 7702B-qualified (indemnity) long-term care benefits, and a cash value feature that can generate supplemental savings—all within one flexible policy that can grow and evolve over time to meet changing needs through a policyholder’s key life stages.
David Ramsey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Continental General, commented:
“Reframe Financial has been on the forefront of developing innovative, next generation insurance solutions, and we are proud to partner together to bring Reframe LifeStage to consumers. We believe access to Reframe LifeStage will be a breakthrough for addressing the significant protection gaps that exist today, and we are eager to provide access to this product.”
Karan Aneja, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Reframe, commented:
“We’re thrilled to introduce the next evolution of our Reframe LifeStage product with Continental General. This partnership is a natural fit for us as Continental General brings deep industry expertise, financial strength and stability, along with a strong reputation for claims performance and operational excellence. Equally important, the team shares our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that can help families prepare for the financial issues of aging. Together, we can move the industry forward while helping the next generation prepare for the future.”
The Next Evolution of Reframe LifeStage
Now available, Reframe LifeStage offers a combination of benefits designed to meet a policyholder’s most important needs at key life stages. By partnering with Continental General, Reframe LifeStage has been enhanced with new features, including:
Instant Decision Underwriting for All Ages, streamlining the buying experience from weeks to minutes.
Expanded Family Caregiver Support Services, provided by TCARE to offer meaningful long-term care (LTC) resources and assistance to policyholders who are providing care for a loved one.
The reality is that many working-age adults are falling behind on the fundamentals of financial planning: protecting their families, safeguarding assets, building liquid emergency savings, and leveraging tax-advantaged strategies for retirement. A significant life insurance protection gap exists among this population, with an estimated 82% underinsured.1 The gap is even wider for long-term care, with only 3.1% of Americans carrying coverage.2 At the same time, while saving is a priority, nearly half of employees are not meeting their emergency savings goals.3
Loida Abraham, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Insurance of Reframe, commented:
“Today’s working-age adults are not prepared for tomorrow. Even those who have life insurance often don’t have enough. And while long-term care coverage becomes critical later in life, most people in this generation aren’t thinking about it right now. However, many may be supporting a parent or grandparent through a care event—and that’s where the Family Caregiver Support Services program included with every LifeStage policy really resonates. We also know that building savings—for emergencies and retirement—is a top priority. The beauty of Reframe LifeStage is its flexibility. Where traditional benefits only address a single need, Reframe LifeStage can help address all of these needs.”
A Fully Digital, Turnkey Platform that Streamlines Implementations, Provides Coverage in Minutes, and Delivers Big Benefits for Employers of Every Size
Reframe’s proprietary technology platform delivers a personalized user experience supported by intuitive decision-support tools. The company has streamlined the underwriting process by eliminating invasive requirements—such as lab tests and interviews—enabling applicants to complete an online application and receive a personalized decision in minutes. By delivering coverage through employers and associations via a turnkey platform and fully digital experience, it also makes implementations easy while providing the seamless, easy-to-navigate buying process today’s consumers expect.
There is no minimum group size requirement for employers, making it an ideal solution for the small business market, which represents 99% of all companies in the U.S. and employs more than 60 million Americans.4
Since our founding in 1961, Continental General has been dedicated to serving policyholders, claimants, and their families with reliable insurance solutions. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, we have grown into trusted providers through our commitment to care and excellence, supporting policyholders through our family of companies and strategic partners. Learn more about Continental General at www.cgic.com.
TPA Services provided by Continental General Services, LLC (in California doing business as Continental General Administrative Services and in New York as Continental General Insurance Services, LLC). Continental Insurance Group, Ltd. (“CIG”) is the parent company of Continental General Management, LLC (“CGM”), Continental General Insurance Company (“CGIC”), and Continental General Services, LLC (“CGS”). CIG, CGM, CGIC, and CGS are all wholly owned subsidiaries of Continental General Holdings, LLC (“CGH”).
CGIC is a stock life, accident and health insurance company existing under the laws of the State of Texas and is a licensed insurance carrier in forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Continental General is an umbrella marketing name for CGM, CGIC, and CGS.
About Reframe Financial
Reframe Financial (“Reframe”) is helping families prepare for and manage the financial and emotional issues of aging. The company’s insurance products and services address families’ financial needs at each stage of life, from the early stages of building a family, to empty nesting, retirement, and beyond. Reframe’s proprietary fully digital buying process and turnkey platform make it easy for clients to implement, easy for consumers to buy, and easy for distributors to sell. Reframe partners with the industry’s most respected carriers, distributors, re-insurers, and employee benefits brokers to ensure that more families have access to the solutions they need for a more secure future. Learn more about Reframe Financial at reframefinancial.com.
____________________
1
Life’s Persistent-Questions #6-How Big Is the Life Insurance Coverage Gap, Greenwaldresearch.com, September 2024.
2
Tackling Consumers’ Long-Term Care Confusion, LIMRA, 2024
3
Bank of America’s 2025 Workplace Benefits Report, Bank of America Institute
In 1967, while finishing his senior year at Ohio State University, Marv Feldman signed his first insurance contract with New York Life. At the time, he was just another face in an industry where 90% of new agents flame out within 12 months.
Feldman didn’t just beat those odds; he spent the next six decades redefining them.
The industry veteran, who began his career knocking on doors and cold-calling prospects for more than two years before entering New York Life’s management training program, eventually returned to personal production in 1974. At age 28, he became a partner at the Feldman Agency in East Liverpool and president of Fremar Financial Group.
As the son of the legendary Ben Feldman, often referred to as the best insurance agent ever, he walked in big shadows. But Marv Feldman carved out his own path defined by high-level leadership and advocacy.
Feldman served as a past president of the Million Dollar Round Table and was honored in 2011 with the the industry’s highest accolade, the John Newton Russell Memorial Award from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Feldman concluded his nearly 60-year career as the CEO of Life Happens, leaving behind a legacy of service that earned him widespread respect across the financial services landscape.
“He was a great leader, husband and father and will sorely be missed,” said John W. Wheeler, Jr., NAIFA president elect. “He had countless contributions to the industry with unquestionable dignity and wisdom.”
“I always said I wanted to be remembered first as a great husband and father… and oh, by the way, a guy who happened to be successful in the insurance industry,” Feldman said in a final message shared by his family on social media.
Generous with his time
In an industry that can all too often seem transactional, Feldman was known for giving his time. When NAIFA Los Angeles worked through then-Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office to establish Life Insurance Awareness Month, Gilbert Z. Mares, NAIFA LA president at the time, recalls Feldman flying 3,000 miles to show in-person support.
Not just the initial year [2014] either, said Mares, head of Gilbert Z. Mares & Associates Insurance agency in San Marino, Calif., but for several years afterward.
“He loved attending,” Mares said.
By then, Feldman’s passion was Life Happens, an industry-supported marketing group based in Washington, D.C. He worked with a small staff to educate consumers on the importance of life insurance in protecting families’ financial futures.
Richard M. Weber remembers working with Feldman when Weber served on the executive committee of the Society of Financial Service Professionals about 15 years ago. FSP, which merged into NAIFA in 2024, was one of several trade groups that would meet once a year to “find common ground and collaborate,” Weber explained.
“I especially remember his mediation skills at ‘herding cats,’” Weber recalled. “Taking leadership in getting all these organizations to work together.”
In 2016, Feldman published his memoir titled Man On A Mission: How to Succeed, Serve, and Make a Difference in Your Financial Services Career. The book sports 4.8 stars (out of 5) on 80 Amazon reviews.
“Marvin Feldman is one of the professionals that I dare you to ignore at the cost of your long-term career development,” wrote David H. Kinder, longtime agent and financial consultant. “For the new agent, I believe it’s a wonderful primer to this career.”
Dedication is ‘beyond reproach’
Marv Feldman’s career accomplishments are almost too numerous to mention.
He was the 2002 president of the Million Dollar Round Table and a member of the elite Top of the Table for 41 years. He was honored as the Circle of Life recipient in 2004 by the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation in recognition of his community and industry leadership.
Feldman gave speeches in 40 countries. He served as the Secretary of New York Life’s Agent’s Advisory Council, and was named to Insurance Newscast’s list of the 100 most powerful people in the insurance industry in North America
The late Terry K. Headley, NAIFA’s 2011 president, had this to say about Feldman upon his selection for the John Newton Russell Award: “Marv’s dedication to the institution of life insurance and the industry is beyond reproach. I can’t think of a better ambassador for our business, our industry, and our profession. As a highly successful agent for many years, Marv clearly understands and appreciates the essential role of agents, who perform the vital job of protecting the financial security of American families.”
Later in life, he led Feldman Financial Group in Clearwater and Palm Harbor, Fla., building a practice “known for professionalism, mentorship, and service to clients,” NAIFA said.
Like many, Michael Weintraub, former principal and co-founder of Next Step Retirement & Insurance Services, will most remember Feldman never missing a chance to enjoy the simple joys of life and trying to make people laugh.
Many years ago, Mike and Paula Weintraub and Marv and Vicki Feldman went to see a Broadway musical in Toronto.
“During intermission, Marv looked at me and said something like, ‘Let’s go find some real food,’” Mike Weintraub recalled. “The two of us quietly slipped out of the theater and ran down the street to a food truck for hot dogs and those amazing Toronto french fries.”
The wives eventually tracked them down and the foursome hurried back to their seats just as the curtain was rising, he added, “both of us with mustard on our chins.”
Feldman “was respected and loved by so many of us,” Weintraub said. “I feel fortunate to have called him a friend for so many years.”
Here’s a question I ask every new client: when was the last time you looked at the beneficiary form on your life insurance?
The usual answer is a long pause followed by something like “when I started the job.”
That’s a problem. Because beneficiary designations override your will. Every time.
Your will can say everything goes to your current spouse. Doesn’t matter. If your ex-wife is still named on that 401(k) beneficiary form from 2009, she gets the money. Missouri courts have been clear on this. The beneficiary form controls. End of discussion.
This trips up more families than any other estate planning issue I see.
It happens after divorce. It happens after remarriage. It happens when a named beneficiary dies and nobody updates the form. It happens when parents name a minor child directly, not realizing that a life insurance company won’t write a check to a 12-year-old — so now a court-supervised conservatorship controls that money until the child turns 18, at which point they get every dime with no strings attached.
The accounts that carry beneficiary designations include life insurance policies, 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans, IRAs, annuities, payable-on-death bank accounts, and transfer-on-death brokerage accounts. For most families, these accounts represent the majority of their wealth. More than the house. More than the cars. More than whatever’s in the checking account.
And none of it is controlled by your will.
The fix is straightforward but requires attention. Pull every beneficiary form you have. Compare them against your current wishes. If you have a trust, the trust should probably be the beneficiary on most accounts — that way the money flows into the structure you’ve built instead of bypassing it entirely.
A few specific things to check: Are any ex-spouses still named? Are any minor children named directly instead of through a trust? Is there a contingent beneficiary listed, or does the form just say “estate” as the backup? Naming your estate as beneficiary on a retirement account can trigger immediate income tax on the full balance — a completely avoidable disaster.
I tell clients to review their beneficiary designations every time something changes. Marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death in the family. And even if nothing changes, review them every two years anyway, because memory is unreliable and the stakes are too high to guess.
This is a 30-minute project that protects your family from a mess that no amount of money can undo after the fact.
Patrick Nolan is a Missouri Estate Planning attorney and legal historian based in Kirksville. He writes on law, history, and constitutional issues, illustrating how they affect everyday life. He is the author of Dead Man’s Guide to Estate Planning and can be found online at https://www.nemolegal.com. Questions for the Ask a Lawyer Column may be submitted to ask@nemolegal.com.
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa” (Superior) of the property/casualty (P/C) insurance subsidiaries of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CFC) and The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company. Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of CFC. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. All companies except The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company (CSU) are domiciled in Fairfield, OH. CSU is domiciled in Delaware. (See below for a detailed listing of the P/C companies and Long-Term IRs.)
The ratings reflect CFC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.
CFC maintains the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), supported by a conservative operating strategy with strict underwriting guidelines, resulting in favorable reserve development for over 30 consecutive years. Adjusted financial leverage was 4.9% at year-end 2025, as measured by AM Best, and interest coverage is considered to be strong. Additionally, CFC maintains an extensive stock portfolio consisting of dividend-paying stocks, which supplements interest investment income. While this portfolio exposes surplus and risk-adjusted capitalization to equity market fluctuations, CFC has been able to manage these risks over a prolonged period of time. AM Best believes capitalization will remain supportive of CFC’s ratings.
CFC is predominantly a P/C group of insurers that markets its products primarily through independent agencies. The group has recorded underwriting profits each year since 2012, with operating metrics that generally outperform its peers. AM Best believes CFC has adequate capital and financial flexibility to meet any near-term liquidity needs, and CFC also maintains a comprehensive reinsurance program with highly rated reinsurance partners.
CFC has a favorable business profile assessment supported by its diversified portfolio of commercial and personal lines of business, as well as its life and non-admitted insurance products. Contributing to the favorable business profile is CFC’s growing global geographic footprint and the group’s strong U.S. P/C market position. The group maintains a risk management framework that appropriately addresses the risks inherent in its profile, and its risk management capabilities generally meet or exceed its risk profile.
The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa” (Superior) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its P/C subsidiaries:
The Cincinnati Indemnity Company
The Cincinnati Casualty Company
The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company
The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICR of “aa” (Superior) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company.
The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:
Cincinnati Financial Corporation—
— “a” (Excellent) on $28.0 million 6.90% senior unsecured debentures, due 2028
— “a” (Excellent) on $374 million 6.125% senior unsecured notes, due 2034
— “a” (Excellent) on $391 million 6.92% senior unsecured debentures, due 2028
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
Arlington, VA — The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and Dublin-based Brokers Ireland have announced a new strategic international partnership focused on professional development, thought leadership, and public policy collaboration. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the insurance and financial service profession while expanding opportunities for advisors and brokers in both countries.
NAIFA President-Elect John W. Wheeler, Jr. and Trustee Josh O’Gara attended the Brokers Ireland Financial Broker Conference and signed the trans-Atlantic partnership on February 26 in Enfield, Ireland.
Through the partnership, NAIFA and Brokers Ireland will collaborate on initiatives aimed at strengthening professional education, advancing industry standards, and expanding international engagement for financial professionals in the United States and Ireland.
Collaboration will include shared thought leadership, participation in conferences and professional events, and the exchange of insights on public policy and regulatory developments affecting financial professionals, helping support informed advocacy efforts and continued consumer access to financial guidance in both markets.
“This partnership is a win-win for our organizations and the professionals we represent,” said NAIFA CEO Kevin M. Mayeux, CAE. “NAIFA and Brokers Ireland share a common mission to elevate professionalism, strengthen advocacy, and ensure consumers have access to financial guidance. By working together, we expand global perspectives, create new learning opportunities for our members, and reinforce the vital role financial professionals play in helping individuals and families achieve financial security.”
“Brokers Ireland looks forward to working with NAIFA and bringing real benefits to both organisations’ members through this new and exciting partnership,” said Diarmuid Kelly, CEO of Brokers Ireland.
Pacific Life Ranks Highest among Life Insurance Distribution Partners, Corebridge Financial Ranks Highest among Annuity Distribution Partners
Customer satisfaction is high among financial advisors, insurance agents and bankers for their life insurance and annuity partners
Despite high levels of overall satisfaction, many financial professionals say working with life insurance and annuity partners can require more effort than they’d like
Satisfaction plummets when financial professionals experience challenges with life insurance and annuity partner digital portals
TROY, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Life insurance1 and annuity products2 are experiencing rising demandas a combination of market and demographic trends push more financial advisors, insurance brokers and bankers to talk to their clients about the possibility of outliving their savings and the need to protect their families from unexpected events. For the most part, the companies that create and support these products are doing a good job of delivering on key relationship needs for financial professionals, with most receiving high satisfaction marks in the inaugural JD Power Life & Annuity Distribution Partner Experience Study,SM released today. While life insurance and annuity distribution partners perform well on the fundamentals, many still have opportunities to improve the level of user-friendly service they offer to financial professionals.
“The two most valuable commodities of financial professionals are their time and reputations, so when it comes to working with life insurance and annuity partners, they place an enormously high value on trust and ease of interaction,” said Craig Martin,executive director, global insurance intelligence at JD Power. “While many life insurance and annuity brands have built strong reputations and deliver reliable service to financial professionals and their clients, one area for improvement is user friendliness. Many providers come up short on self-service capabilities and have processes that can be time-consuming and seem antiquated.”
Following are some key findings of the 2026 study:
Strong performance on overall customer satisfaction: The average overall satisfaction score for life insurance distribution partners is 743 (on a 1,000-point scale) and the average overall satisfaction score for annuity distribution partners is 742. These compare with overall scores of 664 for independent insurance agent satisfaction with personal lines insurers3 and 629 for independent financial advisor satisfaction with wealth management firms4.
Room to improve on ease of interaction: Financial professionals consistently cite having a partner who is easy to work with as one of their top priorities. Brand loyalty rates are 78% among life insurance partners and 71% among annuity partners who say their partners are very easy to work with. Still, fewer than half (40%) of financial professionals say their life insurance and annuity partners are very easy to work with.
More self-service capabilities needed: Almost one-third (31%) of financial professionals indicate that the balance between self-service and live support required to work with their life insurance and annuity partners is sub-optimal, with 20% of professionals suggesting their annuity providers need to provide better self-service capabilities.
Digital engagement is critical: Most life insurance and annuity partners offer well-designed digital portals, with 71% of financial professionals rating their life insurance and annuity partners’ portal experiences as excellent. For the 29% of financial professionals who say their provider portals fall short, average overall satisfaction scores decline by more than 200 points.
Study Rankings
Pacific Life ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction with life insurance distribution partners, with a score of 768. Guardian Life (761) ranks second and Allianz (760) ranks third.
Corebridge Financial ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction with annuity distribution partners, with a score of 765. Security Benefit (764) ranks second and Symetra (754) ranks third.
The Life & Annuity Distribution Partner Experience Study evaluates the experiences of financial advisors, insurance agents and banking professionals who sell products for the nation’s largest life insurance and annuity distribution companies across six dimensions (in alphabetical order): business support; compensation; ease of doing business; operational support; product competitiveness; and service to clients. This year’s study is based on 2,860 evaluations of life insurance distribution partners and 3,010 evaluations of annuity distribution partners and was fielded from October–December 2025.
JD Power delivers mission-critical data, analytics and intelligence that help businesses improve customer experience and operational performance with confidence and clarity. Using proprietary, comprehensive data–including millions of consumer interactions and authoritative automotive datasets–combined with advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and deep industry expertise, JD Power enables leaders to respond to market shifts, make smarter decisions and drive measurable performance improvements.
As an objective source of deep insight into real-world customer interactions with brands and products, JD Power provides the independent intelligence organizations need to anticipate change, strengthen customer engagement and advance growth. Learn more at JDPower.com.
There is a difficulty in selling life insurance through all channels – it typically requires customers to confront their own mortality. Traditional milestone-based selling (e.g., marriage, birth of a child, purchasing a home) is a struggle, with younger generations delaying these life events.
Chris Taylor
Needs-based selling will not work in the same way. That does not mean that life insurance is not needed – it just means that needs-based selling will not work quite the same way it used to. Carriers and agents must consider a different strategy to make life insurance relevant to consumers.
Although there are several ways to make life insurance more compelling, repositioning life insurance from a protection product to a wellness benefit is a win for both carriers and consumers.
John Hancock’s Vitality program is a herald of what is to come – transforming life insurance from a traditional financial product into a wellness product by encouraging healthy living.
For life carriers, this type of program is a mutual benefit. Prolonging longevity reduces the likelihood of prematurely paying out a death benefit, while encouraging gamification of healthy living. The results are clear – significantly greater interactions (20-30 interactions per month as opposed to 1-2 with traditional insurance), improved health outcomes and a useful differentiator in the market to drive product sales.
Driving life insurance sales through innovative incentives
Carriers should rethink incentives to compete for the most important market – young, healthy consumers. A strong policyholder base provides greater profitability and opportunity for additional product sales. An incentive program helps attract and retain the target customer.
Here are three steps in developing a robust incentive program that will drive meaningful life insurance sales:
Identify key health data points to continuously underwrite in-force policies
Carriers must think through what the critical data points are that have long-term impacts on their book of business. There are two ways to think about this (and carriers should do both).
The first is to think through the areas that would traditionally be assessed in comprehensive underwriting. In today’s life insurance world, 60% of individual life insurance applications qualify for some form of accelerated underwriting, requiring no medical examination. And that preference to avoid medical exams is driving most of the industry to have some non-exam underwriting techniques.
Carriers should use this as an opportunity to repackage exam questions into health benefits, encouraging consumer wellness. For example, instead of requiring blood work for policy issuance, offer the same blood test as an activity that earns rewards or a reduction in insurance premiums.
The second option is to think with the end consumer in mind. If you are seeking to attract a healthy, younger demographic, offer benefits that are already in line with their habits. For example, partnering with a large fitness chain to provide free gym memberships is likely to appeal to individuals who already attend the gym. The benefit to the carrier is clear – more complete personas for the target customer while encouraging policyholders to take actions that reduce the carrier’s risks.
Identify partners to accelerate the speed to market
Carriers should understand that they cannot successfully do this alone. Instead, they should seek to develop partnerships with wellness providers to license or develop apps and wearables for data collection to support the program. Integrating this data into life insurance policies would then allow policyholders to earn rewards that can either be redeemed for perks or allow for personalized reassessments to impact individualized pricing.
Insurance carriers face high customer acquisition costs. Partnerships with established wellness providers assist insurance carriers with lowering CAC. But those partnerships also provide credibility that the carriers are concerned with policyholder wellness. As a result, carriers become a part of a larger wellness ecosystem that promotes longevity and sustainable living.
Develop a continuous improvement program
Carriers must leverage the data gained through these wellness initiatives to inform customer targeting efforts and underwriting risk assessments. From a customer perspective, wellness partnerships should provide strong insights into the target customer, give information on which policyholders the carrier is attracting, and inform future persona development. It is just as important that carriers know who they are attracting as knowing who they are not attracting.
But the data gained from a wellness program should be used to influence assumptions in their accelerated underwriting efforts. Successful programs will develop key performance indicators that tie new policyholders from the wellness program to improving underwriting outcomes and profitability for the carrier. This, in turn, provides better data to support better underwriting standards.
Life insurance is still needed. But addressing coverage gaps requires carriers to rethink products as simple financial products that achieve goals for policyholders. Carriers must develop a strategy that makes legacy products relevant to the next generation if they want to see significant growth.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and a life insurance company have settled an $8.5 million lawsuit in which the driver said he was misled into purchasing policies marketed as safe retirement plans.
Kyle and Samantha Busch reached an out-of-court settlement with Pacific Life Insurance Company, according to a Feb. 26 court filing. Terms were confidential.
“Both sides worked constructively to achieve a confidential result that is mutually acceptable and avoids further legal proceedings,” Pacific Life said in a statement.
The Buschs sued Pacific Life last October, claiming they lost more than $8.5 million after being misled into purchasing life insurance policies. They claim they paid over $10.4 million in premiums based on misleading illustrations and false promises of guaranteed returns.
The lawsuit accused Pacific Life and one of its agents of marketing indexed universal life policies as “tax-free retirement plans” using speculative projections that failed to disclose true risks and costs. The complaint claimed the company prioritized commissions over policyholder interests and violated North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Pacific Life filed for dismissal in January, contending the Busches failed to fully fund their policies and signed documents agreeing to the terms. The company also argued the lawsuit exceeds the three-year statute of limitations, noting it was filed seven years after the policies were initiated.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a+” (Excellent) of the key U.S. life/health subsidiaries and Europe-based insurance companies of The Cigna Group (Cigna) (headquartered in Bloomfield, CT) [NYSE: CI]. The majority of Cigna’s core U.S. health insurance entities are collectively referred to as Cigna Life & Health Group.
In addition, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of Cigna. AM Best also has affirmed the Short-Term Issue Credit Rating (Short-Term IR) of Cigna. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. (Please see below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)
The ratings reflect Cigna Life & Health Group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).
Cigna Life & Health Group’s ratings continue to recognize its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The group’s balance sheet remains a core strength, characterized by strong liquidity and financial flexibility. Cigna Life & Health Group’s invested assets are held predominantly in investment grade fixed income securities and cash/cash equivalents, while maintaining moderate exposure to commercial mortgage-backed securities, private issues and below investment grade securities.
AM Best notes that Cigna Life & Health Group’s balance sheet strength assessment continues to be impacted by Cigna’s elevated financial leverage of just over 43%, as measured by AM Best, as well as its very high level of goodwill and intangible assets. Cigna’s debt service is supported by its strong earnings and dividends from the group’s insurance entities, as well as solid non-regulated earnings from its Evernorth Health Services segment. Cigna’s earnings before interest and taxes interest coverage remains good at over six times for 2025. Nevertheless, goodwill and intangibles assets remain high at approximately 176% of shareholder equity. The high goodwill/intangibles are predominantly related to non-insurance operations, Evernorth Health Services, contributes material non- regulated cash flow, stable earnings and substantial business diversification for Cigna. Cigna has reported strong operating cash flows through 2025. Cigna has excellent financial flexibility supported by parent company cash, insurance subsidiary dividend capacity, non-regulated cash flow, a commercial paper program and a $6.5 billion revolving credit agreement.
Cigna Life & Health Group has reported a solid level of revenue and operating earnings in its business segments over the last several years, driven by a high membership base and premium rate increases. The group’s revenues are geographically diversified across the United States, which supports the organization’s operational strength. The sale of Cigna Group’s Medicare and CareAllies businesses in 2025 is expected to drive a decrease in overall revenues. Cigna Life & Health Group has consistently reported high levels of earnings and solid levels of return-on-equity measures among its peers. AM Best also notes that Cigna Life & Health Group continues to operate under a lower risk model as a majority of its business is commercial group health business with a high portion operated under self-funded/administrative services only employer group contracts. Earnings from the insurance operations have been driven largely by the group’s core commercial segment. AM Best expects Cigna Life & Health Group’s operating performance to remain favorable with possible improvement from the sale of its Medicare business, which had been a drag on earnings.
The organization continues to maintain a strong market presence in its core commercial employer health products in the United States. Through its affiliated noninsurance service entities, Cigna provides pharmacy benefit management services, as well as a comprehensive suite of solutions for complex and chronic conditions to drive down the cost of care. Furthermore, Cigna has expanded its customer base through cross-selling opportunities via the Evernorth Health Services arm, with further opportunity for premium, revenue and earnings growth for the overall organization.
The organization has a comprehensive ERM program with mature governance. The program is integrated into day-to-day operations and strategic business planning. Each business unit has its own heat map, which rolls up to an enterprise-level heat map. The organization also employs a formal risk appetite statement that includes key principles and key tolerances and limits. Cigna utilizes economic capital modeling and stress testing.
The ratings reflect CIGNA Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.-N.V.’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile, appropriate ERM and support from Cigna.
The ratings reflect CIGNA Global Insurance Company Limited’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile, appropriate ERM and support from Cigna.
The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a+” (Excellent) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for the following key U.S. life/health subsidiaries of The Cigna Life & Health Group:
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company
Cigna Worldwide Insurance Company
Cigna Dental Health Plan of Arizona, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of California, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Florida, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Maryland, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Ohio, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Texas, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of New Jersey, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Missouri, Inc.
Cigna Dental Health of Virginia, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Indiana, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Florida, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of New Jersey, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Connecticut, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of St. Louis, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of Tennessee, Inc.
Cigna HealthCare of California, Inc
The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a+” (Excellent) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for the following Europe-based subsidiaries of The Cigna Group:
CIGNA Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A. – N.V.
CIGNA Europe Insurance Company S.A. – N.V.
CIGNA Global Insurance Company Limited
The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks for The Cigna Group:
The Cigna Group—
– “bbb+” (Good) on $800 million ($550 million outstanding) of 1.25% senior unsecured notes, due 2026
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1 billion of 5% senior unsecured notes, due 2029
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.5 billion ($1.4 billion outstanding) of 2.4% senior unsecured notes, due 2030
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1 billion of 4.5% senior unsecured notes, due 2030
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.5 billion of 2.375% senior unsecured notes, due 2031
– “bbb+” (Good) on $750 million of 5.125% senior unsecured notes, due 2031
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.25 billion of 4.875% senior unsecured notes, due 2032
– “bbb+” (Good) on $800 million of 5.4% senior unsecured notes, due 2033
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.25 billion of 5.25% senior unsecured notes, due 2034
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.5 billion of 5.25% senior unsecured notes, due 2036
– “bbb+” (Good) on $750 million of 3.2% senior unsecured notes, due 2040
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.25 billion ($1.18 billion outstanding) of 3.4% senior unsecured notes, due 2050
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.5 billion ($1.43 billion outstanding) of 3.4% senior unsecured notes, due 2051
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1.5 billion of 5.6% senior unsecured notes, due 2054
– “bbb+” (Good) on $750 million of 6% senior unsecured notes, due 2056
The following Short-Term IR has been affirmed:
The Cigna Group—
– AMB-2 (Satisfactory) on commercial paper program
The following indicative Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:
The Cigna Group—
– “bbb+” (Good) on senior unsecured debt
– “bbb-” (Good) on preferred stock
The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:
Cigna Holding Company—
– “bbb+” (Good) on $300 million ($81 million outstanding) of 7.875% of senior unsecured debentures, due 2027
– “bbb+” (Good) on $600 million ($50 million outstanding) of 3.05% senior unsecured notes, due 2027
– “bbb+” (Good) on $83 million ($13 million outstanding) of 8.08% senior unsecured step-down notes, due 2033
– “bbb+” (Good) on $500 million ($15 million outstanding) of 6.15% senior unsecured notes, due 2036
– “bbb+” (Good) on $300 million ($29 million outstanding) of 5.875% senior unsecured notes, due 2041
– “bbb+” (Good) on $750 million ($21 million outstanding) of 5.375% senior unsecured notes, due 2042
– “bbb+” (Good) on $1 billion ($32 million outstanding) of 3.875% senior unsecured notes, due 2047
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.
