The COVID-19 epidemic highlighted the need for life insurance and illuminated the gap of uninsured and underinsured American families, a longstanding problem illustrated by LIMRA research.

The COVID-19 pandemic is motivating large numbers of people to seek life insurance coverage for their families. Faster underwriting and direct-to-consumer channels also helped Principal boost its life insurance count, CEO Dan Houston said.

The lawsuit focuses on universal life insurance policies issued by Security Life under names such as Strategic Accumulator Universal Life. The policies include a separate COI charge deducted monthly and meant to compensate Security Life for its mortality risk, the lawsuit noted.

A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit accusing MetLife and its executives of defrauding investors concerning accounting for its retirement and income solution line of business. In a Jan. 11 decision, Judge Sterling Johnson, Jr. of the Eastern District of New York found the claims “without merit.”

Federal authorities said ex-Rep. Robin Hayes participated in a scheme while GOP state chairman in which wealthy insurance company exec Greg Lindberg attempted to bribe the state insurance commissioner with $1.5 million in campaign funds in exchange for removing a top department regulator.