Health insurance companies agree to pay $483K in fines

(AP) The three health care insurers providing individual plan coverage to Delawareans under the Affordable Care Act have agreed to pay almost half a million dollars in fines for past violations of state insurance regulations.

Insurance department officials say Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware will pay a fine of $383,000 under a recent consent order.

Aetna Health Inc. and Aetna Life Insurance Co. have agreed to pay a combined total of $100,000 in fines.

The fines stem from market conduct examinations by regulators of Highmark in 2014 and of the Aetna companies in 2012.

The examinations found various violations involving payment of claims, and handling of complaints and inquiries from the Department of Insurance.