OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Some U.S. health insurers may leave agents and brokers hanging out to dry as President Barack Obama seeks to slash their administrative expenses"”including commissions. That's one way being considered to control high health care costs within his comprehensive proposal to overhaul the health care system, according to a story in this week's BestWeek U.S./Canada.

The president is committed to tackling health reform this year. The agenda he put forth on the campaign trail to provide coverage for everyone included the creation of a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals and businesses buy private coverage or they could enroll in a new, public health plan.

In BestWeek Europe, an A.M. Best special report, "Economic Slump, Financial Crisis Hit Europe's Insurance Industry" says European insurers enjoyed relative financial strength immediately prior to the current financial crisis. While European insurers had limited direct exposure to U.S. subprime mortgage and other "toxic" assets, they still face a number of issues.


And in BestWeek U.S./Canada, subscribers can read an excerpt of A.M. Best's new 2009 U.S. Hurricane"”Catastrophe Review. It examines the risks associated with Northeastern hurricanes. Unlike hurricanes in Florida or the Gulf of Mexico, once tropical cyclones reach the mid-latitudes and threaten the Northeast, they can undergo what's known as an extra tropical transition. Among the most devastating scenarios in terms of insured losses for the region would be a hurricane making landfall in Northern New Jersey.

BestWeek is published by A.M. Best Co. for insurance professionals. To subscribe, please visit www.ambest.com/sales/BestWeek, or e-mail your request to customer_service@ambest.com.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co.

Caroline Saucer, 908-439-2200, ext. 5774

caroline.saucer@ambest.com

Source: A.M. Best Co.