New auto insurance options roll out today; Drivers may have to shop around.
Byline: Lisa Eckelbecker To reach her patients in the rolling hills of western Worcester County, VNA Care Network Inc. visiting nurse Nicole M. Congero sometimes drives 50 to 60 miles a day in her Toyota Tacoma. Gasoline can run $100 a week. Wear and tear...

Commerce sale looks good to go; State doesn't object to deal with Spanish insurer.
Byline: Bob Kievra BOSTON - Spain's biggest insurer is poised to acquire Webster-based Commerce Group Inc. after state regulators said the $2.2 billion deal complies with state laws and poses no antitrust concerns. Attorney General Martha Coakley Wednesday night cleared the merger and the state...

UnitedHealthcare agrees to $20 million settlement in claims processing case.
The insurance giant UnitedHealthcare could pay up to $20 million to state regulators as part of an agreement to settle allegations that the company violated state laws in its claims processing. Under the settlement, UnitedHealthcare has agreed to pay about $12.2 million up front to 36 states...

BRIEFLY.
Byline: The Register-Guard Insurance agent faces theft, forgery charges A former Eugene insurance agent under investigation since July was arrested Monday on theft and forgery charges. Investigators are seeking other victims of alleged fraud by Kenneth E. Rein-king, Oregon State Police spokesman Gregg...

Auto insurance reform plan debated; Deregulation is supported, opposed.
Byline: John J. Monahan BOSTON - A former state insurance official yesterday called on the administration of Gov. Deval L. Patrick to scrap proposed regulations to lift state control of auto insurance rates, saying they do not provide enough protection for consumers. Stephen D'Amato, former...

All school unions under contract; Health coverage a big cost factor.
Byline: John Dignam WEBSTER - With the recent ratification of contracts for instructional assistants, clerks and secretaries, new contracts have been successfully negotiated this fall with all School Department unions. School Superintendent Gregory M. Ciardi said health insurance cost was a major factor in contract...

Climate change: a risk underplayed: enough with the stalling tactics. Rev up the hybrids, and cut the subsidies to big carbon polluters.
The planet is warming, this much we know. In fact, the enlightened among us, who themselves appear to be headed for extinction along with some species of freshwater dolphins, have known this for at least 40 years. But here's another fact worth shedding some light on: the rate of...

Most drivers to see rates drop; Insurers offering `substantial' cuts.
Byline: Steve LeBlanc BOSTON - Most drivers can look forward to a drop in their car insurance rates under the state's new competitive system, but insurance officials couldn't say how big the average decrease would be statewide. Under the old system, in which the state...

Final car insurance regs set; Protection against use of credit ratings.
Byline: John J. Monahan BOSTON - State insurance officials yesterday issued final regulations for partial deregulation of automobile insurance rates starting in April, a move proponents say should give consumers more choice and that consumer groups fear will lead to disparities for lower-income and urban drivers. ...

Competition kicks in; Auto insurers sharpen their pencils.
COLUMN: In our opinion The change to "managed competition" among companies that provide auto insurance in Massachusetts is having the desired effect - a drop in rates - considerably more quickly than most people expected. Overall, the rates are expected to fall at least 7.8...