Insurance industry troubles put pension, annuity plans at risk; experts urge checkup

Because of recent troubles in the insurance industry, most notably the state seizure of Newark, N.J.-based Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co., it's a good time for hospitals and associations that sponsor pension and annuity plans to check up on the financial health of their investments, experts say. The rapid rise in "non-performing" mortgages held by insurance companies is among the maladies putting plans at risk.