Risky business: how insurance companies gamble with your health coverage

Under a patchwork of state laws and virtually no federal oversight, a decade of risky investments, questionable business dealings, lavish spending, and help-yourself ethics in the insurance industry is playing a hidden role in the crisis in affordable medical coverage. Skyrocketing medical costs are the main culprit, but financial losses have put pressure on insurers to raise premiums and cancel risky policyholders. The losses also are a major factor in the sharp increase in life/health insurance company failures, which can leave policyholders stranded.