The outlook for jobs became a bit less bleak Friday when the government released January's unemployment rate showing an unexpected decline from 10 percent to 9.7 percent. It was the first drop in seven months. Still, the government now estimates 8.4 million jobs vanished in the Great ...

Health insurers may find more challenges, earnings pressure awaiting in 2010Most major health insurers ended 2009 with better-than-expected profits and signs their enrollment losses may be slowing. But potential headaches remain. Employers will continue to demand lower rates in 2010 while medical costs rise. Medicare Advantage cuts will squeeze some ...

Insurer Aetna says 4th-quarter profit slid as medical costs in commercial business grewAetna Inc. said its fourth-quarter profit fell 15 percent, as it continued to struggle with rising medical costs that hurt its performance throughout 2009. The Hartford, Conn., health insurer said Friday medical costs, its largest expense, climbed 14 ...