Questionable insurance warning issued

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - State insurance officials are warning Indiana residents about questionable health insurance policies being offered by companies touting themselves as associations.

The Indiana Department of Insurance says acting Commissioner Doug Webber recently ordered seven corporations and six people involved in such operations to cease doing insurance business in Indiana.

The agency says the companies tell consumers that if they join an association they will have access to health insurance underwritten by Star Group UK/Phoenix Insurance Co. But Star Group UK is not licensed to do business in the U.S. and Phoenix says it hasn't issued any policy to the companies involved.

The agency says such plans often aren't backed by any insurance company.