North Carolina has joined a $40 million, multi-state settlement with the a group of Metropolitan Life insurance companies, state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced Tuesday.

The settlement involved allegations of life insurance improprieties. An examination found concerns over whether MetLife's procedures allowed for insurance benefits to be paid out to beneficiaries in a timely manner.

North Carolina expects to receive $958,982 from the settlement. The money will go into the state's General Fund for distribution to the Public School Fund.

Gov. Bev Perdue and several other Democratic Party leaders are scheduled to attend a Thursday fundraiser in Raleigh for a group that's hoping to wrest control of the Wake County school board away from the Republican majority.

The stated goal of the fundraiser for the Wake Citizens for Good Government PAC is to benefit Wake school board candidates "who support high quality public schools for all children." The PAC was formed in 2009 and unsuccessfully ran a television attack ad against Republican-backed school board candidates.

The PAC was formed by Dean Debnam, president of the Democratic-leaning polling firm of Public Policy Polling. PPP has recently conducted surveys on Wake school issues for what the firm says is a private client.

The state's largest health insurer on Monday started mailing out refund checks worth $155.8 million to 215,000 customers across North Carolina.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced in September it would pay the refunds, which are tied to changes brought by the federal health overhaul.

The size of the refunds are based on rates paid and will equal about 1 1/2 months of premiums for Blue Advantage customers who had policies in effect as of March 23. For a customer paying an average of $380 a month, the refund will be about $690.

In a letter to Blue Cross members, CEO Brad Wilson shares credit for the refunds with N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

"In these challenging economic times, we are honored that you have chosen to place your trust in us," Wilson writes.
 

The buzz about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's plan to refund $155.8 million isn't dying down.

Now the merits of the move and its political implications are being debated in the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal, extending the time that Blue Cross and N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin spend in the national spotlight.

Thanks to "providential" timing, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin was the center of attention at the White House today.

During a meeting of state insurance commissioners and Obama administration officials, the biggest buzz was Monday's news of Goodwin's agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The health insurer plans to refund customers $155.8 million and raise rates less than expected.

President Obama mentioned it several times as an example of the federal health overhaul spurring positive results for consumers. He also thanked Goodwin for his work with Blue Cross and told the group: "Well done, Wayne."

"I've met presidents before, but I've never been singled out by first name at the White House," Goodwin said by phone from the Washington airport.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's largest health insurer, plans to refund $155.8 million to about 215,000 individual customers.

Blue Cross CEO Brad Wilson unveiled the move at a news conference in Raleigh with Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

"This is historic and very welcome news for North Carolinians," Goodwin said. "In the time we're in, every dollar is valuable."

The large refund is tied to the federal health overall, which will require health insurers to introduce new types of plans in 2014. That spurred Blue Cross to decide to return some of the reserves it collected from individual members, money that was set aside to avoid sharp rate increases over the life of individuals' policies.