Spitzer Subpoenas Aetna, Cigna

Insurance giants Aetna and Cigna on Friday said that they received subpoenas from the office of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in conjunction with his probe of broker compensation.

Spitzer, who has been relentless in his pursuit of wrongdoing at Wall Street investment banks and big mutual found houses, is investigating whether the fees insurers pay brokers to sell their products pose a conflict of interest. Both companies said they are cooperating fully.

In April, the three largest insurance brokers, Putnam Investments parent Marsh & McLennan, Aon Corp. and Willis Group Holdings disclosed that they received subpoenas from Spitzer.

Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal has also launched an investigation into the fees insurers pay to brokers. Neither Spitzer’s or Blumenthal’s office could be reached for comment due to the observance of the death of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

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