INSURANCE

Prudential Probed in 2 States: The nation’s biggest life insurer said regulators in Pennsylvania and Illinois are investigating its sales practices for possible deception. Insurance department spokesmen in the states said agents of Prudential Insurance Co. of America may have sold new coverage to policyholders without informing them of added costs or reduced benefits. The practice, known as churning, typically generates large commissions for agents. The investigations could spell trouble for the Newark, N.J.-based insurer at a time when it is trying to recover from an expected $1.2 billion in settlements and legal costs related to excesses by its brokerage unit.