Healthcare
WHEN INSURANCE WON’T PAY
ABC-TV News - GOOD MORNING AMERICA Tarceva is FDA-approved for other cancers. But her insurer, a company that made $2.3 billion in…
Jul 18, 2007Consumer Watchdog
Providing an effective voice for American consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics. Non-partisan.
Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Healthcare
Blue Cross practices probed by regulators
Sacramento Bee "Blue Cross has been treating California like an ATM machine. The regulators need to step in and get the money…
Jul 18, 2007
Insurance
Low-Cost Auto Insurance Coming?
Yuba-Sutter residents who struggle to pay for car insurance may soon find it more affordable, state officials said. Local drivers may soon…
Jul 17, 2007
Privacy
Stalemate eats into vacation plans:
Speaker tells lawmakers to stay close to Capitol until budget is signedSacramento Bee Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer…
Jul 17, 2007
Healthcare
Medical Loss Ratios Debated Under State Health-Reform Efforts
BestWire "That's why an 85% medical loss ratio is "meaningless," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, based…
Jul 17, 2007
Privacy
California group turns up heat on WARF stem cell patents
Wisconsin Technology Network The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation have filed our formal comments with the…
Jul 14, 2007
Privacy
Prominent Researchers Join the Attack on Stem Cell Patents;
James Thomson's work deserves praise but no patents for doing what others could have achieved with the proper resources, critics sayScience Magazine…
Jul 13, 2007
Insurance
Did insurer money kill bill?
Capitol Alert (Sacramento Bee) The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights contends that a compilation of campaign contributions from the firms "helps…
Jul 13, 2007
Energy
Experts reject proposal on ‘hot fuel’ guidelines;
Consumer groups seek temperature-correcting devices on gas pumps.Los Angeles Times The disappointment was echoed by Judy Dugan of the Santa Monica-based Foundation…
Jul 12, 2007
Privacy
Will a cheaper iPhone click before Christmas?
One analyst believes Nano model may appearTHE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE The advocacy group Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights recently sent a…
Jul 11, 2007
Energy
A fix for ‘hot fuel’ faces decisive vote
The Kansas City Star Judy Dugan, research director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, Calif., countered that…
Jul 11, 2007
Healthcare
Complaints Spark State Hearing On Blue Cross
Regulators want to see whether the healthcare firm is adhering to an accord with California. "The Department of Managed Health Care has…
Jul 11, 2007
Healthcare
Insurance rewards healthy workers
USA TODAY Because the UnitedHealth program rewards actual results, rather than just efforts to be healthier, the policies are raising concern among…
Jul 11, 2007
Energy
Paying for ‘Ghost Gas’
Day to Day Program - National Public Radio (NPR) Ms. JUDY DUGAN (Research Director, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights): This is…
Jul 9, 2007
Insurance
Coventry Health Care to Buy Florida Health Plan
Washington Post Coventry Health Care, a Bethesda-based managed-care provider, has agreed to acquire privately held Florida Health Plan Administrators for about $685…
Jul 9, 2007
Healthcare
Health Care Terror
The New York Times The only things standing in the way of universal health care are the fear-mongering and influence-buying of interest…
Jul 9, 2007
Healthcare
HEALTH PLAN’S BENEFITS AT ISSUE;
MEDICARE OPTION SPARKS DEBATE ON STATE'S NEEDIESTHartford Courant (Connecticut) Offering Medicare Advantage makes good business sense for private insurance companies, because the…
Jul 8, 2007
Insurance
L.A. County secrecy policy is assailed;
Open-government supporters decry move to keep memos on settlements confidential.Los Angeles Times "If this is private, we have no idea what kind…
Jul 6, 2007