Consumer Watchdog

Settlement of Proposition 103 Lawsuit Announced

What drives insurance rates?

Commissioner John Garamendi wants to pin poor drivers; companies defend ZIP code methodThe San Diego Union-Tribune Doug Heller, a longtime insurance industry…

Committee ends stalemate on health plan bill

Long Island Business News The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer advocacy group, believes health-care costs would…

Stem cell institute may sell naming rights to wealthy donors

Associated Press Whatever the analogy, there's little precedent for a California agency raising money in this way, and the plan has raised…

Consumer Advocates Challenge Genentech Exec’s Claim That Biotech Won’t Take Stem Cell Money With Public Benefit Requirements

Garamendi To Probe Blue Cross’ Practices

California regulators said Wednesday that they would investigate accusations by 10 patients that Blue Cross has a system to retroactively cancel health…

Insurance firms contribute big to Bustamante;

$120,000 given to candidate who would regulate the industryTHE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Any candidate for commissioner who wants the faith of California…

Out-of-State Facility Demands Part of Stem Cell Research Royalties;

Move by University of Wisconsin could stifle research here. Profits from studies were supposed to be funneled into California's coffers.Los Angeles Times…

Organizations, Health Plans and State Officials Opposed to Junk Insurance Bill: S. 1955 (Enzi, R-WY)

Sample Letter of Opposition to S. 1955 (Enzi, WY)

Californians Should Own Prop. 71 Funded Stem Cell Discoveries, Consumer Advocate Tells Committee Writing Ownership Rules for Business

FTCR Petitions Garamendi & Schwarzenegger to End Illegal Blue Cross “Retro-Active” Insurance Denials, Make Public Secret Documents

Court Cases Filed In Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

California Attorney General Opposes Federal Junk Health Plan Bill To Eliminate State Health Insurance Consumer Protections

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer strongly opposed federal legislation that will eliminate state health insurance consumer protection rules, warning the bill "will…

Who’s Filling the Chamber Pot?

Papers report that the gov released his first official re-election ad yesterday, but anyone who watches television saw what looked a lot…

Small Business Health Plans Move Forward

Grand Rapids Business Journal "The effect of this legislation will be to deregulate the entire health insurance market," wrote consumer advocates from…

A renewed move to boost small businesses’ health coverage

Scripps Howard News Service Even so, critics count on the power of patients'-rights advocates like Dana Christensen to make their case. The…

Nurse Avenger

Get the Pork Out of Health Insurance

Health insurance premiums are increasing 250% faster than hospital and...