Consumer Watchdog

Prop. 103 Blocks 10% Homeowners Insurance Rate Hike By State’s 4th Largest Insurer; Saves Consumers $26 Million

Northern Cal. AAA Agrees to Keep Homeowner Premiums Unchanged After Consumer Group Challenge

Sep 17, 2003

Insurance

Insurance bill has hefty price tag;

Measure may violate federal regulationsThe San Francisco Chronicle "States are allowed to regulate insurance, but this mandates benefits for a whole class…

Sep 16, 2003

Healthcare

Generic drug makers to offer coupons

San Mateo County Times Jamie Court of the advocacy group Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights, which has been critical of insurance…

Sep 16, 2003

Healthcare

Health Plans Begin Drive for Generic Drugs;

Four insurers serving 15 million Californians seek to convert their members from costlier brand-name medicines.The Los Angeles Times Jamie Court, executive director…

Sep 15, 2003

Insurance

Garamendi promoting reform, himself;

California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi seeks workers' compensation reformLos Angeles Business Journal "The truth is Garamendi has stared the insurance industry in…

Sep 15, 2003

Insurance

California regulator cuts SCPIE med mal rate hike;

Investigation prompts commissioner's denial of 15.6% proposed increaseBusiness Insurance "We challenged this proposed rate hike because we believe SCPIE was trying to…

Sep 15, 2003

Healthcare

CALIFORNIA: HEALTH PLANS TO OFFER COUPONS FOR GENERIC RX

American Health Line Jamie Court, executive director of the Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer advocacy group Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, added,…

Sep 15, 2003

Privacy

Midnight in the state Capitol

2003 legislative session ends with bills being voted on into the wee hours.The Orange County Register Of the 2,867 new laws that…

Sep 14, 2003

Insurance

Legislature OKs Small Business Health Coverage;

Beginning in 2006, employers would be required to provide insurance coverage to 1 million of the state's working poor.The Los Angeles Times…

Sep 14, 2003

Insurance

LICENSE LAW’S SAFETY DEBATE; WILL IMMIGRANTS HAVE INSURANCE?

The Daily News of Los Angeles Harvey Rosenfield, president of FTCR, said even though illegal immigrants will have access to driver's licenses,…

Sep 14, 2003

New CA Employer Mandate for Health Coverage by 2006 Means State Has Deadline to Mandate Affordability

FTCR called upon the legislature to enact insurance and HMO premium regulation, price controls on doctors and hospitals, and a state-run insurance…

Sep 13, 2003

Insurance

McAllen, Texas, Doctors Look to California for Medical Malpractice Cap Effect

The Monitor (Tribune Business News) "Caps have no effect other than to further line the pockets of insurance companies," said Carmen Balber,…

Sep 12, 2003

Insurance

Colorado homeowners complaining about rising home insurance rates and cancelled coverage

Pueblo Business Journal (Pueblo, CO) "We're seeing insurance costs escalating and a rapid increase in non-renewals. More troubling, there is a quiet…

Sep 12, 2003

Insurance

California health reform

National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition Jamie Court, who directs the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, says there's one huge weakness:…

Sep 12, 2003

Insurance

Safeco to Sell Homeowners Policies Again;

The insurer says it is negotiating with the state Insurance Department over underwriting standards and a rate increase.The Los Angeles Times The…

Sep 11, 2003

Privacy

House OKs Bill to Help Protect Identity

The Los Angeles Times In the end, said Jamie Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa…

Sep 11, 2003

Mercury Insurance Gives $25K to Davis After Gov. Signs Mercury Bill

Donation Regarded As Quid Pro Quo for Law That Allows Insurers to Surcharge Poor in Violation of Prop 103

Sep 11, 2003

California Group Challenges Rate Hike Proposed by State’s Largest Medical Malpractice Insurer

Norcal Mutual Wants to Raise Doctors' Premiums by $16 Million; Recent Ruling Stopped 2nd Largest Insurer From Overcharging Doctors

Sep 11, 2003