Healthcare
A Loophole a Day
Insurance companies try to wriggle out of a health-care reform requirement to spend more money on doctors and patients. A key provision…
Jun 21, 2011Mark Reback
Articles by Mark Reback
Insurance
Anthem Blue Cross Settles Policy Closure Action
New York -- Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to settle a class action in California state court from consumers who accused the…
Jun 21, 2011
Insurance
Should State Regulate Health Insurance Premiums?
Twenty-three years ago, California voters decided the state should have more control over the insurance industry. Proposition 103, approved by a thin…
Jun 20, 2011
Privacy
Facebook Hires D.C. Insiders
SAN FRANCISCO — When it comes to Washington insiders, Facebook is on a hiring spree — landing former Clinton Press Secretary Joe…
Jun 15, 2011
Privacy
Privacy Groups Request FTC Probe of Facebook Facial Recognition Tech
A D.C.-based privacy group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to examine Facebook's facial-recognition technology.
Jun 13, 2011
Privacy
Privacy Groups Urge Investigation of Facebook Facial Recognition Tool
Facebook already knows about your friend, random thoughts and likes. Now it wants to collect biometric data?
Jun 13, 2011
Insurance
Grocery Strike Possible: Food Fight Gets Messy Over Memo U.S. Health Care Aid Info Sent To Workers
Vons employees, on the verge of striking, are outraged that the company has notified them about government programs that offer assistance paying…
Jun 11, 2011
Insurance
Blue Shield of California To Cut Many Premiums 2.5% This Year
Health insurer Blue Shield says its initiative will result in $167 million in savings for nearly 2 million customers. Health insurer Blue…
Jun 8, 2011
Insurance
Limit Insurance Premiums, Not Profits
The following op-ed commentary by Consumer Watchdog's president Jamie Court, was published Wednesday, June 8, 2011 in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Jun 8, 2011
Insurance
Blue Shield Says It’s Capping Profits
In what it called a "bold move" to cut health care costs, Blue Shield of California said Tuesday it will cap profits…
Jun 8, 2011
Insurance
Blue Shield of California pays back $180 million
Blue Shield of California, one of the largest insurers in the state, says it has enacted a new rule that will allow…
Jun 7, 2011
Insurance
Health Insurers Use Scare Tactics to Block Regulation of Rate Increases
The companies cite bogus figures to fight a bill that would give California officials prior-approval authority over premium hikes. And they're trying…
Jun 1, 2011
Insurance
Calif. Bill Considers Controlling Health Insurance Rates
Click here to view the video of this news broadcast. In the past year, two of California's major health insurance companies have…
Jun 1, 2011
Healthcare
What Your Credit Card Won’t Let You Buy
Some card companies have policies that restrict even legal purchases. Getty Images
May 31, 2011
Insurance
ANALYSIS: Blue Shield Of California’s Refund Is Peanuts Compared To Its Profits
As the head of communications for two of the country’s largest health insurers for almost 20 years, I recognize an orchestrated spin…
May 31, 2011
Insurance
Watching The Health Insurers
Opponents of a bill that would allow state regulators to reject unreasonable increases in health insurance premiums are stepping up their attacks…
May 31, 2011
Privacy
Viewpoints: Stem Cell Agency Needs To Seize Moment And Repair Its Governance
The board overseeing California's stem cell agency will elect a new chairman this month to succeed Bob Klein, a moment that offers…
May 31, 2011
Privacy
Online Privacy Bill Fails To Pass
State measure would let people limit the data visible on social networking sites.
May 28, 2011