Insurance

Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.

Telling truth to power

April 14, 2011 · Carmen Balber

State Accuses Sutter Health of Fraud

April 14, 2011 · Mark Reback

Sutter Health, one of California's largest health care givers, fraudulently charged insurers up to hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade for anesthesia services that in some cases weren't even provided, the state's insurance commissioner said Wednesday. "This is happening across all Sutter hospitals," Commissioner Dave Jones said. "It's being done at the expense of private insurers and ultimately results in higher premiums that businesses and consumers are forced to pay."

Aetna CEO Pay: Tens of Millons, Straight from Your Pocket

April 11, 2011 · Judy Dugan

No More Guns To Our Head

April 10, 2011 · Jamie Court

New Auto insurance Lets You Pay As You Go

April 9, 2011 · Mark Reback

WALNUT CREEK — Nancy Bell figures she will be driving less now that she's retired. So the Oakland resident opted for a new kind of auto insurance policy that rewards drivers for doing just that. By signing up for a pay-as-you-drive policy offered by State Farm instead of an estimated miles policy, Bell could see her future premiums fall. The less she drives below a threshold of 19,000 miles a year, the more she saves.

Cuts To Anthem’s Rate Hikes Are Not For Everyone

April 8, 2011 · Mark Reback

Oversight of Anthem Blue Cross individual plans is split between two health insurance regulators. One group is getting a break on cost increases. The other is not.

Stakeholders Spent $123 Million Lobbying Congress; Focus Is Now Shifting to States

April 4, 2011 · Mark Reback

Can Pay-As-You-Go Auto Insurance Save You Money?

April 4, 2011 · Mark Reback

The pay-as-you-go trend has already spread to a wide variety of consumer services ranging from wireless to software. Now it looks like auto insurance might be the next industry to jump on the bandwagon. The idea behind it is simple: People should only pay for the insurance coverage that they actually use. In other words, drivers who drive less would pay less for insurance.

Columnist Asks: Will Farmers Insurance Settlement Turn Into A Good Deal For Customers? Not Likely…

March 31, 2011 · Jerry Flanagan

<img class=" size-full wp-image-2039" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/farmerslogo_1.gif" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="120" height="90" />Today Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik takes a hard look at a proposed settlement in a lawsuit against Farmers Insurance opposed by Consumer Watchdog. According to Hiltzik, under the settlement, Farmers would likely keep the lion's share of a $455 million settlement fund intended for consumers while lawyers for the plaintiff would walk away with $90 million in fees.

Drive Less, Save More

March 30, 2011 · Mark Reback

Nancy Bell figures she will be driving less now that she's retired. So, the Oakland resident opted for a new kind of auto insurance policy that rewards drivers for doing just that. By signing up for a pay-as-you-drive policy offered by State Farm instead of an estimated miles policy, Bell could see her future premiums fall. The less she drives below a threshold of 19,000 miles a year, the more she saves.

Will Farmers Insurance Settlement Turn Into A Good Deal For Customers?

March 30, 2011 · Mark Reback

The class-action settlement will result in rebates for Farmers Insurance Group policyholders who were allegedly overcharged. But the insurer's own business units get to keep any money unclaimed by affected customers, who must fill out a 10-page claim form.

Insurance Brokers Battle For Commissions Under Health Reform Law

March 29, 2011 · Mark Reback

WASHINGTON, DC -- In another flashpoint over implementation of federal health reform, insurance brokers are trying to undo a regulation that, they say, has already led to deep cuts in the commissions they earn from selling health care policies. The issue pits brokers against consumer groups, with state insurance commissioners split on the subject. Connecticut's new insurance commissioner, Thomas B. Leonardi, is among those resisting federal legislation to make sure agents' fees are protected under the health reform law.