Insurance

Are Auto Insurers Charging Immigrants Extra?

April 21, 2011  ·  Judy Dugan

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2061" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/logo01.png" style="width: 166px; height: 134px;" width="166" height="134" />It looks like legal immigrants who buy auto insurance in California may be getting a raw deal from at least some insurance companies. What we're hearing is that a few companies are refusing to give the state's Good Driver discount to immigrants who have held a U.S. drivers license for less than 18 months. Even drivers who can show a clean driving record.</p>

What’s Farmers going to do with all that money anyway?

April 15, 2011  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> This week Consumer Watchdog's legal team called on Farmers Group, Inc. to disclose how it plans to spend<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2039" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/farmerslogo_1.gif" style="width: 120px; height: 90px; float: right;" width="120" height="90" /> up to $400 million or more in class action settlement funds that are intended for consumers but will revert to the insurance company under the terms of a pending class action settlement.</p>

California Legislators’ Car Allowance Slashed

April 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> BURBANK, CA -- California legislators saw one of their most maligned perks slashed Thursday, as a panel charged with setting compensation ruled that lawmakers will have to traverse the state in their own vehicles - fueled only by a $300-a-month taxpayer-funded stipend.</p> <p> <span id="articlebody">The Citizens Compensation Commission didn't cut legislators' health benefits or salaries, which now average $95,291 for most lawmakers.</span></p>

Group Takes Aim At Bill Seeking Agent Commission Exemption

April 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A consumer advocacy group attacked a bill before Congress seeking to exempt insurance agent and broker commissions from the medical loss ratios, calling it “special interest legislation.”</p>

Telling truth to power

April 14, 2011  ·  Carmen Balber

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State Accuses Sutter Health of Fraud

April 14, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> 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.<br /> <br /> "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."<br /> <br />

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

April 11, 2011  ·  Judy Dugan

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No More Guns To Our Head

April 10, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

<p> <img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="225" hspace="7" src="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6563/images/DougAndJanetStephens.jpg" width="168" /></p>

New Auto insurance Lets You Pay As You Go

April 9, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <span id="Site"><span id="ArticlePage">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. </span></span></p> <p> <span id="Site"><span id="ArticlePage">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. </span></span></p>

Cuts To Anthem’s Rate Hikes Are Not For Everyone

April 8, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>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.</b></p>

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

April 4, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br />

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

April 4, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

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