Insurance

Consumer Watchdog: Most NAIC Commissioners Have Industry Ties

March 22, 2011 · Mark Reback

At least 26 of the commissioners at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have strong ties to the insurance industry, Consumer Watchdog says. Consumer Watchdog, Santa Monica, Calif., reports that 24 commissioners worked in the insurance industry before being appointed and that two elected commissioners – Ralph Hudgens of Georgia and Sandy Praeger of Kansas – depended heavily on insurance industry campaign contributions.

Anthem To Lower Health Insurance Rate Hikes

March 22, 2011 · Mark Reback

Anthem Blue Cross will lower its rate hikes planned for July and will hold off on increases to co-payments and deductibles until 2012, according to an agreement announced Monday by the state Department of Insurance. "This is good news for 600,000 policyholders," State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Monday, adding that the decision means consumers "can continue to afford coverage instead of having to give it up." Jones estimated Anthem Blue Cross ratepayers will save at least $40 million as a result of the Monday decision.

Anthem Blue Cross Delays Premium, Co-Pay Hikes In Calif. For Estimated $40 Million Savings

March 21, 2011 · Mark Reback

LOS ANGELES, CA — Anthem Blue Cross, the largest health plan in California, said Monday it will delay and reduce rate hikes that would have hit some 600,000 policyholders at an estimated cost of $40 million. Anthem is one of four major health insurers in the state who earlier agreed to put off premium increases for at least 60 days at the request of California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

Insurer Wants Focus On What Drives Up Health Costs

March 19, 2011 · Mark Reback

When health insurers notify members that rates are going up - often in the punishing double-digits - they typically blame rising medical costs. They say the problem really isn't theirs; it's all the other pieces of the health-care puzzle that drive up costs that must be passed on to customers. This triggers a backlash of frustration and bad publicity. On Wednesday, Blue Shield of California called off rate increases for the rest of the year for its 340,000 individual and family policyholders.

Blue Shield Cancels Pending Hike

March 17, 2011 · Mark Reback

Insurer Was Under Pressure To Moderate Stance Blue Shield of California had the numbers to support its third rate hike on its 194,000 individual policyholders in the past seven months, but apparently overwhelming public disapproval prompted the abrupt cancellation of the last increase this week. The San Francisco-based insurer announced Wednesday it would back off the rate hike scheduled to go into effect on May 1, and would impose no further rate increases on its individual policyholders in 2011.

Google Feels Heat On Shady Ads

March 16, 2011 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" size-full wp-image-2023" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/googlehq.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="120" height="90" />It took a lawsuit from <a href="http://www.rosettastone.com/">Rosetta Stone</a>, the language software company, and a Congressional hearing, but Google apparently has finally been embarrassed into taking responsibility for policing some shady ads on its search engine site.

Excessive agent fees bloat premiums

March 16, 2011 · Carmen Balber

You Did It!

March 16, 2011 · Jamie Court

<a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=fQ%2BPWBthDQ%2Bqraty18ld0XjmhT9V2puV"><img class=" size-full wp-image-2016" alt="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/video/kgotv-rally-blue-shield-headquarters-results-60-day-delay-rate-hikes" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/blueshieldrally-tv.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 129px;" width="325" height="168" /></a>People power works. I just learned that Blue Shield of California is canceling its outrageous rate hikes, which totaled as much as 86% for some patients, after we turned up the heat on the company together!

Blue Shield Backs Off On Rate Hike

March 16, 2011 · Mark Reback

<div style="font-weight: bold;"> • Retreat follows criticism from consumer groups, state • Says individual and family plan rates won’t change this year

Blue Shield Of Calif. Cancels Rate Hike

March 16, 2011 · Mark Reback

CEO Says Nonprofit Wants To Keep Coverage Affordable SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Blue Shield of California said Wednesday it was withdrawing its plan to increase health insurance rates for individual policyholders in what would have been the third such rate hike since October. The three hikes combined would have raised rates by as much as 87 percent for some of its 200,000 policyholders, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Will HHS exceptions become the rule?

March 15, 2011 · Carmen Balber

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2012" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/images_healthreform_2_0.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="120" height="90" />HHS’s head of insurance oversight Steve Larsen got heat from a hostile <a href="http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1202%3A3-15-11-qobamacare-why-the-need-for-waiversq&catid=35&Itemid=1">House committee this afternoon</a>, where he was asked why, if the federal health reform law is so great, is HHS granting waivers to its rules?

Blue Shield 86.5% Rate Increase??????

March 12, 2011 · Jamie Court

<img class=" size-full wp-image-2006" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/blueshieldsnakewht_0.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px; " width="120" height="90" />The Los Angeles Times is <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-blue-shield-20110312,0,2694903.story">reporting </a>today that Blue Shield's premium hikes are hitting some policyholders with as much as an 86% premium increase. If this outrage doesn't get even cynical California legislators to act, nothing will. How can we afford insurance if an insurance company can raise rates at will by 86.5%!

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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