Insurance

Commissioner Sullivan Says New Profit Rules Will Restrict Insurance Market

October 25, 2010  ·  Carmen Balber

<p>  "People faced with a 50 percent increase are far more likely to drop their insurance than to stomach that increase for the nebulous prospect of a future refund," said Carmen Balber, director of the Washington office for Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group that has battled the insurance industry over health reform. And for those who stick it out, she said, "they've spent a year overpaying for their health insurance."</p>

Cooley Took Campaign Donations from Oil Firm Prosecuted by D.A.’s Office

October 22, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>SEC records suggest that the contributions to his attorney general's campaign played no role in how prosecutors have handled the case against a company accused of violating state environmental laws.</strong></p> <p> Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley accepted $13,000 for his attorney general's election campaign from an oil company while his office was prosecuting the firm for violating state environmental laws, records and interviews show.</p>

Dana Christensen’s battle with junk health insurance

October 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/health/la-fi-healthmarkets-20101021,0,7689480.story">Today's LA Times</a> has prominently featured the story of Dana Christensen, a Consumer Watchdog hero, in an article documenting a new lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles's City Attorney against a health insurance company, HealthMarkets Inc., notorious for selling "junk insurance" to consumers.</p> <p> <img height="224" src="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/images/dana.jpg" width="350" /><br /> <em>(Photo Credit: Al Seib, Los Angeles Times / October 21, 2010)</em></p>

State Insurance Commissioners Weigh Insurance Disclosure Forms

October 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> While Thursday morning's final vote on the medical loss ratio is getting all the attention, state insurance commissioners meeting in Orlando, Fla., have been making progress on other important issues.</p>

Google cuts billions from taxes through overseas tax dodges

October 21, 2010  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> <img src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/images_googletaxes.png" align="right" width="250" height="142" hspace="5">Google Inc. has dodged $3.1 billion in taxes in the last three years, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-21/google-2-4-rate-shows-how-60-billion-u-s-revenue-lost-to-tax-loopholes.html%20.">reports Jesse Drucker of Bloomberg</a>, giving new meaning to CEO Eric Schmidt's recent <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/166868-google-inc-q3-2009-earnings-call-transcript?part=qanda">comment</a> to analysts: "We love cash."</p>

Insurance Industry Gives $1.4M for GOP Candidate

October 20, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> SACRAMENTO, CA — The insurance industry has nearly doubled its contributions in support of the Republican candidate for state insurance commissioner in recent days, drawing criticism that insurers are trying to choose their own regulator.<br /> <br /> The indirect spending to elect Republican Mike Villines and attack Democrat Dave Jones raises questions about a conflict of interest for Villines if he wins. The insurance commissioner's office regulates the industry in California.<br /> <br />

Swarm of insurance lobbyists in Orlando

October 19, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> CW's friend Wendell Potter, a flat-out expert on how health insurance companies behave and how their lobby infiltrates government, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendell-potter/thank-you-unitedhealth-gr_b_768811.html">has a report</a> from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners meeting in Orlando, Fla. Most interesting numbers: there are 28 consumer advocates, and more than a thousand health insurance and allied industry lobbyists.</p>

Putting the Brakes on Health Insurers

October 19, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The following op-ed commentary was <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-court-freezerates-20101019,0,6612327.story">published in the Los Angeles Times</a> on Tuesday, October 19, 2010. <b>Obama should forbid premium hikes until the companies comply with pricing provisions of the new federal law.</b><br><br> Health insurance companies have declared war on President Obama's healthcare plan.

Industry Giving Criticized in Calif Insurance Race

October 16, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The insurance industry has given more than $1.5 million in indirect contributions to support the Republican candidate for state insurance commissioner, raising criticism among certain groups. The money is flowing to the California Chamber of Commerce JobsPAC, which is airing advertising for Republican Mike Villines and against Democrat Dave Jones. Both are termed-out members of the state Assembly. California Common Cause, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles say it's a way for the insurance to buy influence without being tied directly to the campaign.<span></span><span></span>

Legal challenges to mandatory health insurance are good for America and Progressives

October 15, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Death and taxes may be inevitable in life, but in politics what's inevitable is that you will have to face public opinion and the Constitution. President Obama is rightfully having to confront both over the worst flip-flop of his...</p>

In Race for Insurance Commissioner, Unions Playing Key Role

October 14, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Few statewide political jobs in California are more important – or more poorly understood – than that of state Insurance Commissioner. The commissioner can seize and license companies, decide rates, investigate wrongdoing, ride herd on insurers’ conduct in a $124 billion market, regulate brokers and agents, handle some health-coverage plans and even protect consumers. “This is the position with the most direct impact on Californians’ pocketbooks,” said Doug Heller of Consumer Watchdog. “There is no other single entity in the state with that kind of direct power.  The insurance commissioner has a crucial role, not just for individuals, but for businesses, too.”

California Insurance Commissioner to Gain More Power from Federal Healthcare Law

October 14, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

With less than three weeks until election day, the leaders of three major consumer organizations have endorsed Jones. Harvey Rosenfield, author of Proposition 103, the 1988 initiative that created the job of elected insurance commissioner, personally endorsed Jones. His Santa Monica group, Consumer Watchdog, is prohibited by law from making similar endorsements.