Insurance

Farmers Group Agrees to Pay $455 Million to Settle Policyholder Suit

October 8, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Class action had accused the L.A.-based insurance management firm of charging excessive fees to customers. Farmers says plaintiffs' claims are without basis but it agreed to settle to end the case.</b></p> <p> Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento — Farmers Group Inc., a Los Angeles-based insurance management firm, and its Swiss corporate parent Thursday agreed to pay $455 million to 13 million current and former policyholders to settle a 2003 lawsuit that accused them of charging excessive fees to customers.</p>

Getting the benefits health reform promised

October 5, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

70 million Americans who get health insurance through their employer cannot take their insurance company to court when the insurer doesn't provide the benefits it promised, even if the insurer's decision to delay or deny life-saving treatment results in an employee's death.

Time for Obama to get tough on insurers with rate freeze via Executive Order

September 29, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Obama's mad about insurers blaming his health care plan for big rate hikes, but he doesn't have to take it anymore. He can and should issue an executive order to stop the rate hikes immediately. A Blue Cross policyholder emailed me last night about her recent 20 percent rate hike. She's now being pushed into a policy that costs much more and comes with a $7500 deductible. Her insurer's response: blame the president and his "10,000 page legislation." </p>

Sebelius throws anti-regulation spin back at her accusers. Good for her.

September 28, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The level of straight talk in a Wall Street Journal <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704082104575515851336184716.html">opinion piece by HHS chief Kathleen Sebelius </a>is breathtaking. Bottom line: Do the critics harping against regulation in the health care market--and attacking Sebelius personally--want to go back to letting insurance companies do what they please? </p>

For Fox National News Viewers

September 24, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> This morning I ventured into the Tea Party's den at Fox National News to talk about our Times Square Superscreen advertisement, which calls the question: "Are You Mad As Hell But Think The Tea Party Is Insane?" Fox viewers have been following up with emails and calls about the anchor's  inquiries regarding Consumer Watchdog's funding, which I discuss here. </p> <p>   </p>

Insurers twist arms in states to evade law’s new curbs

September 23, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The insurance industry is going directly to the White House in its latest attempt to evade a key portion of the health reform law that would force them to operate more efficiently. But instead of making the argument directly, the industry is <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/120303-federal-regulators-asked-to-allow-medical-loss-ratio-phase-in">speaking through state insurance commissioners</a> that are either friendly to insurance companies or cowed by insurers' threats to leave a state market. </p>

Health Insurance Changes Come Too Late For Some

September 23, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Jamie Court, who heads the California-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, says he's seen much worse. In California, he says, typically insurers would "cancel [policyholders] when they're at their weakest and their worst. When they're in a hospital bed or just out of a hospital bed and racked up a couple hundred thousand dollars of hospital costs." Court cases filed in California uncovered the fact that insurance companies had entire divisions devoted to delving into the medical records of people in order to find reasons to rescind their coverage after they had become sick and threatened to cost the company large amounts of money. <p>   </p>

Health Plan CEO Breaks From Pack Molina Criticizes Colleagues, Sebelius on Premiums

September 23, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

It’s thedifference between the structure of Molina Healthcare and commercial health plans that has enabled Molina to make such statements about his colleagues, according to industry observers.“Their business model is so different from Blue Cross that Molina can be independent. They’re not restricted,” said Judy Dugan, research director for Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica- based consumer advocacy group. An AHIP spokesman did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Molina’s remarks.

Victory Against Hartford Insurance!

September 22, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> In November of 2009, Hartford Insurance submitted an application for a 6.9% rate increase to the California Department of Insurance. Consumer Watchdog intervened, pointing out numerous problems with the requested rate to the state. After a year-long process, the Commissioner issued his approval today. Instead of a 6.9% increase, the Commissioner ordered a 1% decrease, saving consumers over $7 million a year.</p>

Right wing spins Warren appointment as a win?

September 21, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The initial <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68G3QT20100918">apoplectic furor</a> from opponents of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection at President Obama's appointment of Elizabeth Warren as a special advisor to get the agency running has shifted to spin that the appointment is a win for her detractors...

Consumer Group Calls for State Ballot Initiatives to Rein in Premium Hikes

September 14, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

California-based Consumer Watchdog <a href="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/resources_LtrObamaratereg.pdf">wrote</a> to President Obama on Tuesday urging him to use the powers of his office to get tough on healthcare plans.  The group suggested that Obama "use the full power of your office" to advocate for tough "prior approval" insurance regulations in Congress. If that fails, the White House should "take your case to the states" and try to get prior-approval premium regulations through the state ballot measure process in the 24 states — and the District of Columbia — where that's an option.

‘Going bare’ after a 40% health insurance hike

September 13, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Karen Ignagni, president of the health insurance industry's lobbying front AHIP, last week laid a portion of the the blame for a new round of double-digit health premium increases on "<strong>the impact of younger and healthier people dropping their insurance."</strong> Here's what someone not so young, and facing a $4,000-a-month premium, had to say about that. </p>