Insurance

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>

Insurers’ naked greed triggers White House response

September 10, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <a href="http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Karen-Ignagni.pdf">A message Thursday</a> from Health and Human Services chief Kathleen Sebelius is unusual not just for its tough language toward health insurers, but because it exists at all. In a letter to the insurance industry's lobbying and trade association, Sebelius flatly warns insurers to cut it out with blaming their double-digit price hikes on federal health reform. </p>

Top lobbyist Karen Ignagni pleads for insurers’ freedom–to charge whatever they want

September 8, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> If you believe that health insurance companies will really go broke if they don't get 20% premium increases during a deep recession, raise your hand. Ah, the one hand I see raised is Karen Ignagni's. She's the top lobbyist for the health insurance industry, and president of America's Health Insurance Plans. She's pleading for Congress not to regulate health insurance rates, no matter how bad her clients look to the rest of us. All we need to do, in her view, is trust the insurance industry's own math. </p>

Health insurance rate hikes cry out for regulation

September 8, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Janet Adamy in the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703720004575478200948908976.html">Wall Street Journal reports</a> (subscription necessary) that health insurers across the country are using the health reform law as an excuse to justify their latest round of rate hikes for individual insurance policies...

Will ‘progressives’ let middle class burn to prove their point?

August 30, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> When Anthem Blue Cross announced its controversial premium increases in California recently, the insurer claimed, "a carrier must be able to receive actuarially sound rates." So it is remarkable that "progressive" San Francisco State Senator Mark Leno, a single payer health care advocate, recently introduced eleventh hour legislation codifying Anthem Blue Cross's "actuarially sound" defense of premium increases in law. </p>

New rates at Blue Cross are a meager victory

August 25, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> At the shoe store, 40% off qualifies as at least pretty good. So why does regulators' approval of new, lower rates by Blue Cross of California not feel like victory? There are lots of reasons, but first is that the revised Blue Cross rate hikes are still in double digits, averaging 14% and as high as 20%, while average wages are still falling. And Blue Cross could announce another rate hike whenever it pleases, just as many insurers continue to do. </p>

Instead of Requested Increase in Rates, Liberty Mutual Gets Large Decrease

August 25, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> In August 2008, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company submitted applications to the California Department of Insurance for a rate increase of 4% and revisions to its auto rating factor plan (that’s the plan an insurer uses to distribute rates among its different policyholders, for example, charging less to someone who drives 5,000 miles versus charging more to someone who drives 15,000 miles).</p>

Health reform regulation scorecard: The big stuff is headed to court

August 19, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Wouldn't it be great if we could all deduct our federal income and investment taxes from next year's income? And if we could also deduct that stress-reducing trip to a spa in Bora Bora? And if the government would just take our word for it? Fantasy for us, but the health insurance industry think that's what federal health reform ought to allow, on a corporate scale. </p>