Insurance

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  ·  Jamie Court

<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.

Health insurers shocked, shocked we want them to spend money on health care

October 13, 2010  ·  Carmen Balber

How does the health insurance industry think it can act like rules requiring them to spend more consumer premiums on health care, and less on paper-pushers, are coming out of left field? This has been one of the most talked-about provisions of health reform, and regulators have been debating how to implement it since May.

Insurance Company Seeks Waiver

October 12, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Now that health care reform has begun its incremental changes to how health insurers can operate, some companies are demanding waivers exempting them from providing compensation to policy holders.  Consumer Watchdog is calling for the rejection of these requests and site the case of Dana Christensen. She was left with $450,000 in medical bills when her husband Doug died of bone cancer. Despite the purchase of a special rider for chemotherapy, the limited benefits MEGA policy would only pay for a small portion of the treatments.

Insurance lobbyists never sleep

October 11, 2010  ·  Judy Dugan

<p> The passage of a law means nothing to the lobbying industry. It only means refocusing on regulators, and if that fails, on changing or reversing the law. Health insurance brokers are in the middle stage: demanding that the White House trash a key part of the health reform law just to protect brokers' commissions of up to 20% of the cost of a policy. </p> <p>   </p>

Administration Struggles with Fallout from Healthcare Reform Waivers

October 11, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> "MEGA’s bid to evade the law is a litmus test for President Obama," Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court said in a statement. "If he waives one of the most important rules for one of the worst insurance companies in the market, why did he pass health reform at all? No insurer should get a free pass to cap insurance benefits, least of all the kind of junk policies sold by MEGA that don’t even cover common medical events like a night in the hospital or an emergency room visit."<a href="http://bit.ly/bTMcNN"></a> </p>

Some Cry Foul Over Farmers Settlement

October 11, 2010  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Days after a $545 million settlement was announced that would resolve a long-standing nationwide class action against Farmers Group Inc. for alleged overcharges, the plaintiffs may have hit a snag: a lack of consensus as to whether the arrangement is a good deal for class members.<br /> <br />

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  ·  Carmen Balber

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  ·  Jamie Court

<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>