Insurance

Mercury’s Self-Serving Insurance Initiative

April 27, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Lawyer Harvey Rosenfield, who wrote Proposition 103 and founded the Consumer Watchdog advocacy group, has videotaped a test case where he filled out insurance applications via computer, pretending to be a Nevada resident applying for Mercury coverage under that state’s laws, which allow a penalty for letting insurance lapse. Listing qualifications identical in every way except that one “applicant” had allowed his insurance policy to expire, Rosenfield found the rate 73 percent higher.

No on 17

April 25, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>If it sounds too good to be true, it is — yet again</h3> <div> The state should be doing more to help uninsured drivers obtain coverage, not laying more traps to ensure they stay away. This is why so many consumer organizations across the state, including Consumers Union and Consumer Watchdog, are opposed to Proposition 17. The California Community College trustees also recently came out in opposition, noting the measure’s “disproportionate impact” on low-income Californians, including many community college students. </div>

Industry’s Prop. 17 Won’t Help Drivers

April 24, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Mercury Insurance sells Proposition 17 as benefiting consumers, but it’s easy to see through the claim. Look at who’s opposing the proposition and who’s backing it. Serious consumer protection groups such as Consumers Union and Consumer Watchdog are absolutely against Proposition 17. So is U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, the former insurance commissioner, who is a longtime advocate of insurance customers’ rights.

Feds Must Watch for Unhealthy Insurance Moves

April 23, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Hold onto your health plan. In an effort to get ahead of the new restrictions and regulations of health care reform, insurers are taking steps to increase their profits now. "These are things we're going to see fairly quickly and they will set a tone and a course for the health reform," said Judy Dugan, research director of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. "Even though reform has already been passed, the health care industry is lobbying hard to get their own definitions passed into code, and to have a say in writing many of the other regulations. The only answer for consumers is that the Department of Health and Human Services has to insist on the most expansive definition of the law."

The Health Premiums Puzzle

April 23, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

(<a href="http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/04/the-health-premiums-puzzle">Click here to listen to the audio broadcast of this program</a>.) In March, President Obama signed health care reform into law. But skyrocketing insurance premiums are still a concern. For now, regulation of rates is left chiefly to the states. On Tuesday, Senate Democrats proposed a plan for the Federal government to step in when states can’t – or won’t – act to rein in hikes.

Finance: Consumer, State Groups Oppose Senate Insurance Provisions

April 21, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Consumer groups and state insurance commissioners are fighting broad powers granted to the Treasury Department in the Senate's financial regulatory bill to negotiate international insurance agreements they argue could undermine consumer protections. "The broad concern we have as consumer organizations is that somehow, incongruously, a measure that would undermine state insurance commissioners has somehow been incorporated into what is Congress' re-regulation of the financial sector," said Carmen Balber, Washington director of Consumer Watchdog. "And we think it is completely out of place."

California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

April 21, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Record high unemployment rates across California mean many more uninsured drivers on the road. But there is help for low income motorists. The state has a program that could get you covered for less than $25.00 per month.

Industry Seeks Change To Enable Rate Increases

April 18, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Days ago, the California Department of Insurance cracked down on an insurance company that has been overcharging motorists for 15 years. The company, Los Angeles-based Mercury Insurance, wrote and is bankrolling Proposition 17. Mercury wants you to believe that its measure will save everyone money. When was the last time an insurance company spent $5 million on a ballot initiative to lower your rates?

Health Insurers Weighing Options To Get Ahead Of Reform

April 18, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

... in the not-too-distant future, some insurers will be subject to a process called risk-adjustment, which will attempt to neutralize the incentive to cherry-pick. Under risk-adjustment, health plans that attract disproportionately healthy populations will be penalized, and plans that attract disproportionately sick populations will be awarded additional payments. Depending on how the risk-adjustment rules are written, insurers could lock in a lasting advantage by cherry-picking more vigorously now, or they could see that benefit erased, said Jerry Flanagan of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.

Is that the best you can do, Mitch?

April 16, 2010 · Carmen Balber

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was asked directly if his strident opposition to financial reform was because he is acting on behalf of big banks. His ringing denial? "I'd say that's inaccurate"...

California Accuses Insurer Mercury Of Overcharging Customers

April 13, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Mercury Insurance Group, which is bankrolling a controversial ballot initiative on car insurance, was accused by state regulators Monday of overcharging California motorists and homeowners for coverage. The proposition's leading critic, prominent consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield, said the charges are further evidence of Mercury's anti-consumer orientation. "This ought to put the nail in the coffin for Prop. 17 for any voters paying attention," Rosenfield said.

Insurer May Face Fines For Overcharging