Insurance

Consumer Group, Burlingame Attorney Sue Anthem Blue Cross Over Rate Hikes

March 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

OAKLAND — A consumer group has sued Anthem Blue Cross for allegedly using its widely publicized rate hikes to attempt to force customers into lower benefit and higher deductible plans, a tactic the group calls a "death spiral." Many of the individual policyholders who recently learned their premiums would jump by as much as 39 percent were informed several months ago that Anthem Blue Cross was closing their plan to new customers, The firm then offered them plans with greatly reduced benefits, the class-action lawsuit filed by Consumer Watchdog says. "These customers are then forced to accept greatly inferior coverage or to drop it altogether," said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog.

Anthem Blue Cross Sued Over Rate Increases

March 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A consumer group filed a lawsuit Monday against Anthem Blue Cross, accusing the insurer of raising rates to force members into policies with higher deductibles and lower benefits. Consumer Watchdog accuses Anthem of violating state law by failing to offer policyholders comparable coverage and minimize rate hikes after the company directs customers to alternative plans when closing out existing plans.

WellPoint CEO Takes On Critics Of Rate Hikes

March 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

In California, in addition to government scrutiny, WellPoint faces a plaintiff suit¿filed Monday in state court by the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog¿that alleges that when WellPoint raised rates as it was seeking to wind down certain health plans it didn't provide mandated consumer protections, WellPoint said it hadn't yet seen the suit.

Consumer Group Sues California Health Insurer

March 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<b>Anthem Blue Cross accused of illegal premium hikes - Customers say they are forced into inferior plans</b> <br/><br/> LOS ANGELES, March 1 (Reuters) - Consumer advocates filed a class-action suit against Anthem Blue Cross on Monday, accusing California's largest for-profit health insurer of illegally using drastic rate hikes to force customers into inferior health plans.

Consumer Group Sues Insurer Over Policy Changes

March 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A consumer watchdog group filed a lawsuit Monday against California's largest for-profit health insurer on behalf of policyholders, claiming they were pushed to take coverage with fewer benefits and higher deductibles.

Political danger of a ‘Yes’ on health reform? The risk of a ‘No’ may be greater

March 2, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> President Lyndon Johnson faced hard choices in 1964: Preserve Democrats' majority in Congress, perhaps for decades. Or ram through landmark civil rights legislation proposed by the slain John F. Kennedy, plus Medicare health coverage for seniors--and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964#Political_repercussions">lose the whole bloc of so-called Southern Democrats</a>, Strom Thurmond among them.Substitute Blue Dog Democrats for Southern Democrats, and you'd be close to what Congress and President Obama face over a much easier choice--a moderate health reform bill that bears no relation to a "government takeover." </p>

Consumer Group Sues Anthem Blue Cross Over Policy Change

March 1, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Consumer Watchdog says Anthem violated the state's health and safety code when it closed policies to newcomers and offered remaining customers alternative plans with fewer benefits at higher rates.</strong><br /> <br /> Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog says in its class-action lawsuit that Anthem began closing "blocks of health insurance business" last fall, a few months before it informed policyholders who stayed put that their rates would rise as much as 39%.

Local Consumer Group Files Suit Against Anthem

March 1, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Insurer accused of manipulating policies, blocking access to care</strong> <p> A Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy organization filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of enrollees of Anthem Blue Cross of California in Ventura County Superior Court, accusing the insurer of violating state law. </p>

Arguing Over The Arguments

February 26, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The argument is over the arguments submitted against Proposition 17, the Mercury Insurance-backed measure that supporters say would allow auto insurers to extend discounts for maintaining continuous coverage to motorists who switch carriers. The opponents, who say the change would result in rate hikes for motorists who experienced a lapse in coverage, countered that Mercury Insurance is the one lying and attempting to mislead the public with its attempt to shut them up.<a href="http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vig-public-display/060810-primary-election/index.htm"></a> </p>

Backers of Auto-Insurance Measure Sue Over Ballot Pamphlet Language

February 25, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> More than $3.51 million of Cal-FAIR’s $3.58 million campaign war chest came from insurance giant Mercury General Corp. Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield, one of the ballot-pamphlet argument co-authors named in the suit, said he looks forward to seeing Mercury in court. “For months, Mercury has been lying to the public, to state officials and to the news media about its June ballot initiative,” he said. “Indeed, for more than 10 years, the Department of Insurance and the courts have repeatedly concluded that Mercury’s proposal would create a new rating factor — the consideration of prior insurance history — that is currently illegal.” “The fact is that today, under current law, if you stop driving you won’t pay more when you restart your insurance coverage,” Rosenfield continued. “If Mercury’s Prop. 17 passes, insurance companies will be allowed to charge a lot more to good drivers who didn’t need insurance when they weren’t driving, or who missed a single payment, or who chose to fore-go coverage because of the economy or illness.” </p>

Wellpoint’s mistress of evasion

February 24, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

When Wellpoint CEO Angela Braly doesn't like a question, she's a regular Houdini of evasion and blame-shifting. Her <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240004575085561340197660.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines">testimony in front of Congress today </a>managed to turn denial of health care into "efficiency" and put the blame for 39% yearly premium increases onto Blue Cross policyholders who dared to get sick.

Low-Cost Auto Insurance Program in California is Gaining Popularity

February 24, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Several Californians enjoy the benefit of enrolling in the state’s <a href="http://www.autoquotenow.com/resources/low-cost-car-insurance.php" title="Low Cost Automobile Insurance">Low Cost Automobile Insurance</a> Program (CLCA). Since its inception in July 2000, the program has provided ‘low-cost liability insurance’ to car owners with good driving records that do not have the financial capability to avail of market-rate insurance.