Insurance

Fair claims payment? Not with a federal insurance regulator

April 17, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Here's a small but important example of the kind of state consumer protection that the insurance industry and its allies want to escape by <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=26070">taking insurance r</a><a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=26070">egulation away</a> from the states... </p>

Former Insurance Lawyer’s Legislative Appointment Sparks Debate

April 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

SACRAMENTO, CA -- The appointment of a former State Farm lawyer to a California legislative panel has drawn criticism from one of the state's leading consumer groups, while one industry leader has urged critics to reserve judgment.

California Senate Insurance Panel Hires Former State Farm Lawyer

April 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Consumer activists criticize close links between government and industry. Sen. Ron Calderon defends his appointment.</strong> </p> <p> Cooley's appointment has drawn opposition from activists, including Doug Heller, executive director of the group Consumer Watchdog, and Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders in San Francisco. "The revolving door between the Capitol and the insurance industry is in constant motion, because the insurance industry knows how valuable it is to have their people on the inside," Heller said. "And consumers pay for it when the official analyses of legislative proposals have an industry bias." </p>

Overheard: CA Insurers to intro legislation attacking Prop 103; which lawmaker will carry their water?

April 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> I've been hearing dribs and drabs about this for awhile now.  The insurance industry in California has apparently suckered some lawmaker into carrying a bill aimed at weakening Prop 103's consumer protections... </p>

California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

April 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

In an effort to stem the tide of uninsured drivers in California and offer a low priced insurance policy for the poor, state legislators created the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program.

Arnold’s unpaid furloughs cost California $10 million

April 3, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The San Jose Mercury News <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12048911?">reported this week</a> that when Gov. Schwarzenegger recently began sending state workers home on unpaid leave one day a month to save California money, in one instance, the furloughs are actually costing California millions of dollars.

“Choice” of regulator would deregulate insurance industry

April 3, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> If there’s one thing the AIG debacle <em>shouldn’t</em> teach us, it’s to let companies choose their own regulator.  But that’s the plan that’s been tossed out by the insurance industry and its allies....</p>

Kudos to Stanford; stem cell agency should take heed

April 1, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://med.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stanford University's School of Medicine</a> has just taken a <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2009/april/disclosure.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">huge step to build trust </a>in its 1,200...

The insurance companies’ definition of ‘competition’

March 31, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Insurance companies love their free market, and corporations in general love the idea of competing against government, i.e. outsourcing government services to private companies (see: Iraq War). But insurers and their well-oiled friends in government see public-private competition in health care as Armageddon. Donald Cohen of the Center for Policy Initiatives <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donald-cohen/why-are-health-insurance_b_179317.html">has a nice takedown of the insurers' public arguments</a>. </p>

Hellfire, pitchforks and credit card caps

March 31, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, introducing a bill last week to <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=310060">cap credit card interest rates at 15%,</a> quotes Dante and the Bible to make his point about bankers in three-piece suits "destroying people's lives." Literature and rage: what a combination. </p>

UGGGHHH! More issue dodging from Sebelius

March 31, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Why can’t politicians just tell like it is?  It seems that the more highly regarded the politician is, the better he or she is at avoiding the question.

No consumer voices at today’s US Senate hearing on health reform

March 24, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> When we're talking about health insurance reform, the most important voice is often the one not invited to the table: the consumer.  Consumers and consumer advocates have been consistently locked out of key discussions in the current health care debate... </p>