Insurance

Race and income shouldn’t be part of auto insurance rates

November 25, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> I was invited to speak on a panel about the financial crisis at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators this weekend but also had a chance to weigh in on the growing use of education and occupation information by insurance companies... </p>

NCOIL Plans Probe of Educational, Occupational Discounts

November 21, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

"We decided decades ago that basing insurance rates on race, even though that's actuarially sound, was not good public policy, and I think we need to go the same way on education and income," said consumer advocate Carmen Balber, of the California-based group Consumer Watchdog. "We are deciding, by allowing insurance companies to base rates on either of those two factors, that it's OK to charge people who make less money and minorities higher insurance rates."

California Approves Homeowners Rate Hikes for State Farm, Farmers

November 21, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Advocates, Consumer Watchdog, released the news about the rate hikes after the group had challenged them unsuccessfully. Consumer Watchdog petitioned Poizner to hold a rate hearing but the request was denied, they said in a statement. "We reviewed the proposed rate increases and concluded that they were unjustified," said Douglas Heller, executive director. "The commissioner should not have allowed these insurers to jack up prices like this."<br />

State Farm, Farmers To Raise California Homeowner Insurance Rates

November 21, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's decision is denounced by some, but others say recent wildfires make increases reasonable.</strong><br /> "In an economy like this, Californians are relying on the insurance commissioner to keep premiums as low as possible," said Douglas Heller, executive director of Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog. </p>

Did AIG confuse me with Paris Hilton?

November 20, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Do you wonder what the insurance giant AIG is doing with its $150 billion-with-a-b in taxpayer bailout money? Well, this is what showed up in my mailbox today. Thick cardboard stock, high-gloss finish, about 8x10 and cut out in pretty, ocean-y shapes. Trust me, the scan (after the jump) doesn't do it justice.  </p>

Insurers Make Pitch for Health Coverage Mandate

November 19, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group, called the insurers' position self-serving. "If consumer's can't afford coverage or refuse to buy it, they'll face tax penalties. Turning the U.S. government into a collection agency for for-profit health insurers is not universal health care, its full employment for HMO executives," said Jerry Flanagan, the group's health care policy director.

Big Oil: We Told You So

November 18, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>With prices sharply lower from the summer's highs, Big Oil's decision to hold off on new production now seems rather wise.<br /> </strong>Exxon may laugh all the way to the bank during this downturn, but when the world pulls out of this economic slump, will the proper investments have been made to make sure prices don't run up like they did earlier this year? Judy Dugan, from Consumer Watchdog, doesn't think so. "There's a sense that they think the prices are now too low to invest," she said "They are whipsawing it both ways." </p>

Insurers Likely to Weather California Firestorm

November 18, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Industry observers say damage payouts shouldn't pose any difficulty, but the weak global economy could lead to eventual premium increases.</strong><br /> Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, believes insurance companies are understating their investment loses after the subprime meltdown and will eventually try to recover those losses by raising rates. </p>

Taxpayers Get Slammed Twice with Bailout Being Used for Attorney Fees

November 10, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a California group that's been critical of the bailout arrangement, expressed dismay. "Who'd have thought we might be on the hook for paying the defense costs when we're also paying the prosecution costs? To defend the economy from the havoc that's been created, we're going to defend the havoc creators?"

State Tries To Block ‘Fishing Expedition’ Against Blue Cross

November 8, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

LOS ANGELES, CA -- When the Schwarzenegger administration in July struck a deal with Anthem Blue Cross that required the insurer to resell medical coverage to dropped policyholders and pay a record $10 million in fines, some attorneys  questioned if state regulators had offered the company sweet concessions in exchange. "Obviously they are worried," said Jamie Court, president of Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog. "It is unfathomable that an administration that grandstanded in the media about these unlawful cancellations would suddenly reverse course and become the biggest advocate for a legal position espoused only by Blue Cross."  

ExxonMobil Posts Biggest US Quarterly Profit Ever

October 31, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog on Thursday named Exxon in its campaign for more regulation of energy trading markets. The group has said congressional moves for more market oversight have been blocked by the oil industry's powerful lobbying efforts. "Consumers got credit card debt and empty wallets, while Exxon got double-digit billions," said Judy Dugan, Consumer Watchdog's research director. "Citizens deserve to be mad. They should demand that government get back in the business of protecting them from corporate greed."

Insurers may get a piece of the bailout

October 24, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Today's <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122487244838367321.html?mod=testMod#articleTabs%3Darticle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report in the Wall Street Journal</a> that the Treasury Department may let insurance companies tap into the $700 billion bailout fund is more proof that the state of insurers' investment portfolios drive a lot of their corporate decisions.  </p>