Insurance

California Insurers to Pay $13 Million to $15 Million in Fines Over Rescissions

July 18, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California agreed to pay a combined $13 million-$15 million in fines and to offer new health insurance coverage to consumers whose policies they canceled under separate agreements with state...

Panel Will Probe Health Insurers That Cancel Sick Members’ Policies

July 18, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

“I understand that insurance companies need to protect themselves from fraud,” Congressman Henry Waxman said. “But that is not what happened in California, Connecticut and across the country. Insurers are using technicalities or trumped-up ‘misrepresentations’ to rescind policies after individuals get sick and accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills.”

2 Health Insurers to Pay $13 Million to Calif Regulators

July 18, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> LOS ANGELES,CA -- Two of California's biggest health insurers agreed Thursday to collectively pay $13 million and reinstate more than 2,000 insurance policies to settle claims with the state that they illegally dropped policyholders...</p>

L.A. City Attorney Sues Blue Shield of California Over Health Insurance Cancellations

July 18, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong> Delgadillo's suit contends the company has illegally rescinded the coverage of more than 850 policyholders since 2002.</strong> </p> <p> When Blue Shield of California learned Ana Simoes needed emergency surgery to remove...</p>

Prop 103 saves homeowners another $242 million

July 17, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> Last week, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=21293">Allstate was ordered by the Insurance Commissioner to reduce its homeowners insurance rates</a> by approximately $242 million - an average $250 savings... </p>

Watching You at the Wheel

July 17, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

ANCHOR: DEBORAH ROBERTS / REPORTER: ELISABETH LEAMY<br/> <br/> DEBORAH ROBERTS (ABC NEWS): (Off-camera) Now a 'GMA" 'Consumer Alert." Should safe drivers who drive less than others pay lower car insurance premiums?<br/> <br/> GRAPHIC...

Massachusetts uninsured don’t like mandatory insurance

July 16, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

The Harvard School of Public Health and Massachusetts’ Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation trumpeted the <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2008-releases/hsph-bcbs-poll-strong-support-for-ma-health-reform-law.html">r</a><a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2008-releases/hsph-bcbs-poll-strong-support-for-ma-health-reform-law.html">esults of a poll today</a> that found...

Buying Private Health Insurance

July 14, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Think shopping home and auto policies is fun? Try buying your own health insurance. As companies cut corners and more entrepreneurs strike out on their own, the individual health insurance market is growing. </p>

State Weighs ‘Pay As You Drive’ Insurance

July 12, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Would you cut back on driving if your insurance company charged by the mile, and maybe by the way you handle your ride?<br/> <br/> Some state lawmakers and regulators are betting many Californians will.<br/> <br/> Insurance Commissioner Steve...

Allstate Must Slash Homeowner Rates

July 11, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Allstate Insurance Corp., the state's third-largest home insurer, was ordered yesterday to slash its homeowner's rates by 28.5 percent in one of the deepest rate cuts ever required by the state Department of Insurance.<br/> <br/> The rate...

Allstate to Slash Homeowner Insurance Rates 28.5%

July 10, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>The state-ordered reduction will save more than 850,000 customers about $250 each.</strong> <p> SACRAMENTO, CA -- The rate reduction, to be announced this morning in Los Angeles by state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, marks...</p>

Million dollar slap on the wrist becomes a wink and a nod

July 7, 2008  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> 2 years ago California regulators <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=21245">fined Blue Cross</a> of California $1 million for cancelling insurance policies when patients got sick. Or at least that's what...</p>