Insurance

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>

Calif to Seek Fines Against Blue Cross, Shield

July 7, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

LOS ANGELES, CA -- California health insurance regulators are scrutinizing 1,770 patient policies canceled by Anthem Blue Cross to see if they can impose a penalty stiffer than a $1 million fine they announced but never enforced last year.<br/> ...

Privacy threat of insurance bill far from ‘nonsense’

July 3, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=21156"> “Silly,” “extravagant,”</a> a <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=21193">“phantom issue,” and “nonsensical.”</a><br /> <br /> That’s what Assemblyman Jared Huffman had to say about consumer and privacy advocates’ concerns... </p>

Calif Didn’t Try to Collect Anthem Blue Cross Fine

July 3, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Los Angeles, CA -- California regulators admitted Thursday that for more than a year they didn't even try to enforce a million-dollar fine against health insurer Anthem Blue Cross because they knew they would be outgunned in court.<br/> <br/> In...

Insurer to Cut Rates for Homeowner Coverage

July 2, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Californians with Fireman's Fund will be paying 17.9% less</strong><br/> <br/> California customers of Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. can expect to save an average of $505 on their annual homeowner's coverage as part of 17.9% rate...

Honesty Can Cost In Auto Policies

June 30, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Will Californians lie to save money? <p> Apparently. </p> <p> New legislation takes aim at an honor system, of sorts, perhaps one of the few remaining in which millions of dollars are at stake. </p> <p> The measure targets a...</p>

“Pay-As-You-Drive” Workshop Comments To California Department of Insurance

June 30, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> Download here comments submitted to the Department of Insurance regarding a June 23, 2008 workshop to discuss implementation of "Pay-as-you-drive" insurance in California... </p>

AB 2800: Big Brother Snooping Around Your Car?

June 30, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Jared Huffman is generally a good Assemblyman. I mean, he's no Shiela Kuehl or anything, but overall a solid legislator.  Which is why I'm surprised that we're seeing AB 2800, a bill which would allow insurance companies to use...</p>