Insurance

Coverage for all

March 25, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>This health insurance market, the one for individuals or families who don't automatically get covered through their jobs, is sick. Insurers try to avoid covering people who need care. And many Californians avoid getting insurance until it is in their financial interest to do so. It's a game, and the game must end somehow. That can only happen by blowing up the individual health insurance market that exists today and replacing it with something that makes more sense. And that can only happen with the California Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.</p>

AT&T Keeps on Giving

March 23, 2007  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">AT&T continues to pony up cash in appreciation of the governor's signature on legislation <a href="http://www.dirtymoneywatch.org/article/?storyId=3223">deregulating the pay-tv market</a> in...</font>

Blue Cross cancellations called illegal;

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The health insurer 'routinely' dropped the policies of pregnant or ill clients, an agency finds. The company disputes the charge.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a patient advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the investigation's findings should help the department move forward in its effort to develop regulations to clarify the law and toughen sanctions for rescission scofflaws.</p>

State regulators fine Blue Cross of California $1 million for canceling policies

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"A $1 million fine for 100 cases makes business sense for Blue Cross because of the profit levels of the company," said Jerry Flanagan, a patient advocate with the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights. "Blue Cross is reaping millions in savings by not paying for care."</p>

State targets fraud scams;

March 21, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance chief says consumers pick up the tab for crimes.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"He gathers information and is painstaking in his deliberative decision-making process. It's a different approach than a lot of elected officials," said consumer activist Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights and author of the landmark auto insurance measure, Proposition 103. "He's kept his campaign pledge not to undermine the rules and regulations that have been previously put in place," Rosenfield said about moves by former Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi to revamp the way auto insurance rates are set.</p>

Big oil, big row;

March 20, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Environmentalists are determined not to let oil companies 'greenwash' their image through tie-ups with some of America's top universities</h3><p class="source">The Guardian Unlimited (UK)</p> <p>"BP is clearly looking for a place to wash itself clean and green and UC Berkeley shouldn't be that place," complained Jamie Court, the president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, an advocacy organization asking Berkeley officials to cancel the deal if BP insisted on exclusive patent rights and retained the ability to advertise the partnership.</p>

Device may cool prices at pump

March 15, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Oakland Tribune (California)</p> <p>The "hot fuel" issue, as it's called, is a growing controversy. Some experts say it's not a problem, while watchdog groups, including the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, say motorists are being gouged.</p>

Consumer group urges Cal to forge a tough deal with partner BP;

March 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>UC warned to keep its name out of corporate advertising</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"We think any ads about this program need to be approved by the Regents on a case-by-case basis," said John Simpson, who co-wrote the letter with Jamie Court, the consumer group's president. "The other thing is -- it has to be crystal-clear who's setting the research agenda.</p>

Kentfield lawyer takes on insurers with new Web site

March 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Marin Independent Journal (California)</p> <p>"The people who really have financial power are not the corporations," Ray Bourhis said. "It's individuals who pay a trillion dollars a year in insurance premiums. They have never banded together before." Proposition 103, an insurance reform package voters approved in 1988, made it legal for insurers to offer group discounts, said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the author of Prop. 103. Nevertheless, "This is the first such endeavor of its kind," Rosenfield said.</p>

Poizner faces competing interests in new role;

March 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Workers' comp, quake insurance, fraud and disaster prep top his list</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Business Journal (California)</p> <p>Consumer watchdog Harvey Rosenfield publicly criticized Poizner's pick of insurance industry insider Bill Gausewitz as special counsel to the commissioner. Rosenfield, author of the state's Proposition 103 insurance reform initiative, endorsed Poizner over Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat who was lieutenant governor during the campaign.</p>

The health care debate: Affordability of insurance is major concern:

March 12, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Massachusetts program fuels doubts over California's proposals to require health coverage.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"Our big concern is that without guarantees that costs will be controlled, we're certain to stick some patients with health plans that simply aren't affordable," said Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles, an organization that wants the state to limit how much insurers can charge.</p>

How BP scouted about for a PR counterattack

March 8, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE FINANCIAL TIMES</p> <p>BP is not alone in an industry known for extensive government lobbying, but its efforts offer an insight into how the British company successfully lobbied against tighter environmental controls by state regulators, saving up to $US150 million in monitoring and equipment upgrades prior to the fatal Texas City refinery explosion in 2005.</p>