Insurance

IMAGE MAKEOVER; With its industry under fire and talk of reform on rise, WellPoint sets out to win over consumers

February 25, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Indianapolis Star (Indiana)</p> <p>"WellPoint is willing to pay big to keep its name out of the headlines rather than fix internal processes to better serve patients," said Jerry Flanagan, health-care policy director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "Sitrick is known in the industry as the best firm to keep you out of the news."</p>

Kuehl wants bigger revenues for state’s stem-cell institute;

February 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>FIRMS DOING BUSINESS WITH INSTITUTE SHOULD PAY MORE</h3><p class="source">The San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said he fears the bill may not go far enough, particularly in ensuring that any products developed from the stem-cell grants be made available to Californians at reasonable prices. While cautioning that he hasn't seen the measure's language yet, "I think Kuehl's bill would increase payback to the state, but doesn't do enough to ensure affordable access for all Californians,'' he said. "There should be a provision that if there are unreasonable prices, the attorney general can intervene.''</p>

No signs governor will moderate fundraising

February 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>Carmen Balber, with the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights: "The governor, who promised to clean up Sacramento, can't make any more excuses. With no upcoming election and no initiatives on the ballot, Arnold doesn't have to keep playing the fundraising game he claims to despise."</p>

THE POLICYHOLDER STRIKES BACK

February 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Marketplace Money (American Public Media)</p> <p>JERRY FLANAGAN (HEALTH POLICY SPECIALIST, FTCR): If you get that mailer in the mail and it says the insurance company is not gonna pay, call them up and then there's a five-step process you need to go through to make sure the insurance company is paying what it should.</p>

Massachusetts Rushing To Meet Health Insurance Reform Deadlines

February 19, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Underwriter - Life & Health Edition</p> <p>An out-of-state group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, Santa Monica, Calif., has argued that Massachusetts should make health care providers, health insurers and health maintenance organizations justify their prices rather than cutting minimum creditable coverage rates by cutting program benefits.</p>

Rights group says minimum insurance under Massachusetts’s health reform must cap patient costs

February 18, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Health Insurance Law Weekly</p> <p>In order to provide basic coverage and protect patients from financial ruin, minimum policies under the state's new health law must cap out of pocket expenses at $7,500 per individual, or $10,000 per family, ban limits on what insurers will pay per treatment or illness, and include affordable prescription drug coverage, said FTCR.</p>

Letters to the Editor – Re: “Tort war general cashiered”

February 17, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Proposition 103 has saved Californians more than $23 billion on their auto insurance alone, according to the Consumer Federation of America. Moreover, it did what tort reforms enacted in 1975 failed to do: reduced the price of medical malpractice insurance. Hardly what Walters calls "fairly minimal" results.</p>

Allstate Revises Way It Sets Premiums

February 16, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Tampa Tribune (Florida)</p> <p>Allstate Insurance Company is changing the way it uses a person's credit to set premiums on home and auto insurance policies after a group of black and Hispanic customers argued that the practices led to higher rates for minorities.</p>

Is Allstate’s new policy a brushoff?

February 16, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The insurer seeks a hike in home rates. Some say it wants to exit the state.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Some consumer advocates see the Allstate rate-hike request as the first major test for Poizner, a Republican who says he is "committed to driving down the cost of insurance for everyone." Poizner said he wouldn't be cowed. "I want to make it crystal clear that I absolutely will not permit excessive rates to be charged by any company under any circumstances," he said.</p>

CAPITOL WATCHDOG: A surge in contributions;

February 16, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The timing of industry donations to the state Assembly's new Insurance Committee chairman suggests early notice of the appointment.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>The timing of Coto's contributions suggests the insurance industry could have learned early that he was getting the job. That would give the industry a green light to contribute while deflecting criticism that Coto was being paid off. The money, after all, came before the announcement. "You don't want the money tied to the announcement because you can say it was quid pro quo," said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a campaign finance and insurance industry watchdog.</p>

Clout vs. outrage in California’s insurance wars

February 16, 2007  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">Capitol Weekly (California)</p> <p>The Legislature also needs to examine itself. As soon as a member is appointed to one of the insurance committees, insurance industry funding follows. This necessarily taints decisions on insurance matters. If lawmakers on these committees were to refuse industry contributions, perhaps voters could feel more confident that they are in good hands.</p>

Clout vs. outrage in California’s insurance wars

February 15, 2007  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">Capitol Weekly (California)</p> <p>The Legislature also needs to examine itself. As soon as a member is appointed to one of the insurance committees, insurance industry funding follows. This necessarily taints decisions on insurance matters. If lawmakers on these committees were to refuse industry contributions, perhaps voters could feel more confident that they are in good hands.</p>