Insurance

States take lead in pressing for health policies for all residents

January 10, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Iowa)</p> <p>Occupations also could prompt rejection. Some insurers reject police officers and firefighters, making it difficult to recruit self-employed police reservists or volunteer firefighters. "This isn't cherry picking; this is ignoring whole orchards of people," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights.</p>

Plan to ensure health coverage could raise costs;

January 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Guaranteeing insurance for even the sickest individuals could raise premiums for everyone.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Consumer advocates said they would push for guaranteed access even if the whole package got bogged down. They said requiring insurers to spend a certain ratio on medical care was not an effective way to control premiums, and without consumer price protection, they would not support an individual mandate. "It's far more reasonable to make health insurance more available to more people at a reasonable price than to force them to buy it at any price," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Perata appointments draw criticism

January 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the appointments were "a political gift, given to maintain the political machine Perata has operating out of Oakland. Is this going to break the budget? No," he said. "But is this a symbol of how public money is spent and the priorities? Yes."</p>

California plans to make health insurance available to almost everyone in the state

January 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CBS-TV National Evening News</p> <p>Mr. JAMIE COURT (Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights): The problem I have is he's also forcing every individual in the state to buy health insurance without telling insurance what they have to charge for it.</p>

Report: Health insurers deny policies over jobs, medications

January 8, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Consumer advocates say such policies are too restrictive. "This isn't cherry picking; this is ignoring whole orchards of people," said Jamie Court, President of the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights.</p>

Health insurers deny policies in some jobs;

January 8, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Common medications also can be deemed too risky in California.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>At a time when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers are seeking ways to expand coverage to many of the 6.6 million uninsured Californians, consumer advocates said such policies were too restrictive. "This isn't cherry picking; this is ignoring whole orchards of people," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights.</p>

Consumer Reports rates car seat safety Study says only 2 brands work well; findings disputed

January 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said, "It's like a puzzle to get these car seats correctly fastened. What's astonishing is that the car manufacturers don't come up with a single standard -- an attachment for an infant or child seat that is easy to use and reliable." Dugan predicts that many parents who hear about this report are going to be terrified, and that many will ditch their current car seats to buy one of the two recommended by Consumer Reports.</p>

Garamendi ends term with rate cuts;

January 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Latest reductions mean $1.6 billion to be saved</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Consumer groups note that most insurers did not begin filing for the latest round of rate decreases until Garamendi pushed for it. They credit him with prodding the insurers into action. "We saw a lot of improvements for California consumers under John Garamendi," said Doug Heller, consumer advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumers Rights in Santa Monica. "California homeowners, drivers and doctors are seeing lower insurance rates because of him, and those rates are still moving lower."</p>

Perata puts 3 on state panels: Former lawmakers gain lucrative jobs on boards, commissions.

January 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>"There's important regulatory work being done in California, but there is some extraordinary bloat," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "And that bloat is usually reserved for politicians to hand out to their friends and associates."</p>

Insurer to cut rates further:

January 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State Farm homeowners to see a 20 percent drop, state says</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Consumer groups have asked incoming Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner to conduct a hearing to review Allstate's proposal. Allstate is "running counter to reality. They have managed to remain hugely profitable despite catastrophes," said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

State Farm cutting its rates

January 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Inside Bay Area (California)</p> <p>"This is a substantial savings for customers and, frankly, long overdue," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, who believes that State Farm has room to lower its rates further.</p>

State Farm plans its largest rate cut;

January 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The insurer is seeking reductions of 20% for homeowners and 10.1% for drivers in California.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, which petitioned for a hearing on State Farm's initial proposal, was satisfied with the rate reduction even though it wasn't the 30% cut that the Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group had hoped for, litigation director Pamela Pressley said. "We felt it wasn't sufficient," she said of the initial 10.1% reduction. "We're pleased that they almost doubled their original request."</p>