Insurance

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>

Healthy? Insurers don’t buy it;

December 31, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Minor ailments can thwart applicants for individual policies.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, an advocate with the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights, said it wouldn't take much to be left out of the private-insurance market. "A minor asthma condition or a surgery 10 years ago that requires no further medical care is enough to get you blacklisted forever," he said.</p>

HEALTH CARE: LOOKING FOR ANSWERS;

December 29, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>States lead latest charge in effort to solve crisis over medical coverage</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Mandating that individuals and employers buy into the existing health insurance structure forces people into a broken and inefficient system, said Jerry Flanagan, health policy director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "What makes us nervous is they require people to buy from the private market without any affordability controls," he said. "Health insurers see an opportunity to get on the health care bandwagon, but they'd like to redefine 'universal' to mean universal profits for insurers."</p>

Moderates may shift state Senate

December 29, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>If pro-business Democrats stand in the way of pro-consumer legislation, Democrats won't be distinguishable from Republicans, said consumer advocate Jamie Court. "There will be a tug of war for the heart and soul of the Senate," Court said, "and it's going to be up to the leadership to make sure the Democratic Party stands for their traditional values of consumer and environmental protection, and not just helping their biggest donors."</p>

Home insurance rates to drop;

December 28, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Farmers to slash premium fees in 2007, leading to significant savings for owners and renters</h3><p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>Some consumer groups say the reductions, though widespread, don't go far enough. "Even though it's great they are decreasing rates, we thought customers were owed even more reductions than what they are getting," said Pamela Pressley, litigation director for the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights. "There should have been deeper cuts."</p>