Insurance

Junk health insurance bill would put big burden on families

May 11, 2006  ·  Judy Dugan

<p class="source">The Baltimore Sun</p> <p>A measure that is nearing a final vote in Congress would greatly expand the reach of insurers offering bare-bones plans that saddle policyholders with no cap on their payments once their paltry coverage limits are reached. Maryland, like New York and a few other states with strong consumer insurance protections, has so far been spared the misery inflicted by such junk insurance.</p>

KATRINA AFTERMATH; Homeowners tell State Farm that one size doesn’t fit all;

May 10, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Lawsuit accuses insurer of using a single report to deny many claims</h3><p class="source">The Houston Chronicle</p> <p>A lawsuit filed Tuesday by nearly 700 Gulf Coast homeowners accuses State Farm Insurance Co. of using a "one-size-fits-all" engineering report as the basis for refusing to cover homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. </p>

The Insurance Showdown

May 10, 2006  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<h3>Politicians are blocking a plan to base premiums on motorists' driving records rather than on where they live.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>By exposing the disease at the heart of our political system, Garamendi's announcement is likely to generate support for the cure: a voter initiative headed for the November ballot that would slash the influence of special interest money. It would cap corporate campaign contributions, including to initiative campaigns, and set up publicly funded elections. If that passes, the insurers' arrogant domination of California politics will be over. </p>

Insurance chief claims ‘blackmail’;

May 9, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>He wants probe, says industry leveled ad threat over auto plan.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>The Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which supports Garamendi's auto insurance overhaul, said what the insurance commissioner described in his statement looks like blackmail and extortion -- a felony -- to it. "The industry has threatened the regulator," said spokesman Doug Heller. "The question here is: Who runs California? Elected officials or the Sopranos?"</p>

Top Dems contend for No. 2 post;

May 9, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Insurance chief, two senators look to boost lieutenant governor's role</h3><p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>California consumer activist Jamie Court is a seasoned observer of state government and politics. But this year's primary for lieutenant governor has him shaking his head. "It's kind of a disappointment that all three are running," said Court, who runs the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. Although he doesn't endorse candidates, Court half-joked: "They're all too good for that lame office."</p>

Payment Due — Healthcare Headaches in America;

May 5, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Transcript of Show on Junk Health Insurance Plans Bill (S. 1955 - Enzi-R-WY)</h3><p class="source">PBS-TV: NOW Program</p> <p>The numbers are staggering -- 45 million Americans have no health insurance coverage. Most of those folks are working but their employers either don't offer health insurance or what they offer is too expensive. So some families grasp at straws -- cheaper policies that appear to offer the coverage they need, but don't. You're about to meet some people who learned in hardest possible way what can go wrong when an insurance policy and an illness don't line up. This at a time when there's new legislation in Congress that, if passed, would be the biggest reorganization of health insurance in decades. Consumer groups are worried it could make things worse. </p>

Trade associations see potential boon from AHP legislation

May 4, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Hill</p> <p>Trade associations will find a way to benefit from the plans financially, insists Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "There's nothing in the bill that prevents associations from making money off these plans," she said. What constitutes "reasonable expenses" is not clearly defined, she said.</p>

Author throws punch at Allstate: Tough tactics alleged if payouts resisted

May 3, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Chicago Tribune</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, agrees with Berardinelli, saying that it is counterintuitive for an insurance company to treat its claims division as a profit center. "Insurance companies are supposed to make money by building a customer base, investing the premiums safely and doing a good job of underwriting so they have enough money to pay claims and maintain profits," Heller said.</p>

Stem cell institute gearing up to distribute research funds

May 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Examiner</p> <p>John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said he approves of the way the institute is formulating its spending plan. "It is tremendously encouraging to see that it was done in public," he said.</p>

Insurance Bill Would Affect State’s Small Firms

May 1, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Business Journal</p> <p>"California has a lot of strong patient protections -- more than a lot of other states," said Carmen Balber; of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group based in Santa Monica. Balber said the bill would allow insurance companies to widely vary individuals' rates. She said under SB 1955, trade group plans could deviate from a formula by as much as 25 percent, whereas currently, health plans that operate here can only go about 10 percent beyond the standard for premiums.</p>

Auto insurance rate hikes on your horizon? Maybe not;

April 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California)</p> <p>"This issue has been studied to death," said Doug Heller, a lobbyist for The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, an independent advocacy group. "The purpose of this bill is to throw up another wall (to implementing Prop. 103)."</p>

Canceled Policies Prompt Lawsuits

April 28, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Customers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield say they were dumped after incurring medical costs.</h3> <p> The lawsuits allege that once individual policyholders incurred medical expenses, the companies looked for ways to drop them to boost their bottom lines. The several former policyholders allege that they were dropped for trivial or inadvertent omissions on their applications. </p>