Insurance

What drives insurance rates?

April 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Commissioner John Garamendi wants to pin poor drivers; companies defend ZIP code method</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Doug Heller, a longtime insurance industry critic who heads the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said that good urban drivers are subsidizing bad rural drivers with their higher insurance rates."It's outrageous that drivers who cause accidents pay less than a good driver like me, just because they have different ZIP codes," Heller said. </p>

Committee ends stalemate on health plan bill

April 1, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Long Island Business News</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer advocacy group, believes health-care costs would increase under the plan because patients would be forced to pay out of pocket for medically necessary treatment that insurers would no longer need to cover.</p>

Stem cell institute may sell naming rights to wealthy donors

March 31, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Whatever the analogy, there's little precedent for a California agency raising money in this way, and the plan has raised concern among the stem cell agency's critics. "If they aren't careful, they are going to be seen as selling out to biotech," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Garamendi To Probe Blue Cross’ Practices

March 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> California regulators said Wednesday that they would investigate accusations by 10 patients that Blue Cross has a system to retroactively cancel health coverage for members after they need expensive medical care.<br/> <br/> State...</p>

Insurance firms contribute big to Bustamante;

March 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>$120,000 given to candidate who would regulate the industry</h3><p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>"Any candidate for commissioner who wants the faith of California voters and consumers has to reject all contributions and favors from the industry -- period," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "There are no exceptions, there are no excuses, because contributions and gifts come with the expectations that you will not regulate," he said.</p>

Out-of-State Facility Demands Part of Stem Cell Research Royalties;

March 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Move by University of Wisconsin could stifle research here. Profits from studies were supposed to be funneled into California's coffers.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Patient advocates and taxpayer watchdogs are insisting that the public dollars not be spent without ample public oversight -- and monetary public benefit. Californians "never intended a blank check for biotech," said John M. Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "The state should hold the patents."</p>

Organizations, Health Plans and State Officials Opposed to Junk Insurance Bill: S. 1955 (Enzi, R-WY)

March 29, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Sample Letter of Opposition to S. 1955 (Enzi, WY)

March 29, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Who’s Filling the Chamber Pot?

March 28, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Papers report that the gov released his first official re-election ad yesterday, but anyone who watches television saw what looked a lot like two other Schwarzenegger campaign ads over the last...</font>

Small Business Health Plans Move Forward

March 27, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Grand Rapids Business Journal</p> <p>"The effect of this legislation will be to deregulate the entire health insurance market," wrote consumer advocates from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. The watchdog group pleaded with Enzi to change provisions in his bill allowing for what the group calls "junk health care."</p>

A renewed move to boost small businesses’ health coverage

March 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Scripps Howard News Service</p> <p>Even so, critics count on the power of patients'-rights advocates like Dana Christensen to make their case. The Playa del Rey, Calif., widow told senators how her husband, Doug, begged on his deathbed for a divorce because their Association Health Plan, including its chemotherapy rider, amounted to "junk" insurance that covered only18 percent of his treatment for bone cancer and saddled her with more than $450,000 of his medical bills.</p>

Health Care Pirates

March 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Watch the new music video and help sink the health insurance pirates. (Thank You to the Austin Lounge Lizards for their new song "Go Ahead and Die")