Insurance

Prop. 103 Changes May Join Ballot;

January 5, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Mercury Insurance's chief is pushing a measure to rewrite the 1988 initiative that governs auto insurance premiums in the state.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>If Joseph's (Mercury Insurance) proposal makes it to the November ballot, Rosenfield vows to launch a counter-campaign that could include ballot measures to regulate workers' compensation insurance rates, prohibit insurers from canceling homeowners' policies after claims have been filed and outlaw the use of consumers' credit scores in underwriting, he said.</p>

Rebates: Get what’s coming to you

January 5, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CNNMoney.com</p> <p>According to the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, some rebate companies will reject the rebate if the form is torn, dirty or otherwise "mutilated." Use a street address instead of a post office box. Rebate companies will not send rebates there. And often original receipts are required, not copies.</p>

Insurer proposes measure to alter California insurance reforms

January 5, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"California motorists, homeowners and businesses can expect to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars more every year for insurance if the insurance industry is able to trick the voters into passing their initiatives," Harvey Rosenfield, author of Proposition 103 and head of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights, said in a statement.</p>

Jet Setter

January 4, 2006  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14035111p-14867100c.html">Sacramento Bee</a> reported another shady Schwarzenegger business deal yesterday: One of the gov's companies...</font>

Insurance Suits and Administrative Actions

January 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Everyday, FTCR attorneys battle insurance companies in the courts and before the California Department of Insurance to stop illegal overcharges, excessive rate hikes, and other abusive insurance practices that are prohibited under...</p>

Doctor insurer’s rates and perks up;

January 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Big bonuses alleged for top executives</h3><p class="source">Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois)</p> <p>Goyal's charges foreshadowed conclusions reached in a report issued Friday by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, of Santa Monica, Calif. The group describes itself as a non-profit consumer education and advocacy organization. The report, titled "False Accounting," accuses medical malpractice insurers nationwide of exaggerating the amounts paid out in claims as part of a campaign to justify high rate increases.</p>

60% of Californians Support Universal Health Care — What’s Your Vote?

January 1, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> Which would you prefer — the current health insurance system in the United States, in which most people get their health insurance from private employers, but some people have no insurance, or a universal health insurance program,...</p>

Current Proposals for Universal Health Care

January 1, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> <strong>Proposal:</strong> Senate Bill 840 (Senator Sheila Kuehl) </p> <p> <strong>Status:</strong> Pending in California Legislature </p> <p> <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/SB840"><img src="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/images/SFtownhall.jpg" border="0" align="right"/>...</a> </p>

False Accounting: How Medical Malpractice Insurance Companies Inflate Losses to Justify Sudden Surges in Rates and Tort Reform

December 29, 2005  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<!-- excerpt --> <p> In this study, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) reviews the loss projections of medical malpractice insurance companies, beginning with the 'insurance crisis' of the mid-1980s. The data show that medical malpractice insurers have historically inflated their loss projections and then revised their reported losses downward in subsequent years. The 'incurred losses' that medical malpractice insurance companies initially reported for policies in effect in each of the years examined were, on average, 46% higher than the amount the insurers actually paid out on those policies. </p>

Calculating Malpractice Claims

December 29, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Study by Consumers Group Suggests Insurers Set Premiums Based on Market, Not Their Losses</h3>

GOOD DRIVERS’ RATES TO DIP;

December 29, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS TO BE BASED ON RECORD, NOT HOME'S ZIP CODE</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"The people who are going to pay more are the bad drivers who've been subsidized all these years by good drivers all throughout California,'' said FTCR founder Harvey Rosenfield, who authored Proposition 103.</p>

An Enterprising Contribution

December 28, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">As Arnold has twisted and turned on the question of accepting campaign contributions, he has always claimed that he wouldn't take money from businesses that do business with the state (...</font>