Insurance

Insurance rates under fire;

December 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State Commissioner Garamendi wants drivers to pay based on safety records, not ZIP codes</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Consumer groups that accuse insurers of overcharging good drivers refuted claims that costs will rise under the proposed regulations. "Insurers have bitterly fought this. They have been trying to frighten people," said Harvey Rosenfield of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and author of Proposition 103.</p>

Changes sought in auto insurance;

December 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Garamendi: Give record more weight than the ZIP code</h3><p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>Garamendi characterized the changes as the final implementation of Prop. 103, which was approved by voters in 1988. That proposition required insurance companies to concentrate on issues like a driver's history as they set rates, but consumer groups have long complained that former Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush weakened Prop. 103 with regulations he imposed.</p>

Insurance Plan May Shift Auto Rates in State;

December 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California's top regulator says he will propose giving more weight to motorists' records and miles driven than to where they live.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"We have the prospect that our auto insurance rates are finally going to be based on factors that are within our control," said Harvey Rosenfield, author of Proposition 103 and founder of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "People who drive long distances, have poor driving records or have little experience behind the wheel will pay more.</p>

Insurance commissioner seeks new rules for setting auto rates

December 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The foundation (FTCR) was a driving force behind the voter approval of Proposition 103. The initiative gave the Department of Insurance the authority to regulate auto insurance rates in California and led to $1.2 billion in rebates to California motorists during the early 1990s.</p>

Study Alleges Racial Bias in Auto Rates;

December 20, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Those in mostly black or Latino areas are found to pay more. Insurers dispute the data.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"The challenge before John Garamendi is whether to end the lingering racism in our auto insurance system or let it linger for another decade," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. </p>

Pursuing The Scarcer Moviegoers

December 17, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>Asked about the proposals, Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said that blocking phones might be a cure worse than the illness. ''It doesn't sound like it's a plan that's been really thought out,'' he said. ''There's a legitimate reaction against cellphone use in theaters, by moviegoers and theater owners. But I don't think the public is going to react very well to being handled in this way.''</p>

Shop carefully for health-care insurance

December 14, 2005  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace Morning Report - NPR</p> <p>For some workers, it's time to choose a health plan for the coming year or make changes to the existing policy. At the same time health savings accounts and the like are giving people a lot more decisions to make about their health insurance. Consumer advocate Jamie Court says shopping for health care isn't like shopping for Christmas presents. Buyer, beware.</p>

AMA accused of deceiving D.C. Council panel

December 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Washington Times</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights is accusing lawyer Robert R. McMillan, a member of the AMA's board of trustees, of intentionally deceiving council members.</p>

Gov. Demotes Deputy, Puts 2 Republicans in Key Roles

December 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"That, more than any of these other moves, is pretty brazen, to put the insurance industry's longtime chief lobbyist at the helm of the administration," said Doug Heller with FTCR. "It's a startling move that should raise real concerns for California citizens. This is the insurance industry's top lobbyist."</p>

$2 Million Sugar Plum

December 9, 2005  ·  Carmen Balber

Arnold turned over the keys of government to the insurance industry this afternoon with his appointment of the industry's chief lobbyist, Dan Dunmoyer, as his Deputy Chief of Staff. Insurers contributed just $2,155,285 to purchase this plum...

Study: Living by a church helps keep drivers safe

December 7, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>The leader of a consumer watchdog group fighting for reforms to prevent home addresses from affecting auto insurance prices ridiculed the study. "What's next? A study showing people on low-carb diets cause less accidents than pasta eaters?'' asked Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Feb. 27 court date for Charter test of stem cell program;

December 7, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Foes say enterprise is illegal because it's outside state control</h3><p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>"They're allowing the grant recipients to own the research products," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles, one of several advocacy groups riding herd on the stem cell program's formative months. "It's true this is only for the training grants to nonprofits, but the problem is once you establish the interim rules, that becomes the starting point for all the following discussions," he said.</p>