Susan Walker — Granada Hills, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Insurance
Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.
Gail Saivar — San Diego, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
The Pastoria Family — Studio City, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Jon Marcus — San Francisco, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Murray Axelrod — Los Angeles, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Penny Ericson (an alias) — Los Angeles, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
The Brown Family — Belmont, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Pat & Dave Parker — Orange County, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Pat Pawlack — North Hollwood, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
Kathy Locke — Novato, California
<br />
<!-- excerpt -->
UnitedHealth to buy PacifiCare;
<h3>The $8.1 billion acquisition would give the company a commanding presence in the senior-care market.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p>
<p>Consumer advocates were skeptical of such claims. FTCR urged state regulators to take a hard look at the deal, noting that patient premiums have been increasing at double-digit rates over the last several years, and less competition removes any incentives for efficiency.</p>
UnitedHealth plans to acquire PacifiCare;
<h3>$8.1 billion deal will create insurer with 26 million members</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p>
<p>A consumer advocacy group disagreed with the merger. "Consumers will have fewer choices, and costs will go up," said Jerry Flanagan, health advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, based in Santa Monica.
</p>