Insurance

COMMENTARY; Regulate insurance to fight malpractice ‘crisis’

January 16, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Chicago Tribune</p> <p>The insurance industry pushing for tort reform? Kind of like the Big Bad Wolf trying to prohibit little pigs from living in brick houses.</p>

For Insurance Claimants, Wording Is Slippery Slope;

January 14, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Distinction between what constitutes a flood and a slide can dictate whether one is covered.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR in Los Angeles, said it was good that insurance companies were bringing disaster claims specialists in to assess the damage, but the fear is they're going to bring in people essentially for denying claims.</p>

Assemblyman regrets flier’s wording;

January 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Some see Calderon's invitation as targeting special interests.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the flier "basically put a for-sale sign on the Banking and Finance Committee. This is probably the most blatant mixing of policy and politics that I've ever seen..."</p>

Arnold’s Special Interest Tools

January 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold and his corporate backers have contrived yet another way to get around California's campaign finance rules. We shouldn't be surprised. When the FPPC issued rules last spring (after...</font>

Connecticut governor orders rate debate on medical malpractice insurance

January 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Malpractice Premium Forges Rare Alliance</h3><p class="source">Hartford Courant (Connecticut)</p> <p>FTCR challenged Medical Protective's proposed 29.2 percent rate increase for California last year. The company ended up accepting an 11.8 percent increase there.</p>

Commentary: The President Prescribes Retribution

January 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>In using the crisis to settle a political score with the trial lawyers, Bush is guilty of presidential malpractice.</h3><p class="source">Newhouse News Service</p> <p>A study by FTCR, using the experience in California and statistics developed by the federal government's auditing office, makes the case that capping jury awards has had little impact on malpractice insurance rates. What works best is tighter regulation</p>

Plan to reduce state boards assailed;

January 7, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Consumer protections are at great risk, critics contend.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration insisted Thursday that his plan to abolish nearly 100 California regulatory boards and commissions would bolster consumer protection, but consumer activists called the claim preposterous.</p>

Health Biz: Malpractice caps not enough

January 6, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">United Press International (UPI Wires)</p> <p>The non-profit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights quickly shot back malpractice premiums rose 450 percent after the 1975 cap until a 1988 voter initiative passed that began regulating insurance premiums by law.</p>

Bush launching campaign for second-term agenda;

January 5, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>President seeks changes on malpractice awards, tax code, Social Security</h3><p class="source">The Baltimore Sun</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which opposes Bush's plan, said Bush is "on a warpath to blame the ills of the health care system on a manufactured concept that lawsuits are the heart of the problem."</p>

Court to decide when lawsuit limit began

January 5, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Consumer advocates believe they hold a trump card: an e-mail sent in September from the official Prop. 64 campaign, saying the measure was not retroactive, in response to an inquiry from Daniel Sigler, an Orange County attorney.</p>

Democrats Ready to Battle Gov.;

January 3, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Still in control of the Legislature, the party plans to be more assertive, especially on issues of concern to the middle class.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Arnold is the largest recipient of pharmaceutical donations in America except for George Bush. (Schwarzenegger has accepted $367,200 from drug companies according to an analysis by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.)</p>

States vs. U.S.: Who Will Police Insurance Firms?

December 31, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>"Federal regulation would substitute a deregulated environment that would wipe out what pitifully limited regulation exists at the state level," said Harvey Rosenfield, a California lawyer and founder of FTCR. "States need to pass laws to make regulation</p>