Insurance

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>

Middle-class Americans face life without health insurance

December 31, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"When the problem of the uninsured affects the middle class, there will be a political will in Sacramento to solve the problem," said Jerry Flanagan, health policy director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

OPINION – Express your outrage;

December 30, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>CA Board of Equalization gives tax refunds to corporations that paid no income taxes</h3><p class="source">Eureka Times-Standard (California)</p> <p>Critics are fuming over this, as should every Californian who has paid a cent in income tax.</p>

Firms that paid no state taxes set to get $82 million in refunds

December 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Riverside Press-Enterprise</p> <p>"To actually be giving a gift to companies that paid no taxes is a slap in the face of every taxpaying citizen in the state," said Doug Heller, an advocate for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Citing Prop. 64, Firms Seek to Kill Lawsuits;

December 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>At least a dozen unfair-competition cases that existed before the measure's passage have come under challenge.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Opponents of Proposition 64 -- mainly environmental and consumer rights activists -- accuse business of pulling a bait-and-switch with voters by trying to apply the amended law retroactively.</p>

Insurers Back U.S. Oversight;

December 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>With states pushing to tighten their regulation, the industry embraces the idea of federal standards.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The insurance industry is "threatening a federal takeover in order to scare our state lawmakers into weakening state consumer protections," said Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR in Los Angeles. "The push in D.C. is to lowest-common-denominator stan</p>

Financier to Lead Institute on Stem Cells

December 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>Some board members have been criticized for their ties to large biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Amgen. Jerry Flanagan, an advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, warned of a web of conflicts.</p>

Party Is Over on Workers’ Comp

December 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has called for workers' comp premium reductions totaling 22% to match the savings by insurers, but the insurers are in the driver's seat. They don't have to listen to what he says.</p>

A Burd in the Hand

December 2, 2004  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Corporate reformer Sean Harrigan says that Arnold was the hand behind his ouster from his position as President of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) today. CalPERS, the...</font>

Merger of HMOs approved;

December 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State unveils plans to use new funds</h3><p class="source">The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</p> <p>A California-based consumer group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, noted the merger would bring up to $600 million in cash and stock options to top executives of the companies.</p>

Anthem, WellPoint Merger Is Complete;

December 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Deal creates the biggest U.S. health insurer. One executive says members can expect more choices but not lower prices.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"These bonuses are nine-figure Christmas gifts for company executives at a time when patients have to fight for basic healthcare coverage," said Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

With Georgia on board, Anthem, WellPoint complete merger

November 30, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan of FTCR said the millions of dollars to improve health care in two states was "chump change" compared with executive payouts that were part of the deal and the premium increases customers could face to cover the merger's financing costs.</p>