Insurance

Raising Cain

July 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">By signing a worker's comp "reform" law that failed to provide any regulatory controls over the insurance companies that have been jacking up California businesses' premiums in recent...</font>

Officials look into Blue Cross tax loophole

July 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Daily News</p> <p>FTCR, a Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group, continues to dredge up information about Blue Cross' premium tax exemption.</p>

Garamendi still not satisfied with healthcare merger plans

July 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>"Simply requiring Anthem to pay $400 million is hush money to get the state to go away," Jerry Flanagan with FTCR said Tuesday. "What the state needs to require is that WellPoint refund its excess reserves to policyholders, and agree to freeze premiums</p>

Corporate reaction cool;

July 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Kerry's choice likely to play better with consumers</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"This will clearly bring front and center the populist revolt against big corporations," said Jamie Court, author of the book "Corporateering" and president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.</p>

Anthem talks disappointing, regulator says

July 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California insurance commissioner lays out conditions for his OK of WellPoint takeover.</h3><p class="source">Indianapolis Star</p> <p>Garamendi's news conference "feels to me like he's getting closer to saying no to the deal altogether," said Jerry Flanagan, consumer advocate at Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a nonprofit consumer group that has opposed terms of the mer</p>

California signs a deal with a company that specializes in exporting jobs to cheap overseas labor markets.

July 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Critics say state-funded jobs could soon be shipped overseas.</h3><p class="source">CNN-TV - LOU DOBBS TONIGHT</p> <p>The state of California, 35 million people, should not be legitimatizing the use of outsourcers and the exporting of American jobs elsewhere... the only reason we are is because the governor of California is acting a lot more like a CEO of California.</p>

Much ado, but tiny rebates;

July 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Microsoft suit not a windfall for consumers</h3><p class="source">Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)</p> <p>Another function of class-action law is to deter future wrongdoing, said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, Calif.</p>

Anthem, WellPoint resist $400 million payment;

July 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California is considering making the firms donate to state health program in return for OK on merger.</h3><p class="source">The Indianapolis Star</p> <p>"$400 million is chump change. We need more," said Jerry Flanagan, the group's consumer advocate. WellPoint's Blue Cross unit has reserves of $1 billion that regulators should aim to keep in the state under a takeover by Anthem, he said.</p>

Arnold’s Campaign for Fantastic Jobs…Abroad?

July 2, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">"We have to make sure everyone in California has a fantastic job," Arnold proclaimed last year. He even made phone calls to California executives asking them personally to keep their...</font>

Shareholders quickly OK Anthem deal

June 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>WellPoint merger gets approval from 97% of two firms' investors; California is final hurdle.</h3><p class="source">Indianapolis Star</p> <p>FTCR, a California consumer group, called Monday for California regulators to require Anthem to refund $1 billion to policyholders if it's allowed to take over WellPoint. The amount represents the reserves that WellPoint's Blue Cross unit has set aside fr</p>

WellPoint deal may flop

June 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Garamendi may kill pact with Anthem</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Daily News</p> <p>Consumer advocacy groups have also raised the specter of compensation packages and the threat of a WellPoint-Anthem monopoly. FTCR said Monday it is calling on state regulators to require the companies to refund $1 billion to patient and small businesses</p>

Anthem fails to quell skepticism

June 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California insurance chief fears premium hikes will finance merger</h3><p class="source">Indianapolis Star</p> <p>California's insurance commissioner grilled executives from Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc. Friday, saying plans to create the nation's largest health benefits company appear to benefit executives and stockholders over patients.</p>