Insurance

Anthem suit targets Garamendi

August 4, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance chief is accused of unfairly blocking the planned merger with WellPoint.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The lawsuit "ignores the fact that California courts have given insurance commissioners broad discretion to protect policyholders," said Jerry Flanagan, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Anthem Sues in Bid to Save WellPoint Deal

August 4, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>What's more, judges often defer to regulators, especially elected officials, said Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, which opposes Anthem's acquisition of WellPoint.</p>

Anthem sues Calif insurance official over WellPoint merger block

August 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Critics claim the companies would have to raise premiums to deal with the costs of the merger. "I think it's going to be a real uphill battle," Jerry Flanagan, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said of the lawsuit.</p>

To Really Reform Healthcare, Democrats Should Take Their Cue From Garamendi

August 2, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Democrats talked a good game when it came to healthcare reform at their convention in Boston last week. But talk is cheap. They need to follow the lead of one of their own -- California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi -- and play hardball.</p>

SHOP CAREFULLY WHEN IN THE MARKET FOR A MORTGAGE

August 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said consumers should take an advocacy role when home loan shopping, even though there are laws regulating fee disclosure.</p>

CALIFORNIA PERFORMANCE REVIEW;

July 31, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Consumer affairs: A third of state boards, including those for barbers and horse racing, would be cut. Some worry about unregulated businesses.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doing away with many of the boards themselves would be "throwing the baby out with the bathwater ... a radical destruction of an important check and balance on big industries," said Jamie Court with FTCR.</p>

Oops! I Appointed a Special Interest

July 29, 2004  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has appointed an insurance industry lobbyist -- Bill Gausewitz -- as the Director of the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). The OAL is a lesser-known but hugely important agency that...</font>

COMPANIES SEE HEALTHY PROFITS

July 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Filing a lawsuit is a way for Anthem and WellPoint to buy time while they weigh their options. The only shot they have at getting final approval is significantly reducing the golden parachutes that executives will receive if the merger goes through.</p>

Prop. 72 aims to cancel health care act

July 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Bernardino County Sun (California)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says it is much more costly to have a work place where workers are missing days because of illness than one where employees are insured by their employers.</p>

Garamendi won’t let health insurers merge

July 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"Not only do California consumers owe Garamendi a debt of gratitude, they owe him a debt of $4 billion," said Jerry Flannagan, of FTCR, referring to the funds he estimated would be paid by Californians to finance the merger.</p>

Anthem-Wellpoint merger – California blocks blockbuster deal;

July 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Decision final, says insurance official</h3><p class="source">The Indianapolis Star</p> <p>Indianapolis' chance of becoming home to the country's largest health-benefits company hit a wall Friday when California's insurance commissioner rejected the proposed $16.4 billion dollar merger of Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health N</p>

Regulator Stalls Blue Cross Deal in California

July 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>At least one advocacy group, FTCR, which has been a vocal critic of the plan, praised his decision. The deal had been roundly criticized for the generous pay packages given to the executives involved and for the $3.4 billion in debt that would be incurred</p>