Insurance

Calif. insurance commissioner rejects Anthem-WellPoint merger

July 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Critics suggested that Blue Cross has underpaid insurance taxes by $500 million since it became a for-profit corporation in 1994. Blue Cross officials called the charge a blatant lie, but FTCR said it would sue to recover the money.</p>

Junk Faxer Fights Back;

July 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Fined Aliso Viejo firm countersues to protect its perceived right to send unsolicited fliers. Foes call it intimidation.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>An Orange County business that has been fined millions of dollars for sending unwanted faxes is suing more than a dozen people who turned to the courts to stop the flow of so-called junk faxes.</p>

Politics or protecting policyholders?

July 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>As Anthem's merger stalls, different theories arise about the holdup</h3><p class="source">The Indianapolis Star</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, consumer advocate for the nonprofit FTCR, which has questioned the merger's impact on policyholders, sees Garamendi's proposal as "more of a payoff to the state to get approval. It's not as if they (WellPoint or Anthem) owe that debt to th</p>

BLUE SHIELD OFFERS REBATES TO NEEDY

July 15, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, lead health care advocate at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said Blue Shield and other health plans should be giving significantly more.</p>

WELLPOINT: REGULATORS EXPECTED TO RULE ON ANTHEM DEAL AFTER; REVIEW

July 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p>

CRITICS SLAM MERGER PLANS;

July 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>ANTHEM, BLUE CROSS PARENT TO COMBINE?</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Critics are concerned that the deal will result in excessive compensation and bonuses to the two companies' executives, and that patients will be paying the cost through their premiums.</p>

Pat and Dave Parkers’ Second Letter To Schwarzenegger

July 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Regarding Anthem's Acquisiton Of Wellpoint</h3> <p>Since December we have been waiting for the phone call from you that your staff promised us when we tried to hand delivered a letter explaining our situation during your $10,000 per-skybox fundraiser at a Laker's game.</p>

Lawmakers engaged in bitter battle for control of California Senate

July 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Most nose-counters rate it as a tossup now, and it's at least theoretically possible that Republican votes for Perata would be decisive if Democrats don't unite behind the one who nails down 13 Democratic senators.</p>

Raising Cain

July 9, 2004  ·  Doug Heller

<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>