Insurance

WINNING GRANDMA MILLIE’S VOTE;

June 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Calif. AG Lockyer gets tough on Enron</h3><p class="source">LA Weekly</p> <p>"The lawsuit drives home the point that an unregulated energy industry will never provide reliable and affordable power," adds Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, in Santa Monica.</p>

Questions raised over cost of proposed WellPoint-Anthem merger

June 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</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 maintenance organization appear to benefit executives and stockholders over patients.</p>

Public Hearing Set on Deal to Buy WellPoint;

June 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Amid criticism, state HMO regulators will take testimony on the proposed $16 billion purchase by Anthem.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The department's decision to hold a hearing on the purchase is good news for patients, said Jerry Flanagan, a San Francisco-based healthcare analyst for FTCR. The decision, he said, shows the administration has bowed to pressure from patients' rights grou</p>

Health department will hold hearing

June 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>In advance of his department's Friday hearing, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi posted on his department's Web site Wednesday the latest draft of Anthem's proposals to alleviate his concerns about how the merger might hurt California residents.</p>

Is Arnold Twisting Arms at the FPPC?

June 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The Fair Political Practices Commission ("FPPC") will vote this Friday on a regulation which would interpret Prop 34's limits on contributions to political candidates to include...</font>

Insurers’ fire policies criticized;

June 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>PROPOSAL: Coverage cuts in response to claims spur drive for legislation.</h3><p class="source">Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA)</p> <p>"Insurance companies are punishing consumers if they have the gall to use their policy," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Insurance bill would limit dropping of policyholders

June 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights released an itemized list Tuesday of more than $500,000 in campaign contributions the past two years by the insurance industry to members of the 17-person Assembly committee.</p>

Bill sought by fire victims rejected by Assembly panel

June 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>"The insurance industry plays the game that fire survivors can't afford to," said Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR. "It's a tragedy that the stories of these survivors can't be heard over the clanging of insurance industry donations."</p>

Shell Oil Will Not Soften Production at Bakersfield, Calif., Refinery

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Bakersfield Californian</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the statement was "vague" and that he was still concerned Shell would slow refinery production this summer.</p>

Anthem merger to get 2nd hearing;

June 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California official concerned about payouts to WellPoint executives</h3><p class="source">The Indianapolis Star</p> <p>Under the draft proposal, nothing would stop Anthem from removing the remaining $652 million and using it as it wished, said Jerry Flanagan, health care policy director for the Santa Monica, California-based consumer group.</p>

The Arnold Index: Top 100

June 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="Verdana,helvetica,Arial"><br/> </font> <!-- body text starts --><!-- startbodytext --> <font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">On August 7, 2003 Arnold said: "I will go to Sacramento and I will clean house. I don't...</font>

Blue Cross of California’s March 31, 2004 Filing with DMHC

June 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>According to company filings with the state regulators, Blue Cross of California has more than $1 billion in premium funded reserves in jeopardy under the terms of the pending merger between Blue Cross' parent company, WellPoint, and Anthem Inc.</p>