Insurance

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>

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>