Insurance

Medicare card debuts – Seniors report little relief

June 2, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)</p> <p>Consumers should be aware of some common types of fraud. "Seniors should read the fine the print of drug discount card contracts and watch for fraud and identity theft," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR).</p>

Jamie Court discusses how tort reform legislation may hurt small business

June 1, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace - National Public Radio (NPR)</p> <p>Mergers among banks, health insurers and oil companies were supposed to create economies of scale and savings for all. Instead, we've got bigger corporations gouging small businesses without the leverage to negotiate.</p>

How class-action legislation will hurt small business

June 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>Mergers among banks, health insurers and oil companies were supposed to create economies of scale and savings for all. Instead, we've got bigger corporations gouging small businesses without the leverage to negotiate.</p>

A Corporate Strategy For The Uninsured

June 1, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p class="source">INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY</p> <p>Big firms have the weight to move equally enormous health maintenance organizations, says Jerry Flanagan with FTCR. Your average consumer doesn't. "Health care is really a seesaw," he said. "Whoever's the biggest has the leverage."</p>

HEALTHCARE COVERAGE: Proposal to bar excessive HMO rates fails in California Senate committee

May 30, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Health Insurance Law Weekly</p> <p>Jerry Flannigan, a lobbyist for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the bill would have helped control one of the biggest factors in rising health care costs: administrative overhead.</p>

Garamendi Seeks 21% Cut in Comp Rates;

May 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The commissioner's proposal is received cautiously by insurers, employers and Schwarzenegger.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The governor's reluctance to publicly pressure insurers to bring down ratesin the wake of the workers' comp overhaul has some consumer advocates questioning his commitment to follow through on his promise to slash workers' compensation costs.</p>

Arnold Wants to Keep You in Cell Hell

May 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved yesterday a Cell Phone Bill of Rights that includes simple steps for transparency in cell phone bills and the right to cancel a new...</font>

Consumer group challenges governor’s nonprofit political fund

May 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>FTCR is asking the IRS to reconsider its ruling granting tax-exempt status to a political fund run by Gov. Schwarzenegger, saying the entity violates federal tax laws by allowing him to raise money and lobby lawmakers without disclosing its sources.</p>

Will HMO Be Able to Pay-For-Rubberstamp on Major Acquisition?

May 20, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold Watch has noted the unequal access of average people with real problems to this Governor. Now Schwarzenegger's Department of Managed Health Care is breaking with a tradition that goes...</font>

ANTHEM/WELLPOINT: CALIF. MAY OK MERGER WITHOUT PUBLIC HEARING

May 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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

Boxer claims Shell plans faster shutdown of Bakersfield refinery

May 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Jamie Court, the foundation's president, said his group has talked to about half-a-dozen Shell employees, including refinery workers, who've reported being told by management about a planned shutdown in the crude unit in the third week of August.</p>

Going Slow on Cutting Premiums;

May 14, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurers say savings will come from workers' compensation reform, but probably not as soon as employers wish.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Douglas Heller, director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica activist group, said premiums should drop by at least the 14% estimated by the rating bureau.</p>