Insurance

Suit Alleges Anthem Blue Cross Misled California Policyholders

November 4, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The fall health insurance enrollment period is shaping up as one to remember.</p> <p>With major insurers abandoning the Affordable Care Act exchanges in some states and premium increases abounding, litigation now promises to add to the tumult.</p> <p>Consumer advocates in California said today they are suing one of the state’s major exchange coverage providers for attempting to force consumers to renew policies that have been significantly altered, to the detriment of the policyholders.</p>

Consumer Watchdog of Santa Monica Sues Anthem Blue Cross

November 2, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A Santa Monica-based consumer-advocacy group sued Anthem Blue Cross Tuesday, accusing the insurer of misleading customers by sending them policy renewal notices without adequately warning them the plans no longer provide coverage for out-of-network physicians.</p>

Consumer-Advocacy Group Sues Anthem Blue Cross For Allegedly Misleading Consumers On 2017 Health Plans

November 1, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A Santa Monica-based consumer-advocacy group sued<a href="https://www.anthem.com/"> Anthem Blue Cross </a>Tuesday, accusing the insurer of misleading customers by sending them policy renewal notices without adequately warning them the plans no longer provide coverage for out-of-network physicians.</p>

Anthem is Cutting Out-Of-Network Health Coverage In A ‘Bait And Switch,’ Lawsuit Says

November 1, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>On the first day of <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/health/healthcare/healthcare-policies-laws/affordable-care-act-%28obamacare%29-EVGAP00039-topic.html" id="EVGAP00039" title="Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)">Obamacare</a> open enrollment, a consumer group sued Anthem Blue Cross for attempting to automatically renew policies that no longer cover out-of-network costs for hundreds of thousands of Californians.</p>

Consumer Group Sues Anthem Blue Cross For Allegedly Misleading Consumers On 2017 Health Plans

November 1, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="article-body"> <div class="body-copy"> <p style="">Calling it a classic “bait and switch,” a California consumer group on Tuesday lashed out at Anthem Blue Cross of California, accusing it of misrepresenting to its customers that the health insurer’s  “renewal notice” for 2017 is actually railroading unassuming members into brand-new, bare-bones plans.</p>

Lawsuit: Insurer Anthem Misleading California Customers

November 1, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b><strong>Consumer Watchdog claims insurance company charges more for inferior coverage</strong></b><strong> </strong></p> <p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California health insurance company Anthem Blue Cross is misleading several hundred thousand customers about changes in their policies that will leave them paying more for inferior coverage, a consumer advocacy group said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.</p>

Big Premium Hikes Fuel Obamacare Debate

October 31, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON -- Urging people to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama said last week that while premiums might be rising, most consumers need not worry. "Premiums going up," he said, "don't necessarily translate into higher premiums for people who are getting tax credits."</p>

Tesla Again Scrambles The Self-Driving Debate

October 27, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><i>Washington</i> — Tesla Motors Inc.’s entrance into the race to build a fully self-driving car has the potential to scramble an already contentious debate about whether autonomous vehicles should be allowed to operate alongside traditional autos on U.S. roads.</p>

How To Guard A Car From Hackers: Feds Weigh In

October 24, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>As automakers race toward a future of Web-connected and self-driving vehicles, federal regulators on Monday <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/812333_CybersecurityForModernVehicles.pdf">issued proposed guidelines</a> for guarding cars from hackers.</p> <p>Coming just days after <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/How-your-baby-monitors-are-being-used-to-attack-10152723.php">a massive Internet attack</a> knocked several popular websites offline, the proposal reflects increasing concern among government regulators and auto industry executives alike.</p>

State Farm To Sharply Reduce California Renters’ Insurance Rates In 2017

October 21, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced on Oct. 19 that State Farm General Insurance Co. has agreed to reduce its Rental Dwelling Program policyholders’ rates statewide by an average of 40 percent, effective Feb. 1, 2017.</p> <p><a href="http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2016/release118-16.cfm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Jones</a>, rental property owners and small-business clients will see an estimated $101.1 million savings, with an average savings to individual policyholders of about $359 annually.</p>

Federal Self-Driving Car Policy on Right Road, But Real Safety Standards Still Needed

October 13, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><em>Written by </em><em>John M. Simpson, director of <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project</a>. </em><em>This is one in a series of periodic guest columns by industry thought leaders. </em></p> <div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_5573" style="width: 168px"><img alt="John M. Simpson headshot " class="wp-image-5573" height="205" src="https://www.trucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/220px-john_m_simpson_360.jpg" width="158" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">John M. Simpson (Photo: Consumer Watchdog)</p>

How Self-Driving Cars Could Become Weapons Of Terror

October 10, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Self-driving cars could be lifesavers, preventing many, if not most, of the traffic accidents that claim more than 30,000 American lives each year.</p> <div class="sync-inline-overlay"> <p>They could also make devastating weapons.</p> <p>Picture hackers employed by a hostile nation finding a way to command large numbers of cars on U.S. roads. Picture those hackers ordering the vehicles to suddenly accelerate and turn hard to the right, flipping them over, killing many passengers and clogging freeways with junked cars.</p>