Insurance

CALIFORNIA: NEW YORK TIMES LOOKS AT DEBATE OVER ‘PLAY-OR-PAY’ BILL

September 17, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>- Although the bill is "good in theory," its "fatal flaw is the absence of price controls," Jamie Court, executive director of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

CALIFORNIA HEALTH BILL MUST TRAVERSE TOUGH ROAD TO SET PRECEDENT

September 17, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>FTCR supports the goal of expanding health coverage, Court said, but insists that without controls on costs, the measure would simply lead to even more onerous burdens imposed on employees.</p>

Insurance bill has hefty price tag;

September 16, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Measure may violate federal regulations</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"States are allowed to regulate insurance, but this mandates benefits for a whole class of large employers with businesses in other states," said Jamie Court, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer watchdog group.</p>

Garamendi promoting reform, himself;

September 15, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi seeks workers' compensation reform</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Business Journal</p> <p>"The truth is Garamendi has stared the insurance industry in the eye, called their bluff and collected money for the public, I can't think of any other statewide politician who has done the same," said Jamie Court with FTCR.</p>

California regulator cuts SCPIE med mal rate hike;

September 15, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Investigation prompts commissioner's denial of 15.6% proposed increase</h3><p class="source">Business Insurance</p> <p>"We challenged this proposed rate hike because we believe SCPIE was trying to charge excessive premiums," said Douglas Heller, FTCR's senior consumer advocate. "They were just out of line."</p>

Legislature OKs Small Business Health Coverage;

September 14, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Beginning in 2006, employers would be required to provide insurance coverage to 1 million of the state's working poor.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>However, Jerry Flanagan, lobbyist for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, charged that the bill provided no cost controls for either the employer or employee. He said limits should be set on the rates of insurers, hospitals and physicians.</p>

LICENSE LAW’S SAFETY DEBATE; WILL IMMIGRANTS HAVE INSURANCE?

September 14, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Harvey Rosenfield, president of FTCR, said even though illegal immigrants will have access to driver's licenses, they won't necessarily be able to afford auto insurance, and blamed another newly passed law that allows insurers to offer discounts to long</p>

Mercury Insurance chips in for Davis

September 12, 2003  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">Orange County Register</p> <p>"This is a payoff," Doug Heller with FTCR said Thursday, the day the contribution was posted on the Secretary of State's website. "Davis is presenting himself as a reformed governor, but nothing has changed."</p>

McAllen, Texas, Doctors Look to California for Medical Malpractice Cap Effect

September 12, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Monitor (Tribune Business News)</p> <p>"Caps have no effect other than to further line the pockets of insurance companies," said Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in California.</p>

Colorado homeowners complaining about rising home insurance rates and cancelled coverage

September 12, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pueblo Business Journal (Pueblo, CO)</p> <p>"We're seeing insurance costs escalating and a rapid increase in non-renewals. More troubling, there is a quiet threat from insurers to consumers, in which they basically say, 'If you file a claim, you'll likely see your rate increase," said Doug Heller w</p>

California health reform

September 12, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition</p> <p>Jamie Court, who directs the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, says there's one huge weakness: The proposal doesn't include any mechanism to control costs.</p>

Safeco to Sell Homeowners Policies Again;

September 11, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The insurer says it is negotiating with the state Insurance Department over underwriting standards and a rate increase.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The insurer said it would resume homeowners insurance sales if the state approved their 19.7% rate increase. A consumers group, FTCR, said that it would appeal such an increase, throwing the matter into possibly months of administrative hearings.</p>