Insurance

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>

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>

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>

Advocates say administration fighting California Privacy Act

September 11, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Consumer Financial Services Law Report</p> <p>What's more, Jamie Court of FTCR claims the Bush Administration has been backing out of campaign pledges to protect American's privacy in favor of federal legislation that would override California's stronger privacy measure.</p>

Health coverage bill advances

September 10, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CONTRA COSTA TIMES</p> <p>Although the bill caps the percentage of costs passed onto workers at 20 percent, it doesn't fully protect against escalating premiums and doesn't address copays and deductibles, said Jerry Flanagan of FTCR.</p>

Employee health costs rise painfully fast

September 10, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>"While health-care costs are soaring, premiums are increasing at a much greater rate," said Jerry Flanagan, health-care advocate with FTCR, who added that almost every publicly traded HMO has recorded a profit increase in the last two quarters.</p>

Fighting Corporate America;

September 8, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Jamie Court's Corporateering: How Corporate Power Steals Your Personal Freedom... And What You Can Do About It is full of fighting words.</h3><p class="source">USA Today</p> <p>One poll conducted in 2000 showed that while Americans credited corporations with being the basis of their economic prosperity, almost 75% of this same group said they felt corporations had too much power over other parts of their lives.</p>

Bickering Lawmakers Pass Bills;

September 5, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>GOP, Democrats both have complaints to make as legislation advances on corporate fraud, handgun safety and garbage collection fees.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doug Heller, a lobbyist for FTCR, said if it became law, the legislation would be the toughest of its kind in the nation. A major feature of the program would be a proposed whistelblower 800 hotline to the attorney general's office.</p>

Schwarzenegger Goes for Outsider Role, Insider Help

September 4, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Washington Post</p> <p>"It's really a shame. He's squandered an opportunity. He pledged to be the people's governor, and at the end of the day, he's taking everybody's money," said Douglas Heller of FTCR.</p>

SCPIE HOLDINGS GETS MEDICAL-MALPRACTICE RATE HIKE IN CALIFORNIA

September 3, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>SCPIE Holdings Inc. said it was happy to get a 9.9% increase in its 2003 California medical-malpractice insurance rates, while a consumer advocacy group claimed victory because the insurer had sought more.</p>

Energy companies hold consumers hostage

September 3, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">PRI - Marketplace (6:30 pm EST)</p> <p>Jamie Court (FTCR): Californians paid tens of billions of dollars in overcharges as blackout blackmail because producers could demand any price to keep the lights on.</p>