Insurance

CALIFORNIA’S DAVIS SIGNS ‘PAY OR PLAY’ HEALTH BILL

October 6, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights says Hawaii's 30-year experience with a similar "pay or play" system indicates the state's next step ought to be enacting cost-control legislation for the health-care market.</p>

Worker’s Health Insurance Bill Benefits Argued

October 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">KPBS Radio - SAN DIEGO, CA</p> <p>Jamie Court directs the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. He thinks the measure is a good idea. But Court says it's missing an important element. Controlling costs of coverage...</p>

Governor Expected to Sign Health Bill;

October 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Measure would require more employers to provide insurance.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The nonprofit FTCR, which supports the bill but has been highly critical of its failure to include direct cost controls, urged Davis on Tuesday to sign the measure, but also asked him to "commit" to find ways to limit prices paid to doctors and hospitals</p>

Insurer to Drop Medical Policies;

September 27, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Farmers Insurance says the malpractice business for doctors and hospital groups isn't profitable. It cites unlimited payouts for damages.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>FTCR issued a statement asserting that Farmers' departure from the business does not make the case for payout limits. The organization argues that limits are unfair to victims and to the trial lawyers who represent them.</p>

Fighting corporate branding by counterbranding

September 25, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Minnesota Public Radio - Marketplace (6:30PM ET)</p> <p>Remember when HMOs threw moms out of hospitals eight hours after giving birth? We counterbranded that practice of premature patient discharges and named them drive-thru deliveries.</p>

FARMERS DROPPING SECTOR;

September 25, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE TO BE CUT</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Industry watchdogs were surprised by Farmers' move as the malpractice business is generally manageable for most insurers in California due to stringent rate regulation which has been a tool in the state to maintain a stable environment.</p>

CONSUMER GROUP SUGGESTS MERCURY GENERAL PAID FOR DAVIS’ SIGNATURE

September 25, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>FTCR opposed the bill, SB 841, on the grounds that it violates California's 15-year-old Proposition 103, which sets the specific factors that insurers may use in determining rates and eligibility for auto insurance.</p>

State Farm to Sell Home Insurance in State Again;

September 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurer's limited return to the market on Oct. 1 comes after a restructuring of its California offices.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>On Tuesday, an industry critic with FTCR said trends in the stock market also could be encouraging insurers to increase sales. "They don't want to miss an opportunity to invest new premium dollars in the rising market," said Doug Heller of FTCR.</p>

Court ruling on “Do Not Call” list registry stirs ire of Congress

September 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CNN - Lou Dobbs Moneyline (6:00pm EST)</p> <p>JAMIE COURT, FTCR: I was able to go on the Internet and buy for $26 the social security numbers of John Ashcroft, CIA Director George Tenet and just about every other cabinet member, that's how available the information is.</p>

RECALL NOTEBOOK; Group Accuses Davis of Bill-Signing Deal

September 23, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A consumer watchdog group charged Monday that $175,000 in contributions by Mercury General Corp. to Gov. Gray Davis' anti-recall effort were in exchange for the governor's signature last month on a car insurance bill the company wanted.</p>

Insurance industry starts crying uncle over damage claims due to Hurricane Isabel

September 19, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Minnesota Public Radio - Marketplace</p> <p>Mr. DOUG HELLER (FTCR): Insurance companies are risk assessors. That's what the industry is about, that's what they're supposed to do. So it's outrageous that there is discussion of using Hurricane Isabel as an excuse to raise rates.</p>

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>