Insurance

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>

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>