Insurance

Assembly passes bill to give loyal insurance customers discounts

July 17, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The Assembly approved auto insurance legislation Thursday that would let insurers offer discounts for longtime customers, despite arguments that it would hurt many low-income drivers and invite a lawsuit.</p>

INSURER: NO NEED FOR RATE REFORM

July 15, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>DURING A DAY OF TESTY TALK ON MALPRACTICE INSURANCE, AN EXECUTIVE SAID HIS FIRM STILL WOULD MAKE MONEY.</h3><p class="source">Orlando Sentinel</p> <p>The head of the state's largest insurer for physicians defended sharp increases in medical-malpractice insurance rates and told a Senate committee Monday that his company doesn't need legislative reforms to remain profitable.</p>

A For-the-People Activist

July 12, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Re: "Lobbyist's Guerrilla Tactics Get Attention," July 7: Isn't it time that consumers got as angry as Jamie Court? Isn't it time that we citizens held our politicians accountable for selling out our interests to corporate high bidders?</p>

Insurance Industry Wins on 2 Bills;

July 10, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Assembly panel rejects measures sought by consumer activists on the use of credit scores, renewal policies for homeowners coverage.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The bills by Democratic Sens. Martha Escutia of Whittier and Jackie Speier of Hillsborough were top-priority issues for a coalition of consumer advocates, who said insurers in California were deliberately discriminating against poor and minority homeowner</p>

CALIF. ASSEMBLY PANEL DEFEATS INSURANCE SCORING, UNDERWRITING BILLS

July 10, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>Bills that would have banned the use of credit-based insurance scoring by insurers and granted the California Department of Insurance broad authority to regulate underwriting and pricing both failed to pass the state Assembly's Insurance Committee.</p>

Careless or Less Care?

July 7, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Kaiser's high profits give strong warning yet regulators appear to stand fast</h3><p class="source">Axcess Business News</p> <p>Not only is Kaiser under public scrutiny for reporting high profits while raising costs to its members, but the HMO is also the focus of a number of ethical issues regarding treatment of their patients by placing profit over necessary health care.</p>

Op-Ed: Insurers must comply with Prop. 103

July 5, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Alameda Times-Star (Alameda, CA)</p> <p>Why should great drivers who happen to live in challenged neighborhoods effectively subsidize lousy drivers who are lucky enough to live in better communities? It's all a matter of how insurers use ZIP codes to determine premiums.</p>

Assembly committee backs bill pushed by major campaign donor

July 3, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Oakland Tribune</p> <p>Opponents said it would violate Proposition 103's ban on basing rates on lack of prior insurance and would result in higher premiums for drivers who have gaps in their coverage. Often those drivers are among the poorest in the state, they said.</p>

Mercury Insurance-sponsored SB 841 Will Surcharge Drivers Least Able to Afford It

July 2, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>SB 841 contains an exemption for soldiers sent abroad, but what about'</p>

Insurance Impunity

July 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The American Prospect</p> <p>Harvey Rosenfield, president of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says when he originally read the Utah court's opinion, he thought State Farm would lose its license to practice in several states.</p>

Insurance Impunity

July 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The American Prospect</p> <p>Harvey Rosenfield, president of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says when he originally read the Utah court's opinion, he thought State Farm would lose its license to practice in several states.</p>

Insurance companies decry effort to reassess homeowner risk

June 30, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Business Journal</p> <p>Insurers are challenging Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi's efforts to limit the industry use of electronic claims data in underwriting homeowners' policies.</p>