Insurance

Consumer Advocates Blame Two Democrats for Bill’s Failure

June 4, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"Any politician who believes that convicted corporate felons should not have the same responsibility to society as other three-time felons is out of touch with the public's anger over the lack of corporate accountability," said Jamie Court of FTCR.</p>

Pushing its proposal; Blue Shield of Calif. touts new wide-ranging plan

June 2, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Modern Healthcare</p> <p>"Theirs is a bill designed by insurers for insurers, so it's not surprising that they're investing so heavily in promoting it," said Jerry Flanagan, director of the advocacy group's California Health Consensus Project.</p>

CONSUMER, ACTIVIST GROUPS PETITION CALIF. REGULATOR ON ZIP CODE RATING

June 2, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>Consumer groups and several city attorneys have petitioned California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi to strike down a 7-year-old rule dictating how much weight auto insurers may give to a driver's ZIP code in their rate-setting and underwriting.</p>

Rules setting car-insurance rates to be revisited;

May 30, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>GARAMENDI TO EXAMINE ZIP CODE ISSUE</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said Thursday that he would investigate claims by consumer groups and city attorneys that automobile-insurance companies in California are giving too much weight to drivers' ZIP codes when setting rates.</p>

New Rate Battle

May 30, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Car insurers' reliance on ZIP codes comes under fire</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Consumer advocates on Thursday called on the state to enforce a 1988 law meant to change the way automobile insurance rates are calculated, claiming state insurers continue to charge excess fees based on auto owners' ZIP codes.</p>

Cuts to Car Insurance Rates in Poor Areas Urged

May 30, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>City attorneys and consumer groups ask the state for relief. Garamendi vows action.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Nearly 15 years after the passage of the insurance reform initiative Proposition 103, the groups said that the measure's intent to base car insurance pricing more on individual drivers' safety records than their ZIP Codes has not been enforced.</p>

Car insurance rates hit;

May 30, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>City attorneys say geography is determining costs</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>People in cities generally pay more for auto insurance than those in rural areas; people in poor neighborhoods usually pay more than those in wealthy enclaves.</p>

Activists call for Calif. car insurance based on driving record

May 29, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Fifteen years after California voters approved a ballot measure prohibiting auto insurance rates from being based on ZIP codes, a coalition of community groups filed a petition Thursday calling on state officials to finally make the law a reality.</p>

Trade Group Poses Health Plan — Members’ Insurance Could Cost Less-but Skirt States’ Oversight

May 29, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wall Street Journal</p>

Justices Probing Legality of Edison, PUC Deal;

May 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The state high court will decide whether the settlement broke the open meeting laws and if customers should be repaid $3.6 billion.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A lawyer for Edison warned the justices of "adverse implications" and uncertainty if the settlement is torn apart. But consumer groups say killing the settlement could translate into refunds of $850 per customer.</p>

Woman caught in ‘use it and lose it’ insurance issue

May 25, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">North County Times (San Diego, CA)</p> <p>"What you've got here is sort of the heart of the big insurance fraud that Americans have been seeing over the past two years," said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles.</p>

State bill would ban credit scoring to set premiums

May 25, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has cracked down on the use of credit scoring by one insurance company that writes homeowner policies in the state.</p>