Insurance

State Approval of HMO, Insurer Rates Proposed;

April 9, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Sen. Figueroa's bill targets 'excessive' health-care costs that she says mean no insurance coverage for thousands of residents.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In a new attack on steeply rising health-care costs in California, consumer advocates and senior organizations Tuesday demanded that insurance companies and health maintenance organizations submit to state approval before increasing their rates.</p>

Health insurer hikes targeted;

April 9, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A bill would require state approval to raise premiums.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Fifteen years after California voters required auto insurers to get state approval before raising rates, Democratic leaders Tuesday introduced a measure that would subject health insurers to similar scrutiny.</p>

Opponents of massive punitive damage awards get a boost from US Supreme Court decision

April 8, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Minnesota Public Radio - Marketplace AM Report</p> <p>Mr. HARVEY ROSENFIELD (FTCR): This decision today says that you cannot penalize an insurance company where it hurts them the most, in the pocketbook, for refusing to pay claims properly. And that's just going to be a license to steal.</p>

Bill seeks state say in HMO rate increases

April 8, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>The state's most powerful legislator is backing a proposal aimed at making health insurance more affordable without costing the cash-strapped state any money. The plan would require state approval of HMO rates for the first time.</p>

Bill may lower health care costs

April 8, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State to consider legislation that would give it the power to restrict rate increases by health insurers</h3><p class="source">Contra Costa Times</p> <p>Aiming to halt the yearly hikes in health care premiums that are straining employers and individuals, California legislators will introduce today a bill to dramatically change the way rates are set by giving state regulators the power to veto excessive in</p>

GOP covets state medical malpractice caps

April 7, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>As premiums rise, national Republicans would like federal law to emulate California's</h3><p class="source">Oakland Tribune</p> <p>Shimamoto said that she was told by the several malpractice lawyers she had a strong case, but because of the monetary limits to noneconomic damages, they would not take her on. "One lawyer told me, 'If it had been your face that was carved up I might b</p>

Consumer advocates, Democrats eye state control on health insurance increases

April 7, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">SFGate.com / Associated Press</p> <p>A group of Democratic lawmakers and consumer advocates will propose legislation Tuesday to try to hold down skyrocketing health insurance costs by requiring state approval before insurers can raise their rates.</p>

Activist Claims ‘Corporateers’ Harm Society

April 3, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The Georgia Straight (Canada)</p> <p>Jamie Court, executive director of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, defined corporateering as how "commerce changes social mores as well as the rule of law and ethics" to harm individuals and benefit corporations.</p>

Misleading malpractice reform

April 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Oregonian</p> <p>California found that caps on noneconomic damages weren't enough to hold down premium increases. California set limits on increases in 1988 and enjoys some of the lowest malpractice premium rates in the country.</p>

Med Mal Caps Won’t Solve Insurance Hikes

April 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Western Massachusetts Law Tribune</p> <p>Clearly caps are unfair to those victims with loss of fertility, disfigurement, and other traumas, and they just don't work.</p>

The high stakes of an insurance claim

March 30, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>The object of Pfeffer's ire is State Farm Insurance. The former Rohr Industries buyer said the cost of his homeowner policy increased by 50 percent after his wife, Patricia, called the company to inquire about the extent of their homeowner coverage...</p>

Insured pay price if they try to collect

March 30, 2003  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Rising homeowner insurance rates and the threat of policy nonrenewals have made many Californians wary of filing claims for anything short of catastrophic losses.</p>