Insurance

Insurers Flip the ‘Crisis’ Switch

December 24, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Like energy companies, they manufacture losses.</h3> <p>Like last year's energy debacle in California, the insurance crisis now afflicting the nation is the product of artificial price and supply manipulation compounded by grossly inadequate regulation.</p>

Commentary; Insurers Flip the ‘Crisis’ Switch; Like energy companies, they manufacture losses.

December 24, 2002  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Like last year's energy debacle in California, the insurance crisis now afflicting the nation is the product of artificial price and supply manipulation compounded by grossly inadequate regulation.</p>

Senate Republicans drop Lott, elect Frist as their leader

December 23, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Gannett News Service</p> <p>Frist's family founded HCA, a major hospital chain known as Hospital Corporation of America when it began in 1968 that recently agreed to pay more than $880 million to settle claims of false claims, kickbacks and fraud.</p>

Governor pledges fast track for lawsuit abuse laws

December 18, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Texas Gov. Rick Perry pledged Wednesday that neither the insurance lobby nor a lawyer-packed Legislature would prevent him from pushing a lid on medical malpractice jury awards and new controls over insurance rates into law next session.</p>

State of Arizona’s car insurance rates up despite drop in claims

December 17, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Losses in stock market may be the reason for increases</h3><p class="source">Tucson Citizen</p> <p>Doug Heller, a senior consumer advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, suggests the state needs to have stronger control of the insurance industry.</p>

MALPRACTICE CRISIS;

December 15, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Is capping jury awards the best medicine?</h3><p class="source">Wilkes Barre Times Leader</p> <p>As a new governor and General Assembly prepare to address skyrocketing malpractice premiums that doctors say are driving them out of Pennsylvania, lawmakers might heed two lessons from states that have attacked the problem with caps on jury awards</p>

New insurance commissioner faces several major problems

December 14, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press State & Local Wire</p> <p>After an eight-year absence, Garamendi will return Jan. 6 to the job he first won in 1990 when voters picked him to be California's first elected insurance commissioner, and he's excited.</p>

Watchdog Group Says Premiums Rise when Insurance Companies Lose on Investments

December 10, 2002  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">Reading Eagle, Pennsylvania</p> <p>The stock market downturn hammered people's wallets in a variety of ways, but is it zapping income in the sensitive area of higher health care costs? Predictably, insurance companies deny recouping lost investments through double-digit premium increases</p>

Universal Coverage Will Take Universal Sacrifice

December 9, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>Universal health-care reform is back in vogue, but it will take sacrifice by every stakeholder in health care to achieve it.</p>

Commentary; Universal Coverage Will Take Universal Sacrifice

December 9, 2002  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Universal health-care reform is back in vogue, but it will take sacrifice by every stakeholder in health care to achieve it.</p>

State’s insurance program attracts more customers

December 8, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>People who cannot get property insurance on the open market are turning to a state-run, industry-financed program called Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan.</p>

Witnesses cite problems in getting, keeping homeowners insurance

December 4, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press State & Local Wire</p> <p>State officials said they are receiving an increasing number of complaints from consumers about the cost and the difficulty of finding and keeping homeowners' coverage.</p>