Insurance

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>

State health-care system unraveling; Blue Shield CEO pushes universal coverage

December 4, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The head of one of California's largest insurance companies said Tuesday that the state should provide health coverage for all residents -- creating a system that could become a model for universal health care nationwide.</p>

Insurer proposes giving Californians universal health coverage

December 4, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>The proposal by Bruce Bodaken, CEO and chairman of Blue Shield of California, would use a combination of public and private insurance programs to provide coverage, and would require most employers and individuals to take part.</p>

California health care system aches for reforms

December 4, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Almost everyone agrees California's health care system is hurting badly, but are enough businesses and consumers ready to accept the potentially painful cures currently in the works?</p>