Insurance

State Farm Overcharged On Premiums And Should Issue Refunds, Judge Says

August 9, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A judge has recommended that State Farm refund tens of millions of dollars to its California customers and lower its rates after finding that the insurance giant charged excessive premiums over the last year for rental and home insurance policies.</p> <p>But customers shouldn’t expect a refund just yet. The recommendations released Monday must still be approved by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, who has not indicated whether he will go along with them. </p>

California Watchdog Group Wants State Farm to Reduce Rates by 40%

August 3, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer Watchdog filed a petition in California challenging State Farm’s proposed rates for its homeowners insurance and wants the insurers to cut its rates by as much as 40 percent.</p> <p>The Santa Monica, Calif.-based consumer group said insurer will be overcharging more than 280,000 homeowners policyholders in the state unless it cuts its rate by as much as 40 percent, or nearly $100 million.</p>

Editorial: Health insurance Rate Hikes Show Need For Cost Reforms

July 28, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The two largest insurers in the Covered California health insurance exchange are jacking up their monthly premiums by 17 and 20 percent next year.</p> <p>The news was appalling, but it should not have been surprising.</p> <p>And all of us should remember that there is nothing we can do about that, even though we once had a chance to place controls over those rates.</p>

Controversy Over Tesla ‘Autopilot’ Name Keeps Growing

July 21, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>What’s in a name? For Tesla’s driver-assist system “autopilot,” plenty of controversy.</p> <p>Some of the most enthusiastic proponents of autonomous vehicles and features are worried that autopilot — not the technology itself, but the very name, which some find misleading — might slow down the evolution of the driverless car. They say that would be a shame, as autonomous technologies are designed to make driving safer by preventing minor fender-benders as well as reducing the number of traffic fatalities. </p>

Big Jump Coming In Health Care Cost

July 20, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>California's insurance marketplace carriers will raise rates in 2017; Covered California rates to jump average of 13 percent in 2017</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>After two years of moderate rate increases, Californians who get their coverage through the state health insurance marketplace will see their 2017 premiums increase by an average of 13.2 percent.</p>

Obamacare: Covered California’s Health Plan Prices Soar

July 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_print">Californians who buy coverage through the state's health insurance exchange better get ready for a dose of sticker shock: Average premiums next year will shoot up more than 13 percent statewide -- and could even double that in some parts of Northern California.</span></span></p>

Covered California Health Plan Rates To Jump 13.2 Percent In 2017

July 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="article-body"> <p>California’s Obamacare premiums will jump 13.2 percent on average next year, a sharp increase that is likely to reverberate nationwide in an election year.</p> <p>The Covered California exchange had won plaudits by negotiating 4 percent average rate increases in its first two years. But that feat couldn’t be repeated for 2017, as overall medical costs continue to climb and two federal programs that help insurers with expensive claims are set to expire this year.</p>

California Obamacare Rates To Rise 13% In 2017, More Than Three Time The Increase Of Last Two Years

July 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>remiums for Californians’ Obamacare health coverage will rise by an average of 13.2% next year — more than three times the increase of the last two years and a jump that is bound to raise debate in an election year.</p> <p>The big hikes come after two years in which California officials had boasted that the program helped insure hundreds of thousands people in the state while keeping costs moderately in check.</p>

Covered California Health Care Premiums To Jump 13.2 Percent In 2017

July 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>For the first time since launching three years ago, Covered California – the state’s health insurance marketplace– announced double-digit rate increases, averaging 13.2 percent for 2017.</p> <p>Tuesday’s announcement came as California consumers were encouraged to “shop around” for cheaper coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act and lawmakers were urged to do more to rein in medical costs.</p>

Covered California Predicting 13 Percent Premium Increase

July 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Sacramento, CA -- Monthly premiums in California's health insurance exchange will increase by more than 13 percent on average next year, after two major insurers requested large rate increases, officials said Tuesday.<br /> The increases are significantly higher than the 4 percent hikes in each of the last two years. They come as many other states report big premium spikes in the fourth year of President Barack Obama's health overhaul.</p>

Consumer Groups Ask That Autonomous Technology Slow Down

July 18, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer Watchdog, along with three auto safety advocates, has written a letter to President Obama urging his administration to stop attempts allowing autonomous vehicle technology on the roads in the wake of reports of a fatal crash involving Tesla’s autonomous system. One day later, Consumer Reports called on Tesla to disable and update the autonomous function.</p>

Consumer Advocates Wary as Regulators Near ‘Guidance’ on Driverless Cars

July 15, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SACRAMENTO—Consumer groups are pressing the Obama administration not to issue guidance on autonomous vehicles operations next week when federal transportation officials address an industry conference in San Francisco.</p>