Insurance

Insurance Crisis: How Insurance Companies Periodically Disrupt the Economy and Why

August 1, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>The price of all forms of liability insurance (insurance that covers homeowners, businesses and motorists when they hurt others) rose dramatically between 1985 and 1987, provoking a furor first among members of the business community and, eventually, amon</p>

Davis names retired Judge Harry Low to succeed Quackenbush

July 31, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis on Monday nominated retired Judge Harry W. Low as California's new insurance commissioner, promising that Low's ``unquestioned integrity and absolute independence'' would restore confidence in a scandal-stained department.</p>

HUMAN GENOME

July 25, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">St. Louis Post Dispatch</p> <p>The announcement of the mapping of the human genome should be met with suspicion as well as hope. The corporate bid to own and control information about the human genetic code is an omen of the next great struggle facing humanity.</p>

The “QuackQuake” is Over, Now the Clean-Up Must Begin

July 23, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Opinion Editorial</h3><p class="source">Santa Monica Mirror</p> <p>Over six years after the Northridge quake first traumatized L.A., and five, and a half years under Insurance Commissioner Quackenbush, the shaking finally stopped on June 28 when Quackenbush resigned his post as Commissioner.</p>

Corporations Shuffle Patients

July 21, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The integrity of insurance coverage must be protected</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>Individuals who sit down at their kitchen tables to pick their health insurance plan during the one open-enrollment month per year will find their carefully weighed choice meaningless if a new HMO industry policy of selling patients off like commodities i</p>

Agents balk at promoting state’s low-income car insurance program

July 19, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The state's showcase program to provide low-cost car insurance to poor people is coming under fire from agents who say the policies are too much trouble to write and pay them too little.</p>

United Health sells 225,000 California Members To Blue Shield

July 14, 2000  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>In a deal symptomatic of the economics driving modern medicine, UnitedHealth Group Inc. Friday announced plans to sell 225,000 California policyholders to Blue Shield of California for $40 million. The proposed transfer drew immediate fire from the Fo</p>

Consumer Group Wants Northridge Settlements Tossed Out

July 11, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestDay News</p> <p>Settlements made between former California Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush and insurers accused of mishandling Northridge earthquake claims should be thrown out, a consumer group says.</p>

Ex-aide: Quackenbush knew all — Grays will testify to investigators, lawyer says

July 7, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Former Deputy Insurance Commissioner George Grays will tell federal and state investigators that Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush personally quarterbacked efforts to collect money for political advertising from insurance company settlements, his l</p>

State calls on McGeorge prof

July 6, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Interim insurance chief vows restored trust</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>In a move intended to douse lingering whiffs of scandal at the Department of Insurance, state leaders acted Wednesday to name a well-known law professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, J. Clark Kelso, to temporarily replace Insurance Commissioner</p>

Insurance Reform in California: The 1988 Insurance Wars

July 1, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> California is the single biggest market for insurance in the nation. Between 1985 and 1987, insurance premiums in California rose dramatically. In 1986 alone, automobile premiums in California increased by 22%, while the consumer price index increased 3.1%. The increases led to public outrage.¹<br /> <br /> During 1987, California consumer advocacy groups sponsored legislation that would have instituted limited regulation of property-casualty insurance premiums, including auto insurance, and repeal of the industry's exemption from state antitrust laws.<br /> <br />

New Program Offers Car Insurance For Low-Income Drivers

July 1, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In a move to provide affordable auto insurance, state Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Montebello) and consumer advocates announced Friday a trial low-cost insurance program for the working poor of Los Angeles County.</p>