Insurance

Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.

Secret audits rip insurance firms

June 12, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Examiner</p> <p>Insurance companies repeatedly low-balled claims and misled victims after the Northridge earthquake, confidential audits released Monday show, but Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush allowed the companies to donate to foundations that benefited him</p>

Resign — Now. Quackenbush is unfit for his office

June 10, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Tribune Editorial</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>State Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush has shown himself to be unfit to continue in his post. He should resign; otherwise, he will face the growing prospect of becoming only the second statewide officeholder in California history to be impeached</p>

Quackenbush’s Conduct Invites Impeachment

June 9, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Chronicle Editorial</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>THE WAVE of condemning revelations of state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush's conduct grows taller by the day. Penalty fines were steered to buff his image, checks possibly forged, and a foundation misused as a front for political advantage</p>

Quackenbush Exit Time

June 9, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Times Editorial</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The message was clear to state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush late Thursday: Quit or face impeachment proceedings in the Legislature. Quackenbush can save California the cost and distraction of impeachment by stepping down now.</p>

Insurance Czar’s Aide Under Fire

June 9, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Testimony on mystery checks at Quackenbush foundation</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Suggestions of criminal wrongdoing surfaced for the first time at an Assembly Insurance Committee hearing yesterday over testimony that checks may have been forged and board minutes falsified for a foundation set up by Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quacken</p>

Checks were forged, minutes falsified, Assembly panel told

June 9, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Quackenbush fund linked to possible crimes</h3><p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Board members of a nonprofit fund created by Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush described possible criminal activity including falsified meeting minutes and checks that may have been forged.</p>

Quackenbush Critic Talks Impeachment

June 8, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Investigation: Committee's first public mention of possibility comes from the commissioner's own party</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The senior Republican on the state Assembly committee investigating California Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush said Wednesday that evidence "points in the direction" of impeachment of the state's chief insurance regulator.</p>

PR Firm’s Funding Scheme for Quackenbush

June 8, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Memo spelled out plan to polish his image</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush's mounting troubles may stem from a public relations firm's scheme to use fines from the insurance industry to polish his political image, a memo revealed yesterday.</p>

Special Foundations Shortchange The Public

June 2, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<p>Among the most unregulated billion-dollar industries in California are the charitable foundations formed in the 1990s, when the state's largest not-for-profit HMOs became for-profit, investor-owned entities.</p>

Quackenbush investigators issue 20 more subpoenas

June 2, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance officials called to testify next week; request by commissioner for access to related files was denied</h3><p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Lawmakers investigating Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush issued at least 20 subpoenas Thursday forcing witnesses to testify and rejected his request for records linked to the probe.</p>

The Limited Earthquake Coverage Offered by the California Earthquake Authority

June 1, 2000 · Consumer Watchdog

<p>Earthquake insurance rates have doubled since the California Earthquake Authority was established. But consumers haven't received better coverage in exchange. In fact, they're receiving far less. And the coverage has large gaps in it.</p>

Consumer advocate wonders why he is on Quackenbush’s request for documents

May 30, 2000 · Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A consumer advocate is wondering why Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush is asking for copies of any written communications he's had with the Legislature about Quackenbush's settlement of insurance fines.</p>