Insurance

A Hole in Patients’ Rights

March 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The Legislature left some unfinished business last year when it passed a bill allowing patients to file a claim for damages against their HMOs -- but not necessarily in a court of law.</p>

Donations to Quackenbush Paid Wife’s Campaign Debts

March 26, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Finance: Funds came from insurers with business before commissioner. The actions are legal, but some decry them</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush collected tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from insurance companies with business before him and used it to repay his wife for personal loans she made to her failed state Senate campaign.</p>

Critics question gifts to official

March 26, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Firms pay $245,000 to state insurance chief</h3><p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush collected tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from insurance companies and used it to repay his wife's loans in her failed state Senate campaign, the Los Angeles Times reported in today's editions.</p>

New Managed Care Chief Faces A Tough Operation

March 22, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wall Street Journal California</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- What could possibly have possessed Daniel Zingale to accept -- no, not merely accept but actively lobby for -- the job of running the state's new Department of Managed Care?</p>

GNS Special Report: Clinton’s Health Care Legacy

March 14, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Gannett News Service</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- After the fiasco that was health-care reform died ignominiously in 1994, legislators still itched to prove they could work together and provide some protection for Americans afraid of losing health insurance. In 1996, they hatched a plan.</p>

The TV Told Me to Vote No

March 7, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>So much money is invested by politicians and vested business interests in the electoral process these days that it's becoming impossible to draw any conclusions from the outcome of an election.</p>

California’s New HMO Liability Law — SB 21 — Effective 2001

March 7, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>In September 1999, California Governor Gray Davis signed Senate Bill 21 (Figueroa), sponsored by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consmer Rights, which allows patients to recover damages for HMO corporate negligence. The law takes effect January 1, 200</p>

Backers upset over state department’s proposed rules for low-income plan

March 6, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The experimental low-cost auto insurance program due to debut this summer in two counties is running into problems. Lawmakers and a consumer group backing the plan are upset over the first set of rules proposed by the state Insurance Department to run the</p>

If Prop. 30 Fails, Insurers Will Have Fooled Electorate Again

March 3, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Oaks Project Opinion Editorial By Jeff Christopherson</h3><p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>They are pulling our strings again and most of us haven't a clue, but we could find one if we look back at the last election.</p>

Aetna Receives $9.9 Billion Takeover Bid From Two Companies

March 2, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">New York TImes</p> <p>Aetna Inc. said yesterday that it had received a $9.9 billion purchase offer last week from ING America Insurance Holdings, a financial services company in the Netherlands, and WellPoint Health Networks, a California-based national managed care company.</p>

Media Mix Column Book Review — Making A Killing: HMOs and The Threat To Your Health (Common Courage Press, 1999)

February 28, 2000  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>There aren't many people who understand the flaws of HMO medicine better than Jamie Court, a tireless consumer activist who is co-founder of Consumers for Quality Care, a health-care watchdog organization that operates under the umbrella of the Foundation</p>

Letter to Governor Davis Regarding Lifeline Auto Insurance Regulations

February 25, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>This letter outlines problems with proposed regulations implementing the "Lifeline" low cost auto insurance law developed by FTCR. The regulations were proposed by the CA. Dep't of Insurance.</p>