Insurance

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>

Fraud Finders

February 20, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance companies and law enforcement agencies chase down people who file bogus claims</h3><p class="source">San Diego</p> <p>Douglas Heller, an advocate with FTCR, says insurers also use the hype surrounding fraud cases to "deny, delay and lowball legitimate claims from honest customers. That' s the way fraud damages consumers."</p>

INSURANCE LAWS QUIETLY TAKE EFFECT

February 14, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>STATE MANDATES REGARDING DIABETES, CONTRACEPTIVES AND PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT MAY GIVE CONSUMERS EXPANDED BENEFITS</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Bobbie, a 60-year-old South Bay woman living with diabetes for most of her life, wanted to see a nutrition counselor to learn how to better manage her condition. When her health insurer insisted that she'd have to switch to one of its HMO plans to get cov</p>

Consumers Need Propositions 30 and 31

February 14, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Tribune Editorial</h3><p class="source">Oakland Tribune</p> <p>WHEN a special-interest group spends $50 million -- and counting -- to put a proposition on the ballot and get Californians to cast votes against it, you have to be little leery.</p>

Those Sneaky Devils

February 10, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily Commerce</p>

Claim Check

February 9, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The big insurance companies put Proposition 30 on the ballot - so they could fight it.</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Bay Guardian</p> <p>WHEN ROSEMARY SHAHAN was nine years old, her mother was severely injured in a car accident. The other driver was responsible - but his insurance company took 10 years to pay the Shahans' $30,000 medical bills.</p>

The Oaks Project “Tools of Democracy” – The Issues We Work On

February 8, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>The Oaks Project trains citizens to build a powerful democracy that works for everybody. These are the tools of a powerful democracy.</p>

Consumers Need Props. 30 and 31

February 6, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SF Examiner Editorial</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Examiner</p> <p>Californians should give themselves the right to sue automobile insurance companies that unfairly delay or refuse to pay on legitimate claims when their policy-holders are at fault. Voters must protect their own interests by approving Propositions 30 and</p>

The Need for Lifeline Auto Insurance

February 5, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>The Lifeline Plan will provide a low-cost automobile insurance program which will make affordable auto insurance available to hundreds of thousands of low-income Californians in Los Angeles and San Francisco counties.</p>

Why Must HMOs Be Liable?

February 4, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>HMO liability legislation is essential for patients to have state law rights which protect against quality of care violations. This fact sheet explains the ERISA loophole and what can be done to change it.</p>