Anthem Agrees To Refund $8.3M to About 50,000 Calif. Policyholders
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Anthem Blue Cross TO Pay California Consumers Over $8 Million, Stems Back To Lawsuit
<p>SANTA MONICA (KRON) — Anthem Blue Cross will pay more than $8 million to California consumers.</p>
<p>It stems back to a lawsuit, challenging mid-year changes that the insurance company made to individual plans in 2011. The lawsuit claimed Anthem illegally increased “annual deductibles” and other out-of-pocket costs.</p>
<p>Consumers do not need to file a claim to receive reimbursement.</p>
<p>In December, checks will be mailed to those who paid more as a result of the mid-year changes.</p>
Class Action Settlement Forces Big Insurer To Refund $8 Million To California Consumers
<p><strong>Anthem Blue Cross</strong>, one of the state's largest health insurers, has agreed to a class-action lawsuit settlement that requires it to refund $8.3 million to roughly 50,000 policyholders, and refrain from making mid-year changes to consumers' annual deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs.</p>
<p>The settlement resolves two lawsuits challenging mid-year changes Anthem made in 2011. The consolidated suits, brought by <strong>Consumer Watchdog</strong> and Shernoff Bidart Echeverria Bentley LLP, were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court two years ago.</p>
Anthem Blue Cross Will Refund $8.3 Million To California Consumers
<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/oct/27/anthem-blue-cross-will-refund-83-million-consumers/">Click here to listen the audio segment of this radio broadcast</a>.</p>
<p>Health insurance giant <a data-ajax="false" data-transition="none" href="https://www.anthem.com/health-insurance/home/overview">Anthem Blue Cross</a> will refund $8.3 million to California consumers to <a data-ajax="false" data-transition="none" href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-blue-cross-settlement-20151027-story.html">settle</a> two lawsuits.</p>
Anthem Agrees To Forgo Mid-Year Hikes Of Deductibles, Out-Of-Pocket Limits
<p><a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/10/27/55284/anthem-agrees-to-forgo-mid-year-hikes-of-deductibl/">Click here to listen to the audio segment of this radio broadcast</a>.</p>
<p>Anthem Blue Cross has settled a class action lawsuit <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/kassouf_taub_-_settlement_agreement.5.29.15_noe.pdf">by agreeing to forgo mid-year changes </a>to the deductible and out-of-pocket limits on its members' annual plans. The company, California's second-largest health insurer, also agreed to refund $8.3 million to tens of thousands of its members.</p>
Anthem Blue Cross Will Pay $8.3M To Customers To Settle Class-Action Suit Over Mid-Year Policy Changes
<p>When you sign up for an insurance policy, you’re given a price for that plan for the year. So when California consumers discovered changes to their Anthem Blue Cross policies in the middle of the year that came with extra out-of-pocket costs, two policyholders filed a class-action lawsuit against the insurance provider in 2011. Anthem Blue Cross has now agreed to a settlement that includes reimbursing about 50,000 customers in California almost $8.3 million.</p>
El Niño: Californians Urged To Buy Flood Insurance Even If They’re Not Near Water
<p>With the strongest El Niño conditions in nearly 20 years already underway in the Pacific Ocean and chances increasing for heavy storms this winter, federal emergency officials on Friday urged Californians to buy flood insurance -- even those who don't live near creeks or rivers.</p>
<p>"We encourage everyone to take the threat seriously," said Roy Wright, a deputy associate administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C. "If there ever was a time to buy flood insurance, this is that time."</p>
State Farm Defends Homeowners’ Hike Request in California Against Consumer Watchdog Challenge
<p>State Farm's proposed 6.9% homeowners' insurance rate increase for 1.7 million California homeowners faces a challenge from Consumer Watchdog, which claims the rate would overcharge consumers $210 million annually if it takes effect.</p>
<p>But State Farm defended the hike, saying exposure to catastrophic losses in California is possibly "the most challenging factor in doing business in this state."</p>
Consumer Watchdog Challenges $210 Million Excessive State Farm Rate Hike on 1.7 Million California Renters and Homeowners
Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog has challenged a rate increase proposed by State Farm, the state’s largest homeowners insurance company, that would overcharge consumers...
How Will Self-Driving Cars Be Regulated?
<p>Autonomous cars, self-driving cars, “robot” cars — no matter what you call them, these wonders of modern technology are coming to American roads, with companies like Google currently testing on public streets. But they’re not likely to become common sights on your everyday commute until the country tackles some important questions about risk, innovates its insurance model, and wrestles with what’s going to be a piecemeal upgrade from traditional cars to self-driving vehicles.</p>
Cigna Eliminates Mail-Order Requirement For HIV Drugs
<h3>Dive Brief:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Until now, Cigna has had a policy stating that patients buying HIV drugs must use its mail-order pharmacy program in order to obtain the drugs.</li>
<li>Consumer Watchdog sued Cigna on behalf of a man who lives in Fort Lauderdale, FLA. The suit, which was filed in Florida federal court, alleges discrimination and violation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).</li>
<li><span>Cigna has decided to settle the suit, and as of December 1, patients on the insurance giants' plans will be able to obtain drugs from any in-network pharmacy. </span></li>
Cigna Agrees To End Controversial HIV/AIDS Drug Program
<p>Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co. on Thursday agreed to remove certain HIV/AIDS medications from a list of drugs that must be obtained through mail order, setting a proposed nationwide class action in Florida that alleged the list was discriminatory.</p>
<p>In an agreed-upon motion to end the suit, Cigna said it has addressed the concerns raised by the anonymous class representative, who claimed Cigna routinely told enrollees that specialty drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS can only be ordered at a pharmacy or pay out-of-pocket for their medications.</p>