Insurance

Whoa On Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna Deals, 9 Groups Say

December 17, 2015 · Mark Reback

A coalition of nine consumer advocacy and union groups are urging Florida regulators to think twice about approving big health mergers they say will reduce competition and consumer choice and could lead to higher premiums in counties including Palm Beach. For example, combining Aetna and Humana “would give the combined entity over half of all Medicare Advantage enrollees in five Florida counties: Broward, Franklin, Palm Beach, Pasco, Volusia,” according to a letter signed by Washington-based attorneys representing the groups.

Consumer Group Wants Brakes Put On Rules For Self Driving Cars

December 9, 2015 · Mark Reback

A consumer advocacy group is asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to slow down, following NHTSA’s announcement that it will be updating its policy on self driving cars. John M. Simpson, the privacy project director for advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, addressed the issue in a letter to Secretary of the Department of Transportation Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Administrator Mark R. Rosekind. Consumer Watchdog is a nonprofit that promotes numerous taxpayer and consumer initiatives, such as auto insurance premiums and gasoline prices.

Advocates Say Efforts To Rein In Vague Lobbying Payments Should Be Strengthened

December 3, 2015 · Mark Reback

The Fair Political Practices Commission is pushing <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article45353034.html" target="_blank" title="" rel="noopener">new rules </a>that would require interest groups for the first time to disclose how they spend millions of dollars on ads and other efforts to influence state policy.

Instability in Marketplaces Draws Concern on Both Sides of Health Law

November 28, 2015 · Mark Reback

WASHINGTON — The latest turmoil in <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="Recent and archival health news about health insurance and managed care.">health insurance</a> marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act has emboldened advocates on both sides of the political spectrum, providing ammunition to conservati

Lax Regulatory Enforcement Leaves Thousands at Risk of Lead Poisoning in California

November 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://truth-out.org/members/donate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This story could not have been published without the support of readers like you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Truthout and fund more stories like it!</a> California's regulatory agencies have repeatedly failed in their testing, enforcement and cleanup of various lead-contaminated sites in the state, an investigation by Truthout has revealed.

LADWP: Customers Will Get Full Refunds For Overbilling

November 20, 2015 · Mark Reback

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials said Thursday their customers would receive full refunds for any over-payments related to inaccurate bills sent out amid the utility’s bungled overhaul of its billing system, under revised settlement terms submitted to a judge this week. DWP and city officials said they support the settlement — which has drawn criticism from consumer advocates — “because it returns 100 cents on the dollar to every customer affected by our billing system problems.”

Consumer Watchdog Calls for DWP Customer Advocate’s Job

November 13, 2015 · Mark Reback

Consumer Watchdog says the man hired to be customer advocate for the DWP has failed at his job and needs to go. Consumer Watchdog has sent a letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Attorney Mike Feuer urging them to fire DWP ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel. Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court explains why: “He has been largely missing in action over this entire overbilling scandal. We have thousands of customers, consumers getting ripped off by tens of millions of dollars.”

Brown’s Weak Response To Oil Scandal

November 11, 2015 · Mark Reback

Administration claims any member of public would get similar service

Will DWP Reimburse Overcharged Customers?

November 3, 2015 · Mark Reback

A Judge will decide today if to go ahead with a proposed settlement plan to reimburse overcharged DWP customers. But Consumer Watchdog says it’s a bad deal. “This settlement is a sweetheart deal for DWP and a BAD deal for consumers.” Consumer Watchdog’s Jamie Court says the settlement puts the fox in charge of the hen house.

Anthem Blue Cross To Pay Consumers $8.3 Mln Over Mid-Year Changes

October 29, 2015 · Mark Reback

Anthem Blue Cross of California has agreed to pay $8.3 million to settle a pair of class action lawsuits challenging mid-year changes it made to customers’ deductibles in 2011, a consumer advocacy group announced Tuesday. The health insurer has also agreed not to make similar changes in the future, unless new laws or regulations specifically allow it to do so, said Consumer Watchdog, which represented the plaintiffs along with Shernoff Bidart Echeverria Bentley.

An Allergan-Pfizer Deal Could Be Biggest Merger This Year

October 29, 2015 · Mark Reback

Drug giant Pfizer Inc. and Botox maker Allergan confirmed Thursday that they're in early talks to merge in a blockbuster deal that, if completed, would cap a remarkable consolidation wave roiling the U.S. healthcare industry.

Anthem Agrees To Refund $8.3M to About 50,000 Calif. Policyholders

October 28, 2015 · Mark Reback

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers