Insurance

How Will Self-Driving Cars Be Regulated?

October 15, 2015 · Mark Reback

<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

October 12, 2015 · Mark Reback

<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

October 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

<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>

Santa Monica Group Charges Exxon Thwarting Probe

September 25, 2015 · Mark Reback

<p><span class="timesDatelineBlack">September 25, 2015</span> -- ExxonMobile is muzzling a key witness to last February's explosion at its Torrance refinery, effectively “subverting” a state and federal investigation of the disaster that injured four workers, Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog charged this week.</p> <p>The nonprofit advocacy group, which has fought the oil industry over alleged price gouging, made the latest accusation in a letter sent Wednesday to Gov. Jerry Brown, State Attorney General Kamala Harris and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.</p>

Some States Take Aim at ‘Discriminatory’ Auto Insurance Pricing

August 28, 2015 · Mark Reback

<p>Be a safe driver. Don’t buy a flashy sports car. Pay the insurance premium on time.</p> <p>These are maxims many drivers follow to keep their auto insurance costs in check. But they may not be enough for many low-income drivers, who consumer advocates say are routinely priced out of insurance coverage because they are judged not just by their driving records, but by their credit scores, occupation, education level or other factors.</p>

Tough Negotiator? Covered California Chief Says The Fewer Health Insurers The Better

August 27, 2015 · Jamie Court

<div class="section field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <div><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2889" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/images_peterleecoveredca.png" style="width: 120px; height: 120px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="120" height="120" />Covered California Chief Peter Lee has claimed that the state doesn’t need health insurance premium regulation because Covered California is a tough negotiator with the health plans.</div> <div> </div>

Fake Or Real? Ashley Madison Complaints Claim Accounts Not Legitimate

August 21, 2015 · Mark Reback

<h2 class="subheadline">Complaints to U.S. Federal Trade Commission about Ashley Madison show examples of people alleging false accounts made under their names.</h2> <div class="text combinedtext parbase section"> <p itemprop="articleBody">Complaints made against Ashley Madison show how difficult it is to know which names leaked this week were actual customers.</p>

Consumer Group Asks Justice Department To Block Expedia-Orbitz Merger

August 13, 2015 · Mark Reback

Critics Take Aim At Expedia-Orbitz Tie-Up

August 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON: A consumer group and hotel industry association are raising objections to the planned merger of online travel bookers Expedia and Orbitz, claiming the deal would lead to a powerful duopoly.</p> <p>The activist group Consumer Watchdog said in a letter Monday to the Justice Department that the tie-up would “severely impact consumers and limit consumer choice,” and called for the merger to be blocked.</p>

Prompted By Sodomite Suppression Act, Bill Would Raise Initiative Filing Fees Tenfold

August 8, 2015 · Mark Reback

<div id="content-body-16194260-30508785"> <p>For $200, Californians with varying ideas can propose a measure that might wind up on the ballot.</p> <p>One current proposal would call California’s chief executive president instead of governor. Another would mandate displaying the state flag more prominently at a variety of events and public buildings, including above the U.S. flag when they are flown together on the same flagpole. A third would create a panel of officials to explore the possibility of California claiming its autonomy from the country.</p>

Covered California Offers More Choices, Slight Hike In Premiums

August 1, 2015 · Mark Reback

<p>Ventura County residents buying health insurance in the Covered California marketplace will have more choices but could pay slightly more in premiums while also facing, in some instances, rising out-of-pocket costs.</p> <p>Since Covered California started selling insurance in late 2013, only three insurance plans sold coverage through the marketplace in Ventura County, triggering concerns about lack of choice.</p>

Obamacare: 70 Percent of Previously Uninsured Californians Now Have Health Plans

July 31, 2015 · Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="MNGiSection">MENLO PARK -- Nearly 70 percent of California's previously uninsured adults have gained health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act -- and most of them say their health care needs are being met, according to the latest survey of the Kaiser Family Foundation.</span></p>

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers