Insurance

California Fines Mercury Insurance Company $27.5 Million

January 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Mercury Insurance has been ordered by the California Insurance Commissioner to pay a historic $27.5 million penalty for willfully violating Proposition 103 by charging California consumers illegal auto insurance fees between 1996 and 2006.</p>

Mercury Insurance Hit With $27.5 Million Fine Over Broker Fees

January 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>State Insurance Commissioner David Jones on Monday ordered Mercury Insurance to pay a $27.5 million fine for charging policyholders unauthorized broker fees.</p> <p>Mercury, part of Los Angeles insurer Mercury General Corp., responded that it intends to challenge the fine in court. It is one of the largest fines ever levied against an auto or home insurer in California.</p>

Mercury Insurance Ordered To Pay $27.5 Million Fine For ‘Unapproved Fees’

January 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="prose-body"> <p class="inaugural">Mercury Insurance has been fined $27.5 million for collecting illegal auto insurance fees from consumers, according to the state's insurance regulator.</p> <p>Between 1999 and 2004, the company's insurance agents charged unapproved fees on more than 180,000 transactions, in violation of the voter-approved Proposition 103, which requires auto insurers to get the approval of the insurance commissioner on all rates, the California Department of Insurance said in a statement released Monday.</p>

New Year, New Day

December 31, 2014  ·  ConsumerWatchdog

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2842" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/images_newyear2015.png" style="width: 311px; height: 207px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="894" height="596" />Fighting abuses at the world's largest corporations isn't easy, but thanks to your support Consumer Watchdog made big some changes in 2014.</p>

Lawsuit: Aetna Drug Policy Discriminates Against HIV/AIDS Patients

December 23, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A consumer organization and an anonymous HIV/AIDS patient are suing Aetna in federal court, claiming the insurer discriminates against people with HIV/AIDS by requiring them to buy medications through the mail starting Jan. 1.</p> <p>The plaintiffs say the mail order requirement is expensive and violates patients' privacy.</p>

Patient Sues Aetna Over Mail-Order-Only Policy For AIDS Drugs

December 23, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN DIEGO — A consumer advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against Aetna Inc., saying a new policy violates the privacy of people with HIV and AIDS by making them get their medications from its mail-order pharmacy.</p> <div class="article-body"> <div class="article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <p>Consumer Watchdog, which sued Friday in federal court, says mailing the drugs puts patients’ privacy at risk and is is not a reliable way to ensure people get their medications on time.</p>

Aetna’s HIV Drugs Mail-Order Rule Is Biased, Suit Says

December 22, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>HIV-positive plan subscribers of Aetna Inc. are suing to stop the insurance giant from putting into place a New Year’s policy that they say threatens their health and privacy, according to a putative class action filed in California federal court Friday.</p>

2016 Election Poised For Initiative Avalanche

December 11, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-10909" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/images_2014electionlowturnout.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 439px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="448" height="920" />If an avalanche of citizen initiatives morphs the 2016 ballot pamphlet into an encyclopedia-size volume, blame it on California’s growing legion of nonvoters.</p> <p>November’s record-low turnout means it will be easier than ever to qualify a voter initiative for the ballot, and plenty of groups pushing a cause will probably take advantage.</p>

$312,000 In Savings A Day

December 2, 2014  ·  Carmen Balber

<p><a href="https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6563/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=9900"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2834" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/images_givingtuesdaytall_0.jpg" style="width: 265px; height: 600px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="265" height="600" /></a>$312,000 a day or $114 million this year. That's how much Consumer Watchdog challenges to excessive auto and homeowners insurance rates saved California families in 2014.<br />

New DTSC Chief’s Vow Against Short-Term Overhaul Spurs Advocates’ Fears

November 20, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Barbara Lee, the new director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control, is vowing against a need to "change anything or shake anything up in a big way" in the department's management or programs in the short-term, prompting concern from advocates who have urged a major overhaul of DTSC to fix what they claim is a flawed department.</p>

Anthem, Blue Shield Violated State Law, DMHC Report Finds

November 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

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FTC Says Privacy Certification Company Was Deceptive

November 17, 2014  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>How is a consumer supposed to know if an online company is actually following the practices and keeping the<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2832" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/images_truste_corp_logo.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 204px; float: right;" width="615" height="626" /> promises that it outlines in its all-too-often almost incomprehensible privacy policy?</p>