Insurance

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="https://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>

When Money Talks, Voters Listen: Group behind propositions 45 and 46 to continue seeking insurance-rate regulation, malpractice law changes

November 17, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The $100 million spent by insurance companies against two pro-consumer initiatives, coupled with an historically low voter turnout, was a recipe for consumers to lose on Election Day.</p> <p>Total spending for and against California Propositions 45 and 46 outpaced even the most expensive U.S. Senate race in the nation - North Carolina's - where the stakes were control of the Senate.</p>

How Did Local TV Cover California’s Prop 45?

November 11, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="stcpDiv" style="position: absolute; top: -1999px; left: -1988px;">A quick look at the good and not-so-good from two local stations - See more at: http://www.cjr.org/the_second_opinion/prop_45_local_tv_coverage_cali.php?page=all&print=true#sthash.XGthyGGL.dpuf</div> <p><strong>A quick look at the good and not-so-good from two local stations</strong></p>

Dark Money Looms Large In 2014 Midterms

November 7, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The most disturbing trend in the financing of American political campaigns is not the magnitude of the money being spent. It’s that more and more of that money is not going through the campaigns themselves — where donations must be disclosed and limited — but from nonprofit groups that are being set up for the express purpose of frustrating any attempt to identify their funders.</p>

Prop. 45’s Resounding Defeat Is A Boon For Health Insurers

November 6, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Already a financial bonanza for health insurers, Obamacare paid off for the industry again at the ballot box as Californians soundly rejected a bid to rein in health insurance rates.</p> <p>Even so, the companies still face heat over their ever-increasing health insurance premiums, and pressure will build on California's Obamacare exchange to hold the line on rates.</p>

Terrible Tuesday

November 5, 2014  ·  Jamie Court

<p>$100 million spent by insurance companies against our two pro-consumer initiatives, coupled with an historic low voter turnout, was a recipe for consumers to lose Tuesday night.</p>

Big Bucks Swamp Populist California Ballot Measures

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>So much for populism. At least when it comes to fighting the interests of big-money corporations.</p> <p>In every vote this week pitting the interests of ordinary Californians against those of large companies, the corporate interests won big. Big bucks essentially convinced millions to vote against their own best interests.</p> <p>This was an unfettered triumph of the very opposite of populism, defined by the Business Dictionary as “the uncorrupt and unsophisticated against the corrupt dominant elites.”</p>

Consumer Watchdog Gets Blown Out on Health Care Propositions 45 and 46

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>It's hard to imagine that anyone in California had a worse election night than the folks at Consumer Watchdog. The non-profit advocacy group lost not one but two ballot propositions — seeing both Proposition 45 and 46 go down to defeat by wide margins.<br /> <br /> Proposition 45 would have given the insurance commissioner the power to reject excessive rate increases on the Covered California health exchange. With most of the votes counted statewide, it was trailing by 20 points.<br /> <br />

On California Initiatives, Money Talked, The Public Interest Walked

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>It was obvious from the start that the cascade of corporate cash into ballot initiative campaigns in California this year would be overwhelming. The reality did not disappoint.</p> <p>That reality had to please the biggest spenders, notably the insurance companies and agents who defeated propositions 45 and 46, two pro-consumer healthcare measures. The industries spent some $100 million to kill the propositions, and they have a right to consider it well-spent.</p>

Supporters Of Prop. 45 Predict Health Plan Rate Gouging After The Measure’s Defeat

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Proponents of Proposition 45, which would have given California's insurance commissioner the authority to regulate some health plan rates, say that those rates will continue to skyrocket, following the measure's defeat at the polls.</p> <p>Commissioner <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/search/results?q=Dave%20Jones">Dave Jones</a> has tried to get this authority into law for almost 10 years, dating back to his days in the state Legislature. He blamed "$57 million worth of false television commercials, radio ads and slick mailers" for the loss Tuesday.</p>