Insurance

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>

An Election Night Murder-Mystery: What Killed Prop. 45?

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="block__content block--article__content" id="page_0_content_0_BlockContent"> <p>Back in June, more than 60% of Californians supported it.</p> <p>But on Tuesday night, more than 60% of Californians voted against it.</p> <p>What went wrong with Proposition 45, the once popular rate-review ballot initiative?</p> <p>Here's a list of potential factors -- and it's hard to pick just one.</p> <p><em><strong>It was outgunned</strong></em></p>

Voters Weigh In On Regulating Health Insurance Costs

November 4, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="story_body"> <p>Health insurance premiums have gone up 172 percent since 2002, according to the California HealthCare Foundation. That's what prompted supporters of Proposition 45 to put their measure on today's ballot.</p> <p>The measure would give California's insurance commissioner the authority to reject health insurance premium increases found to be unreasonable. Proposition 45 would also require insurers to publicly disclose and justify any rate increases.</p> <p><strong>Waning Support</strong></p>

Insurers Spending Cash, Spreading Fear in High-Stakes California Showdown

November 3, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="content-only-wrapper-block"> <p>Voters are usually inclined to vote their pocketbooks. But that's become more difficult with every election, as the pocketbooks that carry the most weight aren't those of the individual voter, but corporations and plutocrats.</p>

Hyundai, Kia Will Pay $100 Million for Overstating Fuel Economy Claims

November 3, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have agreed to penalties totaling an estimated $350 million for inflating fuel economy claims on 1.2 million vehicles, the...

Teach Goliath A Lesson He’ll Never Forget

November 3, 2014  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<div id="content-only-wrapper-block"> <p><span><span>No candidate on the ballot this year can do as much for you as two propositions backed by Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation and other champions of the underdog. </span></span></p>

Prop. 45 Targets Health Rates

October 31, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="slideContainerDiv"> <div id="slideImgDiv"><img alt=" Financial adviser Larry Leisenring experienced a sharp increase in the cost of his health insurance and was forced to switch to a new plan last year. Proposition 45 would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject premium increases. " class="galleryLink" height="491" id="fullImage" src="http://images.onset.freedom.com/ocregister/gallery/nec1j8-b88245280z.120141031163358000g7b600u1.20.jpg" title="" width="600" /></div> </div> <div id="otherImages">

Far Out Friday: Steer Manure Delivered to Health Insurance CEOs

October 31, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>It’s certainly one way to get a message across.</p> <p>Angered over what they view as excessive hikes in health insurance rates and the $57 million health insurers have spent to defeat California Proposition 45, members of Consumer Watchdog, the California Nurses Association and supports of Yes on Proposition 45 delivered a truckload of steer manure to health insurance industry executives at the Fairmont Hotel yesterday to greet former Kaiser CEO George Halvorson.</p>

B.S. Alert: Health Insurance Robber Barons Spend $56 Million vs. Prop 45’s Rate Regulation in California Without a Single Public Comment

October 30, 2014  ·  Jamie Court

<div id="content-only-wrapper-block">

B.S. Alert: Health Insurance Robber Barons Spend $56 Million vs. Prop 45’s Rate Regulation in California Without a Single Public Comment

October 30, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Four health insurance companies are spending $56 million to defeat California <a href="http://www.yeson45.org" target="_hplink" rel="noopener">Proposition 45</a>, a ballot measure to be decided Tuesday, which I wrote, that bans excessive insurance rate hikes.

California’s Proposition 45 Would Offer Public a Say on Health Insurance Rates

October 30, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="image"><span class="caption-text"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-10846" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/images_yeson45bs_la_nytimes.jpg" style="width: 311px; height: 202px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="675" height="439" />Yes on Proposition 45 supporters rallied this month outside Blue Shield of California in El Segundo. The ballot measure would require health insurance companies to justify rate increases.</span> <span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder"> <span class="visually-hidden">Photo Credit</span> Monica Almeida/The New York Times </span></div>

Capitol Journal: A Voter Guide To California’s Boring But Important Ballot Propositions

October 30, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Six state propositions are on the ballot and none are sexy. All are snoozers. But each is significant.</p> <p>Some, in fact, are game-changers.</p> <p>Why else would the medical profession and insurance companies be spending well over $100 million to beat back Propositions 45 and 46?</p> <p>Prop. 47 would punish handgun thieves with a figurative slap on the wrist.</p> <p>Prop. 48 would set a precedent by allowing an Indian tribe to build a Vegas-style casino off the reservation in an urban area.</p>