Insurance

Op-Ed: Why California Needs Prop. 45

October 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>For health insurance to be affordable, someone has to keep rates in check.</strong></p> <p>If you believe the advertising on television, health insurance in California is now the best deal since sliced bread.</p> <p>Four health insurance companies, which control 84% of the California market, are spending tens of millions of dollars to convince voters they have it so good that the state doesn't need Proposition 45. The November ballot measure would simply give the insurance commissioner the right to reject excessive health insurance rates.</p>

CityBeat’s Nov. 4 Election Endorsements

October 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><font face="verdana" size="2"><b>Proposition 45 </b></font></p> <p><font face="verdana" size="2">Health-insurance behemoth Blue Cross Blue Shield and managed-care companies Well-Point and Kaiser Permanente have spent a combined $37 million to try to convince you to vote no on Prop. 45. If you hate insurance companies—and we don’t blame you—voting yes should make you feel <i>really </i>good.</font></p>

Californians Split Over Letting Official Veto Insurers’ Rate Boosts

October 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p style="font-size: 15px;">Californians are split over a high-profile voter initiative that opponents say could complicate the future of President <a href="http://topics.wsj.com/person/O/Barack-Obama/4328">Barack Obama</a> ’s health-care law in one of the states that has gone furthest to embrace it.</p>

Props 45 & 46: This Won’t Hurt. Much

October 7, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><i>The following analyses represent my opinions. The SD Free Press editorial board may or may not agree with me. For all our articles on the upcoming election, check out our <a href="http://sandiegofreepress.org/category/politics/nov-2014-election/#.VDNkovldW-Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2014 Progressive Voter’s Guide.</a></i></p> <p>There are no special interests more special than insurance companies, doctors and lawyers. Here we have two propositions involving all three groups. And there is more subterfuge going on than anybody can keep track of.</p>

Prop. 45 Billed As Way To Protect Health Insurance Consumers

October 7, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="text-pages"> <div class="page" style="display: block;"> <p>Proponents of Proposition 45, the ballot measure that would give the insurance commissioner the power to reject unreasonable health rate increases, say they’re simply trying to do for health premiums what was done for auto and home insurance more than 25 years ago.</p>

SFBG Endorsements: PROP. 45 — HEALTH CARE INSURANCE – YES

October 7, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>PROP. 45 — HEALTH CARE INSURANCE<br /> YES</strong><br />

Health Insurers Are Spending Millions to Defeat California’s Proposition 45

October 7, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div id="content-only-wrapper-block"> <p>From the start, even fans recognized that one of Obamacare’s great weaknesses was its failure to regulate insurance rates. Washington orders you to buy insurance, but can’t police how insurance companies raise your rates, a decision that made the Affordable Care Act a big moneymaker for the insurance industry.</p>

Prop. 45: Will It Help Or Hurt Consumers?

October 6, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/10/06/47157/prop-45-will-it-help-or-hurt-consumers/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio news broadcast</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.yeson45.org/read-initiative">Proposition 45 on the November state ballot </a>would give the California insurance commissioner’s office the same power to regulate health insurance costs as the office has over auto and homeowner rates.</p>

Proposition 45 At A Glance

October 4, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

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Proposition 45 Seeks Health Insurance Rate Review

October 4, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span class="dateline">SACRAMENTO, Calif.

Ad Watch: Rate-Regulation Opponents Parrot Misleading Claims

October 4, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The coalition trying to stop the rate-regulation initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot has gone up with another <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuM0B0Zt-1c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TV ad</a>, this one focusing on small-business owners.

Prop. 45: Tougher Rules on Health Insurance Rates

October 3, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201410030900">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>.</p> <p>As part of our ongoing California Election Watch 2014 coverage we'll discuss Proposition 45, which would give the California state insurance commissioner the authority to reject excessive health insurance premium rate hikes.</p> <p><strong>Host: </strong>Judy Campbell</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 4px;"><strong>Guests:</strong></p>