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Consumer Watchdog

Insurance

Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.
Why I Support Prop 45: A 24% Decrease Hooked Me into a 92% Increase to $2,300 per Month

Why I Support Prop 45: A 24% Decrease Hooked Me into a 92% Increase to $2,300 per Month

<p class="rtecenter"><strong style="font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><em style="font-size: 16px;">“The letter stated directly that I would be getting $376 in savings…. When my first invoice arrived, I was shocked to see that the monthly premium was $2,300 -- almost double the rate quoted in the initial letter!”</em></strong></p>
Poll: 69% Favor Prop. 45 Measure on Regulating Health Insurance Rates

Poll: 69% Favor Prop. 45 Measure on Regulating Health Insurance Rates

<p>A new poll shows 69% of California voters back Proposition 45, a November ballot measure giving the insurance commissioner the power to stop excessive health-insurance rate increases.</p> <p>The Field Poll released Wednesday indicates broad support statewide for Proposition 45 ahead of what's expected to be a costly and contentious battle between consumer groups and health insurers.</p> <p>Overall, 69% of registered voters said they favored the health-rate regulation measure while 16% opposed it and 15% were undecided heading into the Nov. 4 election.</p>
Why I Support Prop 45: I Renewed at $407, then Surprise! It’s $738

Why I Support Prop 45: I Renewed at $407, then Surprise! It’s $738

<p class="rtecenter"><strong style="font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><em style="font-size: 16px;">“We frantically thought through all of our options… this kind of rate increase would send us over the edge.”</em></strong></p>
Why I Support Prop 45: My Premiums Quadrupled in Ten Years

Why I Support Prop 45: My Premiums Quadrupled in Ten Years

<p class="rtecenter"><strong style="font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><em style="font-size: 16px;">“I’m getting $196 worth of health insurance for $854.”</em></strong></p>
Why We Support Prop 45: Our Health Insurance Premium Went Up Over 1,300%

Why We Support Prop 45: Our Health Insurance Premium Went Up Over 1,300%

<p class="rtecenter" style="margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><em style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">“Health care costs are the single largest expense in my family’s budget – larger than our mor
Illinois Opens Insurance Rate Records To Public

Illinois Opens Insurance Rate Records To Public

<p>CHICAGO — State officials announced Tuesday that Illinois is giving the public online access for the first time to forms filed by insurers when they set the rates they'll charge, a move that consumer advocates called a step in the right direction.</p>
Obamacare Premiums To Rise A Modest 4.2% In 2015

Obamacare Premiums To Rise A Modest 4.2% In 2015

<p><strong>-Negotiations with healthcare providers yield a modest 4.2% increase in Covered California rates for 2015</strong></p> <p><strong>- We have changed the trend in healthcare costs,' says Covered California head</strong></p> <p><strong>-2015 Obamacare rates for Californians will rise 4.2% on average</strong></p>
Covered California 2015 Rates Will Increase an Average of 4.2%

Covered California 2015 Rates Will Increase an Average of 4.2%

<p style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">On Thursday, <a href="http://news.coveredca.com/2014/07/covered-california-announces-rates-for.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covered California officials announced</a> that the average premium for health plans offered on the exchange will increase an average of 4.2% for the coming year, the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/31/6596232/california-health-exchange-touts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sacramento Bee</em></a> reports (Cadelago, <em>Sacramento Bee</em>, 7/31).</p>
California’s 2015 Obamacare Premiums Will Increase Modestly

California’s 2015 Obamacare Premiums Will Increase Modestly

<p><a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2014/07/31/californias-2015-obamacare-premiums-will-increase-modestly/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a> (Scroll down).</p> <p>Officials with Covered California, the state’s Obamacare marketplace, say premiums will go up an average 4.2 percent statewide in 2015 for the 1.4 million Californians currently enrolled in insurance through the exchange.</p>
Obamacare At Center Of Debate Over California Health Insurance Initiative

Obamacare At Center Of Debate Over California Health Insurance Initiative

<p>As state insurance commissioner, <a class="lingo_link" href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Dave+Jones/" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;">Dave Jones</a> has the power to regulate rates for car and homeowner insurance. He can halt an insurer’s proposed increase if the company can’t justify the higher cost.</p>
Dave Jones: Data Shows Steep Insurance Rate Hikes… In 2014

Dave Jones: Data Shows Steep Insurance Rate Hikes… In 2014

<p>In a pre-emptive strike against what are expected to be lower-than-expected health plan rates for 2015, California Insurance Commissioner <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/search/results?q=Dave%20Jones">Dave Jones</a> took to the bully pulpit Tuesday to rail against rate hikes in 2014 as well as rally support for a rate regulation initiative on the November ballot.</p>