Insurance

Nonprofit Sues Blue Cross Over Obamacare Networks

July 9, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A Southern California nonprofit filed a class-action <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/7-8-14felserclassactioncomplaint.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawsuit </a>Tuesday alleging that Anthem Blue Cross misled millions of customers when rolling out its plans under the Affordable Care Act, leaving many enrollees on the hook for large out-of-pocket expenses.<br /> <br />

State Deemed $250M in Health Premium Increases Unreasonable

July 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

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Lawsuit Accuses Anthem Blue Cross of Fraudulent Enrollment Practices

July 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross misled “millions of enrollees” about whether their doctors and hospitals were participating in its new plans, and failed to disclose that many policies wouldn’t cover care outside its approved network, according to a class action lawsuit filed Tuesday.</p> <p>As a result, many consumers have been left on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical bills, and have been unable to see their longtime doctors, alleges the suit by Consumer Watchdog based in Santa Monica.</p>

Californians Spent $250 Million On Excessive Health Premiums, Group Says

July 2, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SACRAMENTO Calif. (Reuters) - Californians paid a quarter of a billion dollars in health insurance premiums during a 15-month period ended last year that were deemed excessive by state regulators, a consumer group said Wednesday.<br /> <br /> Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, which released the figures on Wednesday, is pushing Proposition 45, a ballot initiative that would give regulators the power to reject rate increases determined to be excessive.<br /> <br />

Need For Ballot Measure On Health Insurance Rate Regulation Debated

July 2, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Kicking off a major ballot fight this year, California lawmakers pressed the state's insurance commissioner to defend a proposal that would grant his agency sweeping new authority over health insurance rates.</p> <p>At a legislative hearing Wednesday, backers and opponents of the statewide ballot measure on health insurance rate regulation called Proposition 45 squared off for the first time in a public debate. Before the hearing, supporters of Proposition 45 rallied in Sacramento and accused health insurers of putting profits ahead of patient care.</p>

Prop. 45 Sparks Turf War Over Health Insurance Regulation In California

July 2, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="js-pagination" data-maxpages="1"> <div class="story__content__body "> <p>SACRAMENTO — A turf war over health insurance regulation broke out in the Legislature on Wednesday, pitting the state's new health insurance-purchasing exchange against Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and other supporters of a November ballot initiative.</p> <p>Proposition 45 would give the insurance commissioner authority to review proposed health insurance premium rate increases and determine whether they are justified.</p>

The Public Eye: State Health Exchange Says Some Board Member Emails Are Private

July 2, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California’s <a class="lingo_link" href="http://topics.sacbee.com/health+insurance/" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;">health insurance</a> exchange, the agency responsible for administering the federal health care law, does not provide official email addresses to members of its governing board.</p>

We’re Not Buying Comcast/Time Warner Claims

June 19, 2014  ·  John M. Simpson

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2782" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_comcasttimewarner.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 111px; float: right;" width="160" height="89" />People aren’t buying the bafflegab being spouted by mega moguls claiming that the $45.2 billion merger of cable TV giants Comcast and Time Warner Cable would benefit consumers.<br /> <br />

Covered California Questions Health Insurance Initiative

June 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Ahead of its <a href="http://board.coveredca.com/meetings/2014/6-19/PDFs/Agenda%20%28Open%29%20-%20June%202014%20Board%20Meeting_Public.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">board meeting</a> Thursday, Covered California officials are raising questions — literally — about a November ballot initiative that some say could destabilize the state’s health insurance marketplace.</p>

Covered California Questions Rate Review Ballot Initiative

June 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

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Ballot Measure Won’t Disrupt Obamacare In California, Backers Say

June 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In response to concerns raised by California's health exchange, backers of a statewide ballot measure on health insurance rate regulation insisted Thursday that the measure would not disrupt how Obamacare works in the state.</p> <p>Consumer groups and California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones are pushing for more authority over health premiums for consumers and small businesses. In November, voters will decide whether to give the insurance commissioner veto power over rate increases.</p>

California Health Exchange Wants To Analyze Rate Initiative

June 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California's health insurance exchange pressed for answers Thursday to how an initiative slated for the November ballot would affect its operations.</p> <p><strong>Covered California</strong> board members said they want an expedited analysis of the measure, including its influence on the exchange and its consumers. The as-yet-unnumbered initiative, advanced by <strong>Consumer Watchdog</strong> and Democratic Insurance Commissioner <strong>Dave Jones</strong>, would allow the insurance commissioner to reject excessive health insurance rate hikes.</p>