Insurance

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>

It’s Like This: Morning Drive

June 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>I do like my Apple “smart phone.” The device has plenty of apps, bells, music and lots of stuff I have no idea how to use.</p> <p>One place where the phone comes in really handy is when I am in a strange city and a friend calls and says, let’s meet at the Pirate’s Hangover. I punch the button and ask my Siri, “Give me directions to Pirate’s Hangover.”</p>

California Ballot Measures Are Where The Money Will Be In November

June 14, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">Insurance rate hikes, medical malpractice and water tunnels might not generate the kind of passionate water-cooler debate you'd find over marijuana, abortion and the death penalty.</span></span></p>

Reference Pricing Would Let Insurers Cap What They Pay For Procedures

May 29, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>After getting a green light earlier this month from the administration of President Barack Obama, more employers may begin to cap what they pay for certain medical treatments, such as joint replacements and drugs, potentially shifting more costs to workers.</p>

Calif. Ballot Initiative Seeks Health Insurance Price Controls

May 27, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A ballot initiative before California voters in November could challenge insurance coverage set up under Obamacare, imposing the same kind of price controls on health insurance that already exist on the state's auto, property, and casualty insurance.<br /> <br />

Rate Regulation Battle Lines Drawn

May 15, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="block__content block--article__content" id="page_0_content_0_BlockContent"> <p>One side says health insurers are gouging California consumers and need to be regulated.</p> <p>The other side says adding more government oversight in the early stages of health care reform will muddy the waters and could damage the new system before it has a chance to work.</p>

High-Profile Ballot Measure Hopes To Curb Health Insurance Rate Hikes

May 13, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.californiahealthline.org/insight/2014/high-profile-ballot-measure-hopes-to-curb-health-insurance-rate-hikes">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>.</p> <p>In a <em>California Healthline </em>report by Kenny Goldberg, experts discussed an expensive and controversial November ballot measure that would give enforcement power to the state Insurance Commissioner to regulate health insurance rate hikes.  </p>

Disabled Woman Sells Home to Pay Health Premiums

May 9, 2014  ·  rob

<p><img class=" size-full wp-image-2351" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/images_marticonger.jpg" style="width: 185px; height: 295px;" width="226" height="353" /><span style="font-size:16px;"><em style="font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 21px;"><strong style="font-size: 14px;">"I am really struggling. After food and housing and a few necessities my income basically goes to health insurance and health care."</strong></em></span></p>

Regulating State’s Health Premiums Could Hurt Exchange, Report Says; Nonsense, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Says of Industry Concerns

May 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Obamacare in California could suffer setbacks, delays and legal challenges if voters this year approve a statewide ballot initiative to regulate insurance rates, a new industry-backed report warns.</p> <p>Those predictions drew immediate fire from Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. He said the concerns are nonsense and passage of the ballot measure is essential for consumers to reap the full benefits of the Affordable Care Act.</p>