Insurance

Prop 103 Consumer Benefits Debate Serves as Focal Point for Calif. Ballot Initiative Expanding Law to Health

February 19, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON -- Advocates and opponents of California's Proposition 103 are debating whether it has helped consumers 25 years after its passage. Some say the debate is being used to sway voters who will determine whether measures similar to Proposition 103 should be applied to health insurance in the state this fall.<br /> <br />

AAA Gets an “F” For Dumping Agents, Leaving Customers in the Lurch

February 16, 2014  ·  Judy Dugan

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2732" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/images_aaa_0.jpg" style="width: 214px; height: 164px; float: right; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;" width="214" height="164" />Triple-A has been American drivers’ friend almost since U.S. roads linked the nation together. It has rescued families from flat tires and worse. It has planned millions of family vacations and sold well-regarded auto insurance. It has always skewed toward older drivers and welcomed their devoted renewal of memberships. Its employees got good benefits and stayed with the organization.<br /> <br />

Massive Cable Deal Would Make Comcast Too Powerful For Some

February 13, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer advocates and U.S. lawmakers are worried that Comcast Corp's proposed $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable Inc will create a company with too much power to decide what Americans can watch on television and do online, and they expect intense regulatory scrutiny of the deal.</p>

For 3 Million, ‘Affordable’ Health Care Might Not Be

February 8, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>For millions, subsidies don't kick in until up to 9.5% of their income goes to premiums.</b></p> <p>The lure used to get uninsured Americans to sign up for health law coverage was the promise of generous premium subsidies.</p>

Iron Kay — Insurance Companies Pick Fight With Wrong Family

February 7, 2014  ·  Judy Dugan

<p><strong><a href="http://insurancebadbehavior.org"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2730" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/images_ironlady.jpg" style="width: 299px; height: 189px; float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" width="450" height="284" /></a>March 2014 update:</strong></p> <p><em>Victory! The insurers have settled with Aunt Kay, thanks to the campaign mounted by her nephew Dan Shea. If only every person stuck in insurance company hell had Dan's smarts, tenacity and resources! Or better yet, if only insurance companies weren't allowed to put claimants through the torment that Kay suffered.</em></p>

WellPoint, Insurers Spend Millions To Stop Rate Hike Justification

February 3, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Health insurance companies in California spent $13.8 million to defeat a state ballot initiative that would require them to get approval for rate hikes, <a href="http://www.fiercehealthpayer.com/press-releases/anthem-increases-rates-25-it-spends-129-million-parent-company-wellpoint-de" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the non-profit Consumer Watchdog Campaign.</p>

Anthem To Raise Some Premiums As Much As 25%

January 31, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Up to 306,000 Californians with older, individual Anthem health insurance policies — unchanged by Obamacare — are subject to the rate increases.</b></p> <p>Thousands of Anthem Blue Cross individual customers with older insurance policies untouched by Obamacare are getting some jarring news: Their premiums are going up as much as 25%.</p> <p>These increases, 16% on average, are slated to go into effect April 1 for up to 306,000 people — unless California regulators persuade the state's largest for-profit health insurer to back down.</p>

Should You Pay More For Auto Insurance Because Of Your College Degree (Or Lack Of One)?

January 30, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Insurance companies are all about managing risk -- especially the risk to their bottom line. We understand why insurers charge higher premiums to smokers than non-smokers, or why they charge more to cover amusement parks than accounting firms: they know that the likelihood of issuing out a payout is much higher for the former.</p>

Consumer Advocacy Group Wants Auto Insurance Companies To Stop Granting Professional Discounts

January 29, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

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Consumer Watchdog Clashes With Dave Jones Over Auto Insurance

January 29, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="asset-content entry-content lingo_region"> <div class="asset-body"> <p><a href="http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/davejones.JPG"><img alt="davejones.JPG" class="mt-image-right" height="217" src="http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/assets_c/2014/01/davejones-thumb-280x217-83401.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" width="280" /></a>Automobile insurance companies would be banned from using motorists' occupation and education levels in establishing customer premiums under a rule change sought by consumer advocates Wednesday.</p>

Citizen Groups Petition Insurance Commissioner Jones to Stop Auto Insurance Surcharges Based on Occupation and Education Level

January 29, 2014  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-20498" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/images_prop103newsconf.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 158px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="1200" height="900" />Santa Monica, CA - Fourteen non-profit citizen, consumer and low income advocacy organizations today formally petitioned Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to bar auto insurance companies from discriminating against California drivers based on their occupation or education level.  <br /> <br />

Guest Commentary: California Health Insurance Rates Need Regulation

January 29, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In my 20 years as a practicing oncologist, I have seen way too many of my vulnerable patients fall victim to our current health care system, which has become quite deleterious and very mischievous.</p> <p>In 2011, there were close to 2.5 million medical-related bankruptcies in the United States. Shockingly, 75 percent of these involved patients who actually had insurance.</p>