Insurance

Rep. Jackie Speier Doesn’t Mince Words

March 17, 2014 · Mark Reback

A California Democrat who uses public anger as a tool, Speier has played a major role in raising the visibility of sexual assault in the military. <div id="story-body-text"> WASHINGTON — Uneasiness filled the room at an otherwise routine congressional budget hearing last week as Rep. <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/jackie-speier-PEPLT006244.topic" id="PEPLT006244" title="Jackie Speier">Jackie Speier</a> took the microphone and lit into the nation's top military commanders about a crude chain of emails.

In California, Middle Class Feels Health Insurance Squeeze

March 8, 2014 · Mark Reback

Dawn and Nick LaPolla of <a class="lingo_link lingo_link_hidden" href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Fair+Oaks/" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;">Fair Oaks</a> are solidly middle class, and they aren’t uninsured.

Albertsons Parent Cerberus Is Buying Safeway For More Than $9 Billion

March 6, 2014 · Mark Reback

Albertsons is making a play for the top spot in the U.S. grocery industry with the purchase of rival Safeway for more than $9 billion in cash and stock. Safeway, now the second-largest chain behind Kroger Co., owns the Vons and Pavilions brands in Southern California. With the purchase, Albertsons would operate more than 2,400 stores, compared with Kroger's 2,640.

Insurance Groups Eye Calif. Bills Reforming Prop 103, Reaching Medical Mal Cap, and Urging TRIPRA Renewal

February 27, 2014 · Mark Reback

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers are considering bills that would limit or end participation of intervenors in automobile insurance rate filings, urge Congress and the president to renew funding for the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and call on interested parties to solve difficulties with medical malpractice compensation cap.

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

February 19, 2014 · Mark Reback

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.

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

February 16, 2014 · Judy Dugan

<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.

Massive Cable Deal Would Make Comcast Too Powerful For Some

February 13, 2014 · Mark Reback

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.

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

February 8, 2014 · Mark Reback

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

Iron Kay — Insurance Companies Pick Fight With Wrong Family

February 7, 2014 · Judy Dugan

<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: 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.

WellPoint, Insurers Spend Millions To Stop Rate Hike Justification

February 3, 2014 · Mark Reback

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.

Anthem To Raise Some Premiums As Much As 25%

January 31, 2014 · Mark Reback

Up to 306,000 Californians with older, individual Anthem health insurance policies — unchanged by Obamacare — are subject to the rate increases. 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%. 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.

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

January 30, 2014 · Mark Reback

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.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers