Insurance

WellPoint Leads $13 Million Battle on California Insurance Rates

April 7, 2014 · Mark Reback

WellPoint Inc. (<a class="ticker" data-symbol="WLP:US" href="http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=WLP:US">WLP:US</a>), the second-largest U.S. health insurer, is leading companies that have poured $13.4 million into defeating a ballot initiative that would give California regulators the power to reject increases in health policy premiums.

A Single Moving Violation Will Boost Insurance Premium

March 29, 2014 · Mark Reback

<div id="text-pages"> <div class="page" style="display: block;"> Getting a single traffic ticket on your license could raise your auto insurance premiums, in some cases substantially, according to a study released last week by InsuranceQuotes. This is especially true in California, where your driving-safety record by law must be the most important factor in determining your rate.

Consumer Watchdog Billboard Campaign: A provocative new billboard suggests that 2 in 10 doctors are impaired by drugs or alcohol. But is that really true?

March 26, 2014 · Mark Reback

Driven around Oakland lately, and noticed anything, well, large and troubling? That would be a billboard at 22nd Street, almost at Grand, boldly declaring that 2 in 10 doctors will be alcohol or drug impaired, with a toll-free number to report suspected abusers. Say what? That’s 20 percent. And what does “will be … impaired” mean, exactly? Bending over a fractured tibia while in the operating theatre? At a weekend barbecue? Happy hour poolside at the retirement community?

Political Savvy Could Help Comcast Overcome Public Opposition To TWC Deal

March 25, 2014 · Mark Reback

Deep pockets for lobbying, political connections that cross borders from municipalities to the federal government, and just plain political savvy could help Comcast (<a href="http://www.fiercecable.com/tags/comcast">Nasdaq: CMCSA</a>) overcome opposition from consumer groups to its proposed multi-billion-dollar acquisition of Time Warner Cable (<a href="http://www.fiercecable.com/tags/time-warner-cable">NYSE: TWC</a>).

Old Battle Over Medical-Malpractice Damages Flares Again

March 25, 2014 · Mark Reback

The first serious kerfuffle to confront a newly inaugurated Gov. Jerry Brown in 1975 was a crisis – whether real or contrived is still being debated – over medical <a class="lingo_link lingo_link_hidden" href="http://topics.sacbee.com/malpractice+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;">malpractice insurance.</a>

Why Are Health Insurance Rates on the Increase?

March 24, 2014 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.kcrw.com/media-player/mediaPlayer2.html?type=audio&id=ww140324why_are_health_insur">Click here to listen to the audio</a> of this radio broadcast segment.

UC-Corporate Links Produce Trove Of Patents, Study Finds

March 20, 2014 · Mark Reback

<div id="text-pages"> <div class="page" style="display: block;"> Corporations often attract criticism for funding university research, but a study published Thursday argues these sometimes controversial deals produce more innovations than those subsidized with taxpayer money.

Toothless Watchdog? FTC and Football Concussions

March 20, 2014 · Mark Reback

From the Monday night gridiron to the Friday night bleachers, players and parents are buzzing with concern over football concussions and the safety equipment that’s meant to prevent them. On March 13, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/205241/140313sportssafetyhouse.pdf">testified</a> before Congress that it is on the job, ensuring that concussion protection claims made for sports equipment are truthful and not supported by junk science.

California Car Data Bill Has Manufacturers, Insurers Butting Heads

March 18, 2014 · Mark Reback

Foreshadowing a clash between carmakers and a prominent auto insurance company, Sen. Bill Monning on Tuesday unveiled a bill to loosen car manufacturers’ grip on data generated by vehicles. Framed by a computer-equipped car parked on the steps of the state Capitol, the Carmel Democrat said his Senate Bill 994 would allow consumers to see what data their car emits and decide with whom they want to share the information. The measure is sponsored by AAA Northern California and its south state counterpart, the Automobile Club of Southern California.

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.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers