Insurance

Calif. Auto Insurance Regs Boon To Consumers, Study Says

November 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California has the most consumer-friendly auto insurance industry in the U.S. due to state regulations, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) says in a report released today.</p> <p>Twenty-five years after California voters passed Proposition 103, which imposed regulations and rate controls on auto insurance companies, the measures have been declared a huge success by the CFA, which recommends other states adopt similar measures.</p>

Furor Continues Over Cancellation Of Individual Health Care Policies

November 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="default"><span id="MNGiSection">The nationwide furor over the cancellation of millions of individual health insurance policies gained momentum Tuesday as pressure built on Congress and the Obama administration to fix the problem.</span></span></p>

Report Praises Pennsylvania Car Insurance Model

November 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Pennsylvania, California and 13 other states that require auto insurance companies to get prior approval before they can raise rates do the best job of keeping insurance premiums in check, according to a report by the Consumer Federation of America.</p>

Blue Shield Forced To Delay Canceling 80,000 Health Insurance Policies

November 5, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">The clock is ticking on 1 million Californians forced to buy new health insurance because their plans don't comply with the federal health care law, but on Tuesday one of the state's biggest health insurers was forced to give its customers a three-month reprieve.</span></span></p>

Blue Shield Gives 80,000 Policyholders A 90-Day Reprieve On Cancellations

November 5, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="entry"> <p>Blue Shield will let some California policyholders extend their coverage for an additional 90 days — until March 31 — under a s<a href="http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/release095-13.cfm">ettlement with the California Department of Insurance </a>announced Tuesday.</p> <p>The settlement is specific to Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Co. — one of two Blue Shield companies operating in the state. It does not necessarily presage a widespread delay in health policy cancellations.</p>

California’s Toxic Waste Control Department Trying to Clean Up Its Act

November 4, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.capradio.org/articles/2013/11/04/californias-toxic-waste-control-department-trying-to-clean-up-its-act/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p> <p><b>Californians produce two million tons of hazardous waste every year. And the department that manages that waste has faced criticism for the way it operates. Now the department is trying to clean up its act.</b></p>

Some Health Insurance Gets Pricier As Obamacare Rolls Out

October 27, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Many middle-class Californians with individual health plans are surprised they need policies that cover more — and cost more.</b></p> <p>Thousands of Californians are discovering what Obamacare will cost them — and many don't like what they see.</p> <p>These middle-class consumers are staring at hefty increases on their insurance bills as the overhaul remakes the healthcare market. Their rates are rising in large part to help offset the higher costs of covering sicker, poorer people who have been shut out of the system for years.</p>

Thousands of Consumers Get Insurance Cancellation Notices

October 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Health plans are sending hundreds of thousands of cancellation letters to people who buy their own coverage, frustrating some consumers who want to keep what they have and forcing others to buy more costly policies.<br /> <br /> The main reason insurers offer is that the policies fall short of what the Affordable Care Act requires starting Jan. 1. Most are ending policies sold after the law passed in March 2010. At least a few are cancelling plans sold to people with pre-existing medical conditions.<br /> <br />

Stopping a Hidden Auto Insurance Rip-off

October 16, 2013  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2199" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_harveydrawingname.gif" style="float: right; width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" /></p>

Ted Gaines Announces Run For Insurance Commissioner

October 4, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Possibly setting up a clash over health insurance regulation, Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Rocklin, announced Thursday that he will run for California insurance commissioner next year.<br /> <br /> Gaines won a new Senate term in 2012, which means he is not up for re-election until 2016 and can seek statewide office next year without risking the Senate seat.<br /> <br />

Mailer: ‘Thank You, Assembly Speaker.’ But For What?

October 3, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

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Shutting Down Insurers’ Abuses

October 2, 2013  ·  Carmen Balber

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/CWD-DC-Flag.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 149px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; float: right;" />I went to Washington DC right after the 2008 election to open up Consumer Watchdog's office on Capitol Hill and make sure health reform worked for consumers.