Insurance

Group Demands Probe Of Soil at Autumnwood

February 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A California consumer advocacy group is demanding a state investigation of a Wildomar housing tract where residents have abandoned houses that they blame for making them sick.<br /> <br /> "This case clearly calls for an investigation of the soil in Wildomar, including tests for heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and other toxins," said a report by the Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog.<br /> <br />

Report Slams California’s Toxics Watchdog

February 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201302210850/a">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>California's standards for hazardous waste management are the most stringent in the nation. But a new report expected out this morning claims the state agency charged with going after toxic polluters is biased toward industry.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Claims State Failed Wildomar Residents

February 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>The 68-page Consumer Watchdog report titled “Golden Wasteland” cites case studies alleging the DTSC consistently failed to protect communities – including the Autumnwood development in Wildomar – from health harms posed by toxic waste</strong></p> <p>The California Department of Toxic Substances Control fell down on the job when it refused to test a Wildomar neighborhood for pollutants that some local residents say are killing them, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/golden-wasteland-report">a report out today from Consumer Watchdog alleges.</a></p>

Anthem Blue Cross Backs Off On Controversial Policy

February 20, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/feb/20/anthem-blue-cross-backs-controversial-policy/">Click here to listen to the audio of this broadcast segment</a>.</p>

Can Consumers Trust The EPA Mileage Stickers On Cars?

February 16, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>When consumers buy a car, they take the EPA’s mileage sticker — such as 33 miles per gallon highway, 27 city — as a fair comparison with other vehicles.</p> <p>But does the sticker always deserve that trust?</p> <p>The United States is thought to have the toughest fuel economy standards and enforcement in the world. But that reputation suffered a black eye in November when the Environmental Protection Agency announced that Hyundai and Kia had overstated the fuel mileage for 900,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. by as much as 6 miles a gallon.</p>

Should Socioeconomic Factors Affect The Price Of Car Insurance?

February 10, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>What you pay for car insurance depends on more than what you drive and how you drive it.</p> <p>It depends on where you live, your credit score, and sometimes your occupation and education level<a href="http://www.carinsurance.com/rate-comparison.aspx?zc=63101" title="http://www.carinsurance.com/rate-comparison.aspx?zc=63101">.</a></p>

State Farm To Cut Homeowners’ Insurance Rates In California

February 8, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Rates will fall an average of 12.6% statewide beginning April 15</b></p> <p>State Farm, California's biggest homeowners' insurer, is dropping rates an average of 12.6% for more than 1 million policyholders in the state beginning April 15. Customers are expected to see average annual premiums cut by $100 this year.</p> <p>Rates are expected to fall 12.3% in Los Angeles County, 14.1% in Orange County and 12.4% in San Diego County.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Reminding Voters of Ballot Initiative As Health Insurance Rate Hikes Take Effect

January 31, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>As California consumers prepare for health insurance rate hikes to take effect on Friday, a consumer watchdog group wants to remind them of a ballot initiative that would give the state the authority to publicly review health insurance rate increases and reject those that are excessive.</p> <p class="cpf-printOut-body-content" style="">Consumer Watchdog's reminder comes as 730,000 Californians who carry Anthem Blue Cross insurance will see their rates increase by up to 26 percent. The nonprofit consumer education and advocacy organization has singled out Anthem Blue Cross.</p>

Anthem Blue Cross Rates Rise 17.5 Percent Today; Critics Call For Ballot initiative To Cap Costs

January 31, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong><span id="RDS_global"><span id="RDS_article">Initiative would allow state to oversee health plans</span></span></strong></p> <p><span id="RDS_article">As about 730,000 California health insurance consumers' rates rise an average 17.5 percent today, a consumer group is renewing its support for a ballot initiative to rein in costs. </span></p>

Mercury Insurance Company Losing Its War Against Consumers

January 29, 2013  ·  Laura Antonini

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2584" alt="" height="251" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_mecurypoisonlogo_2.gif" style="float: right;" width="251" />Mercury Insurance – the company that California regulators say “<em>has a deserved reputation for abusing its customers and intentionally violating the law with arrogance and indifference</em>” – is infamous for playing every angle in its effort to avoid accountability for cheating its customers.

Cable Rates On Rise As Users Fall

January 29, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Prices for most of the firm's TV services are set to rise. The move comes as it cuts a deal for a baseball channel and as the cable industry loses subscribers.</b></p>

California Stem Cell Agency Addressing Conflict Of Interest Concerns

January 29, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="rds_global">California's stem cell agency, which oversees $3 billion in research funds, has announced plans to address long-standing conflict of interest concerns involving its governing board.</span></p> <p><span id="rds_global">Under the new policy, tentatively approved last week, the 13 board members of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine who represent institutions eligible for funding from the agency would no longer vote on grants brought before the board.</span></p>