Insurance

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

January 31, 2013 · Mark Reback

Initiative would allow state to oversee health plans 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.

Cable Rates On Rise As Users Fall

January 29, 2013 · Mark Reback

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.

California Stem Cell Agency Addressing Conflict Of Interest Concerns

January 29, 2013 · Mark Reback

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. 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.

Mercury Insurance Company Losing Its War Against Consumers

January 29, 2013 · Laura Antonini

<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 “has a deserved reputation for abusing its customers and intentionally violating the law with arrogance and indifference” – is infamous for playing every angle in its effort to avoid accountability for cheating its customers.

California Insurance Company Faces Discrimination Lawsuit

January 25, 2013 · Mark Reback

San Diego, CA: An <a href="https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/lawsuit/california-insurance.html">insurance lawsuit</a> has been filed against Blue Cross of California, alleging a new program run by the company amounts to discrimination. In addition to claims of discrimination, the lawsuit alleges Blue Cross is guilty of bad faith insurance, not because policyholders have had their insurance claim denied, but because the new program allegedly discriminates against patients with HIV/AIDS.

Safe Drivers Might Surrender Privacy For A Discount

January 20, 2013 · Mark Reback

People who don't volunteer for snitching device may end up with higher rates by default. More auto insurance companies are asking customers to ride around with a little electronic tattletale. The device is the size of your palm. Plug it into your car and it will tattle to the insurer about how fast you drive, the time of day and the mileage. It will snitch if you peel out from stop signs or brake hard. Some versions measure how hard you turn. The insurer will use all that to decide how much to charge you.

AT&T, Dependably in Forefront of Consumer Abuse

January 19, 2013 · Judy Dugan

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2576" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_att_logo.png" style="width: 250px; height: 160px; float: right;" width="1000" height="641" />Comedy is funnier when it hits you in the gut. That's what made<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9e3dTOJi0o"> a famous skit by Lily Tomlin</a> about the phone company's abuse of customers so memorable, one tag line being "We are omnipotent."

Farmers Insurance to Face Trial For Deceptive Refund Practices

January 18, 2013 · Doug Heller

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2573" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/images_farmerslogo_0.gif" style="width: 301px; height: 162px; float: right;" width="600" height="323" />Last month a California Court of Appeal overturned the Superior Court ruling in Streit v. Farmers Group, Inc. and allowed California consumers to pursue a lawsuit against Farmers Insurance for cheating customers out of fair refunds if they cancel their insurance policy. Consumer Watchdog’s attorneys authored a key “Friend of the Court” brief that laid the groundwork for the Appellate Court’s decision.

Insurer Sued On Behalf Of Local HIV Sufferer

January 15, 2013 · Mark Reback

A nonprofit consumer advocacy group has filed suit against Anthem Blue Cross on behalf of a local HIV patient affected by the insurance company’s decision to require use of mail-order pharmacies for AIDS drugs. Anthem Blue Cross recently notified patients with its commercial insurance that they would need to begin ordering their medications by mail on March 1.

Suit Claims Blue Cross Discriminates Against HIV/AIDS Patients

January 15, 2013 · Mark Reback

A consumer advocacy group has accused Blue Cross of California of discriminating against patients with HIV/AIDS by changing the protocol they use to obtain their medications. Under the new policy, set to go into effect on March 1, enrollees with HIV/AIDS and numerous other medical conditions must obtain prescriptions through mail-order pharmacies instead of relying on local brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

Op-Ed: Is The State’s Initiative Process Ripe For Reform?

January 13, 2013 · Mark Reback

Nell McCombs of Ventura is committee chairman for the League of Women Voters of Ventura County's study of the California initiative and referendum process. <div id="story_content"> The initiative process was adopted by the California electorate in 1911, and was intended to allow the public direct access to the legislative process and overcome the influence of special interests. The process seems to have been needed as within three years of adoption (1914), 17 voter-placed initiatives appeared on the ballot.

California Insurance Commissioner Criticizes Anthem Blue Cross Rate Hike

January 9, 2013 · Mark Reback

Making his case yet again for regulatory authority to reject "excessive" rates, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Tuesday singled out Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Co. for slapping "unreasonable" rate increases on more than 250,000 small-business policyholders. Anthem fired back, saying the insurance commissioner's math and methodology were flawed.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers