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Consumer Watchdog

Insurance

Insurance news, investigations, and reform — auto, home, and health insurance rates, claims denials, and industry accountability.
Proposition 33 Opponents Ready To Take On Health Insurers

Proposition 33 Opponents Ready To Take On Health Insurers

<p>SACRAMENTO -- The consumer activists that defeated the Proposition 33 auto insurance initiative, despite their small budget, are crowing over their victory and spoiling for a new fight.</p> <p>This tiime, it's with the health insurance industry.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog of Santa Monica is winding up its own initiative on the 2014 ballot to regulate health insurance rates in much the same way the state oversees auto insurance premiums under California's landmark Proposition 103 law of 1988.</p>
Californians Lump Props. 32 and 33; a Referendum on the ‘B’ Word

Californians Lump Props. 32 and 33; a Referendum on the ‘B’ Word

<p>The “B” word may have been the most lethal weapon against an automobile insurance portable persistency initiative put to Californians, the second such initiative in the last two years to be defeated.</p> <p>California’s Proposition 33, <a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2012/01/20/231971.htm" target="_blank" title="Auto Insurance Discount Act Qualifies For California Ballot" rel="noopener">the 2012 Automobile Insurance Discount Act</a>, was defeated with 54.6 percent voting against it, while it got 45.4 “yes” votes.</p>
Prop 33: Car Insurance Changes Defeated

Prop 33: Car Insurance Changes Defeated

<p><strong>SACRAMENTO</strong> -- Voters rejected <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/propositions/">Proposition</a> 33, a measure that would have allowed car insurers to offer discounts to drivers who maintain continuous coverage and raise rates on those who do not have a consistent history of coverage.</p>
Please Vote No On Prop 33 Today

Please Vote No On Prop 33 Today

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2515" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/stopprop33.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="550" height="550" />For the last 25 years, I've worked day and night to keep insurance rates low here in California. That's why I'm <strong>OPPOSED to PROP 33</strong>, the Mercury Insurance Company Initiative…and I need your help to get the word out.<br /> <br />
Proposition 33 Auto Insurance Changes: George Joseph’s Record Under Fire

Proposition 33 Auto Insurance Changes: George Joseph’s Record Under Fire

<p>The guy behind Proposition 33, insurance magnate George Joseph, has spent nearly $17 million to fight for the right to extend discounts to drivers who've had five years of uninterrupted coverage, even if that coverage has come from more than one company.</p> <p>Joseph has said that he's pushing the measure because he believes it would lead to more competition -- which would be good for consumers. But critics say the self-made billionaire has profit on his mind, and that such "discounts" are a sneaky way to ensure rates will rise for young, and poor, drivers.</p>
Prop. 33 Likely To Produce More, Not Fewer, Uninsured Drivers

Prop. 33 Likely To Produce More, Not Fewer, Uninsured Drivers

<p>The campaign in favor of Proposition 33 has been so consistently misleading, it's almost pointless to keep criticizing the measure's supporters for warping the facts. Nevertheless, an advertisement Monday in favor of the measure makes a point that bears rebutting before voters head to the polls.</p>
Mercury General Chairman Gives Nearly 17M To Prop. 33

Mercury General Chairman Gives Nearly 17M To Prop. 33

<p>It might not get the attention of some of the other propositions, but Proposition 33 is attracting some big money, at least on one side and from one person. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Prop-33-restarts-auto-insurance-debate-3852190.php" target="_top" rel="noopener">The measure would allow</a> car insurers to give discounts to drivers who have maintained continuous coverage and to charge more to drivers without such an insurance history.</p>
A Letter to the President Can Matter: Ours Changed Hyundai’s MPG Claims And Evened the Playing Field For US Carmakers

A Letter to the President Can Matter: Ours Changed Hyundai’s MPG Claims And Evened the Playing Field For US Carmakers

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2466" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jamiepic-new1.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 226px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />If you doubt that writing the White House can make a difference, just look at <strong><a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltrwhitehousempg011212_0.pdf">the letter</a></strong> my Consumer Watchdog colleague Judy Dugan and I wrote to the President in January calling for an audit of the inflated MPG claims for the Hyundai Elantra.
Welcome To Consumer Watchdog for iPhone & iPad

Welcome To Consumer Watchdog for iPhone & iPad

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2504" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/images_appstore-sq.png" style="width: 175px; height: 175px; float: right;" width="175" height="175" />iPhone, iPod and iPad owners <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consumer-watchdog/id580994842?ls=1&mt=8">can now download our new App from the Apple App Store</a> and connect to Consumer Watchdog’s daily public interest fights against corrupt corporations and crooked politicians.</p> <p>Our motto is: Expose, Confront, Change.  We believe that when 70% of the public wants to change the world, it can be done.</p>
Dolores Huerta Speaks Out: California’s Proposition 33 Legalizes Insurance Discrimination

Dolores Huerta Speaks Out: California’s Proposition 33 Legalizes Insurance Discrimination

<p><i><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2502" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/images_dolores-sqa.jpg" style="width: 175px; height: 175px; float: right;" width="175" height="175" /></i>Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta issued the following statement today about California's Proposition 33 on the Nov. 6th ballot:</p> <p>"Proposition 33 would return us to an era when discrimination in insurance was commonplace. If billionaire George Joseph gets his way, millions of Californians would pay higher auto insurance premiums. Mr. Joseph owns Mercury Insurance. He has donated $16.4 million to Prop 33.</p>
Op-Ed – Jamie Court: No On Prop. 33

Op-Ed – Jamie Court: No On Prop. 33

<p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/insurance-376024-prop-one.html">Click here to view the original Op-Ed commentary</a>.</p> <p>Answer just one question, and you'll know how you should vote on Proposition 33: Should you pay more for your car insurance if you stopped driving for a time because you couldn't afford a car, didn't own one or lived for awhile in a city where you didn't need one?</p> <p>The insurance billionaire behind Prop 33 has spent $16 million to trick you into answering yes. Don't be fooled.</p>