Insurance

Signatures Submitted for Health Insurance Rate Initiative

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Proponents of an initiative that would give California regulators the power to regulate health insurance rates submitted 800,000 voter signatures on Friday in hopes of qualifying the measure for the November ballot.</p> <p> Consumer Watchdog called the initiative a "common sense proposal" to expand provisions of Proposition 103, which regulates auto and home insurance rates. Prop 103, also backed by the Santa Monica advocacy group, was approved by voters in 1988.</p>

Group Submits Signatures for Insurance Rate Regulation Measure

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Consumer advocates upped the ante on premium rate regulation in California on Friday when they delivered petitions signed by 800,000 California voters to a qualify an initiative for the November ballot.<br /> <br /> The Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act needs 504,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The measure must be certified by June 28 to qualify.<br /> <br /> The measure takes one of the most hotly contested bills in years directly to the people after legislative efforts stalled in the final days of the last session.</p>

Ballot Initiative Would Hold Health Insurance Premiums Down

May 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZVQgZcufYlc?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br /> <br /> NORWALK (CBS) — Leaders of Consumer Watchdog Campaign along with patients and the state’s Insurance Commissioner delivered to the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office in Norwalk hundreds of thousands of petition signatures in support of a health insurance rate justification ballot initiative.<br /> <br />

Sign Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace…Regulate Health Insurance Rates

May 12, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Next week we will be turning in the signatures for our ballot petition to force health insurance companies to justify their rates and get permission before instituting their rate hikes.<br /> <br /> <strong><a href="http://justifyrates.org/_docs/redirect_petition.php?source=cwlc">Download</a>, sign and return in the mail by the end of the weekend to be part of the signature turn-in or forever hold your peace.</strong><br /> <br /> This short video preview of the initiative by our friends in Hollywood explains why this is the most important autograph you will give this year.

The Marie Antoinette Of Health Insurance & How To Dethrone Her

May 7, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2411" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/images_braly-quote4.jpg" style="width: 157px; height: 250px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="157" height="250" />Two years ago, as federal health reform lay on death’s door, CEO Angela Braly, head of Blue Cross’s parent company Wellpoint, spit on beleaguered patients. She sat through poignant Congressional testimony from customers whose lives were being ruined by spiraling premium hikes, then Braly testified that the public outrage was "a triumph of sound bites over substance."<br /> <br />

‘Groundhog Day’ for Health Care–The Profit Nightmare

May 3, 2012  ·  Judy Dugan

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Movie Rating: Not Suitable For Health Insurance Executives

May 1, 2012  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> One million Californians will be slammed today with health insurance rate hikes as high as 20%. Consumer Watchdog Campaign has a solution.</p> <p> Watch this short, funny movie trailer about an alternative future with no rate hikes, and share it with your friends.</p> <p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PMO-_woxVpE?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></p> <p> Health insurance price hikes recur more often than Groundhog Day -- Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall. Now there’s something Californians can do about it.</p>

Stand with the May Million to Stop Unjust Rate Hikes

April 24, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2405" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/may_millions_facebook_logo.png" style="width: 250px; height: 350px; float: right; margin: 3px 4px;" width="286" height="400" />In just one week, <strong>ONE MILLION</strong> Californians will have their health care rates unceremoniously hiked by up to 20%.  For many of these Californians, this will represent the 2nd or 3rd hike in less than two years. With insurance companies turning record profits quarter in and quarter out, it's time to stand up and tell them that we are sick and tired of these unjust rate hikes.<br /> <br />

Are you one of the May Million too?

April 23, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2403" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/laurel_bio_photo_copy_0.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 221px; margin: 3px 4px; float: right;" width="467" height="517" /><a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/article/laurel-kaufer-san-fernando-valley-ca">My name is Laurel Kaufer and I’m a Consumer Watchdog member</a>. I am also one of the one million Californians who will be hit with a health insurance rate hike on May 1st.<br /> <br /> <strong>Are you one of the May Million facing rate hikes of up to 20%?</strong><br /> <br />

Firms Weigh Health Care Costs

April 23, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Some attorneys can't afford benefits, enroll with spouse instead.</b></p> <p> As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to release its decision next month on the constitutionality of the Obama administration's Affordable Health Care for America Act, the state is waging its own battle to rein in rates.</p>

Jessica Blacher – Santa Monica, CA

April 20, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><img class=" size-full wp-image-2408" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/images_jessicablacher.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 239px;" width="251" height="300" /></p> <p>(Updated 2/4/13)</p> <p>I am 55-plus. I’ve never wanted to be 65, but Medicare can’t come soon enough. My Blue Cross premium keeps spiraling upward yet I’m working fewer days and my income is down. I keep having to change policies--higher deductibles, more copays, less coverage--to afford it. Now it’s just backup in case of a catastrophe. And soon I won’t be able to afford any kind of health insurance.</p>

Are Insurance Companies Picking Your Pocket with Installment Fees?

April 19, 2012  ·  Laura Antonini

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2399" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/images_dollarcrash_0.jpg" style="width: 275px; height: 220px; " width="300" height="240" />Lately, California’s auto insurers have been slipping unjustified service fees onto bills – even when policyholders don’t use the service.</p>