Insurance

California Regulator Criticizes Aetna Rate Increase As ‘Unreasonable’

April 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A California insurance regulator ruled that an Aetna Inc. health-insurance rate increase was “unreasonable,” in the latest salvo of a long-running debate in the state over the cost of coverage.</p> <p> The announcement by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones focused on a boost that affects small-group plans and became effective April 1. It was the first time the department has officially used a new ability, granted under a state law that took effect at the beginning of 2011, to call out rates as unreasonable.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Video Wins a “Pollie”

April 3, 2012  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2394" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/images_pollieaward_0.jpg" style="width: 109px; height: 160px;" width="109" height="160" />Consumer Watchdog's animated satirical <a href="http://youtu.be/TtLP5fFARaM">video, "Supercharge"</a> has just won a prestigious "Pollie" award from the <a href="http://www.theaapc.org/">American Association of Political Consultants.</a><br /> <br />

Health Insurance Premiums To Rise Soon For Many

March 31, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> More than a million California small-business owners and individual policyholders face a wave of health insurance premium increases in the coming months that range from single digits to as high as 20 percent.<br /> <br /> Starting Sunday, about 101,000 Anthem Blue Cross small-group customers will see their premiums go up an average of 13.8 percent but as high as 20.5 percent. At the same time, more than 16,000 small businesses covered by Aetna will receive hikes averaging 3.7 percent. While a few will see decreases, others will get hit with increases of more than 20 percent.<br />

As High Court Takes Up Health Care, Calif. Insurers Raise Rates

March 23, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Health insurance premiums for many Californians are set to increase as much as 20 percent in the coming weeks, according to insurance company reports to federal and state agencies.</p>

Anthem Blue Cross to cut rate hikes for some California customers

March 22, 2012  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <strong>The state's largest for-profit health insurer will raise rates 8.2% on average, down from its earlier request of 10.4%, in response to pressure from state officials.</strong></p> <p> Anthem Blue Cross agreed to trim its rate increases for nearly 600,000 customers in California in response to pressure from state officials, but many families still could see premiums rise 20% starting in May.</p>

Schwarzenegger fined $30K by FPPC for misuse of campaign funds after Consumer Watchdog complaint

March 16, 2012  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2387" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/images_greedinator_0.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 226px;" width="238" height="269" />In case you missed it --<br /> <br /> Former governor Schwarzenegger was just fined $30,000 by the FPPC for illegally funding advertising for a budget fight with money he raised in unlimited amounts from corporate donors to his California Dream Team ballot measure committee. Consumer Watchdog sent a letter of complaint to the FPPC in July of 2009 about Schwarzenegger's improper use of campaign funds. The Democratic Party also submitted a complaint.<br /> <br />

Health Care Industry Top Lobbyists In California

March 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Health care firms spent more than $35 million on lobbying in California in 2011.</b></p> <p> <a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/mar/13/health-care-industry-top-lobbyists-california/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio news broadcast</a>.</p> <p> California -- The <a href="http://www.sos.ca.gov/">California secretary of state</a> says health care lobbyists spent more than $35 million last year. The biggest health care player was <a href="https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/html/kaiser/index.shtml">Kaiser Permanente</a>.</p>

Coalition Opposes Health Insurance Rate Regulation Initiative

March 12, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> An impressive array of trade groups representing business owners, doctors, hospitals, health plans and health insurers launched a campaign Monday to oppose a health insurance rate regulation initiative proposed for the November ballot.</p> <p> Major funding for the effort comes from the four largest health insurers in the state: <strong>Anthem Blue Cross</strong>, <strong>Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc.</strong>, <strong>Health Net Inc.</strong> and <strong>Blue Shield of California</strong>, according to a news release from the group.</p>

Three Medical Malpractice Insurers Roll Back Rates

March 8, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Three top medical malpractice insurers in California have rolled back their rates, saving doctors, dentists and other providers nearly $19 million a year in premiums, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced Thursday.<br /> <br /> Last year, Jones required the top six medical malpractice insurance companies in California to submit rate filings to the department to justify their current rates. Jones called for rate reductions by three companies following a review of the filings. The other three are still under review.<br /> <br /> The reductions include:<br /> <br />

Virginia Donohue & Mark Klaiman, small business owners – Pet Camp

March 2, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> My husband Mark and I had always wanted to be able to bring our dogs to work, and be in business for ourselves. We realized that goal in 1997, after saving hard from our day jobs. Our dog and cat “pet camps” have given us fulfilling and happy work. Dogs having an outdoor play party are the definition of joy.</p> <p> Dealing with small business health insurance, however, is the exact opposite experience.</p>

Op-Ed: Time For Health Insurance Companies To Justify High Rates

March 2, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> If my family's small local business was a health insurance company, we could double prices during a deep recession while amassing a fortune in invested savings. Woohoo!</p> <p> <span id="iba2_siteCss">As the customer base fell, we'd just jack up prices again. It's a laughably impossible model for almost any business. But not for Blue Cross, Blue Shield and their ilk. They don't have to care that the rising cost of health insurance premiums can tip a family from solvency into ruin.</span></p>

Michelle Derviss – Novato, CA

March 1, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2383" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/images_michellederviss.jpeg" style="width: 160px; height: 275px;" width="288" height="480" />As a landscape and garden designer, I’m self-employed in a job that is tremendously satisfying. I get to oversee everything from the first sketch to the last wall curve, paving stone and climate-perfect shrub. But as with most small businesses in California, the sick economy of the last 5 years has affected my company, Derviss Design.</p>