Insurance

Calif. Ballot Battle Over Regulating Health Insurance Could Bring In P&C Firepower

February 8, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog set out to take on health insurers in California with a ballot initiative to regulate rates, but it may face ramped-up opposition from the personal lines sector as well. The initiative's formal language conflicts with another proposition, already cleared for the Nov. 6 general election ballot, to allow for discounts when drivers switch auto insurers.<br /> <br />

Will Patients Beat Blue Shield Again… This Time With the First Online Ballot Petition?

February 8, 2012  ·  Jamie Court

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2250" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/images_jamiepic-new1.jpg" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" />Shouldn't the CEOs of health insurance companies like Blue Shield have to sign under penalty of perjury that their rate hikes are justified? If the <a href="http://www.justifyrates.org" target="_hplink" rel="noopener">first online signature gathering for a ballot petition</a> is successful, Californians will vote on that proposition in November, and are almost sure to approve.</p>

Hyundai Accused Of ‘Misleading’ Ad

February 7, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The Super Bowl may have been played and won, but the games go on — with a US buyer’s group now claiming a last-minute touchdown against car making giant Hyundai’s Super Bowl advertising.</p> <p> North American advocacy group Consumer Watchdog says it has forced the South Korean car maker to do a U-turn on <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxrrGMbOBNc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">game-day advertising for its Elantra small sedan</a></strong>, which lauded the car’s 40mpg (5.8L/100km) fuel use rating.</p>

Honda Civic Owner’s Court Win Could Change MPG Testing

February 7, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> American Honda’s recent loss in small-claims court to a Southern California woman who argued she was misled about the fuel efficiency of her ’06 Civic Hybrid does not bode well for five class-action suits the auto maker still faces regarding the mileage of ’03-’09 Civic Hybrids.</p> <p> Honda also faces a potential onslaught of disgruntled Civic owners who may decide to take their cases through the small-claims system after learning Heather Peters was awarded $9,867.</p>

Petition Launched To Reform Health Insurance

February 7, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <span class="body">OCEAN PARK BLVD — Think the cost of your health insurance is too high?<br /> <br /> Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog does. The nonprofit, which advocates on behalf of taxpayers, has launched an online petition to put insurance reform on the ballot by the next statewide election.<br /> <br /> The proposed ballot measure would require insurance companies to publicly justify rate increases before they went into effect.<br /> <br /> The measure would also give Californians the right to challenge rate increases that are deemed unfair.<br />

Woman Wins Lawsuit Against Honda Over Disappointing Fuel Economy

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Honda presented misleading information to the owner of a 2006 Civic Hybrid when it claimed the car could get as many as 50 miles per gallon, according to a legal ruling issued Wednesday.<br /> <br /> Heather Peters, a Los Angeles resident, said her Civic achieved far less than that, and sued American Honda Motor Co. in Los Angeles Small Claims Court.<br /> <br />

Long-Time California Lobbyist Looks to 2012 Legislation That May Impact Insurance

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> John Norwood is one of California’s best known legislative advocates for the insurance and financial services sectors.</p> <p> Norwood, principal of Norwood & Associates, has garnered recognition for his political work dating back to the early 1980s, including political battles to amend the state’s insurance rate regulations, and reforming insurance agents and brokers licensing laws.</p>

Hyundai Removes Its 40 Miles Per Gallon Claim

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <span class="cap" title="H"><span>H</span></span>yundai, the popular automotive company, has confirmed that it will be removing the “40 Miles Per Gallon” claim that it made about one of its vehicles, the Elantra, which was featured during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The Consumer Watchdog wanted this claim omitted because they believe it is misleading to consumers. However, Hyundai says that while they have omitted the claim from the advertisement, their decision was not influenced by the opinions of Consumer Watchdog.</p>

Feinstein, Advocates Push Review Of Calif. Health Insurance Rate Hikes

February 6, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a San Francisco Democrat, has joined forces with those seeking approval of an initiative that would allow California to regulate health insurance rates.</p>

Did Hyundai Pull MPG Claims From Super Bowl Ad Due To Watchdog Group Pressure?

February 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>

What Hyundai Didn’t Include In Its Super Bowl Ad

February 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Like many other automakers Hyundai ran a series of ads on this year’s Super Bowl broadcast, including one for its popular Elantra line of cars. This one was a straightforward affair, focusing more on the vehicle than on, say, raging zombies, barking/singing dogs or Soup Nazis. Still, there’s one element that was missing from the commercial that’s appeared in other of the automaker’s ads for car, namely its “40 miles per gallon” fuel economy rating.</p>

Ford’s Farley Says ‘Real World’ Mileage Key to Avoid Owner Anger

February 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Ford Motor Co.'s global marketing chief says the automaker is focused on high “real world” fuel efficiency in its vehicles after a California woman won a case against Honda Motor Co. for failing to meet mileage claims.</p> <p class="indent"> Heather Peters, owner of a 2006 Civic Hybrid, won $9,867 in small claims court in Los Angeles last week, alleging Tokyo- based Honda overstated the model's fuel economy. Honda has said it will appeal the ruling, and that the car's efficiency rating was determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.</p>