Insurance

Consumer Watchdog Urges Hyundai to Pull 40-MPG Claim from Elantra Ads

December 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Consumer Watchdog is not backing down from its bid of calling out Hyundai‘s MPG claims for their popular Elantra, and has now issued out a letter to Hyundai’s CEO asking the company to pull its prominent 40-mpg claims from car’s advertisements until the EPA re-tests the model.<br /> <br />

Hyundai Elantra’s Poor MPG Frustrates Eco-Aware Drivers

December 14, 2011  ·  Judy Dugan

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Blue Cross Claims Fake Credit for “Free” Care

December 13, 2011  ·  Judy Dugan

<p> When I first noticed the ad below while hunting for cookie recipes, I was surprised to see a health insurance company buying a full page in the first pages of a cooking magazine. But reading it was another surprise. The headline touts "Free Annual Checkups," and the text of the Anthem Blue Cross ad takes credit for this brand-new benefit: "100% coverage for checkups, flu shots and other preventive services."</p>

Miles Per Gallon: When It Comes To Fuel Economy, Double-Check The Sticker

December 13, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The giant, bold-faced "40 MPG" greeted drivers on New York's Long Island Expressway for months. The Hyundai Elantra, proudly displaying its new sweet spot for consumers seeking fuel economy.<br /> <br /> As gas prices have climbed over the last four years, to highs of $3.29 per gallon this holiday season, the pinch of filling up a gas tank has become particularly excruciating.<br /> <br />

Health Insurance Premiums Rising Faster Than Incomes For California Families, Study Reveals

December 11, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-9480" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/images_hcpremiumschart.jpg" style="width: 251px; height: 166px;" width="381" height="252" />Everyone knows health insurance costs are rising rapidly, but a new study mreveals just how heavy a toll that takes on businesses, families and single people.<br /> <br /> The numbers are sobering, and they are one reason why wages have stagnated,<br /> experts say.<br /> <br />

Did Your Blue Shield Health Insurance Rates Increase?

December 2, 2011  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2228" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_jerrydrawingname.gif" style="float: right; width: 133px; height: 200px;" width="133" height="200" /></p> <p> When will health insurers get the message?  They can't raise our rates and <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/blue-cross-sued-illegally-raising-%E2%80%9Cannual%E2%80%9D-deductibles-middle-year">cut our benefits</a> and expect to get away with it! Drop us an email and help teach the insurance companies a lesson.</p>

Carrier IQ: Consumer Watchdog Asks Justice, FCC to Investigate

December 2, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Group asks for investigation of all involved parties</b></p> <p> Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-watchdog-asks-justice-department-fcc-to-investigate-spyphone-scandal-134916423.html">announced</a> this afternoon that it has sent letters to the Justice Department and the FCC calling on them to investigate not only Carrier IQ, but also operating system makers, as well as handset manufacturers and phone carriers for their role in what it has dubbed the “Spyphone scandal.”</p>

Consumer Watchdog Calls Out Hyundai Elantra’s EPA Certification

December 2, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

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Consumer Group Cries Foul On Hyundai’s 40-MPG Claim

December 2, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Right when it looks like <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/hyundai/">Hyundai</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/even-with-thin-inventories-and-growing-demand-hyundai-not-looki/">can do no wrong</a>, we have this: A consumer protection group is asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look into claims that the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/hyundai/elantra/">Elantra</a> has exaggerated fuel economy numbers.<br /> <br />

Feds Say No to States Trying to Escape Health Law Consumer Protection

November 29, 2011  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2215" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_carmenbdrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />The Obama administration yesterday <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/195663-obama-administration-rejects-republican-states-health-waiver-requests">rejected efforts by Indiana and Louisiana</a> to evade the only rule in the federal health reform law that requires insurance companies to cut back on excessive waste, salaries and profits.</p>

What Does Our Health Insurance Rate Reform Really Do And How Can You Help?

November 26, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

<p> The <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure-rosenfield-20111126,0,382963.story">Los Angeles Times coverage</a> today of CW founder Harvey Rosenfield and our proposed ballot measure to make health insurance companies publicly justify their rates before raising them drew an angry response from the health insurance industry.</p> <p> What does the <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/blog/big-news-were-going-ballot">Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act</a> do and how can you help?</p>

Consumer Advocate Harvey Rosenfield Takes on Health Insurers

November 26, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Rosenfield, who used California's initiative process to regulate auto insurance rates more than two decades ago, is preparing a new initiative that would force health insurers to get state approval before they could raise premiums.</b></p>