Insurance

Regulators: Everence Insurance Charging Unreasonable Rate Increases

November 22, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tuesday, Nov. 22 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that Everence Insurance of Pennsylvania is charging small businesses unreasonably high premium increases according to the first federal rate review under the Affordable Care Act.<br /> <br />

Criminal Probe Into Online Mortgage Scams Widens

November 21, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> SAN FRANCISCO, CA (AP) — A criminal investigation into mortgage swindlers has expanded beyond deceptive advertising on Google's Internet search engine to root out con artists who were luring their victims on Bing and Yahoo, too.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Faces Fierce Fight Over Rate Restriction Proposal

November 18, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> California advocacy group Consumer Watchdog is taking a new approach in the push for tighter regulation of the state's health insurance rates.<br /> <br />

When banks buy insurance for you….Watch out!

November 18, 2011  ·  Doug Heller

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2279" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/images_dougdrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right; margin: 4px;" width="133" height="200" />Does your bank charge you extra on your monthly car or mortgage loan payments for insurance that the bank bought? Do you even know if it’s happening?</p> <p> Most people insure their homes and cars, but banks sometimes buy an additional policy without asking the owner, adding the costs to the monthly car or home loan payment.</p>

Google Profited From Illegal Mortgage Ads

November 17, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The federal government has shut down 85 websites it says were preying on vulnerable homeowners by offering dodgy mortgage deals through ads on Google.</p> <p> The move comes just weeks after Google was<a href="http://%20http//www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/58087-google-forfeits-500-million-for-running-illegal-pharmacy-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> forced to pay out</a> $500 million to settle claims that it profited from Adwords ads for illegal Canadian pharmacies.</p>

Class Accuses Blue Cross of Bait and Switch

November 16, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p>LOS ANGELES, CA -- A Superior Court class action claims that Blue Cross of California uses "bait and switch tactics" to impose midyear hikes on its customers. The three lead plaintiffs all say that Blue Cross jacked up their deductible in February, "just two months into the deductible year."</p> <p>Named plaintiffs Janet Kassouf, Alison Heath and David Jacobson say they bought policies with the expectation that annual deductibles and out-of-pocket costs would be fixed for the calendar year, but saw abrupt changes to the terms and conditions of their plans.</p>

Watchdog Files Class Action Suit Against Insurance Provider

November 16, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong><span class="subtitle"><font color="black">Anthem poised to raise rates, lower benefits through new contract, lawsuit alleges</font></span></strong></p>

Government Closes Mortgage Scams Tied To Google

November 16, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The federal government has shut down dozens of Internet scam artists who had been paying Google to run ads making bogus promises to help desperate homeowners scrambling to avoid foreclosures.</p> <p> The crackdown announced Wednesday renews questions about the role that Google's massive advertising network plays in enabling online misconduct. It may also increase the pressure on the company to be more vigilant about screening the marketing pitches that appear alongside its Internet search results and other Web content.</p>

Insurance Commissioners Squirm, Then Bow to Brokers and Insurance Lobbies

November 16, 2011  ·  Judy Dugan

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Blue Cross Sued Over ‘Bait And Switch’ Deductible Hikes

November 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Law360, New York  -- Anthem Blue Cross was hit with a class action Monday by policyholders accusing the California health insurer of using “bait and switch” strategies to unilaterally change plan contract terms by increasing annual deductibles and premiums in the middle of the deductible year.<br /> <br />

Anthem Blue Cross Sued Over Higher Medical Insurance Deductibles

November 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Consumer Watchdog says California's largest for-profit health insurance company used 'bait and switch' tactics to raise deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for some customers May 1.</b></p>

Anthem Blue Cross Sued Again?

November 15, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>Anthem Blue Cross used "bait and switch" tactics to raise deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for some customers in the middle of their contract period.</strong></p> <p> <a href="http://www.kabc.com/Article.asp?id=2335061&spid=38628">Click here to listen to audio of broadcast</a>.</p> <p> <strong>Anthem Blue Cross Sued Over Higher Medical Insurance Deductibles</strong></p>