Insurance

Consumer Advocates Ramp Up Pressure On Health Insurers

November 9, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Insurance companies are under assault on multiple fronts as consumer advocates demand that regulators deliver on the tougher oversight promised by the federal healthcare reform law.</p> <p> Consumers Union on Wednesday sent the White House a letter signed by more than 50 organizations demanding that the administration require simple, standardized health insurance forms starting next year, as called for in the law. The letter comes as insurers and some business groups are asking to exclude employer-sponsored coverage from the requirement along with a delay of up to two years.</p>

California Group Files Health Insurance Regulation Initiative

November 9, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A leading consumer group has launched an initiative drive to give state regulators the power to reject health insurance rate increases.</p> <p> <strong>Consumer Watchdog</strong> has asked the state attorney general to prepare a title and summary for a <a href="http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i1013_11-0070_%28insurance_affordability%29.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed initiative</a> for the November 2012 ballot to require that proposed rate changes are submitted to the state insurance commissioner for approval before taking effect.</p>

Occupy D.C.’s Library: A Collection As Broad As The Movement Itself

November 9, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Two miles from the world’s largest library stands a tent reinforced with bamboo and duct tape. A single bulb — dark until the generator comes on at night — hangs from the center. On the metal lampshade someone has scrawled: “Let there be knowledge.”</p> <p> The Occupy D.C. Library in McPherson Square is just down the path from the Temple of Clothing and the Information Tent. It started out as a box of books. Then the rain came.</p>

Proposed Health Insurance Rate Regulation Initiative Submitted

November 9, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The consumer group that brought regulation of auto insurance rates to California now wants to do the same for healthcare coverage.</p> <p> On Wednesday, the Santa Monica advocacy group Consumer Watchdog submitted to the state attorney general's office a proposed initiative that would require insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and preferred-provider organizations to get prior approvals from the California Department of Insurance for proposed rate hikes.</p>

What Victory Sounds Like

November 7, 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" />Thank you to everyone who made a call and helped <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/blog/state-insurance-regulators-schedule-surprise-sunday-vote-gut-health-reform">block this sneak vote</a> pushed by health insurance companies and their salespeople to boost industry profits and broker salaries.</p>

You Blocked the Health Insurer Power Grab

November 6, 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" />You did it! I just confirmed that state insurance regulators <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/blog/state-insurance-regulators-schedule-surprise-sunday-vote-gut-health-reform">postponed the secret vote</a> urged by the insurance industry to gut the health reform rule that could force insurers to rein in waste and excessive profits.â۬â۬</p>

NAIC Puts Off Vote On MLR Broker Resolution

November 6, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A contentious battle over whether to endorse a motion to remove broker and agent fees from the medical loss ratio brought some drama to a relatively low-key meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners this weekend.<br /> <br /> There were strong indications that Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty planned to force a vote on the measure, which would have urged HHS to use its authority to remove the fees from the MLR rather than waiting for Congress to act.<br /> <br />

State Insurance Regulators Schedule Surprise Sunday Vote to Gut Health Reform

November 4, 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" />Like the horror movie monster that just won't die, insurance companies and the brokers who sell their products have again pressured state insurance regulators into voting on the industry plan to gut a key consumer protection in the health reform law. The secret vote, that even most insurance commissioners didn't know about until they got to the meeting yesterday, is now scheduled for this Sunday.</p>

Update: Blue Cross Notices of Right to Change Coverage

October 31, 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="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />This week more than 100,000 California Blue Cross consumers will receive notice of their right to change coverage under a settlement in the <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/legal/court-approves-blue-cross-death-spiral-settlement">Feller v. Blue Cross class action lawsuit</a>.</p>

Insurance Exemption Could Cost Consumers

October 29, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> WASHINGTON, DC - Gov. Scott Walker's administration is seeking an exemption from a new health care law requirement that could mean millions of dollars in rebates to Wisconsin consumers. <br /> <br /> Under the health care reform law enacted in March 2010, insurers would be required to devote 80 percent of premium dollars to medical treatment instead of profits and administrative costs, including marketing and salaries. <br /> <br />

Florida Asks for Insurance Rebate Waiver

October 29, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Florida is asking the federal government to delay a requirement that health insurers use at least 80 cents of every dollar in premium money to pay for medical treatment, a move that could deny customers more than $170 million in rebates. <br /> <br /> If federal officials give the state a waiver granting a three-year delay, insurance companies will get to keep the money they otherwise would have to pay in rebates and could spend it on marketing, salaries, commissions to brokers and other administrative costs. <br /> <br />

OWS thwarted by WTO?

October 27, 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; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="133" height="200" />Today, Consumer Watchdog joined the AFL-CIO, Americans for Financial Reform, Citizens Trade Campaign, Public Citizen, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in releasing a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Michael Punke calling for a review of WTO rules to ensure that countries have sufficient policy space to re-regulate the financial sector. </p>