Insurance

Two Health Insurers Leave Florida, Citing Health Law Regulations

October 27, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Two tiny health insurance companies are exiting Florida's individual market because of Democrats' health law, the state's insurance department announced Thursday in an effort to bolster its request for a waiver.</p> <p> Florida has asked for a waiver from the medical loss ratio requirement that says insurers must spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care or give customers rebates. Several consumer advocacy groups argued Thursday that the state doesn't need such a waiver.</p>

State of Indiana Takes on Health Rules

October 23, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Seeks exemption for insurance firms</b></p>

Pepsi Uses Games to Mask Doritos Ads for Teens, Groups Say

October 19, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="component" id="story"> <div class="clearfix" id="story_content"> <p> PepsiCo Inc.’s Frito-Lay unit uses online video games and concerts to disguise marketing campaigns for its Doritos chips aimed at teenagers, consumer groups said in a complaint to U.S. regulators.</p>

Greater inequality on Wall Street than in Egypt or Tunisia

October 18, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

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Blue Shield Rebates Coming

October 14, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>PROFIT CAP MEANS CREDITS FOR CUSTOMERS</strong><br /> <br /> Customers of Blue Shield of California will see their December premiums reduced substantially -- the result of the insurer's pledge to cap profits at 2 percent of revenue.<br /> <br /> The giant insurer said Thursday that it would return about $283 million to individual and group customers in credits against their premiums. Customers will receive the credits in their December bills.<br /> <br />

Birthday Cake At Occupy L.A.: Advocates Mark Century of Calif. Ballot Process

October 13, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> A consumer advocacy organization marked the 100th anniversary of California's ballot initiative process at Occupy LA in downtown Los Angeles Thursday.<br /> <br />

Health insurers fight to keep rate hike info secret

October 12, 2011  ·  Carmen Balber

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We’re Feeding Occupy LA Ballot Initiative Birthday Cake On the 100th Anniversary Of Initiatives…Join us?

October 12, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2277" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/images_initcake.jpeg" style="width: 240px; height: 300px;" width="292" height="400" />What:  Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Initiative Process.  Candles will be blown out and cake will be shared with people participating in Occupy LA.<br /> <br /> Who:  Harvey Rosenfield, Consumer Watchdog Founder and Prop 103 Author; and Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdog President and Author of “The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell”<br /> <br /> Where:  South Steps of Los Angeles City Hall</p>

Is Quake Insurance Worth It With Little Equity?

October 11, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Reader Clare S. of El Cerrito, CA asks: "Are there any advantages to carrying earthquake insurance if we have little equity in our home?"</b></p> <p> <span id="articlebody"><strong>A:</strong> Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, says earthquake insurance protects three things: your equity, the structure itself and your credit rating. Even if you have little or no equity, "those two other things are there to protect," he says. Whether that protection is worth the price depends on many factors.</span></p>

Indiana latest state seeking to evade health reform

October 10, 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" />One of the pack of states that has challenged the health reform law in court, Indiana is now the latest state to have a final application pending with federal regulators to escape the law’s most basic consumer protection: the requirement that health insurers spend at least 80% of premiums on actual medical care, instead of administrative waste and excessive profits.</p>

Jerry Brown gives birthday present to the 99% on 100th anniversary of ballot initiative process

October 10, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2271" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/images_jamie4drawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" />With a simple signature, California Governor Jerry Brown has struck a blow for populism in the ballot initiative process by signing a new law to clarify that all ballot initiatives be voted on in November, when twice the number of voters show up, rather than in primary elections.</p>

Farmers Refunds May Elude Texans

October 10, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> AUSTIN, TX - Thousands of Farmers Insurance's Texas policy holders will probably miss out on a proposed $455 million settlement in a national class action lawsuit that accused the company of illegally inflating auto and homeowner rates by charging excessive management fees.<br /> <br />