Insurance

Amazon Goes After Apple with $199 Tablet

September 28, 2011 · Mark Reback

Amazon, the ubiquitous Web retailer, took aim Wednesday at Apple's white-hot successby offering a tablet computer at less than half the price of the iPad. Armed with a massive retailing operation and a vast catalogue of movies, books and music, Amazon, with its $199 Kindle Fire, may pose the most significant challenge to one of Apple's signature products by making its multimedia device far less expensive to consumers, analysts said.

Annuities Protection Bill Signed by California Governor

September 28, 2011 · Mark Reback

The Annuities Protection Bill (Assembly Bill 689) signed by California Governor Jerry Brown on September 21, 2011 is primarily meant to “help protect the hard-earned financial security of Californians, especially seniors, and end an alarming breeding ground for fraud,” according to the bill’s author Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, D-San Fernando. The bill passed the State Assembly by a 75-0 vote and the Senate by a 34-0 vote. It was also supported by AARP, the Consumer Watchdog, and the California Department of Insurance.

The Danger of Making Auto Insurance Unaffordable [The Reply]

September 27, 2011 · Mark Reback

Auto insurance could become too expensive for some Californians if George Joseph, chairman of insurer Mercury General Corp., gets his way. He's proposed an initiative for the June 2012 ballot that would reward longtime insured drivers but could ultimately price out the people who haven't previously or consistently been insured. In a <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-court-mercury-20110921,0,4087545.story">Sept. 21 Op-Ed</a>, Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, helped people read between the lines:

Does Employer-Sponsored Health Care Still Make Sense?

September 27, 2011 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2011/09/27/20847/does-employer-sponsored-health-care-still-make-sen/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>. Having trouble affording your health insurance? A new study out today shows that health premiums are rising at 9% a year, far outpacing increases in inflation and wages. Families are now paying $15,000 per year in insurance premiums on average.

Consumer-Friendly Dave Jones Rubs Some in Insurance Industry the Wrong Way

September 26, 2011 · Mark Reback

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is something of an anomaly.

Hernandez Attacked in TV Ad

September 26, 2011 · Mark Reback

<div id="articlebody"> A consumer advocacy group took on the chair of the Senate Health Committee at the end of last week, and it has stirred up Sacramento. The ad was in reaction to the legislative decision to delay a vote on AB 52 by Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), the proposal to regulate health insurance rate increases.

Consumer Groups Get Health Grants

September 23, 2011 · Mark Reback

A portion of federal grants to help states monitor rate hikes will be going to consumer advocacy groups that regularly pick fights with insurers - and the insurance industry is calling foul. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded $109 million in grants to 28 states and Washington, D.C., to strengthen their review process of proposed hikes. It marked the second round of rate review funds under the health care reform law, after HHS sent out $46 million to 45 states and the District of Columbia.

It’s Politics: More Dirt and Ironing in the AB 52 Battle

September 23, 2011 · Mark Reback

In these pages last week, we looked at recent attack ads against Sen. Ed Hernandez over his position on Assembly Bill 52, a bill that would mandate state regulation of health insurance rates. We talked to Consumer Watchdog, the group that paid for the television ads and is demanding Hernandez step down from his chair of the Senate Health Committee over what they cite as a conflict of interest. Hernandez, who objected to provisions of the bill, rents office space in Baldwin Park to insurance giant Kaiser Permanente, which fought the measure.

A Bad ‘Discount’

September 21, 2011 · Mark Reback

In seeking to change California law, an insurance executive's initiative would make it too expensive for too many people to insure their vehicles. Should you be penalized under the law if you previously hadn't been able to afford a car, chose not to own a car or if you lived for a time in a city where you didn't need one? A Los Angeles insurance billionaire has made an $8-million bet that says you should, contributing a chunk of his fortune to an initiative he hopes to qualify for the June 2012 ballot.

Watchdog: La Puente Lawmaker Earned $350K In Rent From Kaiser

September 20, 2011 · Mark Reback

Click here to listen to the audio of this news segment: <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/09/20/watchdog-la-puente-lawmaker-earned-350k-in-rent-from-kaiser/">http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/09/20/watchdog-la-puente-lawmaker-earned-350k-in-rent-from-kaiser/</a> LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A public watchdog group is calling for a La Puente lawmaker to resign his post as chairman of a California senate health panel over charges that he earned over $350,000 from one of the largest health providers in the state.

Sen. Ed Hernandez Hits Back Against Attack Ads

September 20, 2011 · Mark Reback

Insinuations of greed abound in the fight over health insurance regulation PASADENA, CA - State Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, responded Tuesday to a television ad slamming him for an alleged conflict-of-interest - and what appears to be an unflattering lack of concern for constituents. The conflict in question is the lawmaker's business connection to Kaiser Permanente - he leases office space in Baldwin Park to their outreach division for several thousand dollars a month - and his position as chair of the Senate Health Committee.

State Senate Health Chairman Doing Business With Kaiser

September 18, 2011 · Mark Reback

A firm owned by Sen. Ed Hernandez, who derailed legislation opposed by the nonprofit health group, leases office space to Kaiser Permanente. An advocacy group seeks his ouster from the chairmanship.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers