Insurance

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Governor Brown to Replace DMHC Leadership After Regulators Misrepresent Autism Settlement to Legislature

July 20, 2011  ·  Jerry Flanagan

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Mercury Insurance, Overcharging California Homeowners by $35,000 a Day, Refuses to Lower Its Excessive Rates

July 15, 2011  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2150" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/nomercury.gif" style="width: 200px; height: 138px; float: right;" width="200" height="138" />Mercury Insurance wants to hike its already excessive homeowner’s insurance rates: Mercury’s stalling tactics have already cost its policyholders $25 million, and each day that Mercury is allowed to overcharge its policyholders amounts to $35,000 in excess profits.  <br /> <br />

Blue Shield to Pay for Autism Behavioral Therapy

July 14, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Sacramento -- Parents of children with autism are hopeful they have scored a victory this week after Blue Shield of California has agreed to pay for a form of therapy for the developmental disorder that it previously refused to cover.</p> <p> <span id="articlebody">The announcement that Blue Shield will pay for behavioral therapies for autism treatment - a step that other providers may soon follow - was made Wednesday during a hearing at the Capitol.</span></p>

Anthem Settles Lawsuit Alleging Rate Manipulation

July 13, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Members claimed that the company tried to send unprofitable business into a "death spiral," leaving them with bare-bones policies -- or no coverage.</b></p> <p> WellPoint subsidiary Anthem Blue Cross of California has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that the company manipulated rates and pressured members to change coverage in a bid to purge unprofitable business.</p>

Health Insurance Premium Regulation Moves Forward, But With Invisible Strings Attached

July 7, 2011  ·  Jamie Court

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Insurance Industry’s Two-Faced Battle Against Patients

July 6, 2011  ·  Judy Dugan

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Will Health Insurance Ever Get Cheaper?

July 6, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>One of the goals of the federal health care law is to bring down the cost of insurance premiums. So far, it hasn't done that. Some new rules about to take effect could stir up some change. But many are skeptical that they will.</strong></p>

1.5 Million Californians Face Health Insurance Rate Hikes Today

July 1, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Health insurance rates for more than 1.5 million Californians covered by some of the state's largest health insurers will go up starting today.<br /> <br /> The rate increases, which were expected, mostly affect policyholders in plans offered through small businesses.<br /> <br /> Depending on the plan and the carrier, hikes will average from 3 percent to more than 17 percent, but some individuals within the plans could see much higher jumps.<br /> <br />

Fight Heats Up In Calif. To Regulate Health Care Premiums

June 29, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- There has been plenty of controversy over rising health care premiums in California. In Sacramento, that debate really heated up on Wednesday over a bill to let regulators control the rates we all pay.</p> <p> The state Senate heard opposing arguments over a bill to control your health insurance rates. Right now, regulators cannot stop insurance companies from raising premiums, they can only give their opinion.</p>

Google Defends Practices As FTC Launches Antitrust Probe

June 24, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google confirmed Friday that the Federal Trade Commission has launched an antitrust investigation of the company, but posted an elaborate defense of its business practices.</p> <p> "Yesterday, we received formal notification from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it has begun a review of our business," Google said<a href="http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/"> in a blog post.</a></p>

Consumers Slam New HHS Rules On Appeals

June 23, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Consumer advocates aren't happy with revised regulations on the process for filing appeals when insurers deny claims.<br /> <br /> The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog accused the Health and Human Services Department of bowing to the insurance industry by relaxing some of the standards for review.<br /> <br />

Man robs bank for prison health care

June 22, 2011  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> Here's another condemnation of the broken for-profit health insurance system that only takes care of those who can pay. This story is sweeping the web because every one of us is afraid this could one day be us.</p>