Insurance

GEICO Lowers Auto Insurance Premiums After Initially Requesting Hike

July 26, 2011 · Mark Reback

California motorists with a Geico auto insurance policy will soon be spending less on monthly premiums. According to Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit advocacy group, policyholders will spend approximately 11 percent less on their auto insurance rates starting in August. The insurer had initially requested a 4 percent hike in rates. However, Consumer Watchdog appealed to the California Department of Insurance, saying increasing the price hike violated Proposition 103, which bans insurers from charging excessive rates.

State Forces Geico To Cut Rates By 10.7%

July 23, 2011 · Mark Reback

Geico car insurance premiums are dropping 10.7 percent, a move that will save Californians a total of $91 million. The company's rate decrease affects more than 717,000 policyholders across the state starting Aug. 15. Geico is the state's seventh-largest auto insurer. It controls 5.4 percent of the California market and 5.7 percent of Sacramento's. A cut in premiums is justified by "the reduction in claims and the dollar amount of those claims," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. He announced the reduction Friday.

Google: Just another corporation ”

July 22, 2011 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" size-full wp-image-2023" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/googlehq.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="120" height="90" />Part of Google's appeal has been the way its executives have been able to portray the Internet giant as not a typical corporateering behemoth simply focused on fattening the bottom line. It's mission is to "organize the world‘s information and make it universally accessible and useful." Its often-cited motto is "Don't Be Evil."

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

July 20, 2011 · Jerry Flanagan

Critics Blast Autism Settlement

July 20, 2011 · Mark Reback

<img class=" size-full wp-image-9286" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/autismsfchronpic.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 199px;" width="370" height="246" />Families say it will still be difficult to find treatment Sacramento, CA -- Leading autism and consumer advocacy organizations in California are calling a settlement agreed to last week between the state and Blue Shield of California to expand coverage for autism treatment a "sham" that will not result in more therapy for people with the condition.

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

July 15, 2011 · Consumer Watchdog

<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.

Blue Shield to Pay for Autism Behavioral Therapy

July 14, 2011 · Mark Reback

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. 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.

Anthem Settles Lawsuit Alleging Rate Manipulation

July 13, 2011 · Mark Reback

Members claimed that the company tried to send unprofitable business into a "death spiral," leaving them with bare-bones policies -- or no coverage. 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.

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

July 7, 2011 · Jamie Court

Insurance Industry’s Two-Faced Battle Against Patients

July 6, 2011 · Judy Dugan

Will Health Insurance Ever Get Cheaper?

July 6, 2011 · Mark Reback

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.

1.5 Million Californians Face Health Insurance Rate Hikes Today

July 1, 2011 · Mark Reback

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. The rate increases, which were expected, mostly affect policyholders in plans offered through small businesses. 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.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

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

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers