IFAwebnews » Consumer Watchdog

Consumer groups say new health reform rate review rules may lack punch

Jaime L. Brockway — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:11:49 +0000

Federal health reform rules for health insurance rate reviews, which took effect today (Sept. 1), may not be “strict” enough to protect consumers against insurers’ rate hikes, consumer advocacy groups say.

Consumer groups say new health reform rate review rules may lack punch via IFAwebnews.

Group takes aim at bill seeking agent commission exemption

Bob Graham — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:15:12 +0000

A consumer advocacy group attacked a bill before Congress seeking to exempt insurance agent and broker commissions from the medical loss ratios, calling it “special interest legislation.”

Group takes aim at bill seeking agent commission exemption via IFAwebnews.

‘Archaic’ agent commissions should die in health reform, group says

Bob Graham — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:33:08 +0000

A consumer group is warning that “health insurance salespeople” are attempting to “rewrite the health reform law to guarantee broker income at the cost of increasing consumer premiums.”

‘Archaic’ agent commissions should die in health reform, group says via IFAwebnews.

Allstate withdraws ‘deceptive’ auto insurance from California

Jaime L. Brockway — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:16:05 +0000

Allstate Insurance agreed to stop selling its Your Choice Auto (YCA) insurance program in California after Consumer Watchdog said the insurance was “deceptive and overpriced,” according to the nonprofit.

Allstate withdraws ‘deceptive’ auto insurance from California via IFAwebnews.

Consumer group opposes Schwarzenegger’s health insurance reform plan

Bob Graham — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:23:30 +0000

A consumer group says California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to “withdraw weak pseudo-reforms” of the health insurance industry would bar strong regulation of health insurers.

Consumer group opposes Schwarzenegger’s health insurance reform plan via IFAwebnews.

Consumer group warns Sebelius on health insurers’ ‘bully tactics’

Bob Graham — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:35:28 +0000

A consumer group warned in a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that health insurers “cannot be trusted” when lobbying over provisions of the new federal health reform law.

Consumer group warns Sebelius on health insurers’ ‘bully tactics’ via IFAwebnews.

Group says Anthem case shows need for insurer rate-hike justifications

Bob Graham — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:15:00 +0000

A consumer group wants to make the handling of the 39% Anthem rate request in California a model for reform.

Group says Anthem case shows need for insurer rate-hike justifications via IFAwebnews.

Anthem’s ‘death spiral’ makes consumers cut health coverage, suit says

Keith L. Martin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:45:40 +0000

A new civil suit alleges that Anthem Blue Cross, one of California’s largest health insurers, is using rate hikes to force its policyholders into lower-benefit and higher-deductible health plans, thus violating state law.

Anthem’s ‘death spiral’ makes consumers cut health coverage, suit says via IFAwebnews.

Group calls piecemeal health reform a Trojan horse for insurers

Keith L. Martin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:12:32 +0000

With the struggle to pass comprehensive health reform legislation meeting the approval of both the House and Senate ongoing, one group is warning against smaller, piecemeal reform measures it says are on “the wish list of the insurance and medical industries.”

Group calls piecemeal health reform a Trojan horse for insurers via IFAwebnews.

Consumer Watchdog urges Pelosi to reform health insurance industry

Keith L. Martin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:20:18 +0000

Foreshadowing the death of a public option in a comprehensive health reform bill that would garner the signature of President Barack Obama, Consumer Watchdog is urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to strengthen oversight of the health insurance industry.

Consumer Watchdog urges Pelosi to reform health insurance industry via IFAwebnews.