California Senate insurance panel hires former State Farm lawyer
California Senate insurance panel hires former State Farm lawyer

Reporting from Sacramento — A state legislative committee overseeing the insurance industry has hired a former lawyer for State Farm as a top advisor, alarming consumer activists who say the move is the latest spin of a busy revolving door between government and the industry.…
Consumer advocates ask Gov. Crist to veto home insurance deregulation
Consumer advocates ask Gov. Crist to veto home insurance deregulation

Four consumer advocacy groups implored Gov. Charlie Crist today to veto a bill that would allow large insurers to charge essentially unregulated rates. “This bill is an invitation for insurers to game the Florida regulatory system and abuse consumers,” said officials from the Consumer Federation…
Consumer Advocates Wary of Federal Insurance Regulation Plans
Consumer Advocates Wary of Federal Insurance Regulation Plans

Some of the nation’s insurance consumer advocates are wary of current proposals for federal regulation of insurance being passed around in Washington. They prefer taking their chances with an imperfect state regulatory system over what they fear would likely emerge from Congress under any federal…
Crist close to decision on property insurance bill
Crist close to decision on property insurance bill

TALLAHASSEE — Both supporters and opponents of a bill that would partially deregulate Florida’s property insurance market are fiercely lobbying Gov. Charlie Crist as he nears a decision about whether to sign the bill or follow his apparent instinct to veto it. Crist formally received…
Crist Signals Opposition To ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill
Crist Signals Opposition To ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill

NU Online News Service, May 28, 11:36 a.m. EDT Florida Gov. Charlie Crist yesterday indicated he may veto the “Consumer Choice” bill that would eliminate rate restrictions on some home insurance. The governor said an unregulated insurance industry would be unfair to consumers. His comments…
Fight heats up over bill to allow property insurers to raise rates on their own
Fight heats up over bill to allow property insurers to raise rates on their own

The fight is heating up against legislation that would allow large property insurers to raise rates without state approval. Eight consumer groups including the Consumer Federation of the Southeast and the Florida Public Interest Research Group have implored Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the bill…
Fla. ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill Angers Consumer Groups
Fla. ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill Angers Consumer Groups

NU Online News Service, May 26, 3:38 p.m. EDT A Florida bill that would allow some insurers to charge rates above those approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation provided they meet certain capital requirements has drawn the ire of consumer groups. In order to…
Florida governor vetoes deregulation bill
Florida governor vetoes deregulation bill
Insurers should pay for their own mistakes
Insurers should pay for their own mistakes

Consumer Watchdogs Want Insurers To Rein In Surge Costs NU Online News Service, April 22, 8:52 a.m. EDT Consumer watchdogs are urging a closer look at insurers’ estimation of post-catastrophe material and labor price increases, citing a study questioning demand surge figures used to set…
My View: HB 1171 is simply a gift to insurers
My View: HB 1171 is simply a gift to insurers

My View In the strongest possible terms, we urge Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the home insurance deregulation bill, SB2036/HB1171. This bill is an invitation for insurers to game the Florida regulatory system and abuse consumers. No price can be too high, no discrimination can…
Public Interest Groups Ask California Supreme Court to Rehear Case on Consumer Protection Law
Public Interest Groups Ask California Supreme Court to Rehear Case on Consumer Protection Law

Groups Want Reversal on Ruling That Companies Can Continue Illegal Practices Until Someone Gets Hurt SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In an extraordinary request made late yesterday, eight public interest organizations asked the California Supreme Court to scrap its recent decision barring consumers…
Veto Anti-Consumer Property Insurance Rates Bill
Veto Anti-Consumer Property Insurance Rates Bill

Not one Floridian has been spared from the challenges of these tough economic times. Yet a bill that would allow a select few, big property insurance companies to sneak unrestrained, unregulated and unrelenting rate hikes on unsuspecting consumers will arrive at Governor Crist’s desk over…
Appeal would reveal claims denied
Appeal would reveal claims denied

A Coast policyholder is appealing to the state Supreme Court for access to Mississippi Insurance Department records that would show the dollar amount of Katrina claims denied by insurance companies. Long Beach policyholder Kevin Buckel filed a written request in January 2009 for records showing…
AMA issues first report card on health insurers
AMA issues first report card on health insurers

Some health insurance companies rate doctors on their performance. Now doctors are turning the tables.The American Medical Association issued its first health insurance report card at the group’s annual meeting Monday. The primary focus is on how quickly and accurately doctors get paid.”Physicians are spending…