Health Care Reform
Kamala Harris shutters 10 fake Covered California websites
by Christopher Cadelago, Sacramento Bee
“These websites fraudulently imitated Covered California in order to lure consumers away from plans that provide the benefits of the Affordable Care Act,” Harris said in a prepared statement. “My office will continue to investigate and shut down these kinds of sites…” Read More ›
Blue Shield gives California policyholders three-month reprieve
by Christopher Cadelago, Sacramento Bee
Roughly 113,000 Californians whose individual health plans were set to expire at the end of the year will be given the option to extend their coverage though the end of March. Read More ›
In California, hundreds of thousands to pay more for health insurance
by Christopher Cadelago, Sacramento Bee
Hundreds of thousands of Californians who purchase their own health insurance are bracing to pay more for their plans, as the cost of the federal health care overhaul lands harder on middle-class customers. Read More ›
Some health insurance gets pricier as Obamacare rolls out
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Many middle-class Californians with individual health plans are surprised they need policies that cover more — and cost more. Read More ›
Kaiser faults California’s exchange for lack of quality ratings
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente and two other insurers say California’s insurance exchange is withholding crucial information from consumers by not posting quality ratings alongside health plan rates. Read More ›
Insurers limiting doctors, hospitals in health insurance market
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Insurers in California’s new health insurance exchange are holding down premiums by limiting choices, raising concerns that patients will struggle to get care. Read More ›
Field Poll says half of California voters can’t afford health care
by Carmen Balber, Consumer Watchdog
The Health Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act on the November 2014 ballot would make health insurance rates more transparent and allow the insurance commissioner to reject a rate that is found to be excessive. Read More ›
California reveals insurance firms to participate in health exchange
by Jeremy B. White, Sacramento Bee
Covered California, the insurance exchange created under the new federal health care law, announced a list of insurance firms that have signed contracts to sell health plans on the exchange. Read More ›
Ballot measure filed to raise California’s medical damages cap
by Jeremy B. White, Sacramento Bee
A coalition has been lobbying this year to change a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. They argue the current limit, put in place in 1975, is outdated and insufficient to cover the prolonged affects of doctor negligence or botched medical procedure. Read More ›
National healthcare reform sparks concern about scams
by Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times
The national health reform law is expected to open the door for identity theft and insurance scams when millions of uninsured Americans begin enrolling in coverage this fall, officials and advocates warn. The Federal Trade Commission said dozens of consumers have reported fraud since last summer’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the law, and officials predict widespread abuse when enrollment begins in October. Read More ›