Yes On Prop 45 Advertising Begins, Warns of Health Insurance Companies Spending $57 Million To Stop California From Reining In Excessive Rates

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog Campaign today announced that advertising has begun for Yes on Proposition 45, which would give the elected insurance commissioner power to veto excessive health insurance rates. The David v Goliath campaign has been outspent by insurance companies by more than 25 to 1. 

The Yes On Prop 45 advertising exposes the health insurance companies as the backers of the ubiquitous $57 million advertising campaign making false claims about Prop 45's rate regulation and explains that the measure bans excessive rate hikes.

The Consumer Alert television advertisement can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL_fFbgGe88Mp1UxkNQLEcVNiwkSyR9yTD&v=l2haFA02xn8

"California's four big health insurance companies believe they can buy this election with $57 million in advertising that hides their opposition to Proposition 45's rate relief by hiding behind the lab coats of doctors in deceptive advertising that makes false claims about Prop 45," said Jamie Court, author of Prop 45 and president of Consumer Watchdog. "Thanks to the support of the California Nurses Association we are now on the air to set the record straight that insurance companies are behind the blizzard of advertising against Prop 45 because they don't want Proposition 45's ban on excessive health insurance rates."

The companion radio advertisement in English is voiced by Alex Borstein, known for her long-running role as Lois Griffin on the TV series Family Guy.  Her brother, a small business owner, has been the victim of excessive rate hikes by Anthem Blue Cross.  

Listen to the radio advertisement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up9pvlLICqg

Last week the Department of Insurance declared Anthem Blue Cross's 9.8% rate increase on small business "unreasonable," but had no power to stop the hikes unless Proposition 45 passes. Evan Borstein received a rate hike notice in the mail for at 20% rate increase.  Borstein draped giant Yes On Prop 45 posters on his Van Nuys Boulevard office building.

Proposition 45:

• Requires health insurance companies to publicly disclose and justify, under penalty of perjury, proposed rate hikes before they take effect.
• Gives Californians the right to challenge excessive and unfair premium rate increases.
• Authorizes the elected insurance commissioner to reject unjustified rate increases, a power that is the law in 35 other states, but that no California official or agency has today.

Proposition 45 is backed by Consumer Watchdog, the California Nurses Association, and a broad coalition of consumer, labor, low-income, senior and healthcare organizations and providers, as well as U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who unsuccessfully sought to insert Prop 45's rate controls into the Affordable Care Act.

For more about Proposition 45 visit: www.yeson45.org

Paid for by Consumer Watchdog Campaign – Yes on 45, a coalition of consumer advocates, nurses, attorneys, and policyholders.  777 S. Figueroa St., Ste. 4050, Los Angeles, CA  90017.  Major Funding by Consumer Watchdog Campaign and California Nurses Association.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yes-on-prop-45-advertising-begins-warns-of-health-insurance-companies-spending-57-million-to-stop-california-from-reining-in-excessive-rates-778575035.html

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Campaign

Related Links

http://www.yeson45.org/