Los Angeles Times - David Lazarus

Organ donors run risk of being denied health insurance

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

By not making clear the financial risk of organ donation, insurers put donors in danger of losing affordable coverage and discourage potential donors from helping someone in need.

Eight years ago, Los Angeles resident Patricia Abdullah decided to donate a kidney to an acquaintance. She calls it one of the proudest moments of her life.

Consumers could pay for Google's power

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Internet giant offers an abundance of popular free services and now plans to create its own computer operating system. What the company is capable of raises concern.

At first glance, Google's latest plan for global domination sounds very cool.

Credit card firms try end run around new federal rules

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Because the law would restrict interest rate hikes unless a card has a variable rate, some banks are doing away with fixed rates.

Banks are quietly changing the terms of millions of credit card accounts as they brace for a tough new law that will limit rate hikes.

Wal-Mart's good-guy stance on healthcare reform

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It's not clear what the retailer's motives may be, nor does it truly matter. Wal-Mart is to be commended for taking a stand -- something far too many businesses have been reluctant to do.

Whatever the company's motive, retail behemoth Wal-Mart Stores Inc. made healthcare reform significantly more likely last week by throwing its weight behind a requirement that all employers provide health coverage.

Chase cardholders see payment hike as a raw deal

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Monthly minimum payments will more than double in August. Some customers affected by the new policy believe the company is indulging in a little bait-and-switch.

Van Nuys resident Richard Levinson figured he was getting a pretty sweet deal when JPMorgan Chase & Co. offered to charge an average 4.5% in interest if he'd transfer his outstanding credit card debt to the bank.

Time Warner Cable charges for a service it doesn't provide

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Its telephone customers are charged 99 cents a month to not be listed in a directory published by telecom giants. The kicker: Time Warner doesn't even share the revenue with those companies.

I've always admired the way phone companies charge a monthly fee for people not to be listed in a phone book. I mean, talk about chutzpah -- charging customers to not receive a service they didn't even ask for in the first place.

Last-resort health coverage barely covers

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

With their preexisting conditions, the Perrys can't get private coverage. Now they're spending retirement funds on a state policy that caps at $75,000 a year. What if a catastrophe happens?

The state's Major Risk Medical Insurance Program is meant to serve as a last resort for the up to 400,000 Californians who have been rejected for health coverage by private insurers because of medical problems.

Banks haven't proved that consumers can trust them

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

You'd think banks would be able to succeed by treating customers with integrity. But left to their own devices, they do the opposite. That's why we need a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

Denial , noun : An unconscious defense mechanism characterized by refusal to acknowledge painful realities, thoughts or feelings.

Mixed signals about work cellphones

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Internal Revenue Service had a moment of clarity Tuesday and backed off from its plan to crack down on personal use of office cellphones -- sort of.

Blue Shield hits health insurance policyholder with 54% rate hike

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The increase raises questions about how costs would be controlled if a national mandate is approved that requires people lacking coverage to buy policies.

Los Angeles resident Ruta Miller, 44, prides herself on keeping fit. "I'm super-healthy," she told me. "I exercise all the time. I eat well. I haven't even had a cold in I don't know how long."