Fw: Help Rollback Texas Insurance Rates

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Texas Women! Take Note!

Martha National Silicone Implant Foundation | Dallas Headquarters"Supporting Survivors of Medical Implant Devices"4416 Willow LaneDallas, TX 75244-7537

----- Original Message ----- From: Fix Texas Insurance - Texas Watch

mam-nsif@...

Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 4:06 PM

Subject: Help Rollback Texas Insurance Rates

Texas families and consumers from across the state came to the Texas Capitol this past week, countering the army of highly paid insurance lobbyists promoting special interest agendas.

Insurance reform is on the top of the legislative agenda because Texas consumers and voters demanded relief from skyrocketing rates and unfair insurance company behavior. Homeowners from across Texas participated in a Texas Watch lobby day, making sure legislators heed the call from their constituents and pass real insurance reform, like HB 600 and SB 400. To find out more about Texas Watch's upcoming lobby days, click here.

Also this week, Texas families who have suffered serious life-long injuries or lost loved ones as a result of medical malpractice called on the House Civil Practices Committee to include the patients' perspective in the current debate over medical malpractice. Families call for an equal opportunity to share their stories in response to a Committee hearing which granted an exclusive platform to the medical and insurance industry.

I encourage all Texas consumers, families and citizens to make their voices heard in this legislative session. Now, more than ever, consumers need increased-not decreased-protections. Your voice can help ensure legislators know and represent your needs.

Sincerely,

Dan LambeExecutive Director

Rallying the TroopsWatch your mailbox for Texas Watch's latest Call to Action. Click here to see an advance copy of our brochure to protect Texas consumers and hold insurance companies accountable. (Requires Adobe Acrobat)

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Kathy Following the murder of her daughter, Kathy fell behind on bills for several months as she mourned her daughter. Five years after catching up on all her payments, her auto insurance rates skyrocketed from $437 per year to $3000 per year - despite having a perfect driving record. The reason given by her insurance company: bad credit from missed payments following her daughter's murder.

Insurance companies refuse to document the cause and effect relationship between credit scores and driving risk. How do Ms. 's financial slips during a devastating period relate to her driving capabilities? Ms. joins Texas Watch in supporting H.B. 600 and S.B. 400 to ban the use of credit scoring in insurance.

Lawmakers hear views on malpractice premiumsBy Pasztor, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, Thursday, February 13, 2003A House committee Wednesday took the first step toward new laws governing medical malpractice lawsuits in Texas, and consumer groups claimed to hear the distant sound of a railroad whistle in the background. More...

Residents lobby on insuranceHomeowners walk Capitol halls in support of tough regulation bills 02/13/2003 By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN – Like many older Texans, Don Davies says he is alarmed that the cost of insurance is eating up a bigger and bigger chunk of his household budget. More...

Do you have a question about Insurance? Send us your questions and we'll pick one to answer each time we send an email. Send questions to questions@....

Today's Question: Why do we need to regulate insurance companies?

Answer: Insurance companies in Texas have exploited loopholes in Texas law to avoid the existing regulatory system. The result is that the current homeowners insurance market is 95% deregulated and rates are, by far, the highest in the nation. Insurance companies have had their chance to operate in a deregulated market and have proven they are unwilling and incapable of operating fairly outside the regulatory system.

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