Spotlight

Ten Most Recent Spotlight

Monday, November 21, 2011

consumer vs consumer, moneywise, financial || HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS: Be jolly not sorry

Consumer Action’s annual shopping tips for the holiday season.

Friday, December 03, 2010

consumer vs consumer, privacy || Protecting the privacy of your genetic information

The use of consumers’ genetic information has grown, from use in human health and reproductive technologies to the criminal justice system. The Council for Responsible Genetics has released a Genetic Privacy Manual that offers a glimpse into the science behind genetic intrusions, the privacy risks involved in releasing genetic information in various contexts, and the degree of legal and regulatory protection available.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

consumer vs consumer, moneywise, housing, financial || Consumer Action weighs in on usefulness of key housing data

At an Aug. 5, 2010, hearing about data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), Consumer Action offered ideas for using this key housing data more effectively to build initiatives around homeownership and housing policy.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

consumer vs consumer, insurance || NEW: Insurance articles from our partner Insure.com

Consumer Action has partnered with Insure.com so that we can share its comprehensive consumer educational articles with our readers.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

consumer vs consumer, financial, insurance || Health care provisions taking effect soon

The new health insurance law will eventually ensure that 32 million uninsured people have access to insurance. These are some of the benefits that take effect within six months.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

consumer vs consumer, privacy || Report cards grade privacy of online personal health records

Consumer Action’s coalition partner, Patient Privacy Rights, has launched a report card that evaluates the privacy options in five popular personal health records systems.

Friday, October 30, 2009

consumer vs consumer, privacy || NPR series examines digital privacy

National Public Radio (NPR) has launched series that looks at many aspects of digital privacy, including a discussion on cell phone privacy, social networking, and privacy law.

Friday, August 21, 2009

consumer vs consumer, privacy || Personal health records subject to breach notice

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes provisions to strengthen privacy and security protections for companies that offer web-based “personal health record” services. (One such business in Microsoft Health Vault.) The law directed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a rule requiring these companies to contact customers in the event of a security breach. After receiving comments from the public, the FTC issued the Health Breach Notification Rule.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

consumer vs consumer, housing || Survey finds California homeowners, renters fall through the cracks

Despite new federal and state initiatives, the banking industry continues to fail to adequately address the foreclosure crisis, while new arenas for abuse of consumers are thriving, according to a survey by the California Reinvestment Coalition.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

consumer vs consumer, insurance || Fake health plans prey on the vulnerable

In an economic climate where people are being laid off and losing their health insurance, CNN is reporting that health care scams are on the rise. A common scam involves signing up for a medical “discount card,” usually for a monthly fee, that offers reduced rates for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and other treatments. These fake programs bill themselves as a cheaper alternative to purchasing health insurance.

But when patients show up the get medical treatment, providers have never heard of the program, the cards are worthless, and consumers are out several hundred dollars that they don’t have to spare.