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Consumer Watchdog Saves Policyholders More Than $53 million with 21st Century, USAA, and Liberty Insurance Rate Hike Challenges

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Consumer Watchdog recently reached settlement in three challenges to double-digit rate hikes requested by 21st Century Insurance Company for its auto policies, United Services Automobile Association (“USAA”) for its homeowners, renters and condo policies, and Liberty Insurance Corporation for its homeowners policies. Consumer Watchdog’s advocacy resulted in a total savings of more than $53 million for California policyholders. The three companies’ newly-approved rates will take effect for all new and renewal policies between November 18, 2024 and February 12, 2025, and will impact over 671,000 policyholders combined. 

According to Consumer Watchdog’s analysis of the rate filings, the companies were overstating projected losses, causing their proposed rates to be excessive by millions of dollars. “Given the current state of the California insurance market, with insurer-created shortages and massive rate increases, it’s important that applications are closely scrutinized,” said Consumer Watchdog Staff Attorney Benjamin Powell. “Consumers’ seat at the table to challenge excessive rates is critical, especially when insurance companies are requesting multiple major rate hikes in the same year.”

In each case, Consumer Watchdog successfully advocated for lower overall rate increases under Prop 103 and prior approval rate regulations, which require insurers to justify all rate changes prior to implementation. 

Company/Line of Insurance

% Overall Rate Increase Requested

% Overall Rate Increase Approved

$ Savings 

Date Approved

Effective Date

21st Century/Auto

18.4 %

15.9 %

11.56 mill

10/2/24

11/18/24

USAA/Homeowners, Renters, Condo Owners

20.2 %

16.8 %

10.37 mill

10/4/24

2/12/25

Liberty Insurance Corp. /Homeowners

29.1 %

16.5 %

31.08 mill

10/2/24

12/10/24

 

In the 21st Century proceeding, the company initially sought a rate increase of 18.4% to its automobile insurance policies. This request followed a prior $29 million dollar rate increase effective January 2024. Consumer Watchdog challenged the rate hike as excessive under Prop 103 and the Department’s ratemaking regulations, specifically challenging 21st Century’s projected losses as being inflated for giving too much weight to recent losses. Additionally, Consumer Watchdog alleged that 21st Century’s method for projecting Bodily Injury and Uninsured Motorist claims would have resulted in excessive rates. Finally, Consumer Watchdog argued that 21st Century was trying to charge consumers for institutional advertising (ads designed to improve the company’s image rather than aimed at selling specific insurance products), in violation of state rules. (Read Petition)  

Consumer Watchdog requested that 21st Century provide further information to substantiate its application, and successfully advocated for a lower rate increase of 15.9%, representing a savings to California policyholders of more than $11.5 million. (Read Stipulation) 

In the USAA proceeding, the company sought an overall rate increase of 20.2% for its homeowners, condo and renters policies combined, which would have cost California policyholders an overall $53 million. Consumer Watchdog challenged the rate hike as excessive, calling out United Services’ projected losses as being overinflated. Consumer Watchdog also alleged that USAA was in violation of the rules by failing to provide required information to the Department to substantiate its loss projections. Finally, Consumer Watchdog argued that USAA, like 21st Century, had failed to properly exclude expenses for institutional advertising. (Read Petition)  

Consumer Watchdog requested that USAA provide further information in order to substantiate its claims about losses and other information in its application. Consumer Watchdog ultimately achieved a lower rate increase of 16.8%, saving California policyholders a total of more than $10 million. (Read Stipulation)

In the Liberty proceeding, the company sought an overall rate increase of 29.1% for its homeowners insurance policies, at a total cost to California policyholders of over $67 million. Consumer Watchdog argued that the requested rate increase was excessive. As with the 21st Century and USAA filings, Consumer Watchdog argued that Liberty’s trend selections overstated the projected losses, leading to an inflated rate indication. Additionally, Consumer Watchdog challenged Liberty’s claim that only 1% of its advertising expenses were “institutional” in nature. (Read Petition)

Consumer Watchdog sought additional information from Liberty that would support its trend selections and institutional advertising percentage. Through this information exchange Consumer Watchdog convinced the Department that Liberty’s institutional advertising percentage should be 100%, not 1%. 

“Consumers are inundated with ads from insurance groups, with nearly 10% of all television advertising expenses coming from insurers,”[1] said Consumer Watchdog staff attorney Ryan Mellino. “Prop 103 protects consumers from paying for general advertising. If insurers are going to expend billions of dollars in collected premiums on ads, that expenditure must be properly reflected in their rate filings.” 

Consumer Watchdog ultimately agreed that a 16.5% rate increase, reflecting just over half of the 29.1% increase Liberty initially sought, was reasonable, saving policyholders over $31 million. (Read Stipulation)

California’s voter-approved insurance reform law, Proposition 103, requires that insurers open their books and prove they need to raise rates in a process subject to full transparency, in which consumer representatives have the right to review and challenge improper rates and practices. According to the Consumer Federation of America, Prop 103 has saved California motorists over $154 billion since 1989. Consumer Watchdog has saved California consumers over $6 billion over the last 22 years by challenging excessive and unfair auto, home, business, and medical malpractice rates.

For more information about Proposition 103 visit: https://consumerwatchdog.org/prop-103/

[1] Doug Bailey, Insurance industry ads continue to be among top watched, InsuranceNewsNet, Aug. 22, 2022, https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/insurance-industry-ads-continue-to-be-among-top-watched.

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SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

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HALLMARK VENTURE GROUP, INC. SECURES INITIAL $50,000 IN BRIDGE FINANCING AND WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR

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November 5, 2024

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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hallmark Venture Group, Inc. (OTC: HLLK) (“HLLK” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce in an 8k filed today that it has secured $50,000 in initial bridge financing. This funding will drive the Company’s ongoing expansion in search engine marketing (SEM), support machine learning advancements, and facilitate key talent acquisition.

The Company is also excited to welcome Nick Cardosi as the newest member of its Board of Directors, strengthening its leadership team and enhancing its expertise.

Additionally, Hallmark Venture Group has moved its principal place of business to Las Vegas, Nevada, positioning the Company for further growth and market accessibility.

In partnership developments, HLLK has entered into an agreement with Creative Venture Capital LTD (“CVC”). Under this agreement, CVC will continue to introduce high-quality traffic to the Jubilee platform, with revenue-sharing arrangements in place to benefit both parties.

The Company has also formalized an Executive Compensation Agreement with its President and CEO, Evan Bloomberg. The 24-month agreement includes $1,000,000 in shares of Company common stock, an annual salary of $340,000, and a tiered performance bonus linked to quarterly revenue milestones.

About Hallmark Venture Group, Inc.

Hallmark Venture Group, Inc. (OTC: HLLK) is a digital marketing leader specializing in machine learning and AI solutions to automate and optimize ad campaigns. The Company’s platform provides real-time insights that maximize ROI with minimal manual intervention.

Through its subsidiary, Jubilee Intel, HLLK continues to pioneer advancements in digital marketing. The team is focused on cutting-edge projects to enhance keyword research, traffic quality, and time-series data analysis, all aimed at boosting efficiency and profitability for digital advertising campaigns.

Safe Harbor Statement

Safe Harbor This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy. The words “may”,”would”, “will”, “estimate”, “can”, “believe”, “potential” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors. More information about the potential factors that could affect the business and financial results is and will be included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or OTC Markets.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hallmark-venture-group-inc-secures-initial-50-000-in-bridge-financing-and-welcomes-new-director-302296928.html

SOURCE Hallmark Venture Group, Inc.

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MedAdvisor Solutions Launches Telehealth Service on MedAdvisor Patient App, Further Enhancing Access to Care

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November 5, 2024

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Patients can now book virtual provider consultations within the App

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MedAdvisor Solutions, a global leader in pharmacy-driven patient engagement solutions, announced today that new Telehealth functionality is now available within the MedAdvisor App and is already being utilised by patients. Access to telehealth services was ranked as the 3rd most desirable feature by pharmacists, based on feedback from our extensive network of pharmacy partners1. Telehealth access via the App simplifies the patient healthcare journey, allowing patients to consult with providers and manage their prescriptions from anywhere, at any time.

This new feature in the MedAdvisor App allows patients to book virtual consultations with providers and receive eScripts following the consultation. The App also allows patients to pre-order medications from their preferred pharmacy and receive renewal reminders as needed.

The launch reflects MedAdvisor Solutions commitment to meet the evolving needs of patients and pharmacies across Australia, where more than 95,000 practitioners use Telehealth and 23% of appointments occur via Telehealth2. By making prescriptions, medication information and health services available through the MedAdvisor App patients can take a more active role in their healthcare journey, enhancing adherence and improving outcomes.

The feature allows for more seamless communication between patients, pharmacists, and providers, ultimately improving care coordination and eliminating barriers to medication adherence, such as geographic or time constraints.

“Providing seamless access to Telehealth services is a natural progression for the MedAdvisor app, providing a comprehensive resource for patients’ healthcare needs,” said Wayne Marinoff, President ANZ of MedAdvisor Solutions. “By enabling virtual consultations and eScript functionality, we are not only enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction, but also helping pharmacies streamline their operations and maintain strong patient relationships.”

To access the new Telehealth feature, patients can download the MedAdvisor App from the App Store or Google Play for free. After logging in, patients will have access to a wide range of healthcare services, including the ability to book virtual consultations with healthcare providers and receive eScripts directly within the App. The MedAdvisor App streamlines the entire healthcare journey, allowing patients to manage prescriptions, consult with professionals, and access medication reminders—all in one convenient platform.

Access to telehealth within the App aligns with the company’s commitment to enhancing access to care for patients across the country. Last year, MedAdvisor Solutions was chosen as the preferred software provider for the Expanded Scope of Practice initiatives. Today, more than 84,000 patients have received 88,400 services across 3,640 pharmacies. Additionally, 84% of pharmacies report being satisfied with MedAdvisor Solutions’ ability to help them expand the scope of health services in their pharmacy.1 By continuing to collaborate with our pharmacy partners and evolve our platform, MedAdvisor Solutions is helping to drive the future of patient-centric care.

About MedAdvisor Solutions
MedAdvisor Solutions is a global leader of pharmacy-driven patient engagement solutions that provide individualized patient experiences to simplify the patient medication journey. Our solutions utilise an empathetic, data-driven approach to engagement and an innovative, patient-centric digital experience that empower the pharmacy of the future and inspire lasting behaviour change. MedAdvisor Solutions works with over 37,000 pharmacies across the US, Australia & New Zealand to deliver our solutions to help patients take their medication safely and effectively.

In Australia, MedAdvisor Solutions has connected nearly 4 million patients through more than 95% of Australian pharmacies. MedAdvisor Solutions is on track to become one of the largest players to aid in the global transformation of the pharmacy of the future through digital patient engagement solutions. In 2018 and 2020, MedAdvisor Solutions was recognized in the AFR Fast 100 and in 2022, 2023 and 2024 received the Retail Excellence Award (REX) for Technology & Automation from Drug Store News.

www.medadvisorsolutions.com 

12023 internal MedAdvisor research of 459 pharmacists across 451 pharmacies in Australia
2Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, 6 October 2023, Does using telehealth affect our healthcare?

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/medadvisor-solutions-launches-telehealth-service-on-medadvisor-patient-app-further-enhancing-access-to-care-302297006.html

SOURCE MedAdvisor Solutions

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MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: Louder with Crowder Joins ‘Rumble Premium’; MugClubbers Granted Full Access to Exclusive ‘Rumble Premium’ Features

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November 5, 2024

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Current MugClub members are grandfathered in and will now have full platform access that includes ad-free video viewing, exclusive content, a verified badge, and other benefits.New Subscribers will have the option to subscribe monthly for $9.99 or annually for $99.Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle are confirmed to be a part of Rumble Premium.This merge between MugClub and Rumble Premium ensures continued support for the ‘Louder with Crowder’ mission as well as increased quality services for MugClubbers.For more information on Rumble Premium, access https://rumble.com/premium.

DALLAS, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Louder with Crowder announced today that its member-only subscription service, MugClub, will join forces with Rumble Premium, as both organizations look to provide the highest quality services for their loyal audiences going into 2025.

Current MugClubbers will be granted full access to Rumble Premium features — which includes ad-free video viewing, exclusive content, a verified badge, among other benefits.

Subscribers can opt-in monthly for $9.99 or annually for $99, saving 17% compared to the monthly fee.

Louder with Crowder is excited about its continued partnership with Rumble to deliver the most unique and high-quality content to loyal subscribers.

Rumble has been a consistent defender of free speech, and the company’s success is proof that the American people support platforms that unwaveringly stand by the First Amendment.

This merge between MugClub and Rumble Premium ensures continued support for the ‘Louder with Crowder’ mission as well as increased quality services for MugClubbers.

Louder with Crowder CEO, Gerald Morgan Jr., expressed his enthusiasm about this announcement.

“From the beginning, Rumble and ‘Louder with Crowder’ wanted to create a place where you can pay one subscription fee and support all of the creators you love. With the launch of Rumble Premium, we are finally making that happen. Think Netflix combining with YouTube, this is going to be huge!”

For more information on Rumble Premium, access https://rumble.com/premium.

Louder with Crowder and Rumble will continue to share updates on this growing partnership as more benefits and features are added to enhance the subscriber experience.

Media Contact:  
comms@louderwithcrowder.com 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/major-announcement-louder-with-crowder-joins-rumble-premium-mugclubbers-granted-full-access-to-exclusive-rumble-premium-features-302296024.html

SOURCE Louder With Crowder

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