You are scrolling through your Facebook status updates, and suddenly you find a couple of friends who have become a fan of what looks like free food at Olive Garden. The title of the fan page, “Official Olive Garden Week, Dine In On Us   …Continue Reading Anatomy of a Facebook Scam

  Once again, we are getting an epic rainstorm here in Massachusetts, and already-waterlogged residents need to be prepared for another round of flooding. While flood insurance is often the last thing on our minds, these past few storms have reminded many homeowners why coverage   …Continue Reading Lost in the Flood

  Today, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation hosted a press conference to discuss the top five scams that confronted consumers in 2009. Along with information from our office, the Better Business Bureau, Attorney General’s Office and Federal Trade Commission shared their top   …Continue Reading Top Complaints: Contractors, Cars and Foreclosure

  Along with getting a sense of the size of increases small businesses are seeing in health insurance, one of the main goals of this week’s hearings around the state is to gauge response to Governor Patrick’s recnt reform plans for small-market health insurance. Throughout   …Continue Reading Business Owners, Insurance Agents Intrigued by Reform Plans

  Yesterday, we traveled to Pittsfield for a rather spirited conversation about increases in health insurance costs, and one thing we discovered was a disgruntlement at high prices for minimal coverage. A number of people at yesterday’s hearing said they are paying high prices for   …Continue Reading In Pittsfield, Just Enough Isn’t Enough

  When insurance benefits broker Steve Walsh meets with business clients to discuss changes in their health insurance premiums, he knows the decision goes beyond how much a company should pay for health coverage. At today’s hearing on small-business health insurance costs in Boston, Walsh   …Continue Reading Drumbeat for Insurance Reform Continues in Boston

  At our first hearing today on health care costs for small businesses, we heard from a number of business owners who talked about how increases affect themselves and their employees. Richard Egan (photo top left), who owns a physical therapy business, said premiums for   …Continue Reading ‘They Can Literally Make Me Bankrupt’

  Today, the Division of Insurance begins a schedule of six hearings on small business health insurance costs with a session in Hyannis. As part of Governor Patrick’s reform of small-market health insurance, these hearings will give us the opportunity to hear directly from small   …Continue Reading Weighing in on Small Business Insurance Costs