Welcome to California Inc., the weekly newsletter of the L.A. Times Business Section.
I’m Business columnist David Lazarus, and here’s a rundown of upcoming stories this week and the highlights of last week.
On Friday, we learned that auto buying and online shopping rose in December.
Read moreInsurance companies are playing the odds, patient advocates say. They’re counting on people not having the stamina to challenge every denied claim, even when there’s a valid medical reason for a drug or treatment being covered.
“It’s intimidating,” said Betsy Imholz, special projects director for Consumers Union.
Read moreOne focus of the planned repeal of Obamacare is maintaining coverage for people with preexisting conditions. Republican lawmakers say the current law’s safeguards won’t change, but they have yet to explain how they’ll accomplish this without also keeping the mandate that everyone buy insurance.
Read moreMany Americans were outraged by Republican lawmakers’ attempt last week to get rid of Congress’ independent ethics watchdog and instead oversee themselves. House Republicans backed off after their offices were flooded with angry messages — and after Tweeter-in-Chief Donald Trump questioned the timing of the move (although he didn’t say gutting the Office of Congressional Ethics was a bad idea).
Read moreWelcome to California Inc., the weekly newsletter of the L.A. Times Business Section.
I’m Business columnist David Lazarus, and here’s a rundown of upcoming stories this week and the highlights of last week.
Trading resumes Monday after the Dow flirted with the historic 20,000 milestone but came up 0.37 points short following mixed economic news Friday.
Read moreMadelyn Gilbreath can understand why Republican lawmakers say Obamacare isn’t working. She had to switch this month to a cheaper plan with a higher deductible after the monthly premium for her former plan doubled.
But she also knows that the Republicans won’t be doing her any favors if they repeal major provisions of Obamacare without a viable — and better — replacement for the law.
Read more