The Good Neighbor is in the Dog House – Part 2
The Good Neighbor is in the Dog House – Part 2

In lawsuits brought by policyholders whose claims have been denied or underpaid, and in response to data calls from insurance regulators across the country, insurers chronically withhold important evidentiary documents, asserting conclusory and blanket objections that they are “trade secrets,” “privileged” or “confidential.”   Today an…
The Good Neighbor is in the Dog House
The Good Neighbor is in the Dog House

According to the Insurance Information Institute, State Farm insures nearly a fifth of all homes in the United States. Let that sink in. One insurance company holds the financial health of one fifth of all the homeowners in America in their hands. So the claim…
Short term gain, long term pain
Short term gain, long term pain

It clearly serves the best interests of policyholders (consumers), lenders, and our economy generally when property insurance policies cover the cost of replacing destroyed homes and restoring damaged homes to pre-loss condition with as little additional financial burden on the policyholder (beyond the premium they paid)…
Short and long term impacts of the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires
Short and long term impacts of the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires

The devastation in Los Angeles is horrific for the impacted home and business owners and a tragically relatable scenario for North Bay residents. This region knows all too well how quickly wildfires can destroy lives and homes, and how fierce winds impair firefighters. Sonoma and…
Bach Talk: Skyfall(out) – Aerial photos impacting property insurance
Bach Talk: Skyfall(out) – Aerial photos impacting property insurance

One of the tools property insurance companies are using to screen potential and existing customers are aerial images captured by satellites and drones of  homes, surroundings and roof conditions.  When the images show damage or hazards, they can trigger a non-renewal or rejected application. This…
Bach Talk: CALIFORNIA HOME INSURANCE UPDATE – 2024
Bach Talk: CALIFORNIA HOME INSURANCE UPDATE – 2024

The following is an update on the California home insurance situation from the non-profit consumer organization, United Policyholders, (“UP”).  UP is working hard to help California property owners stay insured and financially protected despite unprecedented availability and affordability challenges in the current marketplace. Insurers are…
Bach Talk: An insured future depends on bold public/private innovation
Bach Talk: An insured future depends on bold public/private innovation

By Amy Bach, Executive Director, United Policyholders So far 2024 has brought more bad news for property owners, public officials, lenders and home builders on the insurance availability and affordability fronts with non-renewals, scant options and high premiums. Front page news across the country. Rate…
As premiums rise, consumers need answers – some states are on the case
As premiums rise, consumers need answers – some states are on the case

As auto and home insurance premiums continue to rise across the United States, insurance oversight agencies are reporting a marked increase in consumer complaints and inquiries that seek to understand the reasons for increased pricing and what they can do to qualify for lower rates.…
BACH TALK: Consumers need help (with shrinking property insurance affordability and availability)
BACH TALK: Consumers need help (with shrinking property insurance affordability and availability)

Americans today in hurricane, flood and wildfire prone regions (particularly in areas where there have been recent disasters) are paying much higher premiums and having a very hard time finding affordable property insurance options.  This is a national phenomenon that United Policyholders has been helping…
UP alerts CA legislators to proceed with caution on insurers’ wish list
UP alerts CA legislators to proceed with caution on insurers’ wish list

California consumers have long enjoyed the benefits of property insurance premium savings thanks to the voter-enacted Proposition 103 rate regulation regime, and insurers have long decried that regime. United Policyholders generally focuses on helping consumers get treated fairly by insurers, avoid and solve coverage gaps,…
Home insurance availability, affordability AND quality is shrinking: States and the Feds must coordinate and take action to protect homeownership in the US
Home insurance availability, affordability AND quality is shrinking: States and the Feds must coordinate and take action to protect homeownership in the US

  We support the Federal Insurance Office in their efforts to gather national data to get a clear picture of how insurers are adapting their operations in response to climate change, and how their actions are impacting property insurance affordability and availability across the nation. …
Ain’t no Sunshine When Policyholders’ Leverage is Gone
Ain’t no Sunshine When Policyholders’ Leverage is Gone

It looks like the Florida legislature is about to pass a set of radical amendments that will deprive property owners in the Sunshine State of the power to enforce the laws that give them the right to be treated fairly by insurance companies…and with no…
Who can home and business owners impacted by Hurricane Ian trust?
Who can home and business owners impacted by Hurricane Ian trust?

The amount of destruction, dislocation and loss of life caused by Hurricane Ian is still being calculated, but it’s horrendous, record-breaking and very sad.  Wind damage is bad enough, but when combined with water, repairs are challenging and drying out is essential.  Qualified and reputable…
UP and WRAP partners testify before Congress on insurance challenges and progress in wildfire-prone states
UP and WRAP partners testify before Congress on insurance challenges and progress in wildfire-prone states

On September 22, 2022, in invited testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance, Executive Director Amy Bach presented consumer viewpoints and initiatives that are underway to restore affordable insurance options for property owners in wildfire-prone regions.…
BACH TALK: A Fairer California Fair Plan
BACH TALK: A Fairer California Fair Plan

State and Federal public officials have protected homeowners by creating insurers of last resort that people can turn to when they’re unable to find a company willing to insure their property. Well known examples are Florida and Louisiana Citizens Insurance Corporations, the National Flood Insurance…
BACH TALK: Whoomp! (there it is)
BACH TALK: Whoomp! (there it is)

In a recent blog, a Texas lawyer revealed an industry secret that is common knowledge to policyholder advocates and claimants but rarely publicly revealed or admitted by insurers:  By dragging out claims and failing to timely pay benefits owed, insurers can pressure policyholders to accept…
We get it…investing in risk reduction isn’t easy
We get it…investing in risk reduction isn’t easy

United Policyholders works hard to give people practical tips and guidance that’s realistic.  The risk of wildfires is making insurance alot more expensive and hard to buy in many U.S. states.  If you live in a wildfire-prone area, “hardening” your home and participating in community-wide risk…
Bach Talk: 30 Years and Counting
Bach Talk: 30 Years and Counting

As another challenging year draws to an end, I could not be more proud of our accomplishments or more grateful to our donors and volunteers. In our 30th year of service, UP continues to score wins for consumers, help people solve financially crippling insurance problems…