March 6, 2024 Catch UP on Insurance for Repairing Flood Damage with David Maurstad In this Catch UP segment, Amy Bach talks to David Maurstad about Flood Insurance. David Maurstad is FEMA’s Assistant Administrator of Federal Insurance Directorate and Senior Executive of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
February 28, 2024 Catch UP on Roof Damage and Insurance Claims with Sarah Parker In this Catch UP segment, Public Adjuster Sarah Parker shares her insights and expertise on roof damage and insurance claims.
February 22, 2024 Texas Supreme Court Hears Arguments in a Case With Significant Implications for TWIA Policyholders Yesterday, on February 21, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments in the case Texas Windstorm Insurance Association v. Stephen Pruski, Case No. 23-0447, in which Raizner Slania filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the non-profit organization United Policyholders. Uniquely for both United…
February 21, 2024 Pet Insurance 101 If you have a fur baby or pet of any kind, pet insurance will help you avoid getting stuck with a shocking vet bill after an accident, illness or having to put your pet down because you can’t afford treatment. Buying it when your pet…
February 9, 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…
February 5, 2024 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…
January 25, 2024 Increase your resiliency in the new year… If you own a home, we suggest putting “make risk reduction improvements” on your New Year’s resolution list. Taking steps to make it less likely that severe weather or a wildfire will damage your home is more important than ever. Insurers have added new coverage…
January 22, 2024 The Mood Swings on Insurer Bad-Faith in Oregon: An Analysis of the Oregon Supreme Court Decision in Moody v. Oregon Community Credit Union The Oregon Supreme Court has long held the legislature did not create a private right of action under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (ORS 746.230). Policyholders could bring a tort claim against their insurance company only if the insurer was subject to a standard…
December 12, 2023 The Insurance Industry “Cries ‘Wolf!’” About Lawyers Decades of history has taught us that plaintiff’s lawyers are not the primary reason insurance premiums go up or insurance companies fail. But plaintiff’s lawyers are the shiny object that insurance companies point to as an easy answer to a complex problem. Again. There is…
November 28, 2023 Mighty Thankful We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever and however you celebrated. This month’s tip is a message of gratitude for the many volunteers and donors that help our nonprofit make a BIG, positive impact on people’s lives and financial health all across the nation.…
October 31, 2023 Spooky Insurance News There’s lots being said these days about the negative impact on home and business owners of reduced competition and coverage and sharply rising premiums resulting from insurers’ reactions to climate change, technology and inflation. The marketplace dynamics and political forces in play in Florida, Louisiana…
October 30, 2023 Close to Home: Insurance crisis rooted in climate change, big profits Press Democrat Op Ed, by: Amy Bach In the North Bay today, and many other areas considered to be at risk for wildfires, we are in the grip of a serious property insurance availability and affordability crisis. Until fairly recently, most North Bay residents didn’t…
October 11, 2023 Survivors Speak: Ten Days in Lahaina Driving along the idyllic West Maui coast on a characteristically stunning day in early September, all looked as beautiful as ever. As I crested the hill on the south of end of Lahaina, John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ was playing on the radio. And I began to…
September 29, 2023 Mitigation Matters No matter where you live, if you’re a homeowner today, you need to do your best to maintain your property and take steps to avoid it being damaged or destroyed in a severe weather event. Why? 1) No place on earth is immune from risk…
September 27, 2023 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.…
September 25, 2023 What is Reinsurance? What ( the #%!) is Reinsurance? And how does it impact homeowners insurance in California? The following was written by Joel Laucher, a former regulator and current United Policyholders’ staff member whose work is focused on wildfire risk reduction and appropriate insurance rewards for mitigation.…
September 22, 2023 How Your Insurance Rates are Set in California The following was written by Joel Laucher, a former regulator and United Policyholders’ staff member whose work is focused on wildfire risk reduction and appropriate insurance rewards for mitigation. Prior to joining Team UP, Joel rose through the ranks at the California Department of Insurance…
September 8, 2023 What a night! Thank you to everyone who helped us get UP to Good! On Friday, September 8th, 2023, wildfire survivors, public officials and generous businesses and individuals gathered outdoors at the elegant and historic Buena Vista Winery to raise funds for the our Roadmap to Recovery, Preparedness and Advocacy programs. Funds raised in connection with this event will…