2018 Advocacy & Action UPdate
2018 Advocacy & Action UPdate

Bach Talk: An energized team UP UP has been “all hands on deck” since last year’s hurricanes and wildfires.  To deliver our Roadmap to Recovery™ services to the many impacted regions, we re-energized volunteers and partnerships and made major improvements to our online help libraries. When insurers…
Climate Change…an insurance wild card
Climate Change…an insurance wild card

Wondering what you can do to keep your home insurance affordable in the face of extreme weather events? Improving your property so it’s less likely to be destroyed in an earthquake, flood, hurricane or wildfire makes economic sense, and we think your insurance company should…
Guest Blog: Annuity Basics
Guest Blog: Annuity Basics

There are good reasons why you might want or need to buy an annuity: You might want the tax-deferred growth they can offer. They can also provide a guaranteed income in retirement. In some cases, they can be used as an estate-planning tool. Over the…
Post wildfire flooding and insurance? Forecast muddy
Post wildfire flooding and insurance? Forecast muddy

A wildfire destroys the trees, plants, bushes, and roots that hold soil in place and soak up rainwater, which in turn can lead to the kind of damage that occurred in Montecito in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire.  The “Fire-Flood Sequence” is a well-known phenomenon,…
Guest Blog: Federal judge voids matching exclusion – Good news for homeowners denied coverage under exclusion
Guest Blog: Federal judge voids matching exclusion – Good news for homeowners denied coverage under exclusion

A Minnesota federal judge recently issued an order that has big potential implications for Minnesota homeowners who had part of their claim denied by a “matching” exclusion in their insurance policy.  American Family customers in particular should be aware of this order, especially those covered…
Financial Decision-Making for Wildfire Survivors
Financial Decision-Making for Wildfire Survivors

On Thursday, January 25th, 2018 United Policyholders will host a Roadmap to Recovery workshop at the Santa Rosa High School Auditorium on Financial Decision-Making For Wildfire Survivors, 6-8 pm This workshop will cover financial and tax implications related to casualty losses and insurance proceeds.  A…
UP to the challenge: 4 simultaneous Roadmap to Recovery operations
UP to the challenge: 4 simultaneous Roadmap to Recovery operations

Last night in Ventura, California, UP oriented and empowered a room full of 200 people whose homes were destroyed in the Thomas wildfire.  Bringing the combination of seasoned empathy and technical/legal expertise that makes UP’s Roadmap to Recovery program a unique and valuable source of disaster recovery…
$3,000 grant to retrofit your home? Yes, please!
$3,000 grant to retrofit your home? Yes, please!

Helping homeowners pay to retrofit their homes is a good investment for all.  We hope all California homeowners will take a moment and see if they qualify for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program to receive $3,000 to seismically retrofit their home.  The deadline to apply…
Ventura Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/22/18
Ventura Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/22/18

United Policyholders hosted a Roadmap to Recovery Insurance Orientation workshop for Thomas Fire Survivors in Ventura on Monday, January 22nd from 6-8pm.  The workshop was led by 1991 Oakland/Berkeley firestorm survivor and UP Board Chair Sue Piper at the Board of Supervisors’ Hearing Room at…
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors – Santa Rosa: Wednesday, 1/17/18
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors – Santa Rosa: Wednesday, 1/17/18

Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors United Policyholders is hosting its next Roadmap to Recovery workshop in Santa Rosa for North Bay partial loss wildfire survivors on Wednesday, January 17th.  The workshop will start at 6PM at 547 Mendocino Ave. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Santa Rosa.…
FEMA Expands Flood Reinsurance Program with Private Reinsurers for 2018
FEMA Expands Flood Reinsurance Program with Private Reinsurers for 2018

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed a reinsurance placement with 28 private reinsurers to help the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) recover losses it may have to pay in 2018. Expanding on its first private reinsurance placement last year of $1.042 billion, the…
Florida Supreme Court Ruling to Have Big Impact on Duty to Defend Construction Cases
Florida Supreme Court Ruling to Have Big Impact on Duty to Defend Construction Cases

A recent case out of the Florida Supreme Court will likely have a big impact on the duty of insurers to defend Florida construction cases. The case, Altman Contractors, Inc. v. Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Company arises out of a declaratory judgment action filed…
January Roadmap to Recovery Workshop Schedule – Northern California
January Roadmap to Recovery Workshop Schedule – Northern California

We look forward to continuing to help wildfire survivors on the road to recovery in the new year. Please save the dates for the following Roadmap to Recovery workshops scheduled in January. Santa Rosa – Workshop for Partial Loss Survivors: Wednesday, January 17th from 6pm-8pm…
A Super Search Box
A Super Search Box

Need to know what exclusions to avoid when buying Directors and Officers insurance for your company? Looking for a good argument to get your insurance company to cover the cost of “matching” (restoring your property to a uniform and consistent, not patchwork quilt appearance)? Want…
Napa Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Thursday, 12/14/17
Napa Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Thursday, 12/14/17

Workshop Topic: Information and guidance on navigating your insurance claim, communicating with your insurance company going up the chain of command, and asserting your rights United Policyholders is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop on Thursday, December 14th in Napa for North Bay wildfire survivors from 6-8pm The…
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: Thursday, 12/7/17
Roadmap to Recovery Workshop – Santa Rosa: Thursday, 12/7/17

Workshop Topic: Communicating with your insurance company, going up the chain of command and your rights in California United Policyholders is hosting its fourth Roadmap to Recovery workshop in Santa Rosa for North Bay wildfire survivors at 547 Mendocino Ave. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in…
People Power
People Power

Helping people get a fair deal from their insurance company is the heart of United Policyholders’ mission. Our tips and tools include strategies for getting insurers to pay benefits quickly and be flexible where appropriate. Strategies based on our volunteers’ savvy and our staff’s expertise.…
Our nation’s flood resiliency imperative
Our nation’s flood resiliency imperative

Our non-profit’s mission is to inform and advocate for the interests of insurance consumers – policyholders.  When it comes to flood insurance, those interests are fairly simple: Access to affordable coverage for the damage that floods do to property Policies that pay on time to repair that…