Texas Stamping Office: Upward Trend Continues for Surplus Lines
Texas Stamping Office: Upward Trend Continues for Surplus Lines

Overall, 2016 ended on a positive note for the U.S. excess and surplus lines insurance industry, according to the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX). Nationally, nearly $26 billion in surplus lines insurance premium was recorded for end-of-year 2016, which is a 3.27 percent…
California Surplus Lines Are Now A Bigger Chunk of the Commercial Market
California Surplus Lines Are Now A Bigger Chunk of the Commercial Market

The phrase “new normal” might be a cliché, but it was too hard for Ben McKay, executive director of the Surplus Lines Association of California, to avoid using when describing the state’s excess and surplus market in 2016 and going forward. Surplus lines has become…
Here to help
Here to help

The insurance premiums you pay as an individual or business entitle you to benefits and good claim service in the event of a loss. You should not have to hire professional help to get your claim paid fairly, and often you don’t. But when you…
United Policyholders Praises California Supreme Court Decision That Will Help Underinsured Wildfire Victims
United Policyholders Praises California Supreme Court Decision That Will Help Underinsured Wildfire Victims

Insurance Companies now held to a higher standard for setting homeowners policy limits; Court finds Insurance Commissioner has authority to regulate replacement cost estimates SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 23, 2017 – United Policyholders (UP), a nonprofit insurance consumer organization, today praised a California Supreme…
Wildfire Risk Reduction and Insurability
Wildfire Risk Reduction and Insurability

In the age of big data and GPS mapping, insurers are increasingly using complicated and opaque models to set their rates. FireLine is one name brand model created and sold to insurers by Verisk/Insurance Services Office. FireLine looks at a number of criteria (slope, access,…
Prepared, not scared
Prepared, not scared

No, we’re not talking about doomsday predictions… We’re talking about the simple things you can do to create your own financial safety net to prepare for extreme weather and what that weather can do to the roof over your head or your source of income.…
Reforming Disability Claim Procedures Under ERISA
Reforming Disability Claim Procedures Under ERISA

On Dec. 19, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor published in the Federal Register sweeping reforms to the regulations it issues under Section 503 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, aimed at eliminating bias in the ERISA disability claims and review process. Despite ERISA’s…
Keeping “Affordable” in the ACA
Keeping “Affordable” in the ACA

Before Congress passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as “PPACA”) and President Obama signed it into law, Americans with pre-existing medical conditions were struggling mightily to find and pay for essential health insurance.  The ACA solved that problem for a large number of…
United Policyholders filed amicus briefs in four of the top five most important insurance cases of 2016
United Policyholders filed amicus briefs in four of the top five most important insurance cases of 2016

2016 was an outstanding year for the United Policyholders Amicus Project. Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers, UP was able to file briefs in four of the five most important insurance cases of 2016 (In re: Viking Pump and Warren Pumps Insurance Appeals, Cypress Point Condominium…
Viking Pump Tops Biggest Insurance Decisions Of 2016
Viking Pump Tops Biggest Insurance Decisions Of 2016

New York’s highest court sent shockwaves through the insurance industry this year when it ruled that Viking Pump and Warren Pumps could hold policies in a single year liable for their entire loss from scores of asbestos claims while other courts issued key guidance on…
Speaking UP works
Speaking UP works

Our final tip of the month this year is simple: When it comes to insurance, have a pro-active mindset. If you’ve had a loss, ask for a cash advance while your claim is being processed. If you’ve got property insurance, ask the agent or insurer…
2016 Advocacy and Action Wrap UP
2016 Advocacy and Action Wrap UP

Post-election predictions suggest our consumer protection work will get even harder and safeguards Congress put in place after the 2008 meltdown to prevent financial abuse may be in jeopardy. But UP scored some very significant gains this year through our Advocacy and Action program and…
Big Data and Privacy
Big Data and Privacy

In the past, insurance companies used straightforward objective criteria and actuarial science to evaluate risks and calculate how much to charge a consumer for an insurance policy. Age, address, income, claim history and education were the main factors. Today, insurers are using subjective factors such…
Fair pricing of insurance
Fair pricing of insurance

Competition is a good way of keeping prices for many products and services affordable to consumers.  But when it comes to insurance products that consumers must buy – such as car and home insurance (for anyone with a mortgage), competition does not keep prices low for all consumers.…
Texas insurer drops push to let homeowners forgo right to sue
Texas insurer drops push to let homeowners forgo right to sue

The Texas Farm Bureau said it would offer lower premiums to customers who agreed to arbitration clauses, but consumer rights advocates rebelled. The Texas Farm Bureau has dropped a proposal that would have allowed its homeowner insurance policyholders to pre-emptively sign away their right to…
Wise UP: The Savvy Consumers Guide To Buying Insurance
Wise UP: The Savvy Consumers Guide To Buying Insurance

Wise UP: The Savvy Consumers Guide to Buying Insurance, a United Policyholders’ publication This compact guide will give you the inside scoop on what really matters when buying or renewing insurance for your car, home and assets. It’s short, easy to read and gives you…
Big Data TMI and the impact on policyholders
Big Data TMI and the impact on policyholders

The terms “Big Data”, “Data Mining” and “Price Optimization” are all the buzz in insurance circles and among state insurance regulators.  They, non-profit consumer advocates, the private bar, and the Federal Insurance Office are all diving into whether the massive amount of personal data that’s…
Swamped
Swamped

Today began with a 7:30 briefing call hosted by the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance, of which United Policyholders is a member.  This “can-do” coalition seeks to make flood insurance affordable and available through the National Flood Insurance Program.  They are aware of parallel efforts…