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…
Guest Blog: First Steps for Recovering
Guest Blog: First Steps for Recovering

Written by Bob Hunnes, Originally published as a Letter to the Editor in the Daily Camera This letter is intended to help anyone who was directly impacted by the Marshall Fire disaster. If this is not pertinent to you, please pass it on to someone…
There’s no place like home
There’s no place like home

This is Susan Davis’ first holiday back in her rebuilt home. Read Susan’s story in her own words: “In the months after we lost our home (we escaped with our dog and the clothes on our backs) and our way of life to the 2018…
When the chips are down, there’s UP
When the chips are down, there’s UP

Educating, Advocating and Empowering through the Pandemic Years UP continues to innovate during the pandemic to provide Roadmap to Recovery® services in person where safe, and through virtual channels to support disaster-impacted households and communities and be a powerful advocate for consumers across the nation.…
What’s UP? December 2021
What’s UP? December 2021

BACH TALK A message from Co-Founder and Executive Director, Amy Bach Dear Friends, 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…
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…
The Wildfire List: 13 Home Improvement Steps to Harden Your Home
The Wildfire List: 13 Home Improvement Steps to Harden Your Home

After a year of work, our WRAP working group issued a list of 13 home improvement steps that we believe should be the official standards for a wildfire prepared home. Here are the 13 recommendations from an array of experts in residential wildfire risk reduction.…
Virtual Roadmap to Recovery
Virtual Roadmap to Recovery

The shelter in place orders that required so many of us to get comfortable (maybe a little too comfortable) on Zoom enabled us to fine-tune our virtual service delivery and give insured loss victims uninterrupted access to the answers and information they need. Virtually, we…
Maienschein Recognizes Valerie Brown as the 77th Assembly District’s “Woman of the Year”
Maienschein Recognizes Valerie Brown as the 77th Assembly District’s “Woman of the Year”

RANCHO BERNARDO – Assemblymember Brian Maienschein proudly honored Valerie Brown as the 77th Assembly District’s 2021 Woman of the Year on Monday. A nearly twenty-year resident of Rancho Bernardo, Brown has served San Diego County as a volunteer with many community organizations and nonprofit organizations.…
Don’t be “Lapse-adaisical” 
Don’t be “Lapse-adaisical” 

Early in the digital age, insurers lobbied hard to be allowed to switch to paperless (digital) notices and billing. UP pushed back to protect consumers from inadvertently letting their insurance lapse due to missing a late payment or cancellation notice email that got stuck in a spam…
Spooky Language in Your Policy?
Spooky Language in Your Policy?

Getting a notice from a home insurer that they’re dropping you is scary, and UP works hard to help people avoid and deal with that situation. Read our latest tips on shopping for affordable home insurance when your options are limited. Even scarier is hearing…
Thwarting insurers’ campaign to duck interruption compensation obligations to businesses
Thwarting insurers’ campaign to duck interruption compensation obligations to businesses

Fill in the blank and you’ll understand the public relations campaign the insurance industry uses over and over to maintain record profits by shirking obligations to their premium-paying customers and pass the buck to  taxpayers: “If you make us pay ______ claims we’ll go bankrupt.” …
UP shares our story for the 30th Anniversary of the Oakland / Berkeley Firestorm
UP shares our story for the 30th Anniversary of the Oakland / Berkeley Firestorm

United Policyholders was founded in 1991. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Oakland Berkeley Firestorm, UP’s Executive Director Amy Bach shared her story co-founding the nonprofit for the North Hills Phoenix Association Community Comeback: Then and Now video series. This video series delved into…
Thank you for getting Up to Good
Thank you for getting Up to Good

On Friday, October 1st, 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. With the jazz sounds of a Sonoma State student…
UP to Good 10/1/21
UP to Good 10/1/21

Join us for a coast-to-coast virtual party and benefit for United Policyholders ~ 10/1/21
Wildfire Evacuation Tips
Wildfire Evacuation Tips

If you are told to evacuate immediately, do so. If you think you may have to evacuate, we suggest the following ASAP: 1) Document your home and “stuff.” If you do not have a home inventory, create one before you evacuate.  Take pictures or a video of each…
Keeping Score to Avoid Paying More
Keeping Score to Avoid Paying More

Your credit, insurance or risk score may make you “feel like a number”, but that may be more than a feeling.  A low credit score will cause some insurers to offer you inferior coverage at a higher price. Because credit scores are often wrong and…
Restoring the Insurance Safetynet Coalition (RISC), A National Initiative
Restoring the Insurance Safetynet Coalition (RISC), A National Initiative

The Restoring the Insurance Safety Net Coalition (RISC) is a national initiative launched by United Policyholders in 2020.  The purpose of this initiative is to reverse the trend of insurance policy re-writes that are shrinking coverage for damage to homes. These re-writes are dangerously eroding…