June 25, 2021 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…
June 23, 2021 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…
June 14, 2021 Bach Talk – Oregon enacts pro-policyholder wildfire claim reforms We’re proud to report that UP recently helped enact H.B. 3272, a new Oregon law that will improve the flow of insurance funds for replacing wildfire-destroyed homes and property. UP has long advocated that on total loss claims where the homeowner did nothing to cause…
May 28, 2021 Cracking the Code From time to time, state and local building codes get updated to meet current safety and energy efficiency standards. If you own an existing home, you don’t need to worry about paying for upgrades to comply with those new codes unless you’re making major repairs…
April 30, 2021 Hail, Hail Spring is Here With vaccinations, more daylight and warming weather, things are looking UP. In keeping with our mission of helping people be resilient, here’s an important reminder: It’s hail season and climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of hail events. Now is a great time to check…
April 4, 2021 Catch UP on Insurance Bad Faith with Bill Shernoff California attorney Bill Shernoff is often described as the “father” of insurance bad faith law. Amy Bach sits down with insurance expert Bill Shernoff of the law firm Shernoff, Bidart, Echeverria to talk about the status of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing…
March 31, 2021 Covid-versary…Is there cake? COVID-19 has challenged Americans over the past year in ways that are reminiscent of war times past. There has been much stress and suffering. Sunnier skies lie ahead, but the one year anniversary is far from the end of the recovery work that needs to…
March 12, 2021 Fire Victim Trust to Begin Making First Pro Rata Payments to Fire Victims March 12, 2021, San Francisco – On Monday, March 15, the Fire Victim Trust (FVT) will begin distributing the first round of pro rata payments toward satisfying the claims of individuals and families who suffered losses in the 2015 Butte Fire, 2017 North Bay Fires…
February 25, 2021 Step away from the blowtorch… The extreme cold, snow, and ice that swept across the U.S. in February 2021 is proof positive that closing the door on 2020 wasn’t a cure-all. If your home or business suffered damage due to freezing or bursting pipes or the weight of snow and ice on the…
January 25, 2021 Life (insurance) Lessons Pandemic-related layoffs, furloughs and business closures have forced many Americans to tap retirement accounts and cut non-essential expenses to get by. If you’re experiencing financial hardship but don’t want your auto, home or life insurance to lapse, check the website of the agency that oversees…
December 30, 2020 What’s UP? December 2020 BACH TALK A message from Co-Founder and Executive Director, Amy Bach We are proud to bring you our 2020 What’s UP newsletter. This expanded version of our print mailer features updates on what’s ahead in 2021 and the latest from your ever-dedicated Team UP. Dear…
December 15, 2020 Guest Blog: Fire resistant structures from the ground up, a technology making inroads in disaster affected areas by Charles Brooks, Executive Director, Rebuild Paradise Greetings from Paradise, CA! I must first preface this post, by saying we do not specifically endorse any product, technology, home builder, or any service provider. It is your responsibility to thoroughly research, vet and understand the products…
October 16, 2020 Guest Blog: An Adjuster’s View on Derecho Claims by: Caeden Tinklenberg, Swift Public Adjusters Two months after the August 10 derecho that swept Iowa, many homeowners are realizing they may be left out in the cold by their insurance company. The damage left by the derecho is unfathomable to me as an Iowa…
July 10, 2020 UP helping CA households struggling to find and afford home insurance Through our Roadmap to Preparedness and Advocacy and Action programs, United Policyholders is continuing to work hard to help the thousands of California households that are struggling to keep their homes properly insured at a price they can afford and with a company they can…
July 1, 2020 July 30th Webinar – POSTPONED We will be rescheduling our July 30th, 2020 Roadmap to Recovery Orientation Webinar. Please email info@uphelp.org to receive an email when a new date is scheduled. For additional Claim Help Resources, visit: 2019 SoCal Wildfires – Insurance Claim Help
July 1, 2020 Wildfire Season Is Here With all that’s happening, it’s hard to wrap your mind around another worry. But yes, it is wildfire season and time to take steps to make your home more fire-resistant. If you’ve been Sheltering in Place, you probably know your home better than ever and…
June 29, 2020 Join UP in opposing AB 2167 Californians are experiencing a challenging insurance marketplace and there are two bills we are watching that could make the affordability crisis worse. We are talking about AB 2167 and its companion SB 292. We OPPOSE these two bills and hope you will join us by writing to your…
June 1, 2020 Wise UP and save on your insurance Wise UP and save on your insurance As households across the nation look for ways to cut costs while dealing with record job losses and sheltering in place, UP has suggestions for reducing insurance premiums without sacrificing asset protection. – Consider increasing your auto and…