November 18, 2015 Thanks Mom and Dad! One of the first pieces of the Affordable Care Act to take effect was the rule that lets young adults stay insured under their parent’s health plan until they turn 26. This has been a huge help to many families. But when a dependent ages…
October 31, 2015 El Niño El Uh Oh East Coasters and Mexican citizens breathed sighs of relief at Joaquin and Patricia’s relatively moderate impact, but West Coast residents continue to brace for predicted heavy El Niño rains this winter. Recent mudflows stranded hundreds of cars in the Los Angeles area. Buy sandbags and…
September 23, 2015 Paying more than just attention Our recent conversations with wildfire evacuees and people who’ve just lost everything inspired us to restate: Recovering from a loss without (any or enough) insurance is a very bleak prospect. If a disaster is officially declared federal, the average FEMA grant to an individual is…
July 29, 2015 Guess who’s turning 50? Medicare, the program that remains essential for many American’s health and lifestyles, turns 50 this month. On the positive side, pressure is mounting to amend the absurd rule that prevents the program from negotiating prescription drug prices with drug companies. On the negative side, consumers…
June 24, 2015 Ruff and Ready? Pet Insurance Check UP As treatment options for sick and injured animals improve, and new (expensive) medications and procedures can extend your pet’s healthy life, you may want to give pet insurance a second look. You can buy coverage for urgent care only, or broad…
May 20, 2015 Shop so you don’t drop (more $ than you should) The quality of your insurance really does matter, but figuring out which policy will give you more protection is tricky. UP can guide you on what to look for and avoid, but getting the real scoop and comparing different options is very hard to do…
April 28, 2015 Roadmap to Preparedness UPdate THRIVE-ing after a flood After a winter storm caused severe flooding south of San Francisco, UP answered evacuees’ insurance questions at a temporary shelter and help center in San Mateo, California. Several months later at a Enhancing Community Resilience Conference hosted by the THRIVE alliance…
March 30, 2015 Home Warranties: Thanks and no thanks If you’re buying a home and a realtor or the seller gifts you a home warranty plan, you can say, “thank you very much.” If it’s one of the better plans, it can save you hassles and money on minor home repairs during the life…
February 27, 2015 TOTALly worth the effort If your car is damaged in an accident to the point where repairs would cost more than the car is worth – it’s a “total loss.” Your, or the other driver’s insurance company, is supposed to offer you the actual cash value of your car.…
January 2, 2015 Small words big difference Most people buy life insurance as soon as they have kids. Far fewer shell out for a disability policy, even people whose income keeps a roof over their family’s head and food in their bellies. To most people (and employers that provide benefits), a disability…
December 22, 2014 Smart Insurance Math With the exception of a health insurance policy, where a high deductible can give you pain in the pocketbook all year long, raising the deductible in your home, car, business, or renter’s policy is smart insurance math. A higher deductible lowers the cost of your…
November 25, 2014 Purely a bad idea – “Purely Cosmetic” Exclusion Thanks for giving: Your ideas and your skills Thanks for putting UP in your wills! Thanks for the info, donations and scoop Thanks to those who keep us in the loop Now here’s our tip for the month of November A question we want you…
October 16, 2014 Shake it UP “Out of sight out of mind, and I prefer it that way” is most Californians’ view of earthquakes. But the UP team sees disasters up close and personal and we know how a few simple preparedness steps can make the difference between recovery and ruin.…
September 29, 2014 Back home safe and sound We’ve worked a lot of disasters. But this month a hurricane hit too close to home. While on a well-deserved vacation in Mexico, our Program Coordinator was caught in the path of Hurricane Odile. After being stranded for 5 days without power, running water, cell…
July 18, 2014 Good, Bad or Ugly? People often ask UP: How do I find a good insurance company and avoid a bad one? The facts and statistics on which insurers are more likely to pay your claim on time and in full have been hidden from consumers. But new tools are…
June 24, 2014 Lyft your limits? People who live in neighborhoods where it’s been hard to get a cab are cheering the era of Uber and the rise of Lyft (pardon the pun). Getting stood up by a cab that was supposed to drive you to the airport? Hauling yourself out…
May 30, 2014 Double Check UP The recent wildfires in San Diego and Arizona are a chilling reminder of how long wildfire season has gotten in the west and with hurricane season fast approaching in the East and South, we encourage everyone to take a moment and do a quick insurance…
March 26, 2014 Taxing tasks April 15th is right around the corner, and while filing for an extension is certainly an option, disaster survivors get no automatic exception to the tax filing deadline. The IRS did just announce, however, that Colorado flood victims have until October to decide which tax year…