Who Should Have Earthquake Insurance?
Who Should Have Earthquake Insurance?

Listen to the audio online Download audio MP3) Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A passerby stops to look at a collapsed carport following the 6.0 South Napa Earthquake on August 24, 2014. Last weekend’s South Napa Earthquake is a dramatic reminder to Bay Area property owners that…
After Napa Jolt, Quake-Proofing Your Homeowner’s Insurance
After Napa Jolt, Quake-Proofing Your Homeowner’s Insurance

AS Napa County, Calif., recovers from the earthquake that jarred the area last weekend, many homeowners may be wondering whether they should buy special earthquake insurance. “You better believe there’s a lot of people who wish they had it,” said Amy Bach, executive director of…
Buying the Right Auto Insurance for Your Teen Driver
Buying the Right Auto Insurance for Your Teen Driver

When parents of a teen first watch their baby take the wheel, they may be too busy seeing the years flash before their eyes to focus on insurance for the family’s newest driver. Putting a new teen driver on the road can be scary —…
FEMA Inspectors Make No Aid Guarantees After Assessing Napa Quake Damage
FEMA Inspectors Make No Aid Guarantees After Assessing Napa Quake Damage

A lot of homeowners impacted by Sunday’s earthquake are wondering if they’ll get any federal help rebuilding their homes. Insurers are out in force at the Red Cross Center, but only 10 percent of Californians buy earthquake insurance. On Wednesday, inspectors from FEMA started surveying…
Getting a Good Insurance Settlement Takes Time
Getting a Good Insurance Settlement Takes Time

NAPA, Calif. KGO) –Many of the victims of this week’s Napa earthquake are already dealing with their insurance companies. Those that want the best settlement can expect to put in a lot of work. Getting a good settlement with an insurance company can be as…
Napa earthquake insured losses estimated at $2.1B, with wineries taking the biggest hit
Napa earthquake insured losses estimated at $2.1B, with wineries taking the biggest hit

BY MICHAEL B. MAROIS, BLOOMBERG, ZACHARY TRACER, BLOOMBERG, DAN HART, BLOOMBERGThe earthquake that struck northern California yesterday will lead to economic losses of as much as $4 billion, fueled by damaged wineries and shuttered businesses that rely on tourists.Insurers will probably cover about $2.1 billion,…
Department of Insurance responds to assist residents following Napa quake
Department of Insurance responds to assist residents following Napa quake

News: 2014 Press ReleaseFor Release: August 25, 2014Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566Department of Insurance responds to assist residents following Napa quakeDepartment’s consumer services and enforcement teams on site to assist NAPA, Calif. – The 6.0 earthquake that struck the Napa valley in the pre-dawn hours Sunday,…
Should Insurance Companies Be Able to Consider Your Credit History?
Should Insurance Companies Be Able to Consider Your Credit History?

Most people know that their credit score impacts their ability to get a loan and even a job in some states – but what about their ability to get insurance? While insurance companies don’t use your credit score, many – 85% to 95% in most…
Should you buy earthquake insurance?
Should you buy earthquake insurance?

Last weekend’s magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Napa, Calif., may be easy to dismiss if you live outside the West Coast, but it should prompt homeowners coast-to-coast to check their risk to determine whether earthquake insurance is warranted, because the threat may be greater than you…
Insurance Coverage Likely to Get More Respect After the California Earthquake
Insurance Coverage Likely to Get More Respect After the California Earthquake

One of the most predictable aftereffects of a hurricane or earthquake, such as the weekend’s California earthquake, is a spike in interest by homeowners in getting, or improving, their existing insurance coverage. And there is a lot of room for improvement in California, when it…
6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Insurance Agent
6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Insurance Agent

Whether you’re in the market for insurance to cover your home, your car or your life, it can be a confusing process filled with jargon and exclusions. Perhaps that’s why many consumers enlist the help of an insurance agent to help them compare options and…
Finding the best car insurance for teens
Finding the best car insurance for teens

When parents of a teen first watch their baby take the wheel, they may be too busy seeing the years flash before their eyes to focus on insurance for the family’s newest driver. Putting a new teen driver on the road can be scary —…
Too Young for Disability Insurance? Yeah, Right
Too Young for Disability Insurance? Yeah, Right

If you are in your 20s or early 30s, you may live like you’re “Young, Wild and Free,” to borrow a song title from the recent past. But you’re not immune from injury or illness. Unless you’re wealthy, making ends meet could be difficult if…
Seniors win more protection with new annuity disclosure requirements
Seniors win more protection with new annuity disclosure requirements

For Release: July 23, 2014Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566Seniors win more protection with new annuity disclosure requirementsBill sponsored by the Department of Insurance is signed into lawSACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today thanked Governor Brown for signing into law AB 2347 (Gonzalez) which…
Homeowners: How to understand a wind/hail deductible
Homeowners: How to understand a wind/hail deductible

If you live in a part of the United States that experiences frequent severe weather, tornadoes and hurricanes may not be your only concern. Your finances may also take a hit, as you may be expected to pick up more of the tab for wind…
Good, Bad or Ugly?
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…
Can Technology Disrupt The Consumer Insurance Market?
Can Technology Disrupt The Consumer Insurance Market?

In the late 1980s – before there was a Web – I had the privilege of working for the late great attorney Gene Anderson, hero of corporate policyholders, scourge of insurance companies. I was his ghostwriter – on legal briefs, articles, and the occasional speech…
Health insurance claim is denied. What now?
Health insurance claim is denied. What now?

Few things are scarier than racking up medical bills and then learning that your health insurance company won’t pay. It’s a nightmare that could panic any policyholder. But before you worry about sinking into a black hole of medical debt, know that federal law offers…