Nonprofit Says Travelers Wrong On Asbestos Exclusion
Nonprofit Says Travelers Wrong On Asbestos Exclusion

A nonprofit consumer rights and insurance education organization has told the Third Circuit that General Refractories Co. was correctly awarded $36 million in its suit accusing Travelers of improperly denying coverage for asbestos exposure claims, saying the insurer gets Pennsylvania insurance law wrong. United Policyholders,…
Common Cents
Common Cents

It’s common to be nervous about the money you’re spending on your wedding and honeymoon. It’s also common now for brides or grooms to buy wedding insurance. But do wedding policies exclude more than they cover? That depends on what you buy. But for under…
When Insurance Can And Cannot) Cover Terrorist Acts
When Insurance Can And Cannot) Cover Terrorist Acts

FORBES – After the terrorist bombings in Brussels last week, over 200 flights going to or through the affected airport were canceled, disrupting travel for thousands. The airport remained closed down through Friday. Some of the airlines with itineraries to Brussels issued refunds to their…
Is Your Home a Death Trap? You May Be Eligible for Compensation
Is Your Home a Death Trap? You May Be Eligible for Compensation

US News and World Report – Four ways to help fund the removal of toxins from your home. Discovering toxins in your home is often terrifying – it’s not just lowering the value of your home, but it’s also potentially causing long-lasting health problems. While…
Staying protected after a loss without wasting $$
Staying protected after a loss without wasting $$

New Publication – We have updated our Claim Guidance Library to include a new publication: Updating Your Insurance After a Loss. If your home and property were severely damaged or destroyed, you may be thinking about adjusting your insurance coverage to avoid wasting money insuring things that no longer…
How to Save by Bundling Auto and Home Insurance
How to Save by Bundling Auto and Home Insurance

When it comes to insurance, we all look for ways to save money. One of the easiest and most common ways to save is by bundling auto and home insurance with one company. Insurance companies typically offer discounts in exchange for carrying more than one…
Tips for talking to your insurance company after a car accident
Tips for talking to your insurance company after a car accident

USA Today – It’s your “good neighbor.” It’s “on your side.” But after a car accident, some drivers fear their insurance company won’t be such a pal. “Hopefully, your insurer will step up,” says Amy Bach, executive director of consumer advocacy group United Policyholders. “But…
Mega Merger Malaise – Bach Talk
Mega Merger Malaise – Bach Talk

As the health insurance marketplace, American citizens, and businesses continue to adapt to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act world, the pending mergers of Aetna/Humana and Cigna/Anthem will provide yet another curveball. Mergers of companies this large are almost never good for consumers.  They…
Long story short…
Long story short…

Long story short… If you have long-term care insurance or are considering buying it, here’s a relevant UPdate: – If you’re in your 50’s or older, you may be considering a traditional or hybrid long term care insurance policy. One that covers home care and…
Income tax tips workshop for Butte Fire survivors
Income tax tips workshop for Butte Fire survivors

United Policyholders, a San Francisco-based nonprofit agency that assists insurance holders after disasters, will host a workshop offering tax tips for Butte Fire victims at 6 p.m. Friday in the Mountain Ranch Community Club, 8049 Washington St., Mountain Ranch. United Policyholders Executive Director Amy Bach…
Dam Ice!
Dam Ice!

With spring around the corner, home and business owners in snow-prone areas should be on the lookout for damage from ice dams. Extreme cold and unseasonably warm winter weather has caused ice dams to form on building roofs from New England to Minnesota. Trapped water…
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Claimant in ERISA Reimbursement Dispute (Guest blog)
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Claimant in ERISA Reimbursement Dispute (Guest blog)

In Montanile v. Bd. of Trs. of the Nat’l Elevator Indus. Health Ben. Plan, No. 14-723, 2016 U.S. LEXIS 843 (2016), the U.C. Supreme Court dealt a decisive victory to employees when it ruled 8-1 that an employee benefit plan may not garnish a plan participant’s general assets in…
Flooded by winter storm? 5 steps you must take
Flooded by winter storm? 5 steps you must take

Many Jersey Shore residents had to mop up from flooding after the weekend blizzard — despite what Gov. Chris Christie initially said — and experts offer these five tips to residents and business owners looking to maximize their flood insurance claims. There was nearly $3…
For Blizzard Damage, Turn to Your Homeowner’s Policy
For Blizzard Damage, Turn to Your Homeowner’s Policy

Atlantic Coast residents digging out from last weekend’s blizzard may be relieved to know that a standard homeowner’s insurance policy covers most types of damage caused by winter storms. “We pay for most things that are the result of a snowstorm,” said Don Griffin, vice…
Expert says Butte Fire homeowners should take time on insurance claims
Expert says Butte Fire homeowners should take time on insurance claims

An expert on wildfire insurance claims Wednesday night told a small group of property owners who lost buildings in the Butte Fire not to be in a hurry to settle with their insurance carriers. “Statistics show that the longer your claim remains open, the more…
Butte Fire Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/13/16
Butte Fire Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/13/16

UP is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Butte Fire survivors on Wednesday, January 13th at 6pm at Mountain Ranch Town Hall.  This workshop will focus on the dwelling portion of your insurance claim and will discuss how to document and value the damage…
Ready for El Niño? Here’s what many homeowners don’t know about flood insurance
Ready for El Niño? Here’s what many homeowners don’t know about flood insurance

LA Times – For the last several months, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have sounded a lot more like salesmen than bureaucrats. And their sales pitch for flood insurance — which harps on the dangers of El Niño while espousing the benefits of…
Earthquake authority offers new insurance options, rebates
Earthquake authority offers new insurance options, rebates

The California Earthquake Authority is offering new insurance policy options this year, including deductibles ranging from 5 to 25 percent, higher coverage limits for personal property and additional living expenses, and a bigger discount for homeowners who submit verified proof of retrofitting. Starting Jan. 20,…