Why Sandy Homeowners Were Left In The Lurch
Why Sandy Homeowners Were Left In The Lurch

Superstorm Sandy’s storm surge was so strong when it hit Long Island in October 2012 that it lifted up Dan Stapleton’s Long Beach home and then kicked in the corner of the foundation. It left a 30-foot hole around his house. Stapleton, unlike many Sandy…
Fed Probe Why Sandy Victims Were Shortchanged on Flood Insurance Claims
Fed Probe Why Sandy Victims Were Shortchanged on Flood Insurance Claims

Critics call for wide-ranging, structural reforms to ensure problems encountered after Sandy don’t happen again Amid the stress and confusion in the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, residents of coastal communities found themselves struggling to comprehend their losses and how to begin to put things…
The List: 10 Reasons Why Insurance Companies May Have Underpaid Sandy Victims
The List: 10 Reasons Why Insurance Companies May Have Underpaid Sandy Victims

Theories abound in the absence of clear information about just what went on behind the scenes in the aftermath of disastrous storm In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, many insurance policyholders were denied coverage after engineering reports determined that their damage supposedly pre-existed the storm…
FEMA mulls overhaul of flood insurance program amid claims of fraud, lack of oversight
FEMA mulls overhaul of flood insurance program amid claims of fraud, lack of oversight

Lawmakers and federal officials trying to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program are considering dismantling a sprawling system that relies on more than 80 separate companies to sell policies, collect premiums and calculate damages after disasters. The move, in response to allegations that claims were…
Property owners face important deadlines on second anniversary of wildfire
Property owners face important deadlines on second anniversary of wildfire

El Paso County, CO, April 29, 2015 – With the two year anniversary of the Black Forest Fire approaching El Paso County reminds property owners to keep in mind important insurance deadlines. “Residents impacted by the Black Forest Fire need to meet certain deadlines in…
Hurricane Sandy Judges Demand Clearing of Settlement Roadblocks
Hurricane Sandy Judges Demand Clearing of Settlement Roadblocks

Federal officials and flood insurance companies were chastised by a panel of New York judges for imposing delays on settlements with hundreds of Hurricane Sandy victims who alleged their claims were wrongfully denied or underpaid.Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and lawyers for 25…
Roadmap to Preparedness UPdate
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…
Bank’s offer of ‘free’ insurance is dubious way to appreciate customers
Bank’s offer of ‘free’ insurance is dubious way to appreciate customers

Sally Hwang recently spotted a payment of $8.10 on her checking account statement for accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Problem was, she had no recollection of signing up for such coverage. Worse, it appeared the Glendale resident had been making the payment every quarter for…
No secrets: What insurers know about you and how they use your personal data
No secrets: What insurers know about you and how they use your personal data

Before they decide how much you have to pay for your auto insurance, carriers probe deep into your background to determine how likely you are to file claims. Most consumers would be surprised to learn how much personal information is available to insurers, says Amy…
Tampered Engineering Reports Only the Beginning for Sandy Victims
Tampered Engineering Reports Only the Beginning for Sandy Victims

As a general contractor who specializes in insurance repairs, Larry Steimel with Pequannock, NJ-based LA Design and Construction has had a front row seat to some of the problems people have had rebuilding their homes. The biggest hurdle after Sandy, he says, has been the…
AG lawsuit: State Farm enriched itself through Katrina homeowner program
AG lawsuit: State Farm enriched itself through Katrina homeowner program

Attorney General Jim Hood is suing State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. over millions of dollars he claims the state lost because the insurance company “maliciously” denied Hurricane Katrina claims for wind losses while the federally funded Homeowners Assistance Program picked up the tab.The lawsuit…
Will I really save on auto insurance as soon as I turn 25?
Will I really save on auto insurance as soon as I turn 25?

If you’re a driver under 25, you’ve probably heard of the money magic that’s supposed to happen when you reach the quarter-century milestone, such as being able to rent a car at a standard rate — without young-driver surcharges. Another big plus of hitting the…
Tips to avoid being ripped off when property is damaged by storms
Tips to avoid being ripped off when property is damaged by storms

SAGINAW, MI WNEM) -It’s severe weather season, so Angie’s List has put together some tips about how to avoid being ripped off if your property is damaged in the storm. 1. Avoid door-to-door solicitors Drifter companies often rush to disaster areas where widespread damage has…
The Big One Is Coming: Should Californians Get Earthquake Insurance?
The Big One Is Coming: Should Californians Get Earthquake Insurance?

In disaster movies, California gets hit hard: The Golden Gate Bridge has fallen umpteen times. Los Angeles has been flattened by megaquakes and monstrous destruction. And let’s not even talk about the damage wrought by cyborgs sent back in time to ensure a nuclear holocaust.…
Reports Advise How to Make Flood Insurance Affordable
Reports Advise How to Make Flood Insurance Affordable

A new report suggests the federal flood insurance program may want to target mitigation grants to households with high premiums, urge homeowners to select higher deductibles, expand the educational role of insurance agents, and provide mitigation loans to help make flood insurance more affordable.These proposals…
Insurance commissioner, consumer advocate split over Allstate rates
Insurance commissioner, consumer advocate split over Allstate rates

In the California insurance world, activist Harvey Rosenfield and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones have been longtime collaborators. Until recently. Rosenfield, a feisty consumer advocate from Santa Monica, wrote Proposition 103, a landmark 1988 ballot measure that turned the insurance commissioner into an elected position. It…
Why your boss may be pushing HSAs and FSAs
Why your boss may be pushing HSAs and FSAs

Never heard of a health savings account HSA)? Or bothered with the flexible spending account FSA) offered by your employer? Chances are you soon will. Both health savings vehicles are moving into the spotlight as corporate America sheds its one-size-fits-all comprehensive health insurance model for…
Should You Bundle Your Insurance Coverage?
Should You Bundle Your Insurance Coverage?

Maybe you saw an ad on TV touting cost savings associated with bundling insurance — purchasing multiple policies, such as for home and auto, through the same company — or your insurance agent suggested it. “Usual discounts are about 5 to 20 percent depending on…