Bed bugs may bite insurers, but won’t dog industry
Bed bugs may bite insurers, but won’t dog industry

When dogs bite people, insurers often pay. But what happens when bed bugs bite? Bed-bug infestations in the United States have multiplied at an alarming rate in recent years. A recent survey of almost 1,000 pest exterminators found that 95% of the firms had dealt…
Do you know what your insurance covers?
Do you know what your insurance covers?

LITTLE ROCK, AR – It’s disaster season; do you know where your insurance policy is? Think your odds of disaster are low so you don’t need to really worry about what’s covered? You’re not alone. A recent survey shows a lot of us don’t have…
P-U! Is sewage backup covered?
P-U! Is sewage backup covered?

Stinky sewage back-up and overflowing drains are a very common cause of damage to homes and businesses, especially those located in flat areas or near the bottom of slopes. Many policies now exclude coverage for the clean-up and repairs, but for a mere $20 a…
Flaws can cancel life insurance — after death
Flaws can cancel life insurance — after death

American General Life Insurance Co. markets its policies as protection for “the hopes and dreams of American families” — a promise Ian Weissberger took to heart during his losing battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. But after the Cathedral City mortgage broker died in 2005, American…
Call Kurtis Investigates: Travel Insurance
Call Kurtis Investigates: Travel Insurance

What Some Companies Don’t Reveal Before You Buy Only when you have to use it, you find out, it sometimes doesn’t cover your emergency. After several viewers found themselves roadblocked, they called Kurtis to investigate. We’ve received a number of complaints over the past five…
5 years after Katrina, homeowners insurance costs more
5 years after Katrina, homeowners insurance costs more

Five years after Hurricane Katrina leveled a large part of the Gulf Coast, homeowners as far away as Maine are still paying the bill. Home insurance rates for some coastal areas have shot up 30% or more. Thousands of homeowners who live along the East…
Even with insurance, being made whole takes work
Even with insurance, being made whole takes work

Owners or renters of the homes destroyed or damaged in the fire that tore through a San Bruno neighborhood Thursday are staring at a long and challenging process to recoup their losses. Getting paid the full amount they’re entitled to for their dwellings, possessions and…
Rebuilding tips for disaster victims
Rebuilding tips for disaster victims

Even though many of the fire victims are still in shock, they must still pull it together and start of the process of rebuilding and this type of tragedy is what homeowners insurance is all about. But dealing with the loss isn’t always like one…
San Bruno fire victims navigate insurance process
San Bruno fire victims navigate insurance process

Though city officials are shifting their focus to help rebuild the neighborhood where a natural gas pipeline exploded last month, the pace of recovery will depend largely on how quickly the money starts to flow in. To that end, dozens of residents with destroyed or…
Whose money is talking?
Whose money is talking?

Whether it’s a damage report from a vendor hired by your insurer or a political ad…a savvy consumer needs to know whose money is behind the message. Is there a hidden agenda or can you trust what you’re hearing or reading? Who is paying to…
Water water everywhere…and not a drop of coverage?
Water water everywhere…and not a drop of coverage?

We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close, and UP is trying to stop the trend. It’s commonly known that you have to buy separate coverage for flood damage because it’s been excluded under most property policies for a long time. But water damage from…
Your Home, Your Choice
Your Home, Your Choice

Whether your home was damaged by something as wild as a tornado or as commonplace as an overflowing washing machine, your insurer may suggest a contractor to do the repairs. They may call them “preferred” but that doesn’t mean you’re forced to hire them to…
Is your home underinsured? 8 key points
Is your home underinsured? 8 key points

After every natural disaster, too many people discover an awful truth: They don’t have enough insurance to rebuild their homes. Nationwide, more than two-thirds of homeowners are underinsured, according to a survey by insurance services firm MSB, by an average of 18%. That means someone…
Is renter’s insurance worth the price?
Is renter’s insurance worth the price?

August 23, 2008 When Lani Hendrickson moved into an Irvine apartment last year, she barely had enough money for rent. So she was surprised when her landlord required her to get renter’s insurance as a condition of the lease. It cost $18 a month. “It…
How State Farm fought through the second storm
How State Farm fought through the second storm

BLOOMINGTON — It’s been five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, killing 1,800 people and causing $41.1 billion in insured damage — a single-loss record for the insurance industry. Katrina’s impact still ripples through the region today, and through Bloomington-based State Farm Insurance…
Consumer Advocates Support State Regulation; More Transparency
Consumer Advocates Support State Regulation; More Transparency

SEATTLE—Two consumer advocates told insurance commissioners they would prefer to see regulation of insurance remain with the states, as opposed to a federal takeover. Speaking before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ NAIC) Regulatory Modernization Task Force at the NAIC’s summer meeting held here, Sonja…
Battling Your Insurer
Battling Your Insurer

Never settle for less – especially with your insurance company, says Gerri Willis. NEW YORK CNNMoney.com) — You versus your insurer: It doesn’t have to be David and Goliath. Sure, getting your insurer to pay you your fair share can be challenging, but here are…
Mississippi Courtroom Site For Post-Katrina Insurance Showdown; Does Insurance Industry Need Reform?; Natural Gas Leak Dangers; Restoring New Orleans Homes A Monumental Task
Mississippi Courtroom Site For Post-Katrina Insurance Showdown; Does Insurance Industry Need Reform?; Natural Gas Leak Dangers; Restoring New Orleans Homes A Monumental Task

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: A Mississippi lawsuit rocks the insurance world and could impact your policy. Avoid a deadly natural gas leak and exactly how to avoid danger and return home safely after a severe storm. Good morning, everyone. I’m Gerri Willis and this is…