Tips on flood insurance
Tips on flood insurance

Contact your insurance agent to determine what exactly your current homeowner insurance policies cover and whether they’re up to date, then assess whether flood insurance is necessary. If you need flood insurance, act fast. Policies usually go into effect 30 days after purchase, and the…
Why Earthquake Insurance Is Tough Sell, Even In Bay Area
Why Earthquake Insurance Is Tough Sell, Even In Bay Area

Bill Clingan was around when the Loma Prieta earthquake sucker-punched the Bay Area 20 years ago. His Walnut Creek home suffered no damage, which is why he feels comfortable today not having earthquake insurance. “It’s very expensive. Deductibles are high. It’s just not worth it,”…
’08 Wildfire Victims Insured with AIG Get $$$ Help from CDI and UP
’08 Wildfire Victims Insured with AIG Get $$$ Help from CDI and UP

Survivors to receive an average $100,000 to $125,000 in Additional Coverage Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that the California Department of Insurance CDI) has secured between $37 million and $46 million in additional coverage from AIG for Sayre Fire survivors in Sylmar. Commissioner Poizner…
Disappearing Disability Insurance Fails Family
Disappearing Disability Insurance Fails Family

There’s no question that Jay Thompson is disabled. Three years, at age 44, he developed ALS — Lou Gehrig’s disease. Now he lays immobilized in a hospital bed. So the question is: What happened to his disability insurance? “We believed that it would take care…
Suing for Benefits: A Dilemma for the Disabled
Suing for Benefits: A Dilemma for the Disabled

Will your disability insurance cover you if you become ill and unable to work? Many advocates say probably not. People like Melinda Carstens say they found out how difficult it can be to try to fight an insurance company over their disability payments. Carstens said…
Make a human connection at your mortgage company
Make a human connection at your mortgage company

If your property has been damaged and you’ve filed an insurance claim, when your insurance company sends you a check to pay for the repairs, it will probably be made out to you and your mortgage company. You’ll need to negotiate with the mortgage company…
The high cost of quake insurance will rock your bank account
The high cost of quake insurance will rock your bank account
Is Green Insurance Worth the Price?
Is Green Insurance Worth the Price?

Insurers are increasingly offering insurance discounts if you already own an environmentally friendly home or car as well as additions to standard policies that cover the costs of going green when renovating after a loss. According to the Insurance Information Institute, as of last December,…
Hurricane Headache – Insurance Costs Keep Climbing
Hurricane Headache – Insurance Costs Keep Climbing

MOBILE, Ala. WALA) – If you own a home along the Gulf Coast, you learn to dread hurricane season. You worry about damage to your home and the damage to your wallet caused by ever increasing insurance rates. The problem is getting so bad, some…
Don’t Let the Economic Crunch Bite Your Car
Don’t Let the Economic Crunch Bite Your Car

Here’s a scenario that is going to become a lot more common: Joe Smith loses his job, and desperate to reduce expenses, drops his auto insurance. Distracted and nervous en route to a job interview, he hits your car. Guess whose insurance will be paying…
When money is tight, follow our tips before cutting or dropping coverage
When money is tight, follow our tips before cutting or dropping coverage

June 2009 When money is tight, follow our tips before cutting or dropping coverage. In these tough economic times, we are all looking for ways to cut expenses. It’s tempting to reduce insurance costs by lowering or dropping coverage. Before you take this risky step,…
Drive Less and Pay Less?
Drive Less and Pay Less?

It’s well known that carbon emissions from automobile exhaust are a leading contributor to global warming. Yet that doesn’t seem to be a compelling enough reason for most people to change their ways and cut back on their driving. Driving less is an excellent way…
AMA issues first report card on health insurers
AMA issues first report card on health insurers

Some health insurance companies rate doctors on their performance. Now doctors are turning the tables.The American Medical Association issued its first health insurance report card at the group’s annual meeting Monday. The primary focus is on how quickly and accurately doctors get paid.”Physicians are spending…
Short Cuts: The Peace of Mind of Home Insurance, Unless You Use It
Short Cuts: The Peace of Mind of Home Insurance, Unless You Use It

There is a saying among consumer advocates regarding homeowner’s insurance: “Use it and lose it.” It is not a phrase that insurance companies are particularly fond of. But it sums up how all too many people feel about their homeowner’s insurance: if you decide to…
What to look for in homeowners insurance
What to look for in homeowners insurance

NEW YORK CNN/Money) – Our homes are more than valuable assets. They’re safe havens, and protecting them with insurance is a must. How well you do that depends on the details of your policy. Here’s what to look for: Make sure you can rebuild The…