Rebuilding—if you don’t know, ask
Rebuilding—if you don’t know, ask

In 2011, a consumer advocacy group, United Policyholders, reported that at least 75 percent of the homeowners affected by the 2007 wildfires in San Bernardino and Riverside counties were underinsured by nearly a quarter of a million dollars. This amazing reality came after the catastrophic…
7 ways to investigate an insurance company online
7 ways to investigate an insurance company online

A consumer armed with a computer can find out a great deal about which insurance companies offer the most reliable service. You just have to know where to look online. David Cohen, CEO of Investigative Resources of Texas, says you can’t be too thorough. “You…
The 7 most terrifying car insurance words
The 7 most terrifying car insurance words

A car accident or major traffic violation can leave you rattled, but even scarier can be the effect on your car insurance rates . Here are seven words that are sure to send you screaming. 1. Surcharge If you think the embarrassment of causing a…
Two UP advisers score an important legal win for disability policyholders
Two UP advisers score an important legal win for disability policyholders

UP advisers and sponsors Daley, Debofsky and Bryant and Pillsbury and Levinson recently scored a victory for disability insurance policyholders in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the issue of how an annual bonus gets factored in when calculating lost income.
Tiny words… big $ meaning
Tiny words… big $ meaning

Disability insurance alert Losing your job and income due to a disabling injury or illness is a scary prospect. 3 in 10 workers will become disabled for some period of time before they retire. Yet people often overlook buying the insurance that replaces lost income.…
When it comes to home insurance, read the fine print
When it comes to home insurance, read the fine print

Andi O’Conor has twice lost a home to fire: The first time she was 12, the second time was two years ago. It was Labor Day. She was kayaking hundreds of miles away, when a friend told her about a wildfire near O’Conor’s home on…
Insured see climbing rates, as coverage declines
Insured see climbing rates, as coverage declines

Hurricanes, wildfires, hail storms: all the wild weather the past few years is taking a toll on homeowners’ insurance rates. Many premiums are up 10 percent or more this year. And you may be getting less for your money. Merle Scheiber filed his first-ever hail…
Can mortgage lenders hold your insurance money hostage?
Can mortgage lenders hold your insurance money hostage?

If your home has been seriously damaged or destroyed, your insurance company will release a check made out to both you and your mortgage lender to pay for the necessary repairs. “Lenders have a substantial investment in the property, sometimes more than the homeowner, especially…
Consumer Reports Rates Home Insurers
Consumer Reports Rates Home Insurers

Homeowners buy insurance to protect against disaster. But when disaster strikes, your insurer might not live up to your expectations, especially if you have a large claim, according to our survey of 11,250 subscribers who filed claims in the past few years. The greater the…
Let go (please) lender…
Let go (please) lender…

If you have a mortgage, the lender is almost always listed on your home insurance as an additional insured. So if your home is significantly damaged ($5,000 or more) and your insurer sends a check for the repairs, that check will usually be made out…
Homeowners offered new earthquake policy options
Homeowners offered new earthquake policy options

The California Earthquake Authority, hoping to increase the small percentage of people who have quake insurance, has introduced a line of policies called Choice that gives homeowners more coverage and premium options. For example, homeowners can pay a lower premium if they want to cover…
Enough’ Insurance is Often Not Enough
Enough’ Insurance is Often Not Enough

In the past few weeks, the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history claimed two lives, burned nearly 30 square miles and totally destroyed more than 350 homes. Like almost all homeowners everywhere in the United States, nearly everyone who lost their house to this massive…
Larimer County Holds Free Workshop for Fire Survivors on Insurance, Rebuilding & Recovery
Larimer County Holds Free Workshop for Fire Survivors on Insurance, Rebuilding & Recovery

Larimer County will hold a public update meeting for High Park and Woodland Heights Fire survivors on Thursday, August 2 beginning at 6:30p.m. in the Hearing Room, 1st floor, Larimer County Courthouse Offices Building, 200 West Oak Street, Fort Collins for information on how to…
Family: State Farm Forced Us Into Tent, Onto Food Stamps
Family: State Farm Forced Us Into Tent, Onto Food Stamps

Members of a Boulder County family whose home was damaged by smoke during the Four Mile fire say they’re now living in a tent because their insurance company stopped paying for repairs and stopped paying their temporary rent. Linda Tarr and her husband David Doherty…
Insurance Rates: Will Mother Nature Raise Yours?
Insurance Rates: Will Mother Nature Raise Yours?

The wildfires raging out West and the freakish storms that ravaged much of the east have property insurers scrambling to keep up with all the claims. The current blitz of wildfires in Colorado is already the most destructive in the state’s history, and the blazes…
More public meetings for fire survivors
More public meetings for fire survivors

The recovery process for survivors of the High Park Fire, their homes and land continues. Several workshops are planned to assist in the process. A Colorado State Forest Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Cache La Poudre Middle School, 3515…
ConsumerWatch: Hospital Lab Tests May Lead To Expensive Results
ConsumerWatch: Hospital Lab Tests May Lead To Expensive Results

Even for those with health insurance, lab tests can end up costing a fortune if patients don’t ask some questions first. Pamela Campbell knows firsthand. Last year, Campbell’s six-year-old son needed a series of blood tests. The Oakland mother said her pediatrician gave her a…
Check Up on Your Home Insurance
Check Up on Your Home Insurance

The national average premium for homeowners insurance will increase by 5% in 2012, according to forecasts by the Insurance Information Institute. That follows an increase of nearly 4% in 2011, and it will bring the average annual premium to an all-time high of $1,000. At…