Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help after State Farm won’t take on new policies for property owners
Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help after State Farm won’t take on new policies for property owners

Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help New neighborhoods going up in the Foothills could be in the path of grassfires, and homeowners are required to have insurance. But some are asking now what? State Farm announced it would no longer be accepting new…
California’s largest homeowner insurance provider no longer writing new policies
California’s largest homeowner insurance provider no longer writing new policies

While State Farm’s decision impacts potential new customers, those who currently hold a homeowner’s policy with State Farm will continue to be covered. California’s largest provider of homeowner insurance says that it will no longer write any new policies for both personal and business properties.…
Getting Answers: What does State Farm’s updated insurance policy mean for Californians?
Getting Answers: What does State Farm’s updated insurance policy mean for Californians?

When State Farm recently announced it would not accept new home insurance policies in California, it sent a ripple effect throughout the market. The state’s largest property insurer said it would not drop existing customers. People living in the Sierra Foothills know nature and uncertainty…
Victory for Pharma Giant Merck in NotPetya Cyber Attack Suit Redefines “Act of War” Insurance Claims
Victory for Pharma Giant Merck in NotPetya Cyber Attack Suit Redefines “Act of War” Insurance Claims

A long-simmering suit involving pharmaceutical giant Merck and the 2017 NotPetya cyber attack has finally been ruled on, and the victory for Merck means that cyber insurers now have much less ground to stand on when denying insurance claims on an “act of war” basis.…
Merck’s $1.4 billion cyberattack claim – the specter of NotPetya
Merck’s $1.4 billion cyberattack claim – the specter of NotPetya

Court ruled insurers could not rely on exclusion A US state appeals court last week dealt a blow to a group of insurers relying on a war exclusion to avoid paying up for a chunk of a $1.4 billion insurance claim from NotPetya cyberattack victim…
Merck cyber coverage upheld in NotPetya decision, seen as victory for policyholders
Merck cyber coverage upheld in NotPetya decision, seen as victory for policyholders

A court victory in the closely watched insurance case is expected to stabilize a turbulent market and provide some assurance for organizations amid a rise in nation-state activity. A New Jersey appellate court upheld a prior ruling in favor of Merck, a major pharmaceutical company…
Emergency Prep: Your money and preparing for debilitating financial disasters
Emergency Prep: Your money and preparing for debilitating financial disasters

Residents of California know we should have an emergency preparedness kit and be ready for disasters such as earthquakes and wildfires. But have you thought about disaster preparedness for your finances? Take some steps now to organize important documents and plan how you’ll access them…
New Jersey Appeals Court Affirms War Exclusion Does Not Apply to Cyber Attack
New Jersey Appeals Court Affirms War Exclusion Does Not Apply to Cyber Attack

The appellate division of New Jersey Superior Court has upheld a state trial court opinion that the war exclusion in drugmaker Merck & Co.’s all-risk property insurance policies does not apply in the case of the cyber attack that the company suffered in 2017. The…
Car flies into Placer County home, couple reportedly left in limbo with insurance
Car flies into Placer County home, couple reportedly left in limbo with insurance

PLACER COUNTY – A Placer County couple found themselves living in a trailer on their property after a car flew into the second story of their home last weekend. Turns out, that is not the only surprise they’re facing. After a painstakingly long process to…
Dehumanizing and Traumatic: Underinsurance Following a Major Disaster Can Be a Daunting Hill to Climb Alone
Dehumanizing and Traumatic: Underinsurance Following a Major Disaster Can Be a Daunting Hill to Climb Alone

Insurance companies have resisted changes to the industry that would benefit survivors of natural disasters, making it more difficult for homeowners facing this dire situation. The second moment of trauma There is another looming moment not often talked about that comes in the wake of…
How homeowners can protect their investment from a tornado
How homeowners can protect their investment from a tornado

In aftermath of the deadly tornadoes that ripped across parts of the Midwest and South this week, homeowners may rightfully be nervous about whether they are financially protected against potentially devastating storms. The last three years have had the highest insured losses on record from…
Was your home damaged in a tornado? Here’s what to do next
Was your home damaged in a tornado? Here’s what to do next

Deadly storms in the past two weeks have unleashed dozens of tornadoes in the United States, mainly in the South and Midwest, killing at least 63 people and damaging or destroying hundreds of people’s homes. This year’s early severe weather, especially in the Midwest, is…
Right on the Money: Will this claim make my insurance go up?
Right on the Money: Will this claim make my insurance go up?

When it’s springtime in Texas, that question gets asked a lot. Some answers and advice about property damage and insurance. Because I do so many housing stories, I decided to hit a really large stack of books and go through the Texas real estate agent…
Floods, Fires … and Home Insurance Claims
Floods, Fires … and Home Insurance Claims

Here’s a scary statistic: About 70 percent of homeowners who filed claims after the 2020 California wildfires reported problems with their insurer, including difficulty getting claims paid, according to a survey by United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advises consumers on insurance claims. That’s just one…
Just when we need it, almost no one in California has flood insurance
Just when we need it, almost no one in California has flood insurance

As rain continues to pummel the state, Californians are facing a grim reality. Storms have caused billions of dollars in damages, yet only a fraction is covered by insurance, leaving homeowners to pay out of pocket for repairs. It can run in hundreds of thousands…
Insurance consumer advocate group unveils state-by-state guide to insurance legal rights
Insurance consumer advocate group unveils state-by-state guide to insurance legal rights

For Immediate Release:  March 13, 2023 Contact: Amy Bach, Executive Director SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2023 – United Policyholders (UP), a national insurance consumer advocacy non-profit, today announced a major expansion of its services. Insurance company claim adjusters are required to know and follow the…
Floods, Fires… and Home Insurance Claims
Floods, Fires… and Home Insurance Claims

Collecting on your policy after a disaster can be another ordeal. These tips could help smooth the process Here’s a scary statistic: About 70 percent of homeowners who filed claims after the 2020 California wildfires reported problems with their insurer, including difficulty getting claims paid,…
How to Prepare For a Hurricane and Other Natural Disasters
How to Prepare For a Hurricane and Other Natural Disasters

It’s natural to worry about the effect of wildfires, floods and other natural disasters on your home. Get ready for whatever might come your way. As a resident of storm-prone central Florida for close to 40 years, Rich Franco is prepared for pretty much anything…