March 20, 2014 ConsumerWatch: Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It? Despite the risk of earthquakes, an estimated 10 percent of California homeowners have earthquake insurance. KPIX 5 ConsumerWatch asks if the state’s earthquake insurance fund is healthy. Julie Watts reports.
March 18, 2014 How mortgage servicers are strong-arming the victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado among others) Unnatural Disaster: How mortgage servicers are strong-arming the victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado among others) On May 20, a massive EF5 tornado whipped through heavily populated Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 and injuring nearly 400. That tragedy has now shifted into the drudgery of recovery.…
March 17, 2014 Short-changed by insurance, Sandy victims fight back ASBURY PARK, N.J. — Since they bought their oceanfront home in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., 12 years ago, Carla and Vincent Vitale have spent almost $100,000 on insurance premiums. So when flood waters from Superstorm Sandy damaged the heating and electrical systems, they weren’t worried.…
March 7, 2014 Fire victims battle with insurance companies Nine months after the Black Forest fire, property owners are still fighting with insurance companies to pay for damages. To help fire victims file claims and handle disputes, United Policyholders hosted a “Roadmap to Recovery” meeting at Woodmen Valley Chapel in El Paso County Thursday…
March 3, 2014 How even good credit can be used against you ORLANDO, Fla. — Could a small change in your credit report trigger a big increase in your car insurance bill? An Orlando man claims he has a great credit score but when he had a minor change his premium jumped by nearly $1,000 a year.…
January 28, 2014 Flood Ebbs, Insurance Woes Don’t The mayor of Hoboken, N.J., isn’t the only one complaining that her Hurricane Sandy relief money has been held hostage. Some homeowners whose properties were damaged by the storm would say the same about their flood insurance carriers: More than a year after the hurricane…
January 28, 2014 How Much Health Insurance Should You Have? The short answer: enough to help you and your family weather an unexpected illness or injury and/or manage chronic health conditions without undue financial hemorrhaging. “You know you’ll likely need something, even if you’re a totally healthy person,” says Amy Bach, executive director of United…
January 28, 2014 How Much Life Insurance Should You Buy? How much life insurance do you need? The answer depends on several factors, including your age, the ages of your spouse and children, your income, your mortgage and other debts, college expenses for your children and/or spouse, and the size of the last bill you’ll…
January 28, 2014 Need life insurance? Consider these options for financial protection When you die, will your family be financially protected? That question remains unanswered by about 95 million Americans living without life insurance, says Marvin Feldman, president and CEO of the LIFE Foundation, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Va., that provides insurance resources for consumers. It’s…
January 28, 2014 Roof insurance: ACV versus replacement cost If you live in one of the states hardest hit by wind and hail damage these past few years, you may have a gaping hole in your roof insurance coverage without even knowing it. A string of unusually costly years for roof damage claims in…
January 16, 2014 Northridge Earthquake Anniversary: Despite retrofits, are homes any safer now? The 1994 Northridge earthquake — which shook Southern California 20 years ago Friday — caused $20 billion in damage, much of that to buildings. About 82,000 residential and commercial units were affected. Some homes were outright destroyed because they were not bolted to their foundations,…
January 15, 2014 How to Get Your Insurance Claim Paid When emergencies like car accidents, medical scares or house fires strike, filing an insurance claim may not be top of mind. But once the dust settles and the bills start pouring in, many consumers are relieved to know that insurance could help protect them against…
January 6, 2014 Buy, Rebuild or Cash Out To help all El Paso County residents with insurance questions United Policyholders, an experienced non-profit consumer group, will be hosting another one of its nationally recognized “Roadmap to Recovery” workshops from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9. This workshop is entitled “Buy, Rebuild…
January 6, 2014 When dents in your credit hit your car insurance rates You may or may not think it’s fair that your credit history could play a key role in setting your auto-insurance premiums – a long-running debate in insurance regulation, though a battle that insurers so far appear to have won. Only a handful of states…
December 27, 2013 Safety First For 2014: Do A Home Insurance Checkup Safety First For 2014: Do A Home Insurance Checkup By KATHLEEN DOLER, FOR INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY Posted 12/26/2013 06:25 PM ET View Enlarged Image Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires — some significant natural disasters made the news this year, from Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines to…
December 13, 2013 Flood insurance reform law – what it means to homeowners By Marjorie Musick The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 was passed in July and requires the National Flood Insurance Program NFIP) to raise insurance rates for some older properties in high-risk areas to reflect the true flood risk. Some homeowners have already received…
November 26, 2013 How Insurance Plays a Role in Disaster Recovery Each natural disaster reminds us of the value of insurance to protect our homes and businesses. But with the news filled with stories about homeowners still waiting to settle claims, or insurance covering less damage than expected, what is the role of private insurance in…