Natural Disaster Insurance: Do You Need It?
Natural Disaster Insurance: Do You Need It?

With the news media filled with stories lately about natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires, many consumers may be wondering when to purchase additional insurance to protect their homes from Mother Nature. My husband and I certainly have been concerned with the topic since…
Policyholders limited in how low they can go with contents coverage
Policyholders limited in how low they can go with contents coverage

Keith Brannon has been living a minimalist’s life since Hurricane Katrina. Like many New Orleanians, Brannon dragged the entire contents of his house to the curb when his Broadmoor-Fontainebleau area home flooded and moldered in the storm. He has replaced only the bare essentials. “We…
New company could help Allstate keep agents and other business
New company could help Allstate keep agents and other business

Besides giving Allstate Corp. more control over prices, North Light Specialty Insurance Co. could help the parent company retain its agents and other insurance business. Unlike an independent insurance agent, who can sell policies from a number of different companies, Allstate employs what are called…
State Negotiates Deal for Sayre Fire Victims
State Negotiates Deal for Sayre Fire Victims

Mobile home owners whose properties were destroyed by the 2008 Sayre Fire and who were insured by AIG will receive as much as an extra $125,000 from their policy under an agreement announced today by the state insurance commissioner. The Sylmar-area fire destroyed 485 mobile…
California Senate insurance panel hires former State Farm lawyer
California Senate insurance panel hires former State Farm lawyer

Reporting from Sacramento — A state legislative committee overseeing the insurance industry has hired a former lawyer for State Farm as a top advisor, alarming consumer activists who say the move is the latest spin of a busy revolving door between government and the industry.…
Southland homeowners at risk for mudslides have trouble finding insurance
Southland homeowners at risk for mudslides have trouble finding insurance

Some residents of areas burned by the Station fire are buying flood policies on top of fire and earthquake plans, hoping that at least one will accept mudslide damage claims. Charred slopes in the foothills towering above William Johnson’s La Cañada Flintridge home are now…
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…
Consumer advocates ask Gov. Crist to veto home insurance deregulation
Consumer advocates ask Gov. Crist to veto home insurance deregulation

Four consumer advocacy groups implored Gov. Charlie Crist today to veto a bill that would allow large insurers to charge essentially unregulated rates. “This bill is an invitation for insurers to game the Florida regulatory system and abuse consumers,” said officials from the Consumer Federation…
Three of the four largest homeowners insurance companies in the state are raising their rates
Three of the four largest homeowners insurance companies in the state are raising their rates

Three of Alabama’s four largest home insurers are raising rates, although State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., the state’s largest, is giving coastal residents something of a break. No. 1 State Farm, No. 2 Alfa Mutual group and No. 4 Farmers Insurance Group — the…
Sylmar’s Sayre Fire Survivors Get Just Rewards from AIG
Sylmar’s Sayre Fire Survivors Get Just Rewards from AIG

Outstanding! The settlement reached this week by the California Department of Insurance and AIG provides additional insurance coverage to Sylmar wildfire survivors who lost their homes in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park last November. News reports say the CDI/AIG settlement amount is reportedly between $37…
Consumer Advocates Wary of Federal Insurance Regulation Plans
Consumer Advocates Wary of Federal Insurance Regulation Plans

Some of the nation’s insurance consumer advocates are wary of current proposals for federal regulation of insurance being passed around in Washington. They prefer taking their chances with an imperfect state regulatory system over what they fear would likely emerge from Congress under any federal…
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…
UP named among 100 most useful money websites
UP named among 100 most useful money websites

Here are my favorite Internet destinations that deal with money. All are worth bookmarking. But I’d like your help in discovering other cool sites. I love stumbling across insanely useful new Web sites. I’ve highlighted some in my columns and blog posts, but there always…
Crist close to decision on property insurance bill
Crist close to decision on property insurance bill

TALLAHASSEE — Both supporters and opponents of a bill that would partially deregulate Florida’s property insurance market are fiercely lobbying Gov. Charlie Crist as he nears a decision about whether to sign the bill or follow his apparent instinct to veto it. Crist formally received…
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,”…
Appeal would reveal claims denied
Appeal would reveal claims denied

A Coast policyholder is appealing to the state Supreme Court for access to Mississippi Insurance Department records that would show the dollar amount of Katrina claims denied by insurance companies. Long Beach policyholder Kevin Buckel filed a written request in January 2009 for records showing…
Crist Signals Opposition To ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill
Crist Signals Opposition To ‘Consumer Choice’ Bill

NU Online News Service, May 28, 11:36 a.m. EDT Florida Gov. Charlie Crist yesterday indicated he may veto the “Consumer Choice” bill that would eliminate rate restrictions on some home insurance. The governor said an unregulated insurance industry would be unfair to consumers. His comments…
’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…