California Today: Now Comes the Insurance Challenge
California Today: Now Comes the Insurance Challenge

New York Times – Hundreds of anguished Californians who lost their homes in an outbreak of wildfires this week now get to face another burden: dealing with insurers. Some are almost certain to experience a rude awakening. Roughly 60 percent of American homes are underinsured…
Amy Bach Honored by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform
Amy Bach Honored by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform

Amy Bach of United Policyholders was honored as the Consumer Champion by the Florida Association for Insurance Reform. I was privileged to deliver the introduction for Amy as seen in the above video. Merlin Law Group has been an active and long-time financial and pro…
Why Puerto Rico faces a monumental recovery effort
Why Puerto Rico faces a monumental recovery effort

USA TODAY – Almost a week after Hurricane Maria pounded its way across Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph, the outlook for anything but a long and arduous recovery is bleak. FEMA reported Tuesday that only 11 of…
New York Today: Do I Need Flood Insurance?
New York Today: Do I Need Flood Insurance?

Hurricane Jose weakened to a tropical storm this morning, but it could still bring rain during the morning commute and whip up strong winds during the day. New York City was spared a direct hit by Jose, but the storm flooded areas from New Jersey…
San Diego Could Face $40B In Earthquake Damage. So Why Are So Few People Insured?
San Diego Could Face $40B In Earthquake Damage. So Why Are So Few People Insured?

San Diego got an eye-opening report last week about its earthquake risk. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute reported that San Diego’s Rose Canyon fault could trigger a 6.9 magnitude quake, resulting in up to 2,000 fatalities and $40 billion in property damage. The study underscored…
States Need Better Protections for Insurance Consumers in Natural Disasters: Rutgers Report
States Need Better Protections for Insurance Consumers in Natural Disasters: Rutgers Report

As homeowners continue to file insurance claims in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, a research report released by the Rutgers Center for Risk and Responsibility at the Rutgers Law School in Camden, N.J., suggests many could find that their level of protection depends…
Rutgers/UP Report Recommends Law Changes to Protect Home Insurance Consumers
Rutgers/UP Report Recommends Law Changes to Protect Home Insurance Consumers

As homeowners affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma file insurance claims, many will find out that the level of protection they have when there are problems dealing with their insurance companies depends on the state where their damaged home is located. Research by Jay Feinman…
Local insurance agents busy with Irma claims from WNYers in Florida
Local insurance agents busy with Irma claims from WNYers in Florida

BUFFALO, N.Y. WIVB)- Millions of dollars are at stake as homeowners from Texas and Florida submit insurance claims to help cover the damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. For the Vice President of Personal Insurance at Key Insurance and Benefits Services, this means a…
Lakers Get Support [from United Policyholders] In Bid To Undo TCPA Coverage Loss
Lakers Get Support [from United Policyholders] In Bid To Undo TCPA Coverage Loss

A nonprofit policyholder advocacy group on Monday urged the full Ninth Circuit to ax a panel’s decision that the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t covered for class allegations that the team sent unwanted text messages to fans in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, saying…
10 tips for dealing with hurricane damage to your home
10 tips for dealing with hurricane damage to your home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you have damage in your home due to a hurricane, there are several things you need to know: 1. If you have flood insurance, you must notify your insurance provider within 60 days of the flood damage. The National Flood Insurance…
11 Tips on dealing with your insurance company
11 Tips on dealing with your insurance company

If you have damage in your home due to Harvey, there are several things you need to know. 1. If you have flood insurance, you must notify your insurance provider within 60 days of the flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program has a step…
Insurers ache for qualified inspectors after US hurricanes
Insurers ache for qualified inspectors after US hurricanes

Insurers are scrambling to find inspectors in Texas and Florida after fierce hurricanes battered the states one after the other, causing tens of billions of dollars’ worth of property damage in less than two weeks. Although insurers maintain some number of inspectors, known as claims…
‘Hurricane Deductibles’ Shift Home-Repair Costs to Consumers
‘Hurricane Deductibles’ Shift Home-Repair Costs to Consumers

Harvey and Irma could trigger requirement that homeowners pay percentage of insured value of property. Tens of thousands of homeowners hit by Hurricane Harvey may soon find out they are on the hook for extra payments under their insurance policies, and that number could rise…
Why your disaster kit needs a home inventory
Why your disaster kit needs a home inventory

Imagine losing everything in a disaster like Hurricane Harvey, then having to list all of your possessions to file an insurance claim — every plate, holiday decoration and piece of clothing for starters. Without a home inventory, this would be the toughest memory test you’d…
Harvey is a wake-up call to check your homeowners insurance
Harvey is a wake-up call to check your homeowners insurance

Sure, you have homeowners insurance, but there’s a good chance you don’t have enough. CoreLogic says 1 in 4 homes are underinsured by at least 20 percent. With the average home price up more than 30 percent over the past five years, cruising Zillow, Trulia…
Private flood insurance may be option for homeowners in water’s way
Private flood insurance may be option for homeowners in water’s way

Larry Blair of San Mateo buys flood insurance only because his lender requires it, and for years he thought his only option was the National Flood Insurance Program. Then he read about private flood insurance on a Facebook page for people in his North Shoreview…
After the storm: How to fight your insurance company
After the storm: How to fight your insurance company

If the aftermath of past hurricanes is any indication, many Texas homeowners will have to do battle with their insurance companies when Harvey finally runs out of wind and water. “Prepare to push for a fair and full insurance settlement,” said Amy Bach, executive director…
Forbes Op-Ed: Insurance Isn’t Going to Help Harvey Victims
Forbes Op-Ed: Insurance Isn’t Going to Help Harvey Victims

Once again, a storm has devastated a region and broken records. Hurricane Harvey dropped so much rain on Texas, the National Weather Service had to add new colors to its map graphics. Where will the money come from to repair the damage? We know it…