What you need to know when filing an insurance claim from the Sonoma County fires
What you need to know when filing an insurance claim from the Sonoma County fires

State Farm insurance agent Miguel Alfaro has taken hundreds of client calls since Monday from those who have lost so much in the region’s massive wildfires. Some are concerned that they may be underinsured. Some have smoke damage in their homes. Some lost their cars.…
A wildfire burned your home; here’s what you do next
A wildfire burned your home; here’s what you do next

5 tips to start rebuilding your home after a wildfire. While thousands of people are still evacuated, hundred have returned to their neighborhoods and found their homes in ruin. For those who lost their homes in the wildfires, there is a long road ahead as…
6 things fire disaster victims should do now
6 things fire disaster victims should do now

If your home was destroyed or damaged in the North Bay fires, here are six things you should do now. Take care of yourself and family. Get a roof over your head, talk to your employer, get your kids back in school when it’s possible…
Amid Wildfire Destruction, Report Reveals Most US Homes Underinsured
Amid Wildfire Destruction, Report Reveals Most US Homes Underinsured

As catastrophic wildfires incinerate homes and prompt evacuations across Northern California, an unsettling report has revealed that a majority of American homes are underinsured. According to data company CoreLogic, roughly 60 percent of homes are underinsured by an average of about 20 percent. In San…
As California burns, here’s what you need to know about fire insurance
As California burns, here’s what you need to know about fire insurance

Most homeowners insurance policies cover fire damage. But heads-up: That’s not the whole story. If you live in a high-risk area, such as near a canyon, you may need to pay more for additional coverage. And if, God forbid, a fire has devastated whole communities,…
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…