FEMA mulls overhaul of flood insurance program amid claims of fraud, lack of oversight
FEMA mulls overhaul of flood insurance program amid claims of fraud, lack of oversight

Lawmakers and federal officials trying to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program are considering dismantling a sprawling system that relies on more than 80 separate companies to sell policies, collect premiums and calculate damages after disasters. The move, in response to allegations that claims were…
Property owners face important deadlines on second anniversary of wildfire
Property owners face important deadlines on second anniversary of wildfire

El Paso County, CO, April 29, 2015 – With the two year anniversary of the Black Forest Fire approaching El Paso County reminds property owners to keep in mind important insurance deadlines. “Residents impacted by the Black Forest Fire need to meet certain deadlines in…
Bank’s offer of ‘free’ insurance is dubious way to appreciate customers
Bank’s offer of ‘free’ insurance is dubious way to appreciate customers

Sally Hwang recently spotted a payment of $8.10 on her checking account statement for accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Problem was, she had no recollection of signing up for such coverage. Worse, it appeared the Glendale resident had been making the payment every quarter for…
Insurances Companies To Use Facebook, Twitter Social Media Profiles To Set Rates
Insurances Companies To Use Facebook, Twitter Social Media Profiles To Set Rates
No secrets: What insurers know about you and how they use your personal data
No secrets: What insurers know about you and how they use your personal data

Before they decide how much you have to pay for your auto insurance, carriers probe deep into your background to determine how likely you are to file claims. Most consumers would be surprised to learn how much personal information is available to insurers, says Amy…
Tampered Engineering Reports Only the Beginning for Sandy Victims
Tampered Engineering Reports Only the Beginning for Sandy Victims

As a general contractor who specializes in insurance repairs, Larry Steimel with Pequannock, NJ-based LA Design and Construction has had a front row seat to some of the problems people have had rebuilding their homes. The biggest hurdle after Sandy, he says, has been the…
Will I really save on auto insurance as soon as I turn 25?
Will I really save on auto insurance as soon as I turn 25?

If you’re a driver under 25, you’ve probably heard of the money magic that’s supposed to happen when you reach the quarter-century milestone, such as being able to rent a car at a standard rate — without young-driver surcharges. Another big plus of hitting the…
Tips to avoid being ripped off when property is damaged by storms
Tips to avoid being ripped off when property is damaged by storms

SAGINAW, MI WNEM) -It’s severe weather season, so Angie’s List has put together some tips about how to avoid being ripped off if your property is damaged in the storm. 1. Avoid door-to-door solicitors Drifter companies often rush to disaster areas where widespread damage has…
The Big One Is Coming: Should Californians Get Earthquake Insurance?
The Big One Is Coming: Should Californians Get Earthquake Insurance?

In disaster movies, California gets hit hard: The Golden Gate Bridge has fallen umpteen times. Los Angeles has been flattened by megaquakes and monstrous destruction. And let’s not even talk about the damage wrought by cyborgs sent back in time to ensure a nuclear holocaust.…
Insurance commissioner, consumer advocate split over Allstate rates
Insurance commissioner, consumer advocate split over Allstate rates

In the California insurance world, activist Harvey Rosenfield and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones have been longtime collaborators. Until recently. Rosenfield, a feisty consumer advocate from Santa Monica, wrote Proposition 103, a landmark 1988 ballot measure that turned the insurance commissioner into an elected position. It…
Why your boss may be pushing HSAs and FSAs
Why your boss may be pushing HSAs and FSAs

Never heard of a health savings account HSA)? Or bothered with the flexible spending account FSA) offered by your employer? Chances are you soon will. Both health savings vehicles are moving into the spotlight as corporate America sheds its one-size-fits-all comprehensive health insurance model for…
Should You Bundle Your Insurance Coverage?
Should You Bundle Your Insurance Coverage?

Maybe you saw an ad on TV touting cost savings associated with bundling insurance — purchasing multiple policies, such as for home and auto, through the same company — or your insurance agent suggested it. “Usual discounts are about 5 to 20 percent depending on…
Sandy insurance settlements won’t make homeowners whole
Sandy insurance settlements won’t make homeowners whole

The flood-insurance settlements being brokered for superstorm Sandy victims may be a victory for thousands of homeowners who have long waited for money to rebuild. Yet many, if not most, are still apt to come out behind. Federal law limits how much the National Flood…
Why, and How, to Create a Home Inventory List
Why, and How, to Create a Home Inventory List

Getting robbed, or losing everything you own to a catastrophic event, are scenarios you’d probably rather not think about. Yet many people face these situations as a result of a house fire, tornado or other natural disaster or break-in. Hopefully you have home insurance or…
Best Insurance Moves for April: Spring Cleaning for Your Insurance
Best Insurance Moves for April: Spring Cleaning for Your Insurance

As you’re tackling dust bunnies and cluttered closets in your spring cleaning, don’t forget your insurance policies. They may need to be dusted off and refreshed, too. Reviewing and adjusting your insurance coverage is an important part of overall financial planning. Here’s what to look…
FEMA Seeks Thousands of Insurance Records
FEMA Seeks Thousands of Insurance Records

The Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA) is beginning its probe into the allegedly lowballed Superstorm Sandy claims by asking flood insurance companies to turn over thousands of records by the end of the week. The data request includes the name of the engineering company and…
Climate change calls for non-profit insurance
Climate change calls for non-profit insurance

In This Changes Everything, author Naomi Klein raises the question of how capitalist societies will “adapt” to the people made homeless and jobless by increasingly intense and frequent natural disasters. One of the issues she focuses on is the reaction of insurance companies, pointing out…
Best Insurance Moves for March
Best Insurance Moves for March

Spring is just around the bend, but that doesn’t mean you’re finished with rough weather. In fact, depending on where you live, snowmelt can create a new hazard — one that’s not covered by standard homeowners insurance. That makes March an ideal time to look…