November 6, 2013 United States Senate Hearing – One Year Later: Examining the Ongoing Recovery From Hurricane Sandy
November 6, 2013 United States Senate Hearing – One Year Later: Examining the Ongoing Recovery From Hurricane Sandy

http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/emdc/hearings/one-year-later-examining-the-ongoing-recovery-from-hurricane-sandy
Bach Talk – Regulators should review policies and get more resources
Bach Talk – Regulators should review policies and get more resources

A recent California legal case shines light on a fact that will surprise many, but not me:  California’s Insurance Commissioner, considered by many to be the most diligent consumer advocate among the 50 state’s regulators – does not as a matter of course, review, approve…
Flood insurance program extends Proof of Loss deadline for Sandy claims
Flood insurance program extends Proof of Loss deadline for Sandy claims

On October 1st, 2013, the National Flood Insurance Program extended the deadline for filing Superstorm Sandy proofs of loss for another 6 months past the current October 28th, 2013 deadline. United Policyholders commends the program for giving this much needed breathing room to property owners.…
Raising the roof on home insurance fine print
Raising the roof on home insurance fine print

Dean Jarvis is a State Farm agent in Tennessee who believes that home insurance should protect a person’s home.  He’s blown the whistle on a reduced coverage product that Allstate rolled out in Oklahoma and has now gotten the OK to sell in many other…
Flood insurance prices expected to surge
Flood insurance prices expected to surge

A tide of flood insurance rate increases is rolling in, despite the efforts of state and federal legislators to stem it in waterlogged areas, with 25 percent hikes in the offing beginning Oct. 1, 2013. The nonprofit consumer group United Policyholders, which provides insurance advice…
Outrage as Homeowners Prepare for Substantially Higher Flood Insurance Rates
Outrage as Homeowners Prepare for Substantially Higher Flood Insurance Rates
UP Executive Director addresses insurer General Counsels on improving UM/UIM
UP Executive Director addresses insurer General Counsels on improving UM/UIM
Toomey, Menendez clash on flood insurance
Toomey, Menendez clash on flood insurance

WASHINGTON – A debate over the federal flood insurance program sparked cross-river crossfire today, with New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez clashing with Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey over a plan to hold down premiums. Toomey, using procedural rules, blocked a plan to delay federal…
Courts toss homeowners’ insurance regulation
Courts toss homeowners’ insurance regulation

A judge has thrown out a state regulation that insurers said allows the insurance commissioner to decide on his own what constitutes an unfair business practice — a designation that can carry severe penalties for companies and their agents. Insurers said the court’s decision was…
Should states ban credit-based insurance scoring?
Should states ban credit-based insurance scoring?

Drivers in Texas who have bruised credit soon could have one less thing to worry about when buying insurance. A bill pending in the state Senate would prevent insurance companies in Texas from using credit-based insurance scores to determine how much to charge policyholders for…
Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims: An exercise in exasperation, homeowners say
Hurricane Sandy Flood Insurance Claims: An exercise in exasperation, homeowners say

Meg Kelly uses three images when summing up her experience with Hurricane Sandy.First, the freight train: the thundering wind gusts that barreled through her Neptune neighborhood the night of Oct. 29.Then, the tsunami: the punishing surge that sprang from the surrounding bay and deluged the…
New York Regulator Says Sandy Complaints Show Need for Uniformity, Clarity in Policies
New York Regulator Says Sandy Complaints Show Need for Uniformity, Clarity in Policies

BY MARK E. RUQUET, PROPERTYCASUALTY360February 27, 2013 New York’s top insurance regulator says Superstorm Sandy has revealed glaring gaps in consumer knowledge about coverages, and has highlighted the need for uniformity and clarity in property-insurance policies.Addressing members of the State Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance…
Mississippi State Senate Fails Homeowners Again
Mississippi State Senate Fails Homeowners Again

Citizen activist Kevin Buckel continues to work tirelessly to reform the laws in his state to better protect consumers against unfair insurance practices. Despite many setbacks, Kevin has scored important victories: Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney now supports legislation to keep the burden of proof on…
Hurricane deductible reform legislation proposed in NY
Hurricane deductible reform legislation proposed in NY

http://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com/uploads/file/S_%201760.pdf
Storm of Money: Small insurance reform groups along U.S. coast take on industry Goliaths
Storm of Money: Small insurance reform groups along U.S. coast take on industry Goliaths

Six years ago, a group of church volunteers in Gulf Shores, Ala., went door to door to “find out where the pain was,” said Michelle Kurtz, one of the leaders. They heard stories about drainage problems and drugs, but to their surprise, one concern generated…
The dangers of letting your life insurance lapse
The dangers of letting your life insurance lapse

It’s one of the life insurance industry’s best-kept secrets – a great number of life insurance policies in the U.S. tend to lapse, meaning the coverage runs out and is not available if you die. Some studies claim as many as 80 percent of policies…
Rhode Island, Connecticut Issue Cat Reporting Updates
Rhode Island, Connecticut Issue Cat Reporting Updates

The Connecticut and Rhode Island insurance departments have issued requirements for catastrophe claims reporting related to Storm Sandy. Both Departments have specific due dates for the claims data reports. The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation also provided information on key regulatory compliance subjects including…
Doubts Raised About NFIP Borrowing Authority Increase
Doubts Raised About NFIP Borrowing Authority Increase

BY ARTHUR D. POSTAL, PROPERTYCASUALTY360.COM The fate of what is seen as a needed increase in the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program before year-end is in doubt as Congress breaks until Wednesday. For one thing, as of this morning, opposition in the…