New York Law School – Updates for Students From Dean Anthony Crowell Re: Superstorm Sandy
New York Law School – Updates for Students From Dean Anthony Crowell Re: Superstorm Sandy

Updates for Students From Dean Anthony Crowell Dear Students, As New York City and the metropolitan area continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy, we hope all of the members of our community and their families are safe and faring well through the disruptions caused by…
Seven Things All Homeowners Should Know About Their Homeowners Insurance
Seven Things All Homeowners Should Know About Their Homeowners Insurance

Superstom Sandy revealed many of the problems homeowners may encounter when navigating the claims process after a natural disaster. Here are some tips from the Consumer Federation of America CFA) and United Policyholders UP) on what consumers should look out for when reviewing their policies:…
Money Heroes: Three Guardians Protecting Consumers’ Finances
Money Heroes: Three Guardians Protecting Consumers’ Finances

Ensuring benefits for policyholders Amy Bach On a crusade since: 1984 Day job: Executive director of United Policyholders Achievement: Advocates for, and assists, insurance customers Why she’s a hero: Representing a New York State agency on an insurance task force in the 1980s, Bach saw…
Driver Protection or Loss of Choice? NY SUM Debate Awaits Approval
Driver Protection or Loss of Choice? NY SUM Debate Awaits Approval

When the New York Legislature passed amendment S. 7787/ A. 10784 in June, there were both cheers and jeers. It’s now the center of a debate between those who believe it’s protection for drivers and others who think it’s a loss of choice for consumers.…
Is your insurance company spying on you?
Is your insurance company spying on you?

In a plugged-in, digitized, 24/7 world, it’s tough to keep your personal information private. So, in this hyper-digital age, just how much does your insurance company really know about you? “A lot more than most consumers realize,” says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders,…
Bach to moderate water damage panel at First Party Claims Conference
Bach to moderate water damage panel at First Party Claims Conference

UP Executive Director Amy Bach will be moderating a panel of experts on water damage claims during the First Party Claims Conference in Rhode Island in October. This unique conference brings together experts from both the policyholder and insurer side and is a great place…
Two UP advisers score an important legal win for disability policyholders
Two UP advisers score an important legal win for disability policyholders

UP advisers and sponsors Daley, Debofsky and Bryant and Pillsbury and Levinson recently scored a victory for disability insurance policyholders in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the issue of how an annual bonus gets factored in when calculating lost income.
Does your state insurance regulator make the grade?
Does your state insurance regulator make the grade?

When it comes to insurance, every state handles regulation differently, and this plays a significant role in whether a company wants to do business there. That’s why the folks at the nonprofit public policy think tank R Street Institute thought it was important to produce…
U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act almost entirely
U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act almost entirely

On June 28th, 2012 the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) including its key requirement that all Americans purchase health insurance starting in 2014. This requirement – often referred to as the “individual mandate” will allow…
Health care law saves consumers over $1 billion
Health care law saves consumers over $1 billion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 21, 2012 Health care law saves consumers over $1 billion Health care law provides rebates to more than 12 million consumers Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 12.8 million Americans will benefit from $1.1 billion…
Roofing Regulation Causes Last Minute Controversy
Roofing Regulation Causes Last Minute Controversy

A bill designed to protect homeowners when hiring a roofing company is on its way to Governor Hickenlooper’s office, but critics are spearheading an effort to get the measure vetoed. Their concern with the bill is the way it could be interpreted. Colorado’s historic hail…
NAIC P/C Committee Sets New Disaster Charge, Draws Fire on Transparency
NAIC P/C Committee Sets New Disaster Charge, Draws Fire on Transparency

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’Property and Casualty Insurance Committee voted at its spring meeting to hold a public hearing on whether the organization should create model guidelines for processing claims in the wake of a natural disaster. But in the process, the committee drew…
Allstate Doubles Profits in Q4
Allstate Doubles Profits in Q4

Allstate Corp. reported that its profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter thanks to lower catastrophe losses and improved homeowners business.The big insurance company posted a fourth quarter net profit of $724 million compared to a fourth quarter profit of $296 million a year…
Life insurers settle with regulators and agree to be more pro-active in seeking out beneficiaries
Life insurers settle with regulators and agree to be more pro-active in seeking out beneficiaries

The California Department of Insurance and six other states have negotiated a $17 million settlement with Prudential Insurance Co. to speed up payouts to life insurance beneficiaries.The settlement requires Prudential to regularly check the Social Security “Death Master” file to determine whether any of its…
CFA: Insurers Becoming Experts at Risk-Avoidance
CFA: Insurers Becoming Experts at Risk-Avoidance

Insurers are shifting the cost of risk to consumers and taxpayers, side stepping their traditional role of risk-takers and becoming experts at risk-avoidance, according to a report from the Consumer Federation of America.The study titled, “The Insurance Industry’s Incredible Disappearing Weather Catastrophe Risk,” asserts that…
Here’s the scoop: Bat poop leads to legal fight over home insurance claim
Here’s the scoop: Bat poop leads to legal fight over home insurance claim

Homeowners worried about problems that their insurance policies might not cover can add one more item to the list: bat scat. That’s right, bat poop. In a case so strange that many insurance experts say they’ve never heard of a similar one, the Wisconsin Supreme…
Car repair shops getting squeezed by insurers: Consumers Beware
Car repair shops getting squeezed by insurers: Consumers Beware

Car repair shops across the country say insurance companies are controlling their prices by steering customers toward preferred businesses that do their bidding.Several business owners in Central Iowa took their complaint to the governor’s office in September, and state legislators will likely address the issue…
New York Insurance Department acts to protect consumers against unfair practices related to Retained Asset Accounts (Life Insurance policy features)
New York Insurance Department acts to protect consumers against unfair practices related to Retained Asset Accounts (Life Insurance policy features)

CUOMO ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO PROTECT INSURANCE BENEFITS OF NEW YORK SOLDIERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES Superintendent Lawsky Announces Life Insurers Should Pay Full Benefits Owed To Survivors And Not Hold Funds In Their Own Accounts Unless Soldiers And Their Families Expressly Choose That OptionBenjamin M.…