September 11, 2017 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…
September 11, 2017 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…
September 2, 2017 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…
August 31, 2017 Clarifying the effect of Texas House Bill 1774 on Harvey insurance claims There has been some confusion about the effect of a new Texas law that limits the future legal rights of people and businesses that will be filing insurance claims for damage from Hurricane Harvey. The new law comes into play in situations where an insurance…
August 31, 2017 Claims Teams Begin Handling Onslaught of Harvey Claims Hurricane Harvey has set a U.S record, according to the National Weather Service, dumping 51.88 inches of rain in parts of Texas. As the tropical storm moves over southern Louisiana, claims catastrophe teams are moving in to devastated cities in Texas. AIR Worldwide reported severe…
August 30, 2017 Consider buying flood insurance Unless a bank requires you to buy it, you probably aren’t paying for flood insurance on your home. Maybe it’s because you don’t live near water. Maybe it’s because your community mapping is outdated. Maybe it’s because an insurance agent said you don’t need it. Maybe…
August 30, 2017 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…
August 30, 2017 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…
August 28, 2017 Basic Storm Stats – Texas Hurricane Harvey Dates of the hurricane: Incident Period: August 23-September 15, 2017 Major Disaster Declaration: August 25, 2017 Wind speed: 130mph (Category 4) at landfall in Rockport, Texas Peak rainfall:[1] 40-61 inches 51.88 inches fell in Cedar Bayou in less than five days Affected…
August 25, 2017 Be Prepared to Push Insurance Companies for Fair Treatment After Hurricane Harvey, UP Advises United Policyholders Offers Texans Free Home Inventory App, Provides Guidance to Residents for Before and After the Storm As Gulf Coast communities brace for Hurricane Harvey, the national insurance consumer non-profit United Policyholders UP) has a special message for Texans: “Be prepared to push for…
August 9, 2017 FEMA extends deadline for Superstorm Sandy flood insurance claims review The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended the deadline for policyholders to respond to its offers under the Superstorm Sandy flood insurance claims review process. Lack of responses Last month, FEMA sent out a letter notifying policyholders, many of whom had been offered money…
June 29, 2017 New York Regulator Seeks Details From Life Insurers Using Algorithms to Issue Policies New York’s top financial regulator is investigating life insurers’ use of big data, complicating the industry’s efforts to boost sales by forgoing medical examinations in favor of algorithms for sizing up risk. New York’s top financial regulator is investigating life insurers’ use of big data,…
June 22, 2017 Guest Blog: United Policyholders Amicus Project Scores Victory For Texas Homeowners and Businesses The availability of insurance coverage for loss or damage can hinge on the smallest details. Did your insurer record that it received your notice letter? Did your insurer’s investigator take note of those small but critical facts you pointed out during the investigation? Did you…
June 22, 2017 House Committee Adds 5 More Bills to Its Flood Insurance Reform Package The House Financial Services Committee advanced five flood insurance proposals on Wednesday, adding to the two bills it passed last week. The House measures seek to reform and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is set to expire on September 30, for five…
June 18, 2017 House Committee Advances 2 Flood Insurance Bills; More to Come The House Financial Services Committee on Thursday passed two bills to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). One is a broad reform proposal that seeks to encourage more private insurance and move the program toward actuarial-based rates, while the other addresses premium credits for…
June 12, 2017 Will private insurers rescue leaking flood insurance program – or drown it? Privatizing federal programs is a mantra of President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress. The National Flood Insurance Program NFIP) — up for renewal at the end of September — is a perfect target. Already in debt to the tune of $25 billion, plagued by scandals,…
June 4, 2017 The Ultimate Guide to Home Insurance for Dog Owners Shopping for home insurance can be a challenge if you have a dog–especially if its breed is seen as dangerous. This guide will help you get a policy and affordable rate) regardless. Sixty-five percent of US households have a pet, according to the 2015-2016 National…
June 1, 2017 The “Catch UP” webinar series: Successfully mediating insurance cases The fourth installment of Catch UP was a success! Catch UP on how to successfully mediate insurance cases. Registration fees support our non-profit’s important work empowering the insured. A recording of the webinar is available for purchase at www.uphelp.org/catchup. The one-hour long segment of Catch UP, hosted…
