Poor credit history can harm your ability to buy home and car insurance
Poor credit history can harm your ability to buy home and car insurance

he cancellation of homeowner’s insurance policies in Florida based on consumers’ credit histories is drawing close scrutiny from state insurance officials. In a recent letter to Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, the state’s insurance consumer advocate, Robin Smith Westcott, criticized insurers for using legal claims and…
The costs of surviving cardiovascular disease: It’s enough to give you a heart attack!
The costs of surviving cardiovascular disease: It’s enough to give you a heart attack!

If you’re lucky enough to survive a heart attack or stroke, you may face another serious challenge: dealing with the medical bills. Strokes and heart attacks can financially devastate people who lack adequate health insurance, says Stephanie Mohl, government relations manager for the American Heart…
Gun owners arming themselves with lawyers even before shots are fired
Gun owners arming themselves with lawyers even before shots are fired

Beyond guilt or innocence, the case against Florida murder suspect George Zimmerman will undoubtedly leave him broke. The controversial concealed handgun license holder made headlines last spring when he claimed he killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense during a violent scuffle. Zimmerman hasn’t worked in…
Life insurance vs. long-term care insurance: Which do you need?
Life insurance vs. long-term care insurance: Which do you need?

While life insurance is designed to protect your loved ones when you die, long-term care insurance provides money to help you maintain a good quality of life while you’re alive. But with the rising costs of long-term care insurance, some Americans with limited money may…
New Breadwinner in the Household: How Does This Affect Life Insurance?
New Breadwinner in the Household: How Does This Affect Life Insurance?

In the current economy, many households are changing primary breadwinners. For example, after a stint as a stay-at-home parent, your husband decides to reenter the workforce. When he lands a job, your finances, day-to-day arrangements, and lifestyle may become very different. After such a change…
Most Americans uninformed about long-term care insurance
Most Americans uninformed about long-term care insurance
Tap in…
Tap in…

People who’ve negotiated their way through an insurance claim can be an excellent source of success strategies. Many members of UP’s staff and volunteer corps fit that bill. If you find yourself underinsured after a loss or need help getting your lender to release an…
How did a toddler have so much life insurance?
How did a toddler have so much life insurance?

AMONG THE haunting questions that need to be answered about the death of Prince McLeod Rams is one recently posed in a letter to this page. “What about the insurance companies,” Linda Cole wanted to know of the three firms that wrote policies totaling more…
6 myths about buying life insurance
6 myths about buying life insurance

Let’s talk about your death. Not much of a sales pitch, is it? Yet that’s precisely the body under the sheet we’re delicately avoiding when we consider buying life insurance. “They call it life insurance but it’s really death insurance. After all, you’ll never live…
Go Long?
Go Long?

We all want to be well cared for and comfortable in our old age without being a financial burden to our loved ones. Long Term Care insurance can make those wishes come true. But…if you have a LTC insurance policy or are thinking about buying…
3 Health Insurance Options That May Fail You
3 Health Insurance Options That May Fail You

If you lose of can’t find health insurance coverage, help is on the way. But you’ll have to wait awhile. Beginning in 2014, federal health care reform provisions kick in that will protect people who have pre-existing health conditions and others who are struggling to…
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…
Four life insurance riders to consider – and two to avoid
Four life insurance riders to consider – and two to avoid

If your life insurance policy seems inadequate, you can beef it up by adding optional life insurance riders. Riders are special features that can tack on benefits and bring flexibility to your coverage. However, not all life insurance riders are equally beneficial. “Some riders can…
Learn the Seven Things That Homeowners Should Know About Their Homeowners Insurance Policies
Learn the Seven Things That Homeowners Should Know About Their Homeowners Insurance Policies

Reviewing a homeowners’ insurance policy can be challenging, but with more insurers inserting provisions to shift risk and costs to homeowners, a careful read is more important than ever. To help with the process, the Consumer Federation of America CFA) and United Policyholders UP) released…
What’s In Your Life Insurance?
What’s In Your Life Insurance?

Life insurance is an integral part of an overall financial plan WHEN you have a need for life insurance.  The key here is the word “when”.   Some people just don’t have a need for life insurance.  If you have a need for life insurance,…
Is Your Homeowners Insurance Falling Short?
Is Your Homeowners Insurance Falling Short?

The Cleanup From Superstorm Sandy Has Been an Exercise in Frustration for Homeowners. Here’s How to Maximize Insurance Payouts—and Reduce the Hassle of Filing a Claim. Click here to read the whole article online.
Experts: Wider need for flood insurance
Experts: Wider need for flood insurance

Think you don’t need flood insurance because you don’t live near the ocean? Or because your mortgage company doesn’t require it? Or because you’re in a low to moderate hazard area according to the National Flood Insurance Program? Think again. If you’re near any body…
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:…