Just asking about an insurance claim can make your rate go up
Just asking about an insurance claim can make your rate go up

By: Jonnelle Marte, The Washington PostMost people know that filing frequent insurance claims can lead to a spike in what they pay for coverage.But many probably don’t realize that just asking an insurance agent about a potential claim can also affect rates — even if…
Dallas-area insurers see spike in calls about quake policies
Dallas-area insurers see spike in calls about quake policies

Earthquake insurance isn’t exactly a familiar product to Texas homeowners, unlike their counterparts in quake-prone California. But after a series of earthquakes were recorded in a swarm last week near State Highways 114 and 183 in Irving, insurance companies have started receiving calls from consumers…
Small words big difference
Small words big difference

Most people buy life insurance as soon as they have kids. Far fewer shell out for a disability policy, even people whose income keeps a roof over their family’s head and food in their bellies. To most people (and employers that provide benefits), a disability…
The Insurance Market Mystifies an Airbnb Host
The Insurance Market Mystifies an Airbnb Host

So let’s say you decided to place your home or a few rooms inside it among the million-plus listings that the rental site Airbnb now claims to have. And let’s also say that you’re the rule-abiding sort and find the part of the company’s website…
Purely a bad idea – “Purely Cosmetic” Exclusion
Purely a bad idea – “Purely Cosmetic” Exclusion

Thanks for giving: Your ideas and your skills Thanks for putting UP in your wills! Thanks for the info, donations and scoop Thanks to those who keep us in the loop Now here’s our tip for the month of November A question we want you…
What a weekend!
What a weekend!

The UP Team was out and about on Saturday participating in three educational events in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego. In San Francisco, UP Executive Director Amy Bach and Staff Attorney Dan Wade joined the Consumer Attorneys of California at their Annual Convention. UP organized…
Who’s got home insurance discounts for you?
Who’s got home insurance discounts for you?

Just as car insurers dole out discounts to entice drivers, home insurance companies are willing to do the same for homeowners who do their part in mitigating loss. “It’s all about risk reduction,” says Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, a New…
Does Insurance Cover Ebola Care?
Does Insurance Cover Ebola Care?

Your chances of getting Ebola in the U.S. are very slim. But if you do, who’s footing the bill? Ebola care is pricey, with estimates ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per day, according to several health care analysts and experts who spoke to TIME. Some…
New Mexico fourth most expensive state for homeowners insurance claims
New Mexico fourth most expensive state for homeowners insurance claims

New Mexico is an extremely pricey state for homeowner’s insurance, according to a new study. The study, published by insurancequotes.com, looked at the rise in homeowners insurance premiums after making claims and found that the average premium for New Mexico policyholders rises by nearly 19…
Shake it UP
Shake it UP

“Out of sight out of mind, and I prefer it that way” is most Californians’ view of earthquakes. But the UP team sees disasters up close and personal and we know how a few simple preparedness steps can make the difference between recovery and ruin.…
Living in wildfire country? Make sure you clear a defensible space and update your insurance
Living in wildfire country? Make sure you clear a defensible space and update your insurance

There’s nothing like a mountain cabin for a great vacation getaway, a retirement home or simply a quiet and beautiful place to live. But the relaxed pace of living and the fresh scent of pine trees come with a risk — the threat of wildfires…
Live In a Multigenerational Home? Time to Revisit Your Insurance Coverage
Live In a Multigenerational Home? Time to Revisit Your Insurance Coverage

Boomerang kids – adult children moving back in with mom and dad while they save money or search for jobs – aren’t the only ones shacking up in spare bedrooms or basement suites. Rising nursing home costs have also caused many older Americans to move…
Back home safe and sound
Back home safe and sound

We’ve worked a lot of disasters. But this month a hurricane hit too close to home. While on a well-deserved vacation in Mexico, our Program Coordinator was caught in the path of Hurricane Odile. After being stranded for 5 days without power, running water, cell…
Who Should Have Earthquake Insurance?
Who Should Have Earthquake Insurance?

Listen to the audio online Download audio MP3) Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A passerby stops to look at a collapsed carport following the 6.0 South Napa Earthquake on August 24, 2014. Last weekend’s South Napa Earthquake is a dramatic reminder to Bay Area property owners that…
Buying the Right Auto Insurance for Your Teen Driver
Buying the Right Auto Insurance for Your Teen Driver

When parents of a teen first watch their baby take the wheel, they may be too busy seeing the years flash before their eyes to focus on insurance for the family’s newest driver. Putting a new teen driver on the road can be scary —…
Should Insurance Companies Be Able to Consider Your Credit History?
Should Insurance Companies Be Able to Consider Your Credit History?

Most people know that their credit score impacts their ability to get a loan and even a job in some states – but what about their ability to get insurance? While insurance companies don’t use your credit score, many – 85% to 95% in most…
Should you buy earthquake insurance?
Should you buy earthquake insurance?

Last weekend’s magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Napa, Calif., may be easy to dismiss if you live outside the West Coast, but it should prompt homeowners coast-to-coast to check their risk to determine whether earthquake insurance is warranted, because the threat may be greater than you…
6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Insurance Agent
6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Insurance Agent

Whether you’re in the market for insurance to cover your home, your car or your life, it can be a confusing process filled with jargon and exclusions. Perhaps that’s why many consumers enlist the help of an insurance agent to help them compare options and…