Many people don’t realize their home insurance doesn’t cover flooding
Many people don’t realize their home insurance doesn’t cover flooding

Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana Wednesday night and has been dropping huge amounts of rain across much of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. It’s now a tropical depression and is headed north into Tennessee. Some 14 million people have been under flood watches from…
State officials scramble as insurance companies abandon at-risk homeowners: ‘It’s the perfect storm’
State officials scramble as insurance companies abandon at-risk homeowners: ‘It’s the perfect storm’

“We just do not have companies willing to write business in Louisiana right now, and you can’t blame them.” Facing down a natural disaster is never ideal, but things are about to get even worse for Americans who are losing home insurance primarily as a…
Louisiana’s ‘business-friendly’ climate response: Canceled home insurance plans
Louisiana’s ‘business-friendly’ climate response: Canceled home insurance plans

Under a new state law, residents will no longer be protected from homeowners’ policy cancellations, higher deductibles or big rate increases. Louisiana homeowners will no longer have the assurance of holding onto their longtime property insurance policies after a damaging storm. And they could start…
As homeowner’s insurance prices climb, more Americans ask: Is it worth it?
As homeowner’s insurance prices climb, more Americans ask: Is it worth it?

It was 2019 when Anjali Tierra decided that homeowners insurance wasn’t worth the price. The retired high school teacher, 58, took out a policy in late 2018 after purchasing a three-bedroom home nestled in the Tehachapi Mountains of southern California. She considered the insurance affordable…
States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes
States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes

Property insurance companies say they’re taking losses amid escalating disasters. In the coming years, climate change could force Americans from their homes, not just by raising sea levels, worsening wildfires and causing floods — but also by putting insurance coverage out of reach. In places…
Small insurers are growing in Louisiana. Will more go insolvent after the next big storm?
Small insurers are growing in Louisiana. Will more go insolvent after the next big storm?

The dozen insurers that failed after two busy hurricane seasons left hundreds of thousands of Louisiana homeowners scrambling for new insurance policies at a time when premiums were soaring. A review of new state market share data and financial filings shows the void left by…
Insurers Are Deserting Homeowners After Natural Disasters
Insurers Are Deserting Homeowners After Natural Disasters

As increasingly severe natural disasters ravage the South, insurance companies are abandoning clients, increasing premiums, and fighting regulation measures — forcing homeowners to fend for themselves in the wake of destruction. As Hurricane Ida approached New Orleans on a sticky August morning in 2021, Janet…
Bach Talk: An insured future depends on bold public/private innovation
Bach Talk: An insured future depends on bold public/private innovation

By Amy Bach, Executive Director, United Policyholders So far 2024 has brought more bad news for property owners, public officials, lenders and home builders on the insurance availability and affordability fronts with non-renewals, scant options and high premiums. Front page news across the country. Rate…
Will climate change make your homeowners insurance unaffordable? Here’s what you need to know
Will climate change make your homeowners insurance unaffordable? Here’s what you need to know

With both premiums and sea levels rising, here’s how you can save money on homeowners insurance. Leigh C. knew that the homeowners insurance on her home in Black Forest, Colorado, an area just northeast of Colorado Springs, would be renewing soon. But when she opened…
Spooky Insurance News
Spooky Insurance News

There’s lots being said these days about the negative impact on home and business owners of reduced competition and coverage and sharply rising premiums resulting from insurers’ reactions to climate change, technology and inflation. The marketplace dynamics and political forces in play in Florida, Louisiana…
Mitigation Matters
Mitigation Matters

No matter where you live, if you’re a homeowner today, you need to do your best to maintain your property and take steps to avoid it being damaged or destroyed in a severe weather event. Why? 1) No place on earth is immune from risk…
Climate disasters make it harder to insure your home. Here’s what to know.
Climate disasters make it harder to insure your home. Here’s what to know.

Premiums are soaring and carriers are pulling back coverage, citing disaster risks. Climate change is a big factor, but there are others at play. Homeowners are bracing for hurricane and fire seasons, but with insurance premiums rising and carriers pulling back coverage in riskier states,…
Insurance consumer advocate group unveils state-by-state guide to insurance legal rights
Insurance consumer advocate group unveils state-by-state guide to insurance legal rights

For Immediate Release:  March 13, 2023 Contact: Amy Bach, Executive Director SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2023 – United Policyholders (UP), a national insurance consumer advocacy non-profit, today announced a major expansion of its services. Insurance company claim adjusters are required to know and follow the…
What Consumers Should Do to Get Fair Claims Payments in the Wake of Hurricane Ida
What Consumers Should Do to Get Fair Claims Payments in the Wake of Hurricane Ida

Washington, D.C. — The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) today warned consumers to prepare to file claims for damage resulting from Hurricane Ida and offered tips on “how to get all you are entitled to from your insurance company.” CFA believes that Hurricane Ida will produce…
Why doesn’t homeowners insurance cover flood damage?
Why doesn’t homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

The remnants of Hurricane Nicholas are drenching Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana — including areas that have barely started recovering from Hurricane Ida. ​There has been a lot of flooding over the past couple of weeks from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast, and many homeowners…
Louisiana homeowners beware: Here’s how the ‘hurricane deductible’ could limit Zeta claims
Louisiana homeowners beware: Here’s how the ‘hurricane deductible’ could limit Zeta claims

Louisiana homeowners will likely face an unwelcome obstacle as they recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Zeta: the dreaded hurricane deductible. Those deductibles, which became a nearly universal part of insurance contracts on the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, put the onus on homeowners…
Louisiana Supreme Court to Insurers: “You can’t abandon your customers in their hour of need. You’re in the protection business”
Louisiana Supreme Court to Insurers: “You can’t abandon your customers in their hour of need. You’re in the protection business”

Good news for Louisiana insurance consumers came this week when the state’s highest court sided with them (and UP’s amicus brief) in Kelly v. State Farm on two important points: 1) A firm settlement offer is unnecessary for an insured to sustain a cause of action against…
Bobby Jindal signs bill to kill lawsuit against oil, gas companies
Bobby Jindal signs bill to kill lawsuit against oil, gas companies

Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed legislation aimed at killing a lawsuit filed by a New Orleans area regional levee board against 97 oil and gas companies, despite concerns that the new law could negatively affect state and government claims against BP over the 2010 Gulf…