Deck the halls with unclaimed property?
Deck the halls with unclaimed property?

Life insurers are continuing to reach settlements with various states after they were caught failing to pay death benefits despite having reason to know their policyholders had died. Under the settlements, insurers including AIG, MetLife, Prudential and Nationwide are now regularly checking the Social Security…
Speaking UP Pays
Speaking UP Pays

In “Sandy Victims Cry Foul Over Insurance” a recent piece that included Executive Director Amy Bach, CNN reporter Deborah Feyerick captured the bad and good news. The bad news is the fear and frustration Sandy victims are experiencing when told the damage to their home…
Coverage drying up? UP water alert
Coverage drying up? UP water alert

As a downpour drenched but did not deter our Giants this week and we watched the East Coast brace for Frankenstorm, it reminded me that it is time to remind our readers that there are now big differences in how property policies cover (and don’t…
Tiny words… big $ meaning
Tiny words… big $ meaning

Disability insurance alert Losing your job and income due to a disabling injury or illness is a scary prospect. 3 in 10 workers will become disabled for some period of time before they retire. Yet people often overlook buying the insurance that replaces lost income.…
Let go (please) lender…
Let go (please) lender…

If you have a mortgage, the lender is almost always listed on your home insurance as an additional insured. So if your home is significantly damaged ($5,000 or more) and your insurer sends a check for the repairs, that check will usually be made out…
Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend
Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend

The destruction from the wildfires that are raging in Colorado and elsewhere this summer is unspeakably sad. Hard work lies ahead. To those who will soon begin the excruciating process of inventorying and documenting their losses and those who just want to be educated; the…
Parent Power
Parent Power

Parents’ options for insuring their kids, especially those with pre-existing conditions, have improved considerably in recent years, though more in some states than in others. An increasing number of states are now requiring insurers to cover treatment related to Autism. In the states that are…
Greater Expectations
Greater Expectations

If you weren’t thrilled with the way your insurer handled an auto accident claim, you’re not alone. Consumer satisfaction with auto claims is dropping, according to a recent study by J.D. Powers. Given how aggressively insurers compete for your auto business, you have the power…
A Terrific Texas Tool
A Terrific Texas Tool

The quality of your insurance policy really does matter, but figuring out which company sells better protection is tricky. Ads are often misleading, and most insurance companies don’t show you a copy of their policy until after you’ve bought it. Then…good luck reading the fine…
Life… consider the alternative
Life… consider the alternative

If you’re thinking about buying or updating a life insurance policy, or supplementing one your employer provides, your first task should be to find a reputable, experienced broker. Even the most traditional life insurance policies can have a “catch” – be it premiums that skyrocket…
Take Advantage of UP
Take Advantage of UP

As another busy year winds to a close, take a moment to browse UP’s new website and take advantage of all we have to offer: A “Deals and Discounts” section where you’ll find discounts on Home Improvement items, Earthquake Kits and Green Cleaning Products that…
Saving on your insurance
Saving on your insurance

Everyone can use some extra money in their pocket during the holiday season. UP always encourages consumers to raise their deductible. Here are a few more tips for saving on your insurance from two members of our Agent/Broker Advisory Board: “Make sure you are taking…
The Great Shake Out: Drop, Cover and Hold On!
The Great Shake Out: Drop, Cover and Hold On!

United Policyholders will be participating in The Great California ShakeOut, and we hope you will too. What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like afterward. The ShakeOut is a statewide earthquake drill that will occur in houses,…
Health Insurance CheckUP
Health Insurance CheckUP

If you’re looking at health insurance options, remember to compare features and costs “apples to apples.” Try using new tips and a shopping checklist from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. If your insurer/HMO has dropped you and you suspect it was because you have…
Tenacious P(olicyholder)
Tenacious P(olicyholder)

Listing and valuing damaged or stolen property and negotiating a settlement with your insurer can cost you a lot of time and money. But unless it’s a business loss, you’ll have to be tenacious to get your insurer to reimburse you for expenses related to…
Top insurance cop?
Top insurance cop?

Every state has a top insurance cop (regulator) whose job includes protecting consumers and making sure the insurance companies doing business in their state are financially strong enough to pay claims. Each has his/her own view on what “protecting consumers” means and how far they…
Overwhelmed and Underinsured
Overwhelmed and Underinsured

Those two words describe the people in Missouri, Alabama and Arizona whose homes were recently wiped out. The fact is, about 2/3 of the homes in the United States are underinsured.1 UP can help you be in the third that are not. You probably think you’re already…
inCREDITable
inCREDITable

It may surprise you to learn that your credit rating is probably impacting the amount you’re paying for insurance more than your driving record or the condition of your home. This is called “credit-based insurance scoring.” The worse your score, the higher your premium. There…