You’re charging me for what?! Insurers find new ways to set car insurance rates
You’re charging me for what?! Insurers find new ways to set car insurance rates

Insurance companies are getting creative when it comes to determining how much you should pay for car insurance. In addition to using traditional factors, such as your driving record and how many miles you drive each year, some insurers now look at such things as…
Courts toss homeowners’ insurance regulation
Courts toss homeowners’ insurance regulation

A judge has thrown out a state regulation that insurers said allows the insurance commissioner to decide on his own what constitutes an unfair business practice — a designation that can carry severe penalties for companies and their agents. Insurers said the court’s decision was…
Healthy Choices
Healthy Choices

The Health Insurance Marketplace that will kick in soon will give you new options. They will depend on what your current coverage, employment status and medical needs are, and whether your state is participating in the federal law that set up the new marketplace. Here’s…
Bucks for the bang
Bucks for the bang

It is much easier to save money on your car insurance than your home insurance. Insurers compete hard for auto customers. That’s because it’s easier for them to make a profit and the risks are much more predictable. So if you have a decent driving…
Should states ban credit-based insurance scoring?
Should states ban credit-based insurance scoring?

Drivers in Texas who have bruised credit soon could have one less thing to worry about when buying insurance. A bill pending in the state Senate would prevent insurance companies in Texas from using credit-based insurance scores to determine how much to charge policyholders for…
Progress on N.J. Sandy insurance claims concealed
Progress on N.J. Sandy insurance claims concealed

Thursday, March 21, 2013 BY RICHARD NEWMANSTAFF WRITERThe Record Since superstorm Sandy struck the Northeast last October, New York residents have been able to track the performance of insurance companies in response to the disaster by logging on to a state government website.Connecticut’s insurance regulator…
High Park Fire Insurance Payouts a Slap in the Face
High Park Fire Insurance Payouts a Slap in the Face

Wildfire victims say insufficient policies and unrealistic deadlines are impeding rebuilding efforts.Homeowner insurance protection: What would it do?• Expand the time allowed to submit an inventory of destroyed property to an insurer.• Require insurers to award claims for a percentage of destroyed property without submissoin…
Why women should consider buying long-term care insurance now
Why women should consider buying long-term care insurance now

Long Term care insurance can offer protection against the sky-high costs of day-to-day care in your golden years. But if you’re a woman who’s weighing whether to buy long-term care insurance for the first time, get ready for a case of sticker shock. Women soon…
It’s Flood Season. Are You Protected?
It’s Flood Season. Are You Protected?

Spring is a favorite season for many, but people who have seen their house swept away in a flood probably feel that summer droughts and blizzards get a bad rap. Thanks to heavy rains and melting snow, March and April are months particularly prone to…
How to choose a life insurance beneficiary
How to choose a life insurance beneficiary

Many consumers buy life insurance, list their spouses as the beneficiaries and never think about the matter again. But experts say that failing to put much thought into your beneficiary selection can be a big mistake. The first step in choosing a life insurance beneficiary…
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…
Lessons for Staten Islanders navigating the insurance maze
Lessons for Staten Islanders navigating the insurance maze

As they stare down drawn-out battles over insurance settlements and uncertain coverage for the future, Staten Islanders might look to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina — a storm that cost insurance companies a record $41 billion — to hazard a guess at what’s to come.…
Bill to let Sandy victims sue insurers over claims handling sparks debate
Bill to let Sandy victims sue insurers over claims handling sparks debate

A piece of legislation that would give Hurricane Sandy victims more power to sue their insurer if they feel their claim was handled badly was tabled last week as lobbyists in Trenton battled over whether such a right would make for good public policy. The…
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…
ConsumerWatch: Allstate Denies SF Homeowners’ Claims In Water Main Break
ConsumerWatch: Allstate Denies SF Homeowners’ Claims In Water Main Break

Watch the video A sinkhole caused by a broken water main in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood has put some homes in danger, and the response from one insurance company left some of the affected homeowners feeling left in the cold. Allstate Insurance has denied…
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…