RRGs thriving 25 years after law’s passage; Alternative vehicles provide affordable, stable coverage
RRGs thriving 25 years after law’s passage; Alternative vehicles provide affordable, stable coverage

WASHINGTON—Passage of the Liability Risk Retention Act 25 years ago unlocked the potential of risk retention groups to provide a highly efficient way for organizations to band together to form group captives.When Congress passed the LRRA in October 1986, it was the second time lawmakers…
Insurance lawsuits to follow Irene
Insurance lawsuits to follow Irene

As the water recedes from Hurricane Irene, lawyers are expecting disputes over insurance coverage to pour in. The biggest fights will stem from arguments over property damage and whether it resulted from wind or water, legal experts said. Similar questions arose in the aftermath of…
Homeowners insurance regulations take effect
Homeowners insurance regulations take effect

New statewide homeowners insurance regulations took effect Monday that, depending upon who you believe, either protect consumers against under being insured or restrict the ability of insurers to enlighten homeowners about their coverage. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced the new regs Monday along with…
Insurance commissioner announces new regulations to protect homeowners from being underinsured
Insurance commissioner announces new regulations to protect homeowners from being underinsured

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, joined by Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders, announced on Monday a series of new homeowners regulations aimed at enhancing the standards and training for estimating the replacement value on homeowners’ insurance in the event of a disaster. These new…
New rules aim to curb homeowner underinsurance
New rules aim to curb homeowner underinsurance

The devastating wildfires of 2007 burned twice for Janice and John Strizver. There was the the initial, horrific loss of their Ramona home consumed by fire. And then came the slow, angry burn on realizing that their insurance payout would fall far short of the…
10 tips for filing an insurance claim effectively
10 tips for filing an insurance claim effectively

As Hurricane Irene approached last week, several groups released tips on how to file claims effectively. The Consumer Federation of America, a consortium of more than 300 consumer interest groups and United Policyholders, a non-profit in San Francisco, Calif. funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and…
Nonprofit to Hold Workshop to Address Fire Survivors’ Legal, Insurance Questions
Nonprofit to Hold Workshop to Address Fire Survivors’ Legal, Insurance Questions

The workshop will provide tips and emotional support for those still struggling to recover from the Sept. 9 pipeline explosion. As the anniversary of the Sept. 9 pipeline explosion approaches, nonprofit United Policyholders wants to make sure survivors of the fire get all their legal…
Lloyd’s of London Settles Class Action Lawsuit
Lloyd’s of London Settles Class Action Lawsuit
Hurricane Irene Could Cost Insurers Billions, And Bump Up Your Premium
Hurricane Irene Could Cost Insurers Billions, And Bump Up Your Premium

On the heels of an earthquake felt from New England to the Carolina, the East Coast is bracing for Hurricane Irene, which could be a major Category 4 storm with winds upwards of 130 mph. That could mean billions of dollars in property damage that…
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…
Unusual Earthquakes Leave Many Wondering: Is My Home Covered?
Unusual Earthquakes Leave Many Wondering: Is My Home Covered?

Debbie Saathoff, 62, of Bowie, Md., says she heard a giant cracking sound first. Then the pictures flew off the walls and vases on shelves came tumbling down and smashed as her home moved back and forth. “It was the scariest thing I have been…
Does a special academic degree or professional designation make your insurance agent smarter?
Does a special academic degree or professional designation make your insurance agent smarter?

Electricians, cosmetologists and real estate agents all need to complete months of training and exams before becoming certified in their career fields. Surprisingly, insurance agents can become certified to sell policies after just 40 hours of training. As a result, some insurance professionals may not…
Fourmile Canyon Fire firefighter/victim hits roadblock to rebuilding
Fourmile Canyon Fire firefighter/victim hits roadblock to rebuilding

BOULDER COUNTY – On Labor Day morning almost a year ago, Bruce Honeyman was simply reading the paper. About 10 that morning, Honeyman, the chief of the Sunshine Fire Protection District got a call for mutual aid. “[I] came around the corner and saw that…
Policyholder complaints after tornadoes show discontent with delays, disputes over damage
Policyholder complaints after tornadoes show discontent with delays, disputes over damage

MOBILE, Alabama — Larry Kidd was getting a little frustrated. His neighbors in Santuck were already making repairs after a tornado hit the Elmore County hamlet on April 27. Kidd was still haggling with Allstate Corp. over how much money he would get to fix…
Allstate Agents Group Approves Union Affiliation
Allstate Agents Group Approves Union Affiliation

Members of the National Association of Professional Allstate Agents approved to affiliate with the Office and Professional Employees International Union by an overwhelming majority in an effort to have more say over the future of their agencies.OPEIU, a member of the AFL-CIO, says 94 percent…
State Officials Unveil New Insurance Regulations
State Officials Unveil New Insurance Regulations

Regulations Would Require Companies To Reveal Costs To Replace Homes After Disaster SAN DIEGO — Despite a lawsuit trying to stop it, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones implemented new regulations requiring insurance companies to reveal the true and complete costs to homeowner who want 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…
Mason City restaurant owners seek ‘bad faith’ damages in lawsuit
Mason City restaurant owners seek ‘bad faith’ damages in lawsuit

MASON CITY – The owners of a Mexican restaurant destroyed in a fire in 2007 who were awarded $236,901 in breach of contract damages from their insurance company by a Cerro Gordo County jury earlier this year are now suing the company for bad faith…