2 Wins in 2 Weeks!
2 Wins in 2 Weeks!

Every day, UP staff and volunteers fight to level the playing field for insurance consumers. UP added 35 policyholder attorneys to our Amicus Project volunteer corps over the last 12 months, bringing our total count to 275! Thanks to these heroes, we are celebrating two…
Aid may be available to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by April floods
Aid may be available to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by April floods

Texans whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed by this April’s flooding may be eligible to receive federal assistance to repair or replace the vehicle. “Those who may be eligible include not just residents of the designated counties, but also those who were working in or…
Sandy advocate calls for investigation of FEMA
Sandy advocate calls for investigation of FEMA

TOMS RIVER — Saying the Jersey Shore’s recovery has been “cut off at the knees” because of lowball flood insurance payments, a Sandy advocate has repeated the call for an investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Sue Marticek, executive director of the Ocean County…
Spring UPward: A Roadmap to Recovery™ UPdate
Spring UPward: A Roadmap to Recovery™ UPdate

Bach Talk As we work to stay the course in two communities ravaged by wildfires and strive to raise the necessary funds to cover the costs, we are connecting with flood victims and our partners in the Lone Star State.  We are beefing up our Flood…
NY Allocation Ruling Speeds Policyholders’ Road To Recovery
NY Allocation Ruling Speeds Policyholders’ Road To Recovery

The New York high court’s Tuesday ruling that each excess insurance policy covering Viking Pump Inc. and Warren Pumps LLC can be held liable for an entire loss resulting from asbestos claims gives policyholders a faster, cost-efficient path to coverage for multiyear claims by allowing…
Portland Harbor Superfund litigation has “super” implications for policyholders
Portland Harbor Superfund litigation has “super” implications for policyholders

Today was a big day for policyholders involved in the legendary Portland Harbor (Oregon) Superfund Site: two cases in which United Policyholders submitted amicus curiae briefs were up for argument before the Ninth Circuit.  Both cases involve the duty to defend under “long-tail” CGL policies and the…
Insurance Check UP
Insurance Check UP

Yes the Internet makes it easy to insure your home or business without actually meeting the person who’s selling you the policy. But given how valuable your assets are to you, don’t you want to be confident in that person’s expertise and ethics? United Policyholders…
Angie’s List offers free service for Houston flood victims to connect with contractors
Angie’s List offers free service for Houston flood victims to connect with contractors

HOUSTON – Victims of flooding who need to make home repairs can benefit from a free service now being offered by Angie’s List, a review and rating website geared toward consumers. Angie’s List is offering KPRC viewers, who’ve experienced flood damage, free access to the…
Caps on punitive damages are harmful to consumers
Caps on punitive damages are harmful to consumers

This week UP filed an important brief on the issue of punitive damages in the great state of Tennessee. Punitive damages, those awarded by a jury to compensate an injured plaintiff above-and-beyond the amount owed to compensate for the harm caused, are an important component…
Bach Talk – Why the CA Supreme Court needs to have Commissioner Jones’ back
Bach Talk – Why the CA Supreme Court needs to have Commissioner Jones’ back

Have you ever contacted an insurance agent or company and asked them to insure your home for a specific dollar amount?  If so, you’re probably in the .00001% of insurance consumers.  That’s just not how it works in real life. In real life, we rely…
Homeowners responsible for proper insurance
Homeowners responsible for proper insurance

It’s been nearly four years since an unknown source sparked one of the costliest wildfires in Colorado history. Waldo Canyon fire insurance claims totaled more than $350 million — almost $1 million for every home lost. That fire’s infelicitous record would stand less than a…
Nonprofit Says Travelers Wrong On Asbestos Exclusion
Nonprofit Says Travelers Wrong On Asbestos Exclusion

A nonprofit consumer rights and insurance education organization has told the Third Circuit that General Refractories Co. was correctly awarded $36 million in its suit accusing Travelers of improperly denying coverage for asbestos exposure claims, saying the insurer gets Pennsylvania insurance law wrong. United Policyholders,…
Common Cents
Common Cents

It’s common to be nervous about the money you’re spending on your wedding and honeymoon. It’s also common now for brides or grooms to buy wedding insurance. But do wedding policies exclude more than they cover? That depends on what you buy. But for under…
When Insurance Can And Cannot) Cover Terrorist Acts
When Insurance Can And Cannot) Cover Terrorist Acts

FORBES – After the terrorist bombings in Brussels last week, over 200 flights going to or through the affected airport were canceled, disrupting travel for thousands. The airport remained closed down through Friday. Some of the airlines with itineraries to Brussels issued refunds to their…
Is Your Home a Death Trap? You May Be Eligible for Compensation
Is Your Home a Death Trap? You May Be Eligible for Compensation

US News and World Report – Four ways to help fund the removal of toxins from your home. Discovering toxins in your home is often terrifying – it’s not just lowering the value of your home, but it’s also potentially causing long-lasting health problems. While…
Staying protected after a loss without wasting $$
Staying protected after a loss without wasting $$

New Publication – We have updated our Claim Guidance Library to include a new publication: Updating Your Insurance After a Loss. If your home and property were severely damaged or destroyed, you may be thinking about adjusting your insurance coverage to avoid wasting money insuring things that no longer…
How to Save by Bundling Auto and Home Insurance
How to Save by Bundling Auto and Home Insurance

When it comes to insurance, we all look for ways to save money. One of the easiest and most common ways to save is by bundling auto and home insurance with one company. Insurance companies typically offer discounts in exchange for carrying more than one…
Tips for talking to your insurance company after a car accident
Tips for talking to your insurance company after a car accident

USA Today – It’s your “good neighbor.” It’s “on your side.” But after a car accident, some drivers fear their insurance company won’t be such a pal. “Hopefully, your insurer will step up,” says Amy Bach, executive director of consumer advocacy group United Policyholders. “But…