Flooded by winter storm? 5 steps you must take
Flooded by winter storm? 5 steps you must take

Many Jersey Shore residents had to mop up from flooding after the weekend blizzard — despite what Gov. Chris Christie initially said — and experts offer these five tips to residents and business owners looking to maximize their flood insurance claims. There was nearly $3…
For Blizzard Damage, Turn to Your Homeowner’s Policy
For Blizzard Damage, Turn to Your Homeowner’s Policy

Atlantic Coast residents digging out from last weekend’s blizzard may be relieved to know that a standard homeowner’s insurance policy covers most types of damage caused by winter storms. “We pay for most things that are the result of a snowstorm,” said Don Griffin, vice…
Insured Losses From California Fires Top $1B
Insured Losses From California Fires Top $1B

Damages from two destructive Northern California wildfires that killed six and sent thousands fleeing their homes topped $1 billion in insured losses, according to a preliminary estimate by the state’s insurance department. The two fires started days apart in September, burning more than 200 square…
Valley Fire Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/21/16 at 6pm
Valley Fire Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/21/16 at 6pm

UP is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Valley Fire survivors Thursday, January 21st at 6pm at Middletown High School. This workshop will discuss the contents portion of your claim, including understanding depreciation and strategies for preparing your home inventory. There will be a Q&A session after…
Keeping UP – Bach Talk
Keeping UP – Bach Talk

Being a small non-profit has its upside:  United Policyholders is dynamic.  We don’t have layers of internal bureaucracy that slow us down when we want to respond to a disaster or make improvements to our programs, publications, and tools.  We are constantly enhancing our tips…
35 Insurance Consumer Representatives Named as NAIC Liaisons
35 Insurance Consumer Representatives Named as NAIC Liaisons

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC) recently named 35 consumer liaison representatives for 2016. The 20 funded and 15 unfunded consumer representatives began their terms Jan. 1, 2016. Funded representatives receive travel expense reimbursement from the NAIC; unfunded representatives pay their own expenses. Established…
Expert says Butte Fire homeowners should take time on insurance claims
Expert says Butte Fire homeowners should take time on insurance claims

An expert on wildfire insurance claims Wednesday night told a small group of property owners who lost buildings in the Butte Fire not to be in a hurry to settle with their insurance carriers. “Statistics show that the longer your claim remains open, the more…
Post-Disaster Income Tax Workshops for Valley Fire Survivors
Post-Disaster Income Tax Workshops for Valley Fire Survivors

This week there will be two post-disaster tax workshops for Valley Fire survivors. Residents whose homes or businesses have been damaged or destroyed in the recent wildfires are encouraged to attend as well as income tax and personal finance professionals. Middletown: Twin Pines Casino Event Center…
Butte Fire Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/13/16
Butte Fire Roadmap to Recovery Workshop 1/13/16

UP is hosting a Roadmap to Recovery workshop for Butte Fire survivors on Wednesday, January 13th at 6pm at Mountain Ranch Town Hall.  This workshop will focus on the dwelling portion of your insurance claim and will discuss how to document and value the damage…
Ready for El Niño? Here’s what many homeowners don’t know about flood insurance
Ready for El Niño? Here’s what many homeowners don’t know about flood insurance

LA Times – For the last several months, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have sounded a lot more like salesmen than bureaucrats. And their sales pitch for flood insurance — which harps on the dangers of El Niño while espousing the benefits of…
Earthquake authority offers new insurance options, rebates
Earthquake authority offers new insurance options, rebates

The California Earthquake Authority is offering new insurance policy options this year, including deductibles ranging from 5 to 25 percent, higher coverage limits for personal property and additional living expenses, and a bigger discount for homeowners who submit verified proof of retrofitting. Starting Jan. 20,…
Flood Insurance During An El Niño Winter
Flood Insurance During An El Niño Winter

A series of El Niño-generated storms are forecast to hit California through the winter months, and that has a lot of people worried about possible flooding and getting flood insurance coverage. KCRW’s Saul Gonzalez talks to insurance expert Amy Bach about what you need to…
Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll

That’s what earthquakes do…and not in the fun way like Bruce Springsteen. So if you live in a quake-prone area (and there are more than there used to be) you should be considering earthquake insurance as an asset protector. UP can help you make this…
Preparing for El Niño
Preparing for El Niño

Amy Bach answers questions about how to prepare your home for El Niño and what you need to know about flood insurance. Here is your El Niño preparedness list: Think about the conditions around your home. Are there large trees? Is there a slope or…
Traveling? Take 6 health insurance steps first
Traveling? Take 6 health insurance steps first

With luck, your trip will bring only good times, but it pays to be prepared for an unexpected health crisis away from home. If you get into a car accident or slip on ice, will insurance cover your care? Your health insurance plan should cover…
Flood insurance program could be under water without Florida policies
Flood insurance program could be under water without Florida policies

The National Flood Insurance Program was in debt. Lots-of-zeroes kind of debt. So someone came up with the bright idea to raise flood insurance rates to more profitable levels. How were those levels determined? Well, explanations were kinda vague. All we knew was that some…
Holding the line: The Standard Fire Policy remains a useful floor (Guest blog)
Holding the line: The Standard Fire Policy remains a useful floor (Guest blog)

Most homeowner’s property insurance policies contain “intentional loss” and “concealment and fraud” provisions that exclude or bar coverage if any person who qualifies as an “insured” (typically defined to include the named insured and residents of the named insured’s household who are his or her…
Guest Blog: Flood Claim Guide – A Look Under the Hood
Guest Blog: Flood Claim Guide – A Look Under the Hood

Your flood adjuster arrives with a few forms for you to fill out.  Typically, you will be asked some questions about when the water entered the building, how long it stayed, and that sort of thing.  He/She will also ask some questions to update your…