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October 2009
Highlights of this issue:
ROADMAP TO RECOVERY™
ADVOCACY AND ACTION
ROADMAP TO PREPAREDNESS
UP NEWS
A Big thanks to all our sponsors, our donors, and all the wonderful volunteers who help us get our work done.
Warm regards,
Amy Bach
Executive Director
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"We really feel without the efforts of United Policyholders, we would not have been as successful in our settlement as we were."
--Jeff and Monique Smith, 2007 Witch Creek Fire survivors
Consider This:
Less than 12 percent of California homeowners will have access to insurance funds to rebuild/repair their home after the next big earthquake.
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Tip of the Month |
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The Great Shake Out, California's state-wide earthquake drill.
Drop, Cover and Hold On, and Reconsider Buying Earthquake Insurance!
In preparation for the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, United Policyholders participated in The Great Shake Out, a state-wide earthquake drill. To read more about the Shake Out, and UP's earthquake insurance buying tips, click here. If you are lucky enough not to live in a quake-prone region, we also have tips to help make sure to you have enough coverage for whatever Mother Nature brings.
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Roadmap to Recovery™ |
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 Family attending "Making Lemonade
out of Lemons" recovery celebration
in San Diego
Ongoing wildfire recovery work in San Diego, Orange County and Santa Barbara
UP continues to offer our free Roadmap to Recovery™ workshops and resources to fire survivors in San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Yorba Linda (Orange County) and to individuals throughout the United States. This week we've had inquiries from consumers in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California.
Click here to read about our recent "Rebuild or Buy" seminar in Santa Barbara, an interview with Rich Csaposs, a public adjuster working with policyholders who lost homes in a recent northern California wildfire, and a report on the "Making Lemonade out of Lemons" celebration for fire survivors in San Diego.
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Advocacy & Action |
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LEGAL |
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Mary Kestenbaum Fortson with Merlin Law Group wrote UP's brief in Corban v. USAA
Support UP's Legal Advocacy
Amicus Update
Since our last issue, UP went to bat in court for individual and business policyholders in 4 states. In New York we continued our work promoting full legal protection for policyholders who fall victim to unfair insurance practices, and in California we advocated for arbitrator neutrality standards and for enforcement of a regulation requiring insurers to give clear notice to consumers about pending legal deadlines. In Florida we weighed in on an important legal issue that impacts all policyholders in the Sunshine State. In a Katrina-related case in Mississippi, UP advocated for insureds who were fighting against ambiguous exclusions in their homeowner's policy (more on this landmark case in our next print newsletter.)
Click here to read an update and summaries of the most recent briefs that UP has filed this year. You can click here to read the 250+ briefs UP has written to date.
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LIFE/HEALTH/DISABILITY |
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UP joins colleagues opposing NAIC jurisdiction over health insurance standards
In a September 29th letter to Senator Max Baucus, UP was one of 14 organizations formally opposed to a proposal to give rule-making authority for drafting health insurance standards to the NAIC. Georgetown Law professor Kevin Lucia drafted the letter and organized the coalition that signed it. We believe that jurisdiction should remain with government agencies in order to preserve standards of transparency, allow for ongoing public input, and avoid conflicts of interest. The NAIC is largely funded by the insurance industry, and NAIC Commissioners and staff often take industry positions after leaving the NAIC.
The Problem Corner: Pattern or One-Shot Deal?
UP serves as a clearinghouse for information and as a networking resource for policyholders and claim professionals. People contact us every day and we do our best to connect them with problem-solving resources.
UP is currently trying to find out whether two issues recently brought to our attention are a pattern or an isolated occurrence. We are seeking help from the following groups:
1. Individuals or small business owners with Blue Shield PPO plans who are experiencing unexpected claim denials
Do you have this problem? Routine coverage denials or mishandled claims where claim is submitted as self-pay rather than physician reimbursement.
2. Homeowners insured with Liberty Mutual
Do you have this problem? Company refusing to honor extended replacement coverage due to failure by homeowner to notify of renovation/improvement costing more than $5k.
If you have personal or professional experience in the problem areas, please send us your comments by visiting: http://uphelp.org/contact.shtml. |
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Roadmap to Preparedness |
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Staffer Emily Cabral joins firefighters at Station 10 to discuss fire safety and preparedness
Every day consumers from around the country contact United Policyholders for help solving an insurance-related problem. UP staff and volunteers include professional experts as well as people who've personally experienced the loss of a home or a disabling illness or injury. Our Roadmap to Recovery™ program offers solutions to many of the problems that get reported to us.
Some insurance problems are easier to avoid than to solve, so over time we developed a Roadmap to Preparedness program as a pro-active way of helping people. Click here to learn more about our ongoing preparedness work, including our recent outreach to Fire Safe Councils around the state of California.
Home Sweet (Insured, New) Home
If you're in the ("have we hit bottom yet"?) market to buy a home, So Cal Farmers Agent Ross Allen Veckey offers this advice: Research insurance costs BEFORE submitting an offer, get comparison quotes, and don't rely on your realtor or loan officer to arrange for the coverage. Click here to read his tips in detail.
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UP News |
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UP Volunteer Julie Robinson Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Robinson
After she and her family recovered from losing their home in the 2003 Cedar fire, Julie Robinson decided to help others who suffer similar losses.She generously donated her home inventory and helped create the generic UP home inventory that we offer free of charge at our website and on our flash drives. Click here to read more about Julie and her contribution to UP's work.
Bach Talk
Read cutting edge news and views from UP's Executive Director, Amy Bach, a 20-year veteran of insurance politics. Click here to read her take on the Congressional debates on health reform, and for her update on the work of UP's Disaster Survivor Support Network.
Cy Pres donor and S.F. consumer class action attorney Arthur Levy with grateful E.D. Bach
UP hosts Policyholder Attorney networking party
Policyholder attorneys and UP sponsors gathered at a networking party in San Francisco during the summer convention of the American Association for Justice in July. Guests enjoyed cocktails with colleagues at a historic speakeasy. Click here for more photos.
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PLEASE NOTE
United Policyholders is an independent not-for-profit resource. UP does not sell or profit from sale of insurance and does not accept financial support from insurance companies or insurance trade associations. The information provided in this newsletter is a public service to our readers. We do not warrant the quality of any product or vendor identified in this newsletter.
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