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United Policyholders What's UP

January 2008

Dear Friend,

United Policyholders is pleased to introduce What's UP, our new quarterly e-newsletter with information and highlights of our work on current insurance issues.

You are receiving this because you have expressed interest in United Policyholders, or do work related to ours and are in our contact database. We hope you will find these occasional messages useful. If you would like to adjust your preferences or unsubscribe you can click on the "leave" or "modify" links that will be in the footer of every message.

United Policyholders is a dynamic and growing organization dedicated to empowering insureds and helping solve insurance problems. In the coming months we'll be helping the property owners devastated by the recent Southern California wildfires secure their insurance benefits so they can progress from "victims" to "survivors", and we'll be continuing on with our work around the country on the issues impacting consumers of the full range of insurance products.

Regards,


Amy Bach, Executive Director


In this issue:

  1. Life Health Disability: New UP tips on resolving billing disputes over insurance payments for medical care you've received or need

  2. Property/Homeowner/Business: New UP tips on making sure Smoke/Extreme Heat claims for partial losses are handled properly.

  3. Auto: Car Accident Claim Tips

  4. Law/Amicus Project: UP Amicus Project Update

  5. Disaster Relief: Resources for SoCal Wildfire Survivors

  6. Politics/Legislation: UP Exec. Director addresses National Conference of Insurance Legislators regarding state-run insurers of last resort

  7. Bach Talk: Southern California Wildfire Update - Accomplishments and 2008 Plans

"United Policyholders is a unique organization that works hard to protect and fight for the interests of all insurance consumers...large and small."





Consider This:
Are you or someone you know filing an insurance claim? Check out the Claim Tips Page on our site to educate yourself about the process and get a fair claim settlement. Visit Find Help for info on professional assistance.





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1. Life Health Disability
New UP tips on resolving billing disputes over insurance payments for medical care you've received or need

Hospital Room
photo credit: Daquella Manera
Health insurance billing is complex and oftentimes confusing, and you may find yourself receiving bills for services that should have been covered by insurance or you thought were already paid for.

Every health plan has different co-pays, deductibles, out of pocket maximums, and exclusions. With so many different plans, it's hard to know which costs you are responsible for and which costs are covered by your plan.

To read the full article click here.

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2. Property/HO/Business
New UP tips on making sure Smoke/Extreme Heat claims for partial losses are handled properly.

SoCal Fire
photo credit: Alex Miroshnichenko
If the area where your home is located was hit by a wildfire but your home was spared, there may be hidden damage you'll want your insurer to pay for. Make sure to notify your insurer that you need a thorough inspection, and if they refuse, get one done on your own.

To read the full article click here (pdf file).

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3. Auto
Car Accident Claim Tips

Car Accident
photo credit: M Pupik
When you get in an accident, what should you do? The first steps are easy: move your car to the side of the road, make sure everyone is okay, call 911, take pictures of the vehicles, exchange information with the other party and call your insurance company. But what do you do when the insurance company calls you?

To read the full article click here.

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4. Cases/Amicus
United Policyholders' Amicus Project Update

US Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
photo credit: Alan Kotok
Since 1991 United Policyholders has filed over 250 Amicus Curiae briefs in federal and state courts throughout the country. Justices on the United States Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal quote and adopt arguments from UP briefs, and the points we make often lead to strengthened legal protections for policyholders. On occasion courts specifically invite UP to weigh in and allow UP attorneys to participate in oral argument.

To read the full article click here.

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5. Disaster Relief
Resources for SoCal Wildfire Survivors

Lake Mission Viejo
Lake Mission Viejo
photo credit: Dan Gregory
We have compiled a wide variety of information to assist SoCal wildfire survivors, from claim tips and inventory worksheets to tax information and legal resources, and more.

To access this information click here.

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6. Politics/Legislation
UP Exec. Director addresses National Conference of Insurance Legislators regarding state-run insurers of last resort

NCOIL
"State Solutions to Defects in Private Insurance Markets"

NCOIL, Las Vegas, November 17, 2007

To view the presentation click here (pdf file).

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7. Bach Talk
Southern California Wildfire Update - Accomplishments and 2008 Plans

Amy Bach
By Amy Bach
Co-Founder and Executive Director of United Policyholders

Click here to learn what United Policyholders staff and volunteers have already accomplished and our plans for 2008.

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United Policyholders