Library
Claim Tips
Buying Tips
Shortcuts
State by State
Amicus Briefs
UP Videos
UP Newsletter Archives
Studies and Reports
Other Resources
Keep Up with UP
Useful Links
Below is a list of links that United Policyholders find both reliable and useful.
If you think that your website is relevant and would be helpful to our organization,
Contact Us.
Link Categories:
Blogs Federal Government Agencies and Regulators
Rating Companies
Other Non-Profit Sites
Disaster Preparedness Resources
Insurance News
Tax Info
Blogs
Catastrophic Insurance Coverage
Insurance Claims and Bad Faith Law
Insurance Claims and Issues
Policyholder Perspective
Property Insurance Coverage
Slabbed
The Insurance Forum
The Life Insurance Lawyer
Federal Government Agencies and Regulators
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
This is the official site of the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners. Although NAIC members' actions tend to be
heavily influenced by insurance industry lobbyists, their site provides a
research library, information about current insurance issues and an
easy to use map that allows you to visit all 50 state insurance
regulatory agencies.
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
USGS — The United States Geological Service offers detailed information on earthquake risks by region of the U.S.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
This is the official site of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is an independent agency of the federal
government, reporting to the President. Disaster victims who are
uninsured or underinsured can apply to FEMA for disaster assistance
grants which do not need to be repaid. FEMA also administers the
national flood and crime insurance programs.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
This is the official site of the Small Business
Administration (SBA). SBA provides low-interest (generally 4 percent or
less), long-term (up to 30 years) loans to help homeowners, renters and
non-farm businesses recover from a disaster. Loan proceeds may be used
to repair or replace disaster damaged property that is not fully covered
by insurance. Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or
replace their primary home to its pre-disaster condition, including
required city or county building codes that require structural
improvements. The loan may not be used to upgrade the home or make
additions to the home. Also, loans may be increased by as much as 20
percent for mitigating devices to protect the real property from
possible future disasters of the same kind. Homeowners and renters may
apply for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed
personal property, such as clothing, furniture and automobiles. The loan
proceeds cannot be used to replace extraordinarily expensive or
irreplaceable items, such as antiques, collections, pleasure boats or
recreational vehicles.
National Conference of Insurance Legislators
This is the official site of the National Conference of
Insurance Legislators. Like the NAIC, NCOIL members tend to be heavily
influenced by insurance industry lobbyists. Their site offers
information on the current insurance legislative issues being debated by
the chairs of state assembly and senate insurance committees around the
United States.
Rating Companies
If you're considering buying insurance from a company you've never heard of or that is not "admitted" in your state, (i.e. covered by your state's guaranty association in case they run out of money), check out one or more of the following sites to verify their financial condition:
www.ambest.com
A.M. Best Co.'s insurance company rating service rates 6,000
life, property/casualty and health companies according to their
financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to
policyholders. Their opinions are derived from an evaluation of a
company's balance-sheet strength and operating performance as compared
with Best's quantitative and qualitative standards. A.M. Best also
publishes Bestweek, a well-respected trade publication.
www.standardandpoor.com
Standard & Poor's Insurance Ratings Services rates the
financial strength of more than 4,000 insurance companies worldwide,
within the life, health, property/casualty, reinsurance, mortgage, and
title sectors. In addition, Insurance Ratings rates bonds and commercial
paper issued by insurers.
www.moodys.com
Moody's provides credit ratings on roughly 700 insurance
companies worldwide, with coverage growing rapidly in Europe and Asia.
They also rate the major reinsurers and financial guarantors. In
addition, they provide performance ratings and supporting research on
the Lloyd's syndicates through a Lloyd's Market Service.
Other Non-Profit Sites
United Policyholders' website is a unique source of valuable "road-tested" reliable information on insurance issues. Our writers include top national experts on insurance matters, experienced disaster victims, and personal finance professionals who are oriented toward giving good advice to consumers. United Policyholders is a charity, a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit. The following are websites maintained by other non-profit organizations that serve the interests of consumers:
www.consumersunion.org
This site is sponsored by the nation's most established consumer
organization and publisher of Consumer Reports. CU is actively advancing
consumers interests on many fronts including privacy protection,
financial equity and health and safety.
www.consumerwatchdog.org
This is the site for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a
non-profit public interest organization active in insurance regulatory
and legislative matters and a range of pro-consumer initiatives. FTCR
is the umbrella for the Proposition 103 Enforcement Project, Ratepayer
Revolt, the Oaks Project, Consumers for Quality Care, the Fair Justice
Project and the Bills Project.
www.harp.org
The Health Administration Responsibility Project, ("HARP"),
is a resource for patients, doctors, and attorneys seeking to establish
the liability of HMOs, Managed Health Care Organizations, and Nursing
Facilities for the consequences of their decisions.
www.cej-online.org
Center for Economic Justice. An Austin, Texas based
not-for-profit that advocates for consumers on economic issues including
insurance. Thorough and well-written explanations of the factors and
institutions that impact how insurers treat policyholders.
www.napaausa.org
This site is maintained by Allstate agents who are critical of some of the company's practices.
Disaster Preparedness Resources
American Red Cross
Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Informed.
Deals and Discounts
Find deals and discounts on products and services from companies that support United Policyholder's mission.
Insurance Institute for Home and Business Safety
Identify and reduce your local risks.
MyHazards.Calema.Ca.Gov
Use this website to discover the hazards that exist in your area and learn how to reduce YOUR risk! Remember, the best way to recover from disasters is by reducing the risks before a disaster strikes.
Insurance News
MarketPlace Watch
Articles and reports on the insurance industry.
Politics and Regulations
Articles and reports on insurance regulation.
www.ultimateinsurancelinks.com
This is truly the ultimate link site for insurance junkies. It
provides links to hundreds of insurance company websites, industry
publications, trade associations, rating/financial companies, e-commerce
info, etc. You can use this site to link to the major trade
publications, which include
Tax Info
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p547.pdf
IRS Publication 547 describes the basic tax relief provisions applicable to disaster survivors.
www.calcpa.org
This site is operated by the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, a non-profit trade association. It offers disaster recovery information.