tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338752138086456152024-03-15T18:09:51.266-07:00Home and Business Owner Insurance ClaimsQuality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-69289057349682086302012-11-09T13:58:00.000-08:002012-11-09T13:58:03.373-08:00Quality Claims a Sponsor at Lipton Cup Challenge<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quality Claims is a proud sponsor of the 98<sup>th</sup> annual Lipton Cup Challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC), the Lipton Cup regatta has been notorious for being a prestigious event for sailors in southern California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Catch a glimpse of the Quality sail this weekend at the San Diego Bay. For more information, visit: <a href="http://sdyc.org/">http://sdyc.org/</a></span></span></div>
</span>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-79552330571547522432012-11-01T14:11:00.000-07:002012-11-01T14:11:03.304-07:00Governor Cuomo Announces Homeowners Will Not Have to Pay Hurricane Deductibles <div id="press-content">
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Governor Cuomo Announces Homeowners Will Not Have to Pay Hurricane Deductibles </h1>
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Department of Financial Services Working Closely with Insurers to Speed Response to Homeowners Who Experienced Losses </div>
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New Yorkers Can Call DFS Disaster Hotline for Help </div>
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Albany, NY (<span class="date-display-single">October 31, 2012</span>)<br />
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York homeowners will not have to pay potentially large hurricane deductibles on insurance claims stemming from damage caused by Monday’s storm. <br />
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The New York State Department of Financial Services has informed the insurance industry that hurricane deductibles should not be triggered for this storm. This will prevent coastal homeowners from having to pay deductibles in their insurance policies. <br />
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“Homeowners should not have to pay hurricane deductibles for damage caused by the storm and insurers should understand the Department of Financial Services will be monitoring how claims are handled,” Governor Cuomo said. <br />
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Many homeowners’ insurance policies for homes located in downstate areas contain hurricane deductibles based on a percentage of a property’s insured value. These deductibles typically range from one percent of a home’s insured value to five percent. So for example, with a five percent deductible on a home insured for $300,000, the homeowner would have to pay for the first $15,000 of damage. <br />
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Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, said, “We have informed the insurance industry that hurricane deductibles are not triggered because Sandy did not have sustained hurricane-force winds when it made land in New York. We will be working with insurers to help them respond as quickly as possible to homeowners who need to file claims. And we will be sending our mobile command center to hard hit areas to help consumers with insurance questions and problems.” <br />
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DFS urges homeowners who experienced property losses to file insurance claims with their insurers promptly and as soon as possible after losses occur. It is important to provide policy numbers and all information relevant to the loss. To best document losses, homeowners should to take photos or videos showing the extent of the losses before cleaning up damage. <br />
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Homeowners should make only necessary repairs to prevent further damage to property, like covering broken windows. Permanent repairs should not be made until after insurers have inspected losses. Damaged personal property should be kept until after an insurance settlement has been reached. <br />
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In addition, homeowners should cooperate fully with their insurer and keep a diary of all conversations with the insurance agent, including the agent’s name, as well as the times and dates of all calls or visits. <br />
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Homeowners are also reminded that flood damage is only covered by flood insurance, which is a federal program administered by FEMA. Homeowners who have flood insurance and have flood damage should make claims through that insurance. <br />
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DFS will be sending its mobile command center to hard hit areas to help consumers with insurance questions and problems. <br />
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DFS has activated a Disaster Hotline to answer consumer questions and help with problems. The Disaster Hotline number is 800-339-1759. It is staffed Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 8 PM and Saturday - Sunday from 9 AM – 4 PM. <br />
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Homeowners unable to resolve disputes with insurers can file complaints at <a href="http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm" jquery1351795656265="20" title="http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm">http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm</a>. </div>
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Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-1800445946835111272012-11-01T11:18:00.000-07:002012-11-01T11:18:57.601-07:00NAPIA Offers Tips to Consumers for Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims <o:wrapblock><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><strong>National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">NAPIA Offers Tips to Consumers for Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Potomac Falls, Virginia (October 29, 2012) – With Hurricane Sandy wreaking havoc up and down the east coast, members of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) offer the following tips to property owners who may experience property loss as a result of the storm:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Immediately consider the use of a public adjuster to help you settle a claim. Public adjusters work for consumers, interacting with insurance companies and their independent adjusters to fairly and timely settle claims. In a storm such as Sandy, there may be an effort by insurers to settle claims quickly; a public adjuster can assure that the settlement is also consistent with the terms of your coverage.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Due to the type of storm this is, your policy may have a deductible that applies to hurricanes. This can be a tricky and complex area to navigate as it is often difficult to determine which deductible may apply -- this will depend on numerous factors and the specific timeline of events of the loss.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Check to make sure that the public insurance adjuster you do select is licensed if the local jurisdiction requires it (45 states currently have a licensing statute), and know if your jurisdiction has limits on the fees that can be charged by a licensed adjuster. In many cases, fees may be capped given the size of the storm and the number of claims it produces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ask the public adjuster for their professional qualifications, past experience and whether they have been cited by their regulators for poor or unethical performance <u>before you sign anything</u>; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Know that insurers cannot prohibit a property owner from utilizing the services of a public insurance adjuster; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Understand that independent adjusters and insurance company adjusters represent the interests of the insurance company, and do not represent the interests of the claimant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Be aware that many contractors, roofers and others hold themselves out as public adjusters, and that the unauthorized practice of public adjusting is illegal in many states.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Check to see if your public adjuster is a member of NAPIA by visiting <a href="http://www.napia.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.napia.com</span></a> or by calling 1-703-433-9217. Also, do not hesitate to contact NAPIA or your local state insurance department if you believe that a public adjuster is acting improperly or someone is acting like an adjuster without a license.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“We hold our members to the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism,” said NAPIA President Ronald Reitz, CPPA. “With meteorologists calling for this storm to cause severe property damage, consumers should not hesitate to reach out to our members should they need any assistance in filing their insurance claims.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Public Adjusters are experts on property loss adjustment who are retained by policyholders to assist in preparing, filing and adjusting insurance claims. Employed exclusively by a policyholder who has sustained an insured loss, these professionals manage every detail of the claim, working closely with the insured to provide the most equitable and prompt settlement possible. A Public Adjuster inspects the loss site immediately, analyzes the damages, assembles claim support data, reviews the insured's coverage, determines current replacement costs and exclusively serves the client, not the insurance company. To find a member of NAPIA who can assist you in preparing your claim, visit <a href="http://www.napia.com/search/index.asp">http://www.napia.com/search/index.asp</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">NAPIA strongly encourages the public to reach out to their insurance departments or other regulators of public adjusters to know more about the critical role that public adjusters play, or to report concerns over the actions of parties purporting to be public adjusters. The public can also reach out to NAPIA with any questions or concerns by calling 1-703-433-9217.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">To read NAPIA’s Top Ten Tips for Maximizing Claims After a Storm or Natural Disaster, visit <a href="http://www.napia.com/news/documents/NAPIAStormTipPressRelease.pdf">http://www.napia.com/news/documents/NAPIAStormTipPressRelease.pdf</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Founded in 1951, the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) promotes the highest standards of professional education, conduct and ethics in the field of public insurance adjusting. NAPIA’s 750 plus members are committed to working in the best interest of their client – the policyholder – and to conducting business with honesty and integrity. To find out more about the association, please visit <a href="http://www.napia.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.napia.com</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Marjorie Musick, Director of Communications and Events <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">(571) 217-2915 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-33402175353492068492012-10-16T15:55:00.000-07:002012-10-16T15:55:56.581-07:00The Great California ShakeOut<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quality Claims will join the Great California ShakeOut this week as they host their annual statewide earthquake drill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drill has garnered more than 9.1 million registered participants for 2012, and will officially shake out at 10:18 am on Thursday, October 18th.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quality Claims’ Safety Squad strives to offer many drills and safety seminars for employees throughout the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For additional information on this week’s event and earthquake preparedness tips, please visit:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://shakeout.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e2d20a8f8e917d9b19f9e702d&id=9e88fb6add&e=239686e26a" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: royalblue;">shakeout.org/california</span></b></a>.</span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 22.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><img border="0" height="112" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2d20a8f8e917d9b19f9e702d/images/Picture_1.2.1.png" width="600" /></span>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-45698963785111648782012-10-05T13:22:00.000-07:002012-10-05T13:31:52.651-07:00Quality Claims to Present at National 2012 First Party Claims Conference<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quality Claims’ President Ron Reitz will present at this year’s First Party Claims Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. The event is set to take place October 15-17. Reitz will speak on <strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mortgage(e) Rights and Interests and the Dispensing of Insurance Proceeds</span></strong><strong><i><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. </span></i></strong>The conference is a dynamic educational event for professionals in the first party property insurance claims community. For additional information, visit </span><a href="http://www.firstpartyclaims.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.firstpartyclaims.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<u5:p></u5:p></span></div>
Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-16229290155446569612012-09-26T07:52:00.000-07:002012-09-26T07:52:50.120-07:00Quality Claims Puts Safety First<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quality Claims’ Safety Squad recently visited Kensington Fire Station 18 to thank them for their service and contributions to the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Fire Department offered Quality Claims helpful tips on fire safety and prevention earlier this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we embrace fire season here in San Diego, it is important to keep this advice in mind. </span></div>
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Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-40628889485199932662012-08-29T09:16:00.000-07:002012-08-29T09:29:19.857-07:00Quality Claims at the San Diego Fall Home Show<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Quality Claims exhibited at the San Diego Fall Home Show this past weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They informed homeowners how to prepare for a property insurance claim and how to properly manage insurance claims after experiencing a loss to their home or business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The San Diego Fall Home Show, held at the San Diego Convention Center, featured hundreds of exhibitors who offered home improvement products and services.</span></div>
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Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-7336216611492661972012-07-13T08:28:00.001-07:002012-07-13T08:28:27.835-07:00NAPIA Welcomes Quality Claims’ Ron Reitz as President<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quality Claims Management attended the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) this past June to participate in discussions and educational sessions about Public Adjusting, and to witness the commencement of their own President, Ron Reitz, as NAPIA President for 2012-2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The NAPIA Annual Meeting, held at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego, had Public Adjusters and other NAPIA members from all over the country in attendance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ron Reitz, President of Quality Claims, carries a wealth of experience as he has been in the Public Adjusting field since 1994. The NAPIA community is excited to have him lead the organization for this coming year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to Ron’s presidential term commencement, Kim Cary, also of Quality Claims Management, was nominated to the Board of Directors for NAPIA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The NAPIA Annual Meeting gives members the opportunity to network with fellow public adjusters from across the country and to advance their insurance knowledge.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QPBvRi8CY7Y/UAA9_EMpJiI/AAAAAAAAAHc/rSR2AzAXeis/s1600/ron+pres.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QPBvRi8CY7Y/UAA9_EMpJiI/AAAAAAAAAHc/rSR2AzAXeis/s320/ron+pres.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-38727093436025271112012-05-30T08:52:00.000-07:002012-05-30T08:52:04.305-07:00Quality Claims at I-Day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quality Claims recently had the exciting opportunity to exhibit at I-Day, an event connecting insurance brokers with vendors in the field. Hosted by the Insurance Brokers and Agents of San Diego, this special event welcomed hundreds of veteran participants who have been in attendance annually for nearly two decades. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Quality Claims Team educated insurance brokers about the added value a claims management company can offer their business. Brokers can benefit by trusting Quality Claims with assistance in preparing, presenting, and negotiating a complex settlement on behalf of their client, the homeowner or business in the event of property damage. By eliminating the broker from a possible “conflict of interest” between the insurance company and client, Quality Claims ensures a seamless transaction for all involved parties.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7AnCfaK-CI/T8ZBsJP8gmI/AAAAAAAAAHE/n12vzrUMPi8/s1600/I-Day+Picture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7AnCfaK-CI/T8ZBsJP8gmI/AAAAAAAAAHE/n12vzrUMPi8/s320/I-Day+Picture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-30939278992804384902012-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:002012-03-05T09:33:29.934-08:00Quality Claims sponsors St. Augustine High School BaseballQuality Claims recently committed to St. Augustine High School as one of the main sponsors for the Saints Baseball team. St. Augustine High School, a Catholic school in San Diego, has had a very successful baseball program over the past 25 years as they have earned 15 league titles. The Saints were also recently crowned Eastern League Champions in 2011.<br />
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Quality Claims is proud to sponsor Saints Baseball to help them continue their success and to support such a dedicated team. Ron Reitz, President of Quality Claims, attended one of the Saints' games this past week and was able to show his support for the team.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhmDeHFSf0Q/T1T4EC-Uc7I/AAAAAAAAAGY/ipqqSWrMqYw/s1600/Banner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhmDeHFSf0Q/T1T4EC-Uc7I/AAAAAAAAAGY/ipqqSWrMqYw/s320/Banner.JPG" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQzHRFRh7NU/T1T4LrOYvyI/AAAAAAAAAGg/GqER-1zv96E/s1600/Team.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQzHRFRh7NU/T1T4LrOYvyI/AAAAAAAAAGg/GqER-1zv96E/s320/Team.JPG" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-32896192860362466482012-01-10T14:37:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:47:05.419-08:00Quality Claims Management Exhibits at the San Diego Spring Home ShowQuality Claims Management had the opportunity to participate in the San Diego Spring Home Show this past weekend. The free event was open to the public and held in Downtown San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center.<br />
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Exhibitors from all avenues of home improvement were present to inform homeowners about their featured home products and services. We were excited to share more about our company with the public and to offer advice to any attendees who may have experienced a disaster to their home or business.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_Eat5DReAk/Tw2p1PNNMvI/AAAAAAAAAGI/LUTvkTHczdA/s1600/large+exhibits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_Eat5DReAk/Tw2p1PNNMvI/AAAAAAAAAGI/LUTvkTHczdA/s320/large+exhibits.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-57330330283548870962012-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:45:40.853-08:00Home insurance rates likely to go higherBy Adam Belz, USA TODAY<br />
Homeowners insurance premiums are starting to rise after tornadoes, hail, winds and lightning slammed <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/U.S">U.S.</a> insurance companies' balance sheets throughout 2011.<br />
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Storms along the <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places,+Geography/Regions/East+Coast">East Coast</a>, tornadoes in the Southeast and in Joplin, Mo., and earthquakes in Japan and <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places,+Geography/Countries/New+Zealand">New Zealand</a> wreaked havoc on insurance company finances, especially firms that might have too many policyholders in certain geographic areas, says Bob Skow, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa.<br />
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The numbers aren't in yet, since renewals don't all happen at one time, but Robert Hartwig, president of the <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Insurance+Information+Institute">Insurance Information Institute</a>, says customers are starting to feel the cost of years of heavy losses, particularly in the Southeast and Midwest.<br />
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"We've had record losses for four straight years," he said. "My sense is that premiums will probably rise 4% to 5%."<br />
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In 2008, the average annual cost of homeowners insurance was $791, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Average premiums rose slightly to $799 in 2009 and $807 in 2010. Hartwig predicts that 2011's average premium will be about $840.<br />
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Insurers are charging more to cover higher loss projections and the rising cost of reinsurance — insurance on their insurance.<br />
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"Everybody got clobbered," Skow says. <br />
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Insured losses in the U.S. in the first half of 2011 were $17.8 billion, more than the $13.6 billion insurers paid in all of 2010, according to <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Munich+Re">Munich Re</a>, a giant European reinsurance company.<br />
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A few companies took enough losses they either had to scale back their exposure or became insolvent. Alfa Insurance, the second-largest home insurer in Alabama, announced in June that it would send non-renewal notices to 73,000 homeowners in the following 16 months. The late April outbreak of 300 tornadoes across the South — especially in Alabama — was the costliest storm in Alfa's history, the company reported<br />
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Three small insurance companies in Joplin became insolvent because of the May tornado that destroyed much of that town. The Missouri Farm Bureau is taking over policies for the companies, which had to pay out $48 million and didn't have adequate reinsurance to cover their losses, according to the Missouri Insurance Department.<br />
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/insurance/story/2012-01-04/homeowners-insurance-rising/52367258/1" target="_blank">ARTICLE SOURCE</a>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-16130623579196435722012-01-03T11:39:00.000-08:002012-01-03T11:43:06.543-08:00Worst Natural Disasters of 2011 and Their Impact on the Insurance IndustryPosted on January 3, 2012 by <a href="http://merlinlawgroup.com/attorneys/252/Sergio-V-Leal">Sergio Leal</a> <br />
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that 2011 was a record year for natural disasters in the U.S. According to the <a href="http://www.iii.org/">Insurance Information Institute</a> (the “I.I.I.”), insurance companies will pay more than $32 billion in claims to help people rebuild homes and businesses damaged or destroyed by natural disasters in 2011, a record year for federal disaster declarations. Dr. Robert Hartwig, president of the I.I.I., said that “[t]he $32.6 billion figure doesn't even include the significant insured losses which arose after the pre-Halloween snowstorm, which caused enormous damage to multiple states along the Atlantic seaboard. Coupled with other events in 2011’s fourth quarter, direct insured losses could exceed $35 billion this year.”<br />
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Additionally, the I.I.I. reports that the federal government declared on 99 separate occasions this year that a major disaster existed after a natural disaster had occurred, easily breaking the previous record of 81, which was set in 2010. The 99 disaster declarations are nearly triple the average of 34 per year dating back to 1953, the I.I.I. added.<br />
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The federal <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (“NOAA”) announced that the U.S. was the site of 12 separate disasters, each of which caused at least $1 billion in aggregate damage in 2011. The previous record, set in 2008, was nine.<br />
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With all of these new records, you would think that the private insurance industry would be in a lot of trouble. Not so. According to the I.I.I., policyholders’ surplus –insurers’ net worth measured according to Statutory Accounting Principles – fell only four percent to $538.6 billion as of September 30, 2011, compared to $559.2 billion at year-end 2010. You read that right. Even though the insurance industry experienced one of its worst years ever, their net worth dropped by a mere 4%.<br />
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For more information, including a list of the 12 separate billion dollar disasters <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/private-sector-insurers-to-pay-more-than-32-billion-in-claims-from-natural-disasters-in-2011-federal-government-set-record-for-disaster-declarations-136438843.html">click here</a>.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com/2012/01/articles/insurance/worst-natural-disasters-of-2011-and-their-impact-on-the-insurance-industry/">ARTICLE SOURCE</a> </strong>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-45306415661195683832011-12-19T09:50:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:50:52.172-08:00Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Warns Californians to Prepare Now for Forecasted Winter Storms<em>Reminds Residents That Standard Homeowners Policies Do Not Cover Flood Damage; and Flood Insurance Policies Typically Take Effect 30 Days After Purchase</em><br />
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Weather forecasters predict severe storms will hit parts of already fire-impacted California early next year. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones urges residents to review their insurance coverage regularly, including supplemental policies like flood insurance, and to conduct an inventory to ensure that their home and possessions are properly covered.<br />
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"Flooding can occur anywhere," said Commissioner Jones. "I strongly encourage all homeowners to document their possessions before any type of disaster strikes. It's stressful enough to lose your belongings when severe weather hits. But being prepared by having good records, including serial numbers, so you can better replace your possessions can lessen the blow."<br />
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Commissioner Jones reminds residents that in California, most standard homeowner's insurance policies do not cover mudslides. Residents are urged to contact their insurers to determine exactly what their current policies will cover and if buying flood insurance is the right option for them. A flood insurance policy typically takes effect 30 days after it is purchased. So with heavy rains predicted in the coming weeks and during the first three months of next year, now is the time to consider your options.<br />
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In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance program (NFIP) in response to the rising cost of taxpayer-funded disaster relief for flood victims and the increasing amount of damage caused by floods. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flood insurance covers building contents. The cost is determined by several factors, including the region's flood risk, year the structure was built, and type of structure insured (residential versus commercial, single-family versus multiple-family).<br />
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FEMA manages the NFIP, which makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in communities participating in the NFIP. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, in California, less than 255,000 households are protected by flood insurance, which equates to fewer than 2.5 percent of residents and business owners having flood insurance. To assess your need for flood insurance, go to the California Department of Insurance web site at <a href="http://www.insurance.ca.gov/">http://www.insurance.ca.gov/</a>. Additionally, the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTExMjEzLjQ0MjMxMTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTExMjEzLjQ0MjMxMTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNjgxMjEzMCZlbWFpbGlkPXJyZWl0ekBxdWFsaXR5Y2xhaW1zLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9cnJlaXR6QHF1YWxpdHljbGFpbXMuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.floodsmart.gov/">NFIP offers flood related bulletins and newsletters</a>.<br />
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For more information about documenting your possessions or to receive a free <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTExMjEzLjQ0MjMxMTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTExMjEzLjQ0MjMxMTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNjgxMjEzMCZlbWFpbGlkPXJyZWl0ekBxdWFsaXR5Y2xhaW1zLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9cnJlaXR6QHF1YWxpdHljbGFpbXMuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0060-information-guides/0040-residential/upload/HomeInventoryCombined2008.pdf">home inventory</a> guide, call the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-HELP or visit our web site. <br />
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Please visit the Department of Insurance Web site at <a href="http://www.insurance.ca.gov/">http://www.insurance.ca.gov/</a>. Non media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800.927.HELP. Callers from out of state, please dial 213.897.8921. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), please dial 800.482.4833.Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-6760684178982909892011-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:002011-11-30T09:41:41.458-08:00Saving on your insuranceUnited Policyholders is an excellent online resource for insurance consumers and provides some good tips for saving money as we move into the holiday season.<br />
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Kim Cary, CPPA<br />
Senior General Adjuster at Quality Claims <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7360596174/208753390/226869273/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><img alt="United Policyholders Tip of the Month" border="0" height="153px" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.unitedpolicyholders.org/e_news/tipofthemonth/images/tipofthemonth_header2.jpg" width="650px" /></span></a></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15pt;">Saving on your insurance</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15pt;"></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Everyone can use some extra money in their pocket during the holiday season. UP always encourages consumers to raise their deductible. Here are a few more tips for saving on your insurance from two members of our Agent/Broker Advisory Board: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">"Make sure you are taking advantage of "affinity" discounts that may be offered as a member benefit by organizations or associations you belong to."</span></em><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
- Corrin S. Trowbridge, Pacifica, CA. <br />
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<em><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"Broker fees are typically negotiable. Always inquire if fees are flexible or if one broker fee can be applied to all your policies"</span></em><br />
- Ambere St Denis, San Francisco, CA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-17558503429131599472011-10-28T10:50:00.000-07:002011-10-28T10:53:58.128-07:00The Great California ShakeOut! <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Last week on October 20th, Quality Claims participated in The Great California ShakeOut. Everyone at QCMC dropped, got under cover and held on for the duration of the drill.<br />
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The Great California ShakeOut is a statewide earthquake drill spanning all 58 California counties and Yuma County, AZ. More than 7.9 million Californians participated in 2010, practicing </span><a href="http://www.shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon/"><span style="font-size: small;">Drop, Cover, and Hold On</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> and other aspects of family, school, and organizational emergency plans</span>.</div></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzwSvNb25o8/Tqrq4ZXOIcI/AAAAAAAAAEY/-hEB0aYXltM/s1600/2011-10-20+10.21.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzwSvNb25o8/Tqrq4ZXOIcI/AAAAAAAAAEY/-hEB0aYXltM/s320/2011-10-20+10.21.57.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="shakeout5.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 373.5pt; width: 280.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:image015.jpg@01CC8F14.EC545750" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\vcurro\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata></shape><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #708fa0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><shape alt="shakeout.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 375pt; width: 281.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:image016.jpg@01CC8F14.EC545750" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\vcurro\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #708fa0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><shape alt="shakeout2.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" style="height: 376.5pt; width: 282pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:image018.jpg@01CC8F14.EC545750" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\vcurro\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #708fa0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><shape alt="shakeout3.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_i1029" style="height: 377.25pt; width: 283.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:image019.jpg@01CC8F14.EC545750" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\vcurro\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #708fa0; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><shape alt="shakeout4.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_i1030" style="height: 377.25pt; width: 283.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:image020.jpg@01CC8F14.EC545750" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\vcurro\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg"></imagedata></shape></span><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-74769558126801249132011-10-19T15:00:00.001-07:002011-10-19T15:01:26.035-07:00Quality Claims Announces Partnership with Docuhome<strong>Homeowners and Renters Now Have No Excuse for Not Documenting their Possessions for their Insurance Policy</strong><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">SAN DIEGO, CA – October 20, 2011</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.qualityclaims.com/"><span style="color: purple;">Quality Claims Management</span></a>, (<a href="http://www.qualityclaims.com/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.qualityclaims.com</span></a>) a national leader in Public Insurance Adjusting, today announced that it has entered into a partnership with DocuHome to provide the best possible online home inventory and asset protection services. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Over the years, the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quality Claims team has helped thousands of fire, flood and disaster victims and learned that one of the biggest challenges is a homeowner’s lack of any reliable inventory of their possessions. Following a disaster, insurance companies need a complete and up to date inventory of their policy holder’s possessions in order to fully reimburse them for their loss. However, creating a complete and accurate inventory list AFTER a disaster is nearly impossible. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“We always tell people to prepare their home inventory list before they need it, before a disaster actually strikes,” says Ronald Reitz, President of Quality Claims and First Vice President of NAPIA, the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. “However, most people never get around to it. They are too busy, it’s too complicated, or they think they are unlikely to really need it. We have heard every excuse! That is why we have partnered with DocuHome.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DocuHome is the fastest and most complete home inventory software available. By using any digital camera or even a phone camera, the DocuHome step-by-step process makes creating a home inventory simple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://docuhome.com/?action=POPSIGNUP&PROMOCODE=WAKTU29419&RID=AFF9210801">Not only is it easy to use, it is very affordable – about $69 a year!</a><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Homeowners and renters start by taking photos of their home and its contents, room by room. After uploading the photos to their DocuHome account, they use the innovative DocuHome Tagging Inventory Creation Tool to tag the items (furniture, appliances, artwork, toys, electronics) in each photo with information about cost, purchase location, when acquired, and other relevant information about its value. Once the information is securely stored with DocuHome, it is safe and protected from any kind of disaster.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“We are proud to have partnered with Quality Claims Management, recognized nationally as the leader in recovery assistance for disaster victims. Quality Claims Management's unparalleled expertise in policy coverage is critical guidance in DocuHome's mission to help homeowners be prepared if a loss should occur," says Bradford Stanley, Chief Executive Officer of DocuHome. “Not only is DocuHome very secure, as all the information is stored online, the program is easy to use and some have said, fun.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
“Choosing the best home inventory application before you get started can mean the difference between successfully completing an inventory and never finishing,” adds Mr. Reitz. </div><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1644186292"><img border="0" height="256px" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nbEWautLkg/Tpiux7ZmG6I/AAAAAAAAADo/PhzXNI_WP7U/s320/home_inventory200x250.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1644186292">DocuHome is the most comprehensive, easy to use home inventory product on the market today. Our patent-pending photo and tagging system is so easy to use, homeowners can photograph, assign a value, and safely store all of their possessions on-line in hours, not days. DocuHome has been featured on ABC News, AOL Real Estate, and many other business and consumer publications as one the smartest new technologies to come on the market. DocuHome is a privately held company and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.</a></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://docuhome.com/?action=POPSIGNUP&PROMOCODE=WAKTU29419&RID=AFF9210801"></a>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-27062372179811842692011-09-01T09:14:00.000-07:002011-09-01T09:14:15.486-07:00Next time I'll do it differently: Insurance regrets after disasters<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: right; color: black; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><img height="160px" id="il_fi" src="http://thewritingfiendatlarge.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/fox-business-logo1.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320px" /></div><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">"Be honest with your agent," says Reitz of Quality Claims "Say, 'Here is the total square feet I have.'"<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/08/31/next-time-ill-do-it-differently-insurance-regrets-after-disasters/#ixzz1WiYAzFsn" style="color: #003399;">http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/08/31/next-time-ill-do-it-differently-insurance-regrets-after-disasters/#ixzz1WiYAzFsn</a></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-18831592285089465952011-08-25T07:49:00.000-07:002011-08-25T07:49:57.601-07:00Tenacious P(olicyholder)<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7177493148/208650045/224364538/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><img alt="United Policyholders Tip of the Month" border="0" height="153px" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.unitedpolicyholders.org/e_news/tipofthemonth/images/tipofthemonth_header2.jpg" width="650px" /></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<em><strong>... How to get your insurer to cover claim expenses</strong></em><br />
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Listing and valuing damaged or stolen property and negotiating a settlement with your insurer can cost you a lot of time and money. But unless it's a business loss, you'll have to be tenacious to get your insurer to reimburse you for expenses related to documenting (preparing) your claim. <br />
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The insurance claim process after a large loss can be a full time job. Countless hours at the loss site, answering questions, making phone calls and dealing with paperwork. If you're self-employed, this means you'll lose income. Time is money. You may need to pay for <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7177493148/208650045/224364539/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org/sponsors/hiringhelp">professional help</a>... an estimator, air quality tester, accountant, public adjuster or an attorney. <br />
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Business policies often specifically cover "claim preparation" expenses. If your claim is personal, you'll have to negotiate with the insurance company adjuster to get these expenses covered. Depending on the wording of your policy, you may be able to get them reimbursed under "Additional Living Expense" or similar type of coverage for extra expenses that are incurred due to a loss. Make sure to keep good records and present a clear request in writing that outlines time and money spent preparing your claim. <br />
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For more detailed tips, read our newest addition to the UP Claim Help Library: <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7177493148/208650045/224364540/36513/goto:http:/uphelp.org/library/resource/reimbursement-claim-preparation-expenses">Reimbursement for claim preparation expenses</a>.Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-78377565165652467192011-08-01T07:53:00.000-07:002011-08-01T13:53:22.880-07:00What Is the Claims Process for Disaster Victims?<em sizcache="0" sizset="39">By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ron_Reitz" rel="author" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Ron Reitz">Ron Reitz </a></em><br />
<div id="ad-3-placeholder" sizcache="0" sizset="40"><div id="ad-3" sizcache="0" sizset="40"></div></div><script type="text/javascript">
$('#ad-3-placeholder').append($('#ad-3').show());
</script><a class="photo-container" href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ron_Reitz" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Ron Reitz"><img alt="Expert Author Ron Reitz" class="photo" src="http://ezinearticles.com/members/mem_pics/Ron-Reitz_313674.jpg" title="EzineArticles Expert Author Ron Reitz" /> </a><br />
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<div id="article-body" jquery1312210252079="37" sizcache="0" sizset="48"><div id="article-content">The Five Steps to Recovering Your Life After Your Home and Life Have Been Destroyed<br />
Why use a Public Insurance Adjuster?<br />
<br />
1. Read everything carefully before you sign anything. Your insurance company's representatives will first present you with emergency money - for immediate needs and shelter. The second round of payouts is where you need to be careful. Do not sign anything that limits your rights to seek additional proceeds.<br />
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2. Find a copy of your insurance policy. If it is destroyed or is not accessible, you should be able to get a full copy of the original insurance policy with all of its endorsements from the agent who sold you the coverage.<br />
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3. Make sure your family is safe. Most insurance policies include language that enables you to find a residence similar to your existing one. Find a hotel or rental home close to work or your kids' school that is adequate in size and clean and comfortable. Find a place similar in size and accommodations to your previous residence.<br />
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4. Get some professional help. Insurance companies hire and train their adjusters to represent the interests of the insurance company and ultimately, its investors. In many instances those adjusters do a great job helping their policyholders. However, sometimes their adjusters are too keenly focused on the bottom line of the insurance company instead of paying the policyholder what they are rightly due under the terms of their insurance policy. If you have doubts about what your insurance company is telling you, or you are simply do not have enough time and expertise to completely value and settle your claim, contact a professional that will work for you and will only represent your best interests.<br />
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5. If you go it alone, go slowly and take your time. The insurance company may pressure you to speed up the process - you may be anxious to put all of this behind you as quickly as possible in order to get back to your life, but you need to resist that urge. In these types of cases, especially with homes that have many improvements and renovations, or with families with lots of possessions, haste definitely makes waste. Take your time and carefully review each and every document before signing anything. If you don't agree with the estimates for repair or replacement provided by your insurance provider, fight back.<br />
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Why use a Public Insurance Adjuster.<br />
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In many cases, the Public Adjuster is able to get more money from the Insurance Company than you will be able to on your own. Even after deducting the Public Adjuster's small percentage fee (much less than using a lawyer), you will probably still come out ahead.<br />
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For most families affected by a disaster, the biggest advantage of using a Public Insurance Adjuster is that they can get back to living their life while a professional handles all of the details. Instead of spending 20 hours or more a week, researching replacement and rebuilding costs, analyzing and completing various forms, and negotiating with insurance company adjusters and restoration experts, the Public Adjuster can do all of that. This means you can get back to your family life. Normalcy and a return to a routine schedule will greatly help you and your family adjust and move on.<br />
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For many, the time savings and the emotional satisfaction of having a professional handle the minutiae and painful negotiations is much more important than whatever added funds the adjuster is able to get for them. It's more than just the money.</div><div id="article-resource" sizcache="0" sizset="48"><div sizcache="0" sizset="48"><a href="http://www.qualityclaims.com/" jquery1312210252079="10" target="_new">http://www.qualityclaims.com/</a></div><div sizcache="0" sizset="48"><br />
</div><div sizcache="0" sizset="49">Ron Reitz is president of San Diego-based Quality Claims Management Corp., a nationally licensed public insurance adjuster, providing hazard claim recovery services to investors, mortgage servicers, homeowners and businesses. Earlier, he pioneered the national hazard insurance claims business of GMAC-RFC (now GMAC-ResCap). He is the past president of the California Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and currently serves on the board of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. Contact Quality Claims Management at (866) 450-1183 or <a href="http://www.qualityclaims.com/" jquery1312210252079="11" target="_new">http://www.qualityclaims.com/</a>.</div></div></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-76095214909105062982011-06-24T10:49:00.001-07:002011-06-24T10:49:49.847-07:00United Policyholders: Tip of the MonthJune 2011<br />
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Overwhelmed and Underinsured<br />
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Those two words describe the people in Missouri, Alabama and Arizona whose homes were recently wiped out. The fact is, about 2/3 of the homes in the United States are underinsured.1 UP can help you be in the third that are not. You probably think you're already paying plenty for insurance. We couldn't agree more. But why pay all that money and still come up short? <br />
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What to do? <br />
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- Pull out your <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542451/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org/library/resource/simplified-guide-your-homeowners-policy">policy</a> and calculate how much your home ("dwelling") is insured for per square foot (psf). The cost to rebuild your home will depend on its style, age and location. The cost of building most homes ranges from $150-$400 psf, so if yours is below that range, it may be underinsured.<br />
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- Call your agent or insurance company and tell them you want to make sure your dwelling is insured for full replacement value. Ask if they will send an independent estimator to your home, free of charge. Some companies will. Ask how you can adjust your policy limits without spending more. A good agent will help you do this. Take good notes on the conversations and keep them in a safe place. Consider raising your deducible and trimming non-essential coverage to lower your premium.<br />
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- Spend $7 to get a second opinion from an online home replacement cost estimator like <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542452/36513/goto:http:/www.hmfacts.com/homeowners/">HMFacts</a>. Take time to input detailed information about your home. <br />
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You'll find useful tips on <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542453/36513/goto:http:/uphelp.org/library/resource/picking-good-insurance-agent-or-broker">Picking a good insurance agent or broker</a>, <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542454/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org/library/resource/shop-smart">Shop Smart: Tips for Insuring Your Home</a>, and much more at <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542455/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org/">http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542455/36513/goto:http:/www.uphelp.org/</a>. Please <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542456/36513/goto:https:/npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1003821&code=website">donate</a> to support our work in tornado and wildfire areas. <br />
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1.United Policyholders post-disaster <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542457/36513/goto:http:/uphelp.org/library/resource/southern-california-wildfire-claim-survey-results">survey results</a> are consistent with <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542458/36513/goto:http:/www.iii.org/media/updates/archive/press.754293/index.html">insurance industry sources</a> that estimate more than 60% of American homes are underinsured. <br />
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<a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7108888718/208595723/223542461/36513/goto:https:/npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1003821&code=12/10%20enews"><img border="0" src="http://www.unitedpolicyholders.org/images/donatenowlogo4.gif" /></a>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-26719563276125544012011-06-02T08:36:00.000-07:002011-06-02T08:41:12.049-07:00Insurance Commisioner Jones Announces Substantial Decrease in Homeowners Insurance Rates by USAA<em>Approximately 200,000 policyholders in California affected </em><br />
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Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced a substantial decrease in homeowner insurance rates by USAA. The recent approval of the company's rate filing reduces rates for most of its California policyholders by an average of 14.9 percent. <br />
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"Today, I am pleased to announce that my department has approved a substantial homeowners rate reduction by USAA," said Commissioner Jones. "This is good news for the approximately 200,000 USAA policyholders, most of whom will receive a rate reduction as a result. Given the current economic conditions, we are elated to be able to help consumers keep more of their hard earned money and benefit from lower insurance premiums." <br />
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"USAA is committed to offering competitive prices to our members - America's military families," said Alice Gannon, SVP and Chief Actuary, USAA Property & Casualty Insurance Group. "As a result of our favorable trends in claims costs and our ability to keep our expenses among the lowest in the industry, we're pleased to be able to reduce rates for most of our California members." <br />
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"We are pleased that USAA is implementing this $40 million rate decrease, which will provide savings to hundreds of thousands of California homeowners," said Todd M. Foreman, a Consumer Watchdog staff attorney who worked with the Department and USAA on this rate reduction. "Voters enacted Proposition 103, and gave themselves a voice in the regulatory process to ensure this kind of savings." <br />
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Across the state, the decrease translates to an average of $185 per home annually. The rate decrease will become effective November 30, 2011. USAA members will begin receiving their policy renewal packets 60-days prior to renewal starting on September 30, 2011. <br />
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The last rate change for USAA's California policyholders was in 2006, when rates were reduced by 22.1 percent. USAA insures approximately 200,000 homeowners in California and is the 6th largest homeowners and 7th largest auto insurer in the state. <br />
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USAA's 14.9 percent rate reduction is the most recent rate decrease approved by the California Department of Insurance. <br />
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Since taking office earlier this year, Commissioner Jones has already approved homeowners and automobile premium rate reductions by the following companies: <br />
<ul><li>First National Insurance Company of America reduced homeowner rates 2.24 percent </li>
<li>Grange Insurance Association reduced homeowner rates 6.1 percent </li>
<li>Topa Insurance Company reduced auto rates 9.71 percent </li>
<li>Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., LTD. reduced auto rates 4.65 percent </li>
<li>Personal Express Insurance Company reduced auto rates 6.86 percent </li>
</ul><div></div><div>These rate reductions have saved California consumers millions of dollars annually in premiums. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please visit the Department of Insurance Web site at </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTEzNzEyMTkmbWVzc2FnZWlkPVBSRC1CVUwtMTM3MTIxOSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTEyNzY2MzQzODgmZW1haWxpZD1ycmVpdHpAcXVhbGl0eWNsYWltcy5jb20mdXNlcmlkPXJyZWl0ekBxdWFsaXR5Y2xhaW1zLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&http://www.insurance.ca.gov/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.insurance.ca.gov</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Non media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800.927.HELP. Callers from out of state, please dial 213.897.8921. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), please dial 800.482.4833.</span></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-47212017575161357372011-05-26T09:42:00.001-07:002011-05-26T09:54:05.687-07:00United Policy Holders | Tip of the Month<strong><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In</span><em><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 19.5pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">credit</span></em><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15pt; letter-spacing: 3pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">able</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
It may surprise you to learn that your credit rating is probably impacting the amount you're paying for insurance more than your driving record or the condition of your home. This is called "credit-based insurance scoring." The worse your score, the higher your premium. There is no logical connection between your credit standing and your likelihood of having an accident or a home fire, so advocates believe insurers are using credit scoring to discriminate and overcharge. But despite years of efforts by United Policyholders and other consumer groups to ban the practice it remains legal and very common in all but a few states.</span><br />
<span style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><img alt="doctors" border="0" height="133px" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.unitedpolicyholders.org/e_news/tipofthemonth/images/Creditcheck4.jpg" width="200px" /></span><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">What can a careful consumer do? </span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Review your credit report and fix any errors you find. You are entitled to get one free credit report annually from each of the three big credit bureaus. Beware - most sites that promise a free credit report are not free because they require you to purchase something. <br />
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<a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169693/36513/goto:http:/www.annualcreditreport.com"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">www.annualcreditreport.com</span></strong></a> is the official site sponsored by the credit bureaus and you can use it to obtain and compare credit reports to see what information is missing or incorrect - particularly the report from the bureau your insurance company used to get your score. You can also get a free report and score via <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169694/36513/goto:http:/www.creditkarma.com"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">www.creditkarma.com</span></strong></a>. Errors on credit reports can be hard to fix, especially if you're not a "V.I.P.", as a recent <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169695/36513/goto:http:/www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/your-money/credit-scores/15credit.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=fixing%20credit%20reports&st=csehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/your-money/credit-scores/15credit.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=fixing%20credit%20reports&st=cse"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">New York Times</span></strong></a> article points out, but be persistent. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Seek out insurance companies that give discounts for positive actions such as pay-by-the-mile auto insurance which gives you the power to drive less and pay less for your insurance.</span></div></li>
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Insurance credit scoring penalizes victims of medical catastrophes and people that have suffered a job loss. The practice also penalizes consumers for rational and thrifty behavior. If you shop around for insurance, each insurer you get a quote from will make a credit inquiry. Their inquiries will be recorded and in turn hurt your credit score. If you like to use one credit card for rewards, you'll get a worse credit score than if you spread the charges over two or three cards. If you open a card account at a department store to take advantage of a 10% discount on first time purchases, your credit score will drop because of the inquiry and credit line. <br />
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Bottom line: Encourage your state lawmakers to ban credit scoring, and support United Policyholders' Advocacy and Action program by making a tax-deductible <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169696/36513/goto:https:/npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1003821&code=website">donation</a> today. To learn more about this issue, read a special UP report by Economist Birny Birnbaum titled; <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169697/36513/goto:http:/uphelp.org/library/resource/credit-scoring-insurance-unfair-practice">Credit Scoring in Insurance: An Unfair Practice</a>. <div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">To read past Tips of the Month, </span><a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169698/36513/goto:http:/uphelp.org/library/archives/tips" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #5a006b; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">click here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">. To suggest a future Tip of the Month, </span><a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7078573747/208571341/223169699/36513/goto:http:/uphelp.org/about/contact/tipidea"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">click here</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"> to submit your idea.</span> </div><br />
</div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-89874959401604135582011-05-24T13:59:00.001-07:002011-05-24T13:59:46.895-07:00Lack of home insurance can turn disaster into financial nightmare<div nodeindex="3" sizcache="0">2011 has seen more than its share of natural disasters, ranging from record-breaking tornado outbreaks to floods and wildfires. While catastrophic events disrupt the lives of everyone in their path, people without <a href="http://www.insurancequotes.com/home-insurance-faqs/" nodeindex="1">home insurance</a>, renter’s insurance or the proper disaster coverage also must deal with debilitating financial consequences.</div><div nodeindex="4">Unlike auto insurance, which is required by law, home insurance is not a mandatory purchase for many Americans. If you have a mortgage, your lender likely will require that you buy home insurance, but if your home is paid off, home insurance is an optional expense.</div><table align="left" border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" nodeindex="5" sizcache="0" style="background: #ffffff; border-bottom: #cccccc 1px solid; border-left: #cccccc 1px solid; border-right: #cccccc 1px solid; border-top: #cccccc 1px solid; float: left; margin-right: 10px; width: 325px;"><tbody nodeindex="1" sizcache="0">
<tr nodeindex="1" sizcache="0"><td nodeindex="1" sizcache="0" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"><img alt="" nodeindex="1" src="http://www.badcreditauthority.com/iq/home-insurance-tornado-damage.jpg" width="350px" /></td></tr>
<tr nodeindex="2" sizcache="0"><td nodeindex="1" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 4px;">Many Americans’ homes aren’t insured for damage from disasters such as a tornado.</td></tr>
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<div nodeindex="6">Some homeowners choose to get rid of their home insurance when times get tough. According to a 2009 study by the Insurance Research Council, 5 percent of homeowners reported canceling their policies as a result of the economic downturn. Others inadvertently let their policies lapse, says Ronald Reitz, a board member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. Reitz works with consumers to prepare and file insurance claims as president of Quality Claims Management.</div><div nodeindex="7">“We often see homeowners who find that their policy was canceled two days or a week prior to this huge disaster,” Reitz says.</div><div nodeindex="8" sizcache="0"><strong nodeindex="1">Renters disregard insurance</strong></div><div nodeindex="9">Homeowners aren’t the only ones often left dealing with the consequences of a disaster without insurance.</div><div nodeindex="10">“Far too many renters just don’t buy rental insurance,” says Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president of the Insurance Information Institute. Many renters think they have nothing to worry about since they don’t own the property, but if their apartments or rented homes are destroyed, their belongings usually are as well.</div><div nodeindex="11" sizcache="0">That’s what happened to Spencer Belkofer, an interactive marketing consultant in Alabama. “A few years ago I was renting a home which burnt to the ground,” he says. “I did not have <a href="http://www.insurancequotes.com/renters-insurance-faqs/" nodeindex="1">renter’s insurance</a> and lost everything I owned.”</div><div nodeindex="12" sizcache="0"><strong nodeindex="1">Do you need flood insurance?</strong></div><div nodeindex="13" sizcache="0">Not only can homeowners and renters be hurt by not having property insurance, but they can be caught off-guard without <a href="http://www.insurancequotes.com/home-insurance-water-damage/" nodeindex="1">flood insurance</a> as well. “Ninety percent of all natural disasters have some form of flooding, so the risk is very high,” Salvatore says.</div><div nodeindex="14">A standard homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy won’t cover flooding, even if it’s connected to another type of disaster. For example, if there’s a hurricane, a standard policy would cover wind damage, but flooding that resulted from the hurricane would be covered by a separate flood insurance policy.</div><div nodeindex="15" sizcache="0">While every American doesn’t need to buy flood insurance, “more people need it than have purchased it,” Salvatore says. Many renters don’t realize that they can benefit from flood insurance as well, since it not only covers damage to a building’s structure, but it also covers belongings that are damaged in a flood. You can find out whether your region is at a low, moderate or high risk of flood damage by visiting <a href="http://www.floodsmart.gov/" nodeindex="1">FloodSmart.gov</a>.</div><div nodeindex="16" sizcache="0"><strong nodeindex="1">Considering the costs</strong></div><table align="right" border="0" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" nodeindex="17" sizcache="0" style="background: #ffffff; border-bottom: #cccccc 1px solid; border-left: #cccccc 1px solid; border-right: #cccccc 1px solid; border-top: #cccccc 1px solid; float: right; margin-left: 10px; width: 325px;"><tbody nodeindex="1" sizcache="0">
<tr nodeindex="1" sizcache="0"><td nodeindex="1" sizcache="0" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"><img alt="" nodeindex="1" src="http://www.badcreditauthority.com/iq/home-insurance-flood-damage.jpg" width="350px" /></td></tr>
<tr nodeindex="2" sizcache="0"><td nodeindex="1" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 4px;">A standard homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy won’t cover flooding, even if it’s connected to another type of disaster.</td></tr>
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<div nodeindex="18">So, how much can a lack of insurance cost you? A 1,000-square-foot home with only 2 inches of flooding could sustain more than $10,000 in losses when you consider the costs of cleaning, repairs and lost personal items, according to the National Flood Insurance Program, created by Congress to offer flood insurance.</div><div nodeindex="19">It typically costs more to rebuild a home than it does to construct one from scratch. One reason is because there may be demolition costs involved. Also, contractors must rebuild from the top down, which is a more time-consuming process than building from the ground up, according to building cost data provider Marshall & Swift/Boeckh.</div><div nodeindex="20">Costs are likely to rise even higher after a natural disaster since so many people will be needing to rebuild at the same time, Reitz says. “As that demand goes up, so does the price and cost of the materials and the labor,” he says.</div><div nodeindex="21">To find out how much a disaster would set you back:</div><div nodeindex="22">1. Check with a local homebuilders association, surveyor or reputable builder to find out how much it would cost to rebuild your home.</div><div nodeindex="23">2. Create an inventory of your possessions to get an idea of how much you’d have to spend to replace all of your belongings.</div><div nodeindex="24">3. Add these two costs together to determine how much you should set aside if you decide to skip home, renter’s or flood insurance.</div><div nodeindex="25" sizcache="0"><strong nodeindex="1">Should you ’skimp’ on insurance?</strong></div><div nodeindex="26" sizcache="0">While other types of disaster coverage such as <a href="http://www.insurancequotes.com/home-insurance-earthquake/" nodeindex="1">earthquake insurance</a> may come into play for some people depending upon where they live, “everyone should have a homeowner’s policy or renter’s insurance policy to protect their home, and most people should have flood insurance,” Salvatore says.</div><div nodeindex="27">An insurance agent can tell you about other types of risks that might affect your region.</div><div nodeindex="28">“Insurance is an area that people seem to skimp on,” Reitz says. “But do you really want to skimp on insurance when it comes to protecting your home and your possessions?”</div><div nodeindex="29" sizcache="0"><em nodeindex="1">–Tamara E. Holmes</em></div>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633875213808645615.post-50270504483395150762011-05-10T11:15:00.000-07:002011-05-10T11:15:23.507-07:00Adjuster Explains How To Maximize ClaimsWSBTV: Jim Strickland reports.<br />
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<u><span style="color: #810081;"><a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/video/27726226/index.html">http://www.wsbtv.com/video/27726226/index.html</a></span></u><a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/video/27726226/index.html"></a>Quality Claims Managementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00137401999077605682noreply@blogger.com0