Do It Now: Check your insurance
CNN Money - Jan 13 10:33 AM
Buying insurance is the kind of unpleasant financial task you'd like to do once and then forget about. Don't. A lot may have changed since you last bought home or life coverage.Save to My Web

Bill would make insurers pay for sinkhole damage
Tennessean - Jan 14 12:18 AM
PORTLAND Troy and Yvonne Givens lay sleeping in their home when something went terribly wrong.Save to My Web

Studies Say Nearly 50 Percent of Bankruptcies and Mortgage Foreclosures Caused by Disability
[Press Release] PR Web - Jan 10 12:24 AM
Two studies reveal that nearly 50 percent of bankruptcies and mortgage foreclosures are caused by disability. [PRWEB Jan 10, 2006]Save to My Web

I.I.I.: Record Mississippi Homeowners' Claim Payments from 2005 Hurricanes
Insurance Journal - Jan 09 9:22 AM
The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Mississippi is reportedly enough to wipe out all homeowners premiums paid in the state during the past 17Save to My Web

Fitch Downgrades Alfa Ratings
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Jan 09 1:39 PM
CHICAGO----Jan. 9, 2006--Fitch Ratings has downgraded the insurer financial strength ratings of the Alfa insurance companies , see list below, one notch to 'AA-' from 'AA'. Additionally, Fitch has downgraded the commercial paper rating of Alfa Corporation to 'F1' from 'F1+' and Alfa's long-term issuer rating to 'A-' from 'A+'.Save to My Web

Maryland Senate approves Wal-Mart health spending bill
Lincoln Journal Star - Jan 12 10:09 PM
ANNAPOLIS, Md. Marylands Senate voted Thursday to enact a first-in-the-nation requirement that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spend more on employee health care despite the governors veto of the legislation. The measure, touted as a money-saver for Medicaid, now goes to the House for a vote.Save to My Web

It Made Me Think: Blue fingers make me see red
Gaylord Herald Times - Jan 09 5:23 AM
In anticipation of the predicted skyrocketing costs of home heating, I made a few lifestyle changes. Until my co-worker and energy guru Nicole Laskowski started work on her five part series on the subject, I was an energy hog.Save to My Web

Daily Digest of Business
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Jan 11 8:08 PM
Stocks resumed their advance Wednesday after New York's Federal Reserve president said in a speech that core inflation is "quite moderate." All three major indexes reached multiyear highs for the second time this week.Save to My Web

Fitch downgrades Alfa's ratings, outlook
Mississippi Business Journal - Jan 13 5:28 AM
CHICAGO Fitch Ratings has downgraded the insurer financial strength (IFS) ratings of the Alfa insurance companies (Alfa Group) one notch to "AA-" from "AA". Additionally, Fitch has downgraded the commercial paper rating of Alfa Corporation (Alfa) to "F1" from "F1+" and Alfa's long-term issuer rating to "A-" from "A+". The rating outlook for all ratings is "stable".Save to My Web

Is Trinity going under?
Decatur Daily - Jan 09 10:20 PM
TRINITY Bringing a sinkhole-plagued section of Old Alabama 24 back on line is going to take longer. A month ago, Trinity officials closed a portion of the road.Save to My Web

Market Place - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Condos and Real Estate Homeowners Insurance Night Vision Foreclosures Miami condos and real estate Personals Online Florists Real Estate Online

Homeowners, drivers save by going green (Cape Cod Times)
By MARSHALL LOEB MarketWatch NEW YORK - A recent announcement that Travelers, one of America's oldest insurance companies, will discount rates for drivers of hybrid cars is only the latest news of savings available to environmentally conscious consumers.

Ocean Finance Loans and Mortgages Limited - Low Cost Loans and Remortgages for UK Homeowners
and arranging insurance. Ocean Finance and Mortgages Ltd is licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to carry on the business of

Its a good time to review your home insurance
Tri-Valley Herald, CA - Jan 7, 2006 rude awakening. Most, if not all, the damage experienced in our area is not covered by standard homeowners insurance. While some

AG REILLY SEEKS RATE REDUCTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS IN 140 COMMUNITIES
Massachusetts Attorney General, MA - Jan 6, 2006 BOSTON -- Attorney General Tom Reilly is seeking reductions, ranging from 2.1 to 14.2 percent, in the cost of homeowners insurance for residents in 140

Generate better ideas
Palm Beach Post, FL - Jan 12, 2006 Yet all those who carry homeowners insurance will have to pay a second assessment this year to cover hurricane losses for Citizens Property Insurance Corp

A Crisis of Cost: Health insurance is a ticket to the medical
BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - Jan 8, 2006 But we never expect our homeowners insurance to pay for putting on a new roof or auto insurance to pay for the 50,000-mile service package at the dealership.

Fitch Downgrades Alfa Ratings
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jan 9, 2006 2004. Alfa Group is the second largest personal automobile and homeowners insurance writer in Alabama based on premiums written.

Insurance rates pinch homeowners
St. Petersburg Times, FL - Dec 25, 2005 We're going to have to move.". In July, their homeowners insurance rate for the year increased from $1,079 to $2,152 on their $91,797 home.

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Sale Fresh Air Purifiers Homeowners Insurance Hotels Auto Insurance Mortgage Loans Air Purifiers Trade Show Displays Air Purifiers Adventure

Allstate Stops Writing Homeowners Insurance For NYS Coastal Areas (Fox 23)
(New York) AP 01/12/06 -- Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Company officials say Allstate wants to limit its exposure to intense coastal storms.

Insurance Defense Blog
homeowners' policy consitutes 'other insurance that provides flood coverage' within the mean of . . . . [the SFIP's other insurance clause]." On

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
airs Businesses For Sale Fresh Air Purifiers Homeowners Insurance Hotels Auto Insurance Mortgage Loans Air Purifiers Trade Show Displays Air

Allstate cuts new policies in coastal areas, LI, NYC included (Newsday)
Allstate, the largest provider of homeowners insurance in New York State, is no longer offering new policies on Long Island, New York City or Westchester County, to limit its exposure to intense storms predicted to hit coastal areas in coming years, company officials confirmed Wednesday.

Enterprise Florida launches CAFTA promotion initiative
Orlando Business Journal - Education, marketing outreach among efforts planned by economic development agency. Although Florida businesses have displayed little interest so far in the pact, the state's Orlando-based public/ private economic development partnership is launching

A Painful lesson
Pantagraph - BLOOMINGTON - Julie Crowe woke to 10-inch flames around her chest. A burning candle she thought she blew out four hours earlier sat on a coffee table less than two feet away, as did a broken lighter that was also on fire. Flames had spread to the

Enterprise Florida launches CAFTA promotion initiative
Orlando Business Journal - Education, marketing outreach among efforts planned by economic development agency. Although Florida businesses have displayed little interest so far in the pact, the state's Orlando-based public/ private economic development partnership is launching

TX: Perry opens re-election bid, talks of progress
Dallas Morning News - BEAUMONT Gov. Rick Perry opened his bid for re-election Tuesday with two broad themes: Things are great in Texas, and he's the only conservative in the race. MICHAEL MULVEY/DMN Gov. Rick Perry signed an autograph for Elaine Cook of Cedar Hill on

Settlement reached in explosion lawsuit
Longview News-Journal - State Farm insurance company, which insured 11 Kilgore residents who had homes damaged in a fireworks warehouse explosion more than two years ago, has reached an out-of-court settlement with the warehouse owner, Joseph Lamb. State Farm filed a

Some tweaking keeps teacher on track toward goals
San Diego Union-Tribune - Liliana Gonzalez has her mother to thank for her careful approach to money. Heeding the values and frugal measures she learned growing up, the 40-year-old elementary school teacher lives well below her means and has established ample savings. LAURA

Farmer Protection Act, Burlington ordinance & VY
Vermont Guardian - I m writing to express how disheartening it was to walk the halls of the Vermont House of Representatives on Jan. 3 and hear all the misunderstandings about the version of the Farmer Protection Act that passed that day. This was not the Senate

Retirees upset at fees for storm fix
Palm Beach Interactive - In the two months since Hurricane Wilma blew their roofs away, 56 residents of the Saxony condominiums at Kings Point west of Delray Beach have shuttled from temporary rentals to friends' homes while they wait for repairs. Already in dire economic

CEO of state's `last resort' insurer not happy about growth
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. -- Growth is good for most businesses but the chief executive officer for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is sorry to predicting a 40 percent to 50 percent growth rate in the coming one to two years for his company

Allstate Stops Writing
WETM 18 - An estimated 33,000 crows have disappeared from the Finger Lakes city, much to the delight of biologists from the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services division. According to the agency's bird experts, Auburn's crow population has shrunk

Useful information that will help now and in the future
Nevada Appeal - Submitted Photo Ian Hartman, from left, and Jack Chestnut, both from Ponderosa Plumbing, and Terry Sanders, construction superindendent at Syncon Homes, look over plans. Syncon Homes of Douglas County broke ground Dec. 15 on the newest addition to

Federated National Insurance wants to raise rates 14.9 percent
Palm Beach Post, FL - Dec 31, 2005 The company is seeking to hike homeowners insurance rates by 14.9 percent as of Dec. 1, 2005, or $149 per $1,000 of premiums paid.

Travelers Improves Homeowners Program in California
Insurance Journal - 16 hours ago Paul Travelers, has improved its homeowners insurance program in California, including enhancingcoverage for identity theft and new credits and deductible

Future of Gulf Coast Homeowners Insurance Murky, S&P Warns
Consumer Affairs - Dec 19, 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wrecked much of the Gulf Coast and may have also done permanent damage to the insurance business, a report from Standard & Poor's

Insurance thicket imperils comeback
The State, SC - Dec 15, 2005 that the flooding was caused by storm surges and levee breaches directly attributable to Katrina's winds, and wind damage is covered under homeowners insurance

Ill. Insurance Dept. Offers Advice for Holiday Hosts, Travelers
Insurance Journal - Dec 20, 2005 Homeowners Insurance -- Homeowners insurance policies include coverage for your dwelling and personal property contents against perils such as fire, as well

Romney's proposal a good first step
Fitchburg Sentinel, MA - 12 hours ago workplace. Auto insurance and homeowners insurance are the responsibility of the insured, who pay for it and own it themselves.

The Booming Biz of ID Protection
BusinessWeek - Jan 10, 2006 see the epidemic of ID theft as a business opportunity." ID-theft protection is being tucked into a host of products, from homeowners' insurance to company

Citizens failed to enforce penalties
St. Petersburg Times, FL - Dec 22, 2005 t find coverage in the private market, was created in 2002 when the state Legislature merged the windstorm and the state's last-resort homeowners insurance pool

Unsure how to lower insurance rates
WFAA (subscription), TX - 6 hours ago major opponents two Democrats and two independents couldn't offer many specifics on how they would attack the problem of costly homeowners insurance.

Home insurance still at a premium (Dallas Morning News)
AUSTIN Texans pay nearly twice the national average for homeowner insurance, although premium increases slowed after lawmakers enacted a massive insurance overhaul in 2003, according to a new national study.

Insurance chief says more homeowners need flood coverage (Marin Independent Journal)
Using a flood-ravaged San Anselmo home as a backdrop, state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi on Thursday urged Californians to spend the time, effort and money to prepare before the next natural disaster strikes.

Allstate Stops Writing Homeowners Insurance For NYS Coastal Areas (Fox 23)
(New York) AP 01/12/06 -- Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Company officials say Allstate wants to limit its exposure to intense coastal storms.

Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance Renews Partnership with Costco Wholesale (The Auto Channel)
GREEN BAY, Wis.--Jan. 1, 20063, 2006--Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance and Costco Insurance Agency Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Costco Wholesale Corporation, have renewed their current partnership for an additional five years.

Many Homeowners on Their Own to Collect on Flood Damage Claims (News 10 Sacramento)
Many property owners battling insurance companies to pay claims for damage incurred during flooding two weeks ago are not receiving much encouragement from any quarter.

A native daughter heeds the call of beloved New Orleans
San Francisco Chronicle - Jan 08 3:35 AM
Shatonda Yarbrough is finally going home. Four months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, Yarbrough, 29, and her daughter Miochie Martin, 4, left Oakland on Saturday in a rented truck bound for New Orleans. Returning to the Big Easy...Save to My Web

Fla. Legislators' Mull Reform Measures to Control How Carriers Do Business
Insurance Journal - Jan 11 4:37 AM
Homeowners insurance reform and regulations aimed at controlling how carriers do business are being hurriedly prepared by legislators for the March sessions of the Florida Legislature. They include moSave to My Web

Allstate cuts new policies in coastal areas, LI, NYC included
Newsday - Jan 13 3:02 PM
Allstate, the largest provider of homeowners insurance in New York State, is no longer offering new policies on Long Island, New York City or Westchester County, to limit its exposure to intense storms predicted to hit coastal areas in coming years, company officials confirmed Wednesday.Save to My Web

Wisconsin Insurance Rates Likely Not Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
Insurance Journal - Jan 03 8:37 AM
This year, businesses and consumers will help insurers pay for last year's estimated $57.6 billion in storm-related losses such as Hurricane Katrina through higher property and casualty insurance polSave to My Web

Benchmarks should help determine rate of sinking
The Daily Comet - Jan 02 1:07 PM
HOUMA -- A federal study in October showed property in Terrebonne Parish in general is sinking. Now, its time to find out how much the land has sunk in each area.Save to My Web

Fitch Downgrades Alfa Ratings
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Jan 09 1:39 PM
CHICAGO----Jan. 9, 2006--Fitch Ratings has downgraded the insurer financial strength ratings of the Alfa insurance companies , see list below, one notch to 'AA-' from 'AA'. Additionally, Fitch has downgraded the commercial paper rating of Alfa Corporation to 'F1' from 'F1+' and Alfa's long-term issuer rating to 'A-' from 'A+'.Save to My Web

How safe is your bank -- from it's own employees?
Market Watch - Jan 10 4:16 PM
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (MarketWatch) -- Exactly how safe is your bank?Save to My Web

III: Record Mississippi Homeowners' Claim Payments from 2005
Insurance Journal - Jan 9, 2006 The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Mississippi is reportedly enough to wipe out all homeowners

Csiszar Urges Support for Gov. Barbour's Flood Grant Proposal
Insurance Journal - Dec 15, 2005 The homeowner must have had a homeowners insurance policy (which typically covers wind damage, but specifically excludes flood damage) in force at the time

Insurance program expects boom
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. Terry Lisotta, chief executive officer for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, is sorry to say he is predicting a 40 percent to 50 percent growth rate in the coming one to two years for his company's business. Citizens

Ben Lomand TV requests a franchise
Sparta Expositor - Jan 13 11:41 AM
Ben Lomand TV will soon be offering services in White County if commissioners approve a franchise agreement. Levoy Knowles, CEO of Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative, addressed members of Steering Committee B during a Monday night meeting.Save to My Web

I.I.I.: Record Mississippi Homeowners' Claim Payments from 2005 Hurricanes
Insurance Journal - Jan 09 9:22 AM
The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Mississippi is reportedly enough to wipe out all homeowners premiums paid in the state during the past 17Save to My Web

Insurance headaches await residents
Visalia Times-Delta - Jan 04 5:02 AM
Residents whose homes were damaged by Monday's flooding faced the realization Tuesday that their homeowners insurance policies may not do them any good.Save to My Web

Lawmakers Mull Sales Tax Holiday
WESH - Jan 13 8:56 AM
Florida lawmakers want you to keep more of your cash.Save to My Web

Mass. Fair Plan Rate Case Drags On with Parties Far Apart
Insurance Journal - Jan 08 10:07 PM
Hearings to decide on rates for the homeowners insurance residual market in Massachusetts have been going on since November and are likely to continue for several more months, according to officials.Save to My Web

Lawmakers wary of fee-weary voters
Orlando Sentinel - Jan 03 4:06 AM
Will expense-burdened consumers vent their frustration at the polls? Many Florida lawmakers are beginning to fear that a rising tide of fee increases steadily washing over voters may sink some incumbents seeking re-election this year. Save to My Web

Do It Now: Check your insurance
CNN Money - Jan 13 10:33 AM
Buying insurance is the kind of unpleasant financial task you'd like to do once and then forget about. Don't. A lot may have changed since you last bought home or life coverage.Save to My Web

Travelers to Offer Hybrid Owners Across U.S. 10 Percent Discount on Auto Insurance
The Auto Channel - Jan 05 5:13 AM
HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 5 -- Travelers personal lines, a member of St.Save to My Web

Legislators fear backlash over fees
Sun-Sentinel - Jan 03 12:20 AM
TALLAHASSEE Many Florida legislators are beginning to fear that a rising tide of fee increases steadily washing over state voters in recent months may sink some incumbents seeking re-election this year.Save to My Web

Sinking feeling stirs landowners
News-Review - GREEN Rain threatens Duane and Jodee Corwin s home. But as it falls all they can do is watch the back of their property as it slowly slips from the hill. What began as a fissure on their adjacent neighbor s property in May has developed into

Citrus firms sue over canker program
Orlando Business Journal - Two Polk County citrus companies have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the state's long-running citrus canker eradication program. Reed Bros. Inc. of Dundee filed a lawsuit Dec. 19 at the 10th Circuit Court in Bartow demanding $2.5 million

Too much fraud, too few remedies for Citizens
St. Petersburg Times - It's an anxious time for Pasco County homeowners who do business with Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the largest home insurer in the county. Established by the state as an insurer of last resort, Citizens is the place to go when no one else will

Personal Inflation Could Be Higher Than Gov't Predictions
WISH-TV - 2005 was certainly a wild year for weather as well as energy costs, but it was a mild year for inflation. According to Uncle Sam, overall prices only rose about 4 percent, or about 2 percent excluding food and energy. Inflation for most things you

Useful information that will help now and in the future
Nevada Appeal - Submitted Photo Ian Hartman, from left, and Jack Chestnut, both from Ponderosa Plumbing, and Terry Sanders, construction superindendent at Syncon Homes, look over plans. Syncon Homes of Douglas County broke ground Dec. 15 on the newest addition to

Generate better ideas
Palm Beach Post, FL - 13 hours ago Yet all those who carry homeowners insurance will have to pay a second assessment this year to cover hurricane losses for Citizens Property Insurance Corp

South Florida's business outlook for the new year
TMCnet - Jan 9, 2006 the Florida Insurance Council. For homeowners, insurance is getting tougher to find and more expensive to keep. Most of the state's

Needed: a few hundred good men
Baltimore Sun, United States - Jan 9, 2006 of Maryland, we spend way too much on courts and incarceration, public safety and home security, emergency-room visits, homeowners' insurance, car insurance

Perry opens re-election bid, talks of progress
Denton Record Chronicle (subscription), TX - Jan 11, 2006 "Our student test scores are climbing. Jobs are at an all-time high. Frivolous lawsuits are on their way down. Homeowners insurance rates are going down.".

III: Claims in Louisiana Equal to 25 Years of State's Homeowners
Insurance Journal - Jan 5, 2006 The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Louisiana is enough to wipe out all homeowners premiums paid in

Fitch Downgrades Alfa Ratings
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jan 9, 2006 2004. Alfa Group is the second largest personal automobile and homeowners insurance writer in Alabama based on premiums written.

Guest Column: Reforms let consumers cash in on competition
Amarillo.com (subscription), TX - Dec 22, 2005 And some insurers recently filed rates with the Texas Department of Insurance reflecting rate reductions for homeowners insurance of up to 14.5 percent.

Sales tax holiday
WESH.com, FL - 1 hour ago "I think our money is better used to alleviate the homeowners' insurance crisis than it is to help a few people save money on a plasma screen TV," Aronberg said

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Sale Fresh Air Purifiers Homeowners Insurance Hotels Auto Insurance Mortgage Loans Air Purifiers Trade Show Displays Air Purifiers Adventure

Lawmakers line up with bills to reform homeowners insurance (Palm Beach Post)
New legislation seeks to stop insurance companies from selling certain kinds of insurance but not others in Florida.

dnord
checking our homeowners insurance if we do end up replacing the carpet. Not real happy about that. 2006.01.02 at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mac-a-ro-nies
deadly storm. Homeowners, businesses and insurance companies all need a commitment before they will stake their futures on the city. At this moment

Studies Say Nearly 50 Percent of Bankruptcies and Mortgage Foreclosures Caused by Disability
... www.protectyourincome.com said, “Individuals often have life insurance, homeowners insurance and certainly auto insurance but overlook insuring what ...

Refs can help insurance scrums (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Hire a lawyer. That's the advice one consumer advocate offers to homeowners navigating disputes with their insurance companies. Last week, the Louisiana Department of Insurance launched a new mediation program designed to help homeowners and insurance companies resolve their differences.

Insurance adjuster dies in fall (Sun-Sentinel)
A 56-year-old insurance adjuster from Maryland was killed in Cooper City on Thursday afternoon after he fell while inspecting a hurricane-damaged roof, authorities said.

Do You Really Need Identity-Theft Insurance? (KCRA TheKCRAChannel.com via Yahoo! News)
With an estimated 9 million Americans victimized by identify theft last year, some insurance companies are now offering identity theft coverage.

CEO of La.'s 'Last Resort' Insurer not Happy About Growth
Insurance Journal - Jan 04 8:38 AM
Growth is good for most businesses but the chief executive officer for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is sorry to predicting a 40 percent to 50 percent growth rate in the coming oneSave to My Web

Uproar in Lee over firing of chief
Rome Sentinel - Jan 03 10:31 AM
TOWN OF LEE -- The Lee Center Fire Department's ability to serve the town is in question, after about 30 members turned in their gear Monday night following their longtime chief's removal by the Board of Fire Commissioners.Save to My Web

Consumer Group Releases Major Study Documenting Insurance Industry's Failed Response to Hurricane Katrina
[Press Release] U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! News - Jan 11 8:42 AM
Americans for Insurance Reform (AIR), a coalition of public interest groups and a project of the Center for Justice & Democracy, today released a comprehensive report documenting the insurance industry's poor and ill-equipped response to Hurricane Katrina. The report, entitled "The Insurance Industry's Troubling Response To Hurricane Katrina," details actual case studies of numerous Save to My Web

Too much fraud, too few remedies for Citizens
St. Petersburg Times - Jan 09 11:45 PM
It's an anxious time for Pasco County homeowners who do business with Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the largest home insurer in the county. Established by the state as an insurer of last resort, Citizens is the place to go when no one else will take your homeowners insurance check.Save to My Web

Retirees upset at fees for storm fix
The Palm Beach Post - 58 minutes ago
In the two months since Hurricane Wilma blew their roofs away, 56 residents of the Saxony condominiums at Kings Point west of Delray Beach have shuttled from temporary rentals to friends' homes while they wait for repairs.Save to My Web

Rising sinkholes claims may bring tighter rules
St. Petersburg Times - Dec 29 10:14 PM
Legislation aims to make it harder for homeowners to get insurance payouts. They'll have to offer proof.Save to My Web

Survey will reveal how much were sinking
Houma, Louisiana Newspaper - The Courier - Jan 01 6:04 AM
HOUMA -- A federal study in October showed property in Terrebonne Parish in general is sinking. Now, its time to find out how much the land has sunk where you live.Save to My Web

Tougher to find, more expensive to keep
Sun-Sentinel - Jan 08 12:19 AM
Good news: With 2005 down as the busiest hurricane season on record, there was no really good insurance news this year. Four more hurricanes hit Florida, bringing the tally to eight since August 2004. This year, the best news for the industry would be a return to a more-normal storm season.Save to My Web

Insurance adjuster dies in fall (Sun-Sentinel)
A 56-year-old insurance adjuster from Maryland was killed in Cooper City on Thursday afternoon after he fell while inspecting a hurricane-damaged roof, authorities said.

Group warns of frozen pipe dangers (Foster's Daily Democrat)
CONCORD Whether freezing temperatures arrive in October or January, Professional Insurance Agents of New Hampshire Inc., reminds homeowners and business owners there are conditions to guard against. One big problem people fact this time of year is freezing pipes.

Allstate Stops Writing Homeowners Insurance For NYS Coastal Areas (Fox 23)
(New York) AP 01/12/06 -- Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Company officials say Allstate wants to limit its exposure to intense coastal storms.

Mac-a-ro-nies
deadly storm. Homeowners, businesses and insurance companies all need a commitment before they will stake their futures on the city. At this moment

AIA: Paper on Insurance Claims Handling is Reckless (Insurance Journal)
A paper issued Thursday by Americans for Insurance Reform (AIR) is "untrue, irresponsible and reckless," according to the American Insurance Association (AIA). "Tens of thousands of insurance compa

Homeowners Need A Rate Break
The Ledger, FL - Dec 30, 2005 Owners of homeowners insurance in Florida are going to take a double hit from Hurricane Wilma -on top of the earlier hits from Hurricanes Katrina, Dennis

Record Homeowners Insurance Claim Payments from 2005 Hurricanes
Community Dispatch (press release) - Jan 6, 2006 NEW YORK, January 5, 2006 The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Louisiana is enough to wipe out all

Allstate Curbs Sales Due To Storm Claim Fears
Hartford Courant, United States - 52 minutes ago Allstate has 18 percent of the homeowners' insurance market in New York state and 25.9 percent of the market in the eight counties that the moratorium affects.

Tri-Cities Fire Department Makes Case For New Fire Station
Bristol Herald Courier, TN - Dec 14, 2005 Peter Lemkin lives just off the Bristol Highway, more than five miles away from the nearest fire station, and he pays for it in homeowners insurance.

Too much fraud, too few remedies for Citizens
St. Petersburg Times - Jan 09 11:45 PM
It's an anxious time for Pasco County homeowners who do business with Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the largest home insurer in the county. Established by the state as an insurer of last resort, Citizens is the place to go when no one else will take your homeowners insurance check.Save to My Web

Allstate Stops Writing Homeowners Insurance For NYS Coastal Areas
Fox 23 - Jan 12 5:07 AM
(New York) AP 01/12/06 -- Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Company officials say Allstate wants to limit its exposure to intense coastal storms.Save to My Web

Bancassurance: The Post Consolidation Business Model in Insurance Industry
AllAfrica.com - Jan 03 7:46 AM
Mr. Obasi Ngwuta is an insurance analyst, researcher and risk management practitioner who has followed the growth structure and management models employed in the running of insurance business in Nigeria.Save to My Web

Florida's Cabinet races well worth watching
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Jan 09 3:52 AM
TALLAHASSEE -- Go ahead, try to name the five candidates for attorney general. Now try to name the three major candidates for chief financial officer, or, better yet, describe what the CFO does.Save to My Web

Maryland Senate approves Wal-Mart health spending bill
Lincoln Journal Star - 50 minutes ago
ANNAPOLIS, Md. Marylands Senate voted Thursday to enact a first-in-the-nation requirement that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spend more on employee health care despite the governors veto of the legislation. The measure, touted as a money-saver for Medicaid, now goes to the House for a vote.Save to My Web

How safe is your bank -- from it's own employees?
Market Watch - Jan 10 4:16 PM
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (MarketWatch) -- Exactly how safe is your bank?Save to My Web

Insurer afraid of rising need
The Clarion-Ledger - Jan 03 3:04 AM
BATON ROUGE Growth is good for most businesses, but the chief executive officer for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is sorry to predict a 40 percent to 50 percent growth rate in the coming one to two years for his company's business.Save to My Web

Metro area land prices soar higher
Orlando Business Journal - In the metro Orlando market, land prices shot up nearly 40 percent in 2005 and could increase another 25 percent in 2006. That's the assessment of one real estate and development specialist, Terry Delahunty, a partner in the law firm of Foley

New fire stations planned
The State - A plan by the Lexington County Fire Service to build three stations is aimed at lowering the service s insurance rating and would mean lower insurance bills for residents. It also would mean 99.7 percent of property in the fire service

Horace Mann Lowers Auto Rates for Alabama Educators
dBusinessNews.com - Birmingham: Intergraph and Tyonek Team for U.S. Government FIGHTER Program; Team to Provide Federal Agencies with Security, Infrastructure, Technical Support and Services Birmingham -- Intergraph Corporation (NASDAQ: INGR) today Birmingham

Climbing college enrollment, test scores touted
Longview News-Journal - TYLER Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday that during this election he will run harder than ever before, and will fight for every last vote in all regions of the state. Some people believe the Republican will have to run a vigorous campaign because two

Cabinet races are overshadowed, but well worth watching
WINK TV - TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Go ahead, try to name the five candidates for attorney general. Now try to name the three major candidates for chief financial officer, or, better yet, describe what the CFO does. Unless politics is your passion, there's a good

Devices zapped, owners jolted
Newsday - June Mirando watched Saturday night television into the wee hours in her Bay Shore home on Nov. 19, a small reading lamp burning dimly nearby. Around 1 a.m., as her husband Tony slept, the lamp became unusually bright and the television began to

Insurance rates set to jump in 2006
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Hurricane Katrina made 2005 the costliest year by far for the U.S. insurance industry. This year, businesses and consumers will help insurers pay for last year's estimated $57. 6 billion in storm-related losses through higher property and casualty

Lake County bed tax up for November
Orlando Business Journal - Lake County's 4 percent tax on short-term rentals increased in November over the year-ago period. According to Greg Mihalic, director of the Tourism Development Council , the tax was $163,175, up 4.8 percent compared with November 2004. Despite the

Ocean Finance Loans and Mortgages Limited - Low Cost Loans and Remortgages for UK Homeowners
and arranging insurance. Ocean Finance and Mortgages Ltd is licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to carry on the business of

Allstate Limits Homowners Business in N.Y. Coastal Areas (Insurance Journal)
Allstate, New York State's biggest writer of homeowners insurance, is pulling back from writing new business in New York metropolitan coastal areas in order to limit its exposure to future storm loss

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Sale Fresh Air Purifiers Homeowners Insurance Hotels Auto Insurance Mortgage Loans Air Purifiers Trade Show Displays Air Purifiers Adventure

A Crisis of Cost: Health insurance is a ticket to the medical
BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - Jan 8, 2006 But we never expect our homeowners insurance to pay for putting on a new roof or auto insurance to pay for the 50,000-mile service package at the dealership.

Insurance program expects boom
The Daily Advertiser, LA - Jan 2, 2006 State Farm and Allstate are the two largest homeowners insurance companies in Louisiana. But, state Sen. "Your homeowners (insurance) is going to spiral.

Property Owners Should Brace For Increased
The Bahama Journal, Bahamas - Jan 8, 2006 industry executives and regulators in the United States are also warning of significant premium hikes for homeowners insurance nationwide, including double

New Legislation Would Protect Homeowners From Sinkhole Damage
NewsChannel5.com, TN - Dec 15, 2005 it and the insurance company evidently does not plan to do anything about it, so I think we need it in the law that homeowners insurance companies cover

Tri-Cities Fire Department Makes Case For New Fire Station
Bristol Herald Courier, TN - Dec 14, 2005 Peter Lemkin lives just off the Bristol Highway, more than five miles away from the nearest fire station, and he pays for it in homeowners insurance.

Dangerous dog?
Ocala.com, FL - Jan 5, 2006 from Chiefland. Asked whether she would adopt Rocky, King said she feared he would jeopardize her homeowners insurance. A spokesman

More spending, but living costs are rising
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - Jan 8, 2006 sector. Bad news: Housing costs, gas prices and homeowners' insurance premiums are high, and relief doesn't seem to be in sight.

Bush and the Christian Right: $100 million for discrimination
Online Journal, FL - Jan 5, 2006 to collect Social Security, disability, and veterans' benefits to legal rights to file joint tax returns, apply for joint homeowners' insurance, or claim

Devices zapped, owners jolted
Newsday, NY - Dec 28, 2005 Dec. 23 that it was not responsible for the damages and that they instead could use their homeowners' insurance to cover costs.

Online from DeRidder, La.
DeRidder Beauregard Daily News - Jan 03 10:58 AM
BATON ROUGE (AP) - Growth is good for most businesses but the chief executive officer for Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is sorry to predicting a 40 percent to 50 percent growth rate in the coming one to two years for his company's business.Save to My Web

Survey will reveal how much were sinking
Houma, Louisiana Newspaper - The Courier - Jan 01 6:04 AM
HOUMA -- A federal study in October showed property in Terrebonne Parish in general is sinking. Now, its time to find out how much the land has sunk where you live.Save to My Web

Allstate Limits Homowners Business in N.Y. Coastal Areas
Insurance Journal - 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Allstate, New York State's biggest writer of homeowners insurance, is pulling back from writing new business in New York metropolitan coastal areas in order to limit its exposure to future storm lossSave to My Web

Cabinet races are overshadowed, but well worth watching
Palm Beach Post - Jan 07 8:02 AM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Go ahead, try to name the five candidates for attorney general. Now try to name the three major candidates for chief financial officer, or, better yet, describe what the CFO does.Save to My Web

Travelers to Offer Hybrid Owners Across U.S. 10 Percent Discount on Auto Insurance
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Jan 05 3:30 AM
Travelers personal lines, a member of St. Paul Travelers , today announced plans to implement a 10 percent discount* on auto insurance to hybrid vehicle owners in the United States beginning in February 2006.Save to My Web

Fire Ratings Could Up Insurance In Carbon City District (Morganton News Herald)
Morganton Public Safety Engineer Allen Davis does daily maintainance at the Carbon City Fire Station Wednesday afternoon. Morganton - Homeowners in the Carbon City fire district could seen an increase in their insurance.

Want to solve insurance crisis? Cancel your policy (St. Petersburg Times)
The following letters are in response to Insurance rates pinch homeowners , a Dec. 26 article by St. Petersburg Times staff writer Garrett Therolf. There is a solution to the insurance crisis in Pasco County, at least if you are smart enough to own a home you can actually afford outright.

Do You Really Need Identity-Theft Insurance? (KCRA TheKCRAChannel.com via Yahoo! News)
With an estimated 9 million Americans victimized by identify theft last year, some insurance companies are now offering identity theft coverage.

Allstate Halts Home Insurance In Our Area (CBS 2 New York)
Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester and New York City.

Lawmakers line up with bills to reform homeowners insurance (Palm Beach Post)
New legislation seeks to stop insurance companies from selling certain kinds of insurance but not others in Florida.

Insurance Will Cover Oil Blast Damage (Sky News via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Finance)
Owners of homes and businesses damaged in the Buncefield explosion will be covered, the Association of British Insurers has said.Spokesman Malcolm Tarling said: "As far as home insurance is concerned, damage caused by explosion will be covered.

Refs can help insurance scrums (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Hire a lawyer. That's the advice one consumer advocate offers to homeowners navigating disputes with their insurance companies. Last week, the Louisiana Department of Insurance launched a new mediation program designed to help homeowners and insurance companies resolve their differences.

National hurricane insurance could solve crisis (St. Petersburg Times)
A worried neighbor in my Cypress Lakes neighborhood approached me and asked who I have as my homeowner's insurance carrier because their insurance more than doubled.

Allstate cuts new policies in coastal areas, LI, NYC included (Newsday)
Allstate, the largest provider of homeowners insurance in New York State, is no longer offering new policies on Long Island, New York City or Westchester County, to limit its exposure to intense storms predicted to hit coastal areas in coming years, company officials confirmed Wednesday.

Gill Blog
someone has to be thinking about how the insurance companies are handling Mississippi and elsewhere created the insurers to cover homeowners

Lawmakers line up with bills to reform homeowners insurance (Palm Beach Post)
New legislation seeks to stop insurance companies from selling certain kinds of insurance but not others in Florida.

Allstate cuts new policies in coastal areas, LI, NYC included (Newsday)
Allstate, the largest provider of homeowners insurance in New York State, is no longer offering new policies on Long Island, New York City or Westchester County, to limit its exposure to intense storms predicted to hit coastal areas in coming years, company officials confirmed Wednesday.

Insurance Will Cover Oil Blast Damage (Sky News via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Finance)
Owners of homes and businesses damaged in the Buncefield explosion will be covered, the Association of British Insurers has said.Spokesman Malcolm Tarling said: "As far as home insurance is concerned, damage caused by explosion will be covered.

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
airs Businesses For Sale Fresh Air Purifiers Homeowners Insurance Hotels Auto Insurance Mortgage Loans Air Purifiers Trade Show Displays Air

Fire Ratings Could Up Insurance In Carbon City District (Morganton News Herald)
Morganton Public Safety Engineer Allen Davis does daily maintainance at the Carbon City Fire Station Wednesday afternoon. Morganton - Homeowners in the Carbon City fire district could seen an increase in their insurance.

Refs can help insurance scrums (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Hire a lawyer. That's the advice one consumer advocate offers to homeowners navigating disputes with their insurance companies. Last week, the Louisiana Department of Insurance launched a new mediation program designed to help homeowners and insurance companies resolve their differences.

Allstate Stops Writing Homeowners Insurance For NYS Coastal Areas (Fox 23)
(New York) AP 01/12/06 -- Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Company officials say Allstate wants to limit its exposure to intense coastal storms.

Allstate Halts Home Insurance In Our Area (CBS 2 New York)
Allstate Insurance company is no longer offering homeowner's policies on Long Island, Westchester and New York City.

Lawmakers line up with bills to reform homeowners insurance (Palm Beach Post)
New legislation seeks to stop insurance companies from selling certain kinds of insurance but not others in Florida.

Declarations and Exclusions
Christmas...an Insurance Holiday Tale ". 'Twas the night before control measure for unsuspecting homeowners, in an era when that Jolly

National hurricane insurance could solve crisis (St. Petersburg Times)
A worried neighbor in my Cypress Lakes neighborhood approached me and asked who I have as my homeowner's insurance carrier because their insurance more than doubled.

Ocean Finance Loans and Mortgages Limited - Low Cost Loans and Remortgages for UK Homeowners
and arranging insurance. Ocean Finance and Mortgages Ltd is licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to carry on the business of

Market Place - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Condos and Real Estate Homeowners Insurance Night Vision Foreclosures Miami condos and real estate Personals Online Florists Real Estate Online

Mac-a-ro-nies
deadly storm. Homeowners, businesses and insurance companies all need a commitment before they will stake their futures on the city. At this moment

National hurricane insurance could solve crisis (St. Petersburg Times)
A worried neighbor in my Cypress Lakes neighborhood approached me and asked who I have as my homeowner's insurance carrier because their insurance more than doubled.

Visalia council looks to future after flooding
The Fresno Bee - Jan 10 6:17 AM
Residents seek aid; storm plan discussed. VISALIA A week without rainfall has allowed things to dry out and tempers to cool over flooding when 3.6 inches of rain overwhelmed the city's storm-drain system Jan. 1 and 2.Save to My Web

Sedgwick CMS Holdings Agrees to Acquisition by Fidelity National Financial
Real Estate News - Dec 28 1:12 PM
RISMEDIA, Dec. 29Sedgwick CMS Holdings, Inc. has announced the signing of definitive agreements whereby Fidelity National Financial, Inc. will acquire Sedgwick CMS Holdings, Inc. for approximately $635 million. The principal selling shareholders are Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. through its risk and insurance services firm Marsh Inc., and Trident II, L.P., a private equity fund managed by Save to My Web

Fitch Downgrades Alfa Ratings
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Jan 09 1:39 PM
CHICAGO----Jan. 9, 2006--Fitch Ratings has downgraded the insurer financial strength ratings of the Alfa insurance companies , see list below, one notch to 'AA-' from 'AA'. Additionally, Fitch has downgraded the commercial paper rating of Alfa Corporation to 'F1' from 'F1+' and Alfa's long-term issuer rating to 'A-' from 'A+'.Save to My Web

Perry opens re-election bid, talks of progress
Dallas Morning News - Jan 11 6:27 AM
BEAUMONT Gov. Rick Perry opened his bid for re-election Tuesday with two broad themes: Things are great in Texas, and he's the only conservative in the race.Save to My Web

Successful investing for your 30s
Contra Costa Times - Tick down the financial "do's" for a 30-something, and Samya Ghuloum looks every bit the textbook model. She is paying down her $8,000 in credit cards and school loans, steadily plugging money into a 401(k) and has just closed on her first home. The

Metro area land prices soar higher
Orlando Business Journal - In the metro Orlando market, land prices shot up nearly 40 percent in 2005 and could increase another 25 percent in 2006. That's the assessment of one real estate and development specialist, Terry Delahunty, a partner in the law firm of Foley

CREDIT REPORTS: Hatch -- Keep credit scores out of insurance cost
Grand Forks Herald - MINNEAPOLIS - A proposal to ban the use of credit scores in setting the price of auto and

Delta Now Offering Dental Insurance to AARP Members in 48 States
Senior Journal - Dec. 14, 2005 The Delta Dental insurance plan managed through AARP Services has now opened for business to AARP members in 10 new states bringing the total to 48 states and the District of Columbia. Sold as the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, it

Costly power failure leads to cold shoulder
Chicago Tribune - Laura Zemaier thought it was an earthquake. Her house shuddered. She heard a loud, ripping sound and then--poof--the lights went out. Zemaier rushed to the window and saw a garbage truck idling at the corner. Live power lines lay menacingly in the

Horace Mann Lowers Auto Rates for Alabama Educators
dBusinessNews.com - Birmingham: Intergraph and Tyonek Team for U.S. Government FIGHTER Program; Team to Provide Federal Agencies with Security, Infrastructure, Technical Support and Services Birmingham -- Intergraph Corporation (NASDAQ: INGR) today Birmingham

Uproar in Lee over firing of chief
Rome Daily Sentinel - T OWN OF LEE -- The Lee Center Fire Department's ability to serve the town is in question, after about 30 members turned in their gear Monday night following their longtime chief's removal by the Board of Fire Commissioners. The five-member board, at

Visalia council looks to future after flooding
Fresno Bee - VISALIA A week without rainfall has allowed things to dry out and tempers to cool over flooding when 3.6 inches of rain overwhelmed the city's storm-drain system Jan. 1 and 2. Residents of inundated neighborhoods pleaded with city officials for

Take action against devastating insurance rate hikes
St. Petersburg Times - Re: Citizens asks for huge hike, Dec. 16. In my work with families that have children with disabilities, it is common knowledge that those families struggle financially when, as so often is the case, one parent (usually the mother) must give up her

CREDIT REPORTS: Hatch -- Keep credit scores out of insurance cost
Grand Forks Herald - MINNEAPOLIS - A proposal to ban the use of credit scores in setting the price of auto and

Hit by Rita, Louisiana towns may move inland
Austin American-Statesman - About half of the 5,400 Cameron Parish homes and commercial buildings examined by the Army Corps of Engineers after Hurricane Rita were destroyed or ruined. Now some planners are proposing moving entire communities inland. "If we could get 100

Uproar in Lee over firing of chief
Rome Daily Sentinel - T OWN OF LEE -- The Lee Center Fire Department's ability to serve the town is in question, after about 30 members turned in their gear Monday night following their longtime chief's removal by the Board of Fire Commissioners. The five-member board, at

Delta Now Offering Dental Insurance to AARP Members in 48 States
Senior Journal - Dec. 14, 2005 The Delta Dental insurance plan managed through AARP Services has now opened for business to AARP members in 10 new states bringing the total to 48 states and the District of Columbia. Sold as the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, it

Retirees upset at fees for storm fix
Palm Beach Interactive - In the two months since Hurricane Wilma blew their roofs away, 56 residents of the Saxony condominiums at Kings Point west of Delray Beach have shuttled from temporary rentals to friends' homes while they wait for repairs. Already in dire economic

Ore. communities tally flood, OT costs
kgw.com - It may a little bit drier, but residents and businesses are still feeling the remnants of a week-long rain storm. kgw.com photo/Viewer Lucinda Riecke A kayaker attempts to salvage lost items and check on the neighbors near Barclay Meadows, 7 miles

Personal Inflation Could Be Higher Than Gov't Predictions
WISH-TV - 2005 was certainly a wild year for weather as well as energy costs, but it was a mild year for inflation. According to Uncle Sam, overall prices only rose about 4 percent, or about 2 percent excluding food and energy. Inflation for most things you

Sales, housing inventory continue to climb in November
Orlando Business Journal - Realtors in the Orlando area sold 2,336 existing homes during November, a 23.1 percent increase over November 2004, according to the latest Orlando Regional Realtor Association Roth Report . Also notable this month, ORRA says, is the number of

Family finances: Don't wait until creek rises. Check out flood insurance now
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 05 9:42 PM
After New Orleans' hurricane fiasco, in which many residents were surprised to learn that they had no flood insurance, we checked out our flood insurance policy extra carefully.Save to My Web

Tougher to find, more expensive to keep
Sun-Sentinel - Jan 08 12:19 AM
Good news: With 2005 down as the busiest hurricane season on record, there was no really good insurance news this year. Four more hurricanes hit Florida, bringing the tally to eight since August 2004. This year, the best news for the industry would be a return to a more-normal storm season.Save to My Web

A native daughter heeds the call of beloved New Orleans
San Francisco Chronicle - Jan 08 3:35 AM
Shatonda Yarbrough is finally going home. Four months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, Yarbrough, 29, and her daughter Miochie Martin, 4, left Oakland on Saturday in a rented truck bound for New Orleans. Returning to the Big Easy...Save to My Web

Today's Budget Tomorrow's Plan
Intelligent Enterprise Magazine - Jan 01 2:06 AM
Better access to information is a leading theme in readers' 2006 IT budgets, with document management, portals, dashboards and enterprise reporting all comanding more investment. Mobile and wireless solutions and service oriented architecture top future technology adoption plans, but here's why security trumps all other trends behind the spend.Save to My Web

Mass. Fair Plan Rate Case Drags On with Parties Far Apart
Insurance Journal - Jan 08 10:07 PM
Hearings to decide on rates for the homeowners insurance residual market in Massachusetts have been going on since November and are likely to continue for several more months, according to officials.Save to My Web

Insurance rates set to jump in 2006
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Jan 02 8:09 PM
Hurricane Katrina made 2005 the costliest year by far for the U.S. insurance industry.Save to My Web

Sedgwick CMS Holdings Agrees to Acquisition by Fidelity National Financial
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Dec 27 7:00 AM
Sedgwick CMS Holdings, Inc. today announced the signing of definitive agreements whereby Fidelity National Financial, Inc. will acquire Sedgwick CMS Holdings, Inc. for approximately $635 million.Save to My Web

Rising sinkholes claims may bring tighter rules
St. Petersburg Times - Dec 29 10:14 PM
Legislation aims to make it harder for homeowners to get insurance payouts. They'll have to offer proof.Save to My Web

CREDIT REPORTS: Hatch -- Keep credit scores out of insurance cost calculation
Grand Forks Herald - Dec 31 1:02 AM
MINNEAPOLIS - A proposal to ban the use of credit scores in setting the price of auto and homeowners insurance was outlined Thursday by Attorney General Mike Hatch and DFL legislators.Save to My Web

Costly power failure leads to cold shoulder
Chicago Tribune, United States - Jan 8, 2006 Des Plaines house. Eventually, her homeowners insurance reimbursed her for everything--except the $500 deductible. Figuring she

Record Homeowners Insurance Claim Payments from 2005 Hurricanes
Community Dispatch (press release) - Jan 6, 2006 NEW YORK, January 5, 2006 The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Louisiana is enough to wipe out all

Insurance rates pinch homeowners
St. Petersburg Times, FL - Dec 25, 2005 We're going to have to move.". In July, their homeowners insurance rate for the year increased from $1,079 to $2,152 on their $91,797 home.

St. Paul Travelers, ICBA Join to Offer Identity Theft Insurance (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
SAINT PAUL, Minn. & WASHINGTON----Jan. 11, 2006--St. Paul Travelers , a leading provider of property casualty insurance, and the Independent Community Bankers of America , the nation's largest banking trade organization, announced that they now offer ICBA member banks access to coverage, where approved, to assist identity theft victims in mitigating the costs associated with reclaiming their

I.I.I.: Record Mississippi Homeowners' Claim Payments from 2005 Hurricanes (Insurance Journal)
The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Mississippi is reportedly enough to wipe out all homeowners premiums paid in the state during the past 17

Refs can help insurance scrums (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Hire a lawyer. That's the advice one consumer advocate offers to homeowners navigating disputes with their insurance companies. Last week, the Louisiana Department of Insurance launched a new mediation program designed to help homeowners and insurance companies resolve their differences.

Mayes County fires assessed
Tulsa World (subscription), OK - Jan 7, 2006 "If you had 100 houses that burned down, and 95 of them had homeowners' insurance, you would not get a (emergency disaster) declaration.

Citizens failed to enforce penalties
St. Petersburg Times, FL - Dec 22, 2005 t find coverage in the private market, was created in 2002 when the state Legislature merged the windstorm and the state's last-resort homeowners insurance pool

Future of Cliff St. hangs in abeyance
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT - Dec 29, 2005 Cooper, director of the insurance division of Vermont's Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration, typical homeowners' insurance policies don

With Coastline in Ruins, Cajuns Face Prospect of Uprooted Towns
New York Times, United States - Dec 26, 2005 Agency. How will aging parents and grandparents climb those stairs? Will anyone provide flood and homeowners' i