FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2013
The current estimate of vehicles damaged as a result of Sandy hit the 230,000 mark as claims processed by insurance companies have been analyzed.
New York has had the most vehicles affected by the storm with 130,000 while New Jersey generated 60,000 claims, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which announced the revised estimates as provided by the Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO), a subsidiary of Verisk Analytics.
The remaining 40,000 were reported from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
These are preliminary figures and may change as additional claims are processed. Moreover, there is no determination as to the extent of damage to these vehicles. They could have sustained minor paint scratches from flying debris, or have been under water for days and rendered total losses.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012
As many Pennsylvania citizens continue to recover from the damage ensued from super-storm Sandy, they may be unaware of another post-storm threat that can have a surprising impact on their wallets—homeowners insurance fraud. At the end of the third quarter of 2012, Pennsylvania saw a 25 percent increase in the number of reported crimes involving homowners insurance in the Commonwealth—meaning that a false, misleading, or inflated claim was knowingly submitted to an insurance company—resulting in increased insurance rates for ALL insurance-paying consumers. Given this 25 percent increase, one has to ask, will super-storm Sandy make our numbers climb higher through the first half of 2013?
Our organization, the Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (IFPA), advises the Governor and General Assembly on the nature and scope of the problem of insurance fraud in the Commonwealth, so we pay particular attention to how a storm of this caliber could impact insurance-paying consumers in our state. The teachings of the past tell us that fraud related to homeowners insurance tends to increase in places affected by damaging storms. Much of this fraud often involves contractor scams where faulty contractors infiltrate an area post-storm and target unsuspecting homeowners by taking advantage of their insurance policies. Popular scams include creating or exaggerating the damage on a home, disappearing without finishing the job up to code, or even leaving homeowners stuck with numerous vendor bills the contractor did not pay.
A question I’m asked is, “How can homeowners protect themselves from these scams after a storm?” First, the IFPA recommends that before signing with a contractor, consumers should check to see if the contractor is registered with the PA Attorney General’s Office. You can check to see if your contractor is registered by visiting the PA Attorney General’s website at www.attorneygeneral.gov . In addition, the Attorney General’s Office recommends contacting the contractor’s references, receiving more than one bid for the job, and checking for complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. Considering that Pennsylvania saw a 25 percent increase in reported homeowners insurance fraud before Sandy ever took place, these are tips that every homeowner should remember even long after Sandy’s damage has been mended.
By better understanding your insurance policies and being aware of contractor scams, you can better avoid becoming a victim.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012
In the wake of the recent storm, homeowners may have questions about what damages are covered by insurance.
While each insurance policy differs, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine today offered the following examples of what is and is not covered in a typical homeowner's policy:
- Flood damage. Standard homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood coverage, however, is available in the form of a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program and takes 30 days to become effective. If your flooding was related to sewage backup, ask your insurance agent or carrier if an endorsement for sewer backup coverage was added to your homeowner's policy. If so, your losses may be covered if the water damage was caused by sewer lines backing up through your home's drain pipes.
- Auto damage. If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, the damages sustained from flooding will be covered.
- Power outages. Generally, there is no coverage for damage or a loss caused by a power outage if the source of the power outage did not occur on the insured premises. However, if the source of the power outage occurred on the insured premises, there is coverage.
- Removal of trees and branches. The removal of downed trees and/or debris is covered if there is damage to a covered structure or the Pennsylvania governor declares the area where the damage occurred is a disaster area.
- Additional living expenses. There may be an allowance for offsite housing until your home is repaired. Keep all your bills and payments made for offsite housing.
Consedine encouraged consumers to read the terms and conditions of their own policies.
After you contact your insurance company, take pictures of the damage and log your expenses:
- Do not throw away your damaged property and do not make any permanent repairs. Your claim could be denied if the insurance company or adjuster is unable to see the extent of the damage to your property. If you do make permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the damage, your claim could be denied.
- Be wary of anyone who knocks at your door and offers to do your home repairs. Natural disasters can be a magnet for scam artists.
- Know your options when working with a property claims adjuster. You have the option of working with a company-appointed adjuster or you may choose to use a public adjuster to assist you in filing your claim. Be aware that public adjusters will charge a fee for their services.
- Be sure you are working with a reputable, dependable contractor. Home-improvement contractors that do more than $5,000 of business per year in Pennsylvania must register with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau.
Consumers should also visit www.insurance.pa.gov and click on the "Storm Tips" icon.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Hurricane Deductibles Won’t Apply for Sandy in Pennsylvania
Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia have declared that hurricane deductibles won’t be applicable for Sandy-related claims in their jurisdictions. They are joining New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Connecticut that made similar announcements after Sandy slammed into the New Jersey shoreline.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced last Thursday, Nov. 1, that Pennsylvania homeowners will not have to pay hurricane deductibles on insurance claims stemming from damage caused by Sandy.
“Insurance deductibles could have added significant costs to Pennsylvanians already struggling to clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Sandy,” said Gov. Corbett. “Insurance companies have deployed catastrophe teams to Pennsylvania and they have been advised that hurricane deductibles should not be applied to any homeowner’s insurance claims.”
Pennsylvania regulators said some homeowner’s insurance policies for properties in Pennsylvania have special “hurricane,” “tropical storm” or “named storm” 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.
“We are very pleased with the initial, proactive response we’re seeing from insurance companies and their commitment to helping Pennsylvanians recover,” Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine said. “Insurance companies are experts in managing risk and responding to disaster. We will actively monitor the insurance industry to ensure they are fulfilling their commitments to their policyholders.”
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