General Insurance Dispute Information

Report: Louisiana, Texas most expensive places for homeowners insurance

Published on: March 3, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The Times Picayune reported yesterday

Louisiana has the third-highest homeowners insurance premiums in the nation, according to the first assessment of prices after Hurricane Katrina by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The cost appears to be a Gulf Coast epidemic as Texas claims the number one spot, followed closely by Florida:

The most expensive property insurance market in the country in 2006 was Texas, where premiums increased 2.7 percent in 2006 to an average of $1,409 per home. But the NAIC cautions against comparing Texas to any other market because the Texas data comes from a different source than most other states, and the homeowners policies are slightly different.

The explanation (or excuse?) for this is simple: the weather and risk level of the Gulf Coast places the financial burden on citizens to properly maintain insurance on their homes and property. While this demands constant vigilance on the part of state government and the citizenry to make sure insurance companies do not overstep what is necessary for them to remain successful and in business, it, in the least, requires policy holders to make sure they get their “bang for their buck” and get the best service and response they deserve from their insurance company.

Always make sure your provider is conforming to deadline requirements should you make a claim and, in the event they act in bad faith, contact an attorney immediately.

Recent Fires A Reminder to Review Insurance Coverage

Published on: February 25, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

While a recent string of fires in Pineville and Alexandria this week have led officials to warn Louisiana residents about fire safety and the like, it also serves as a reminder about insurance coverage. Not knowing if your home or property is covered in the event of a fire can lead to, at best, a lot of stress. At worst it can lead to a complete loss in the event of devastation.

Precautionary tips on how to prevent fires in your home or property include:

Remain in the kitchen while cooking

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 19, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a wrap up of this blog’s glossary of insurance terms, ranging from the letter S to Z:

Screening. Physical examination and health history taken by an insurer before the applicant is given the policy applied for.

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 16, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a glossary of insurance terms, ranging from the letter O to R:

Optionally renewable. An insurance policy renewable at the discretion of the company.

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 12, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a glossary of insurance terms, ranging from the letter J to N:

Lapsed policy. A policy terminated for non-payment of premiums. Level premium life insurance. Life insurance for which the premium remains the same from year to year.

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 10, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a glossary of insurance terms, ranging from the letter G to I:

Grace period. A period (usually 30 to 31 days) following the premium due date, during which an overdue premium may be paid without penalty. The policy remains in force throughout the period.

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 7, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a glossary of insurance terms, ranging from the letter D to F:

Deductible. The amount of covered charges an individual must pay before the insurance company begins payments. Insurance company can only require individual to pay 50% of the basic health services.

State officials call into question State Farm’s “plight”

Published on: February 6, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In further developments to State Farm’s desired exit from providing insurance to customers in Florida, the state’s insurance regulators have begun investigating and questioning just how reasonable the insurer’s claims are.

Insurance regulators question State Farm’s dire claim

By Paige St. John

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 4, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a glossary of insurance terms from the letter C:

Case management. An approach designed to provide effective treatment to meet the specific needs of people with serious medical problems. Benefits not traditionally covered (for example, medical equipment) may be provided to promote cost-effectiveness.

Understanding Terms: Glossary

Published on: February 3, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Understanding Terms Used in Insurance Claims

When going about shopping for the right policy or making sure your policy protects you in the ways you need, it is important to understand insurance terms used. In educating yourself about the legal jargon employed by the insurance companies, you can be better prepared to combat an unfair claim payment or prevent your policy from being hijacked by vague language.

Below, courtesy of the University of Illinois, is a glossary of insurance terms, ranging from the letter A to B: