Recently in Insurance Category

The whole point of paying those homeowners insurance premiums is so that if something goes wrong you can file a claim and have the damage covered. But it's not always that simple.

In an ideal world your insurance company would always be willing to pay for any damage that occurs. But in reality you may have to deal with some push-back over what the insurance company is willing to cover.

Knowing what your insurance policy covers, be it flooding, wind damage, fire, earthquakes, or all of the above, is the first step. But there are some other tactics that make it more likely the damage will be covered.

The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

This decision upholds President Obama's hallmark legislation and will have an impact on almost every American from a newborn to the elderly.

Here are five ways that the Obamacare impacts the average citizen:

This seems unheard of: One of the nation's largest insurers going above and beyond what they have to do.

But that's exactly what UnitedHealth Group announced they planned to do.

It's a rather timely announcement. The Affordable Care Act is under attack, and the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on the validity of this law later this month.

Recent outbreaks of deadly, destructive tornadoes raise questions about insurance coverage: How does tornado insurance work, and why do homeowners often get stuck paying most of their tornado repair bills?

Most homeowner, business, and auto insurance policies include tornadoes as part of standard coverage for wind damage and severe weather, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In general, homeowner's and renter's insurance covers property damage from tornadoes.

The type of insurance policy, and the amount of insurance purchased, affect how much an insurance company will pay for tornado damage. But even with tornado insurance, tornado victims will likely have to dig deep into their own pockets to rebuild.

An Alabama judge declared Natalee Holloway legally dead today, more than six years after the teenager's unsolved disappearance in Aruba.

After the court hearing, Holloway's divorced parents said they expect the prime suspect in Natalee's disappearance, convicted murderer Joran van der Sloot, to be extradited to the United States to face justice in a separate matter, the Associated Press reports.

The legal declaration of Natalee Holloway's death allows Holloway's father to stop paying medical insurance for his missing daughter, and to use $2,000 in Natalee's college fund for her younger brother's education, the AP reports.

If you've heard of HIPAA -- the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 -- you probably know that it protects private medical information. But beyond that, most people are understandably clueless.

HIPAA actually ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to create standards for the protection of electronically stored and submitted personal health care information. Those standards limit the use and dissemination of personal data; create a system for submitting electronic information; and dictate security standards.

Still, what information does the law cover? And who must comply with HIPAA regulations?

Many Americans consider their pets to be part of the extended family. Selecting a pet sitter for your furry loved-ones can be an arduous process. You might want to know more about a pet sitter's experience and qualifications. But, have you ever thought about asking if the pet sitter has insurance?

Responsible pet sitters will often have written proof that they have commercial liability insurance.

What exactly is liability insurance - and why is that important when you're hiring a pet sitter?

If you're on the East Coast, earthquake insurance probably isn't at the top of your list. But Tuesday's earthquake centered in Virginia caught millions of Americans off guard. How many East Coast earthquake insurance policies do you think were in effect at the time? 

The East Coast is generally not afflicted by earthquakes. Hurricanes and blizzards are more their cup of tea. But, the 5.9-magnitude quake was felt in the Carolinas, Virginia and several other Eastern states, including New York.

Many homeowners may be curious as to whether earthquake damages are included in your home insurance policy.

Don't bet on it.

After a natural disaster like the Mississippi River floods or tornadoes in the Midwest, who qualifies for SBA disaster loan assistance? Does the SBA make these loans only to small businesses? Or can homeowners and renters qualify for disaster loans too?

SBA makes disaster loans to homeowners and renters, as well as businesses. You do not have to own a business to get a disaster loan from the SBA.

Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, etc. damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

And homeowners may also apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition, advises the SBA on its website.

Mississippi flooding has come again--historic, unprecedented, with all Nature's fury. In a rolling catastrophe like this, first comes the water, then come the rescues. Then the insurance claims.

By any measure, the situation along the Mississippi is grave and about to get worse. Water is cresting at or above flood levels.

At Natchez, Miss., for instance, Mississippi flooding reached a record 58.3 feet, and is expected to crest at 64 feet. Flood stage there is 48 feet. At Vicksburg, Miss., the National Weather Service projects the river will rise to 57.5 feet on May 19th. Flood stage there is 43 feet, reports the Washington Post.

At Baton Rouge, the river ran this morning at 42.4 feet. Flood stage is 35 feet. At New Orleans, the river ran exactly at 17-foot flood stage, and is forecast to crest at 19.5 feet on May 23rd. Levees protect the city to 20 feet. Six inches to spare, reports the Los Angeles Times.