Monday, December 19, 2011

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Warns Californians to Prepare Now for Forecasted Winter Storms

Reminds Residents That Standard Homeowners Policies Do Not Cover Flood Damage; and Flood Insurance Policies Typically Take Effect 30 Days After Purchase

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.

"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."

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.

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).

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 http://www.insurance.ca.gov/. Additionally, the NFIP offers flood related bulletins and newsletters.

For more information about documenting your possessions or to receive a free home inventory guide, call the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-HELP or visit our web site.

Please visit the Department of Insurance Web site at http://www.insurance.ca.gov/. 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.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Saving on your insurance

United Policyholders is an excellent online resource for insurance consumers and provides some good tips for saving money as we move into the holiday season.

Kim Cary, CPPA
Senior General Adjuster at Quality Claims


United Policyholders Tip of the Month
Saving on your insurance

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:

"Make sure you are taking advantage of "affinity" discounts that may be offered as a member benefit by organizations or associations you belong to."
- Corrin S. Trowbridge, Pacifica, CA.

"Broker fees are typically negotiable. Always inquire if fees are flexible or if one broker fee can be applied to all your policies"
- Ambere St Denis, San Francisco, CA.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Louisville auto Insurance in Louisville KY

Local independent insurance agent in Louisville KY

  • No Prior Car Insurance
  • SR22
  • International Drivers License
  • Cancelled or Non Renewed
  • DUI or DWI

Call us today for a free car insurance quote

Dick Watts Insurance 502-365-5132 x1

12200 Shelbyville Rd 112

Louisville KY 40243


Louisville auto Insurance in Louisville KY

Local independent insurance agent in Louisville KY

  • No Prior Car Insurance
  • SR22
  • International Drivers License
  • Cancelled or Non Renewed
  • DUI or DWI

Call us today for a free car insurance quote

Dick Watts Insurance 502-365-5132 x1

12200 Shelbyville Rd 112

Louisville KY 40243


Friday, October 28, 2011

The Great California ShakeOut!




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.

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
Drop, Cover, and Hold On and other aspects of family, school, and organizational emergency plans.











Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Quality Claims Announces Partnership with Docuhome

Homeowners and Renters Now Have No Excuse for Not Documenting their Possessions for their Insurance Policy

SAN DIEGO, CA – October 20, 2011

Quality Claims Management, (http://www.qualityclaims.com) 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.

Over the years, the 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.

“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.”

 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.  Not only is it easy to use, it is very affordable – about $69 a year!

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.

“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.”

“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.



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.