United Policyholders

UNITED POLICYHOLDERS ("UP") IS A VOICE AND AN INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR INSURANCE CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. UP HELPS PEOPLE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS WHEN BUYING INSURANCE AND FILING INSURANCE CLAIMS.

ROADMAP TO RECOVERY(R) HIGHLIGHTS 2021 ?LAUNCHED A REDESIGNED WEBSITE (WWW.UPHELP.ORG) THAT INFORMS AND ASSISTS INSURANCE CONSUMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC 24/7 THROUGH EXTENSIVE LIBRARIES, PUBLICATIONS, SAMPLE DOCUMENTS, INSIGHTS AND GUIDANCE.?EDUCATED AND ASSISTED OVER 415,000 CONSUMERS ON PROPERTY, AUTO, HEALTH, DISABILITY, LONG-TERM CARE, LIFE, TITLE, AND COMMERCIAL INSURANCE MATTERS VIA PHONE, EMAIL AND WWW.UPHELP.ORG?PROVIDED LONG TERM RECOVERY SERVICES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED IN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, AND 2021) IN BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (CAMP FIRE, DIXIE FIRE), SONOMA AND NAPA COUNTIES (NORTH BAY FIRES, KINCADE FIRE), VENTURA AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES (THOMAS FIRE), PLACER AND NEVADA COUNTIES (RIVER FIRE), EL DORADO AND AMADOR COUNTIES (CALDOR FIRE), SHASTA FIRE (FAWN FIRE) , LOS ANGELES COUNTY (WOOLSEY-HILL FIRE, SADDLERIDGE FIRE, TICK FIRE, GETTY FIRE), RIVERSIDE COUNTY (EAGLE FIRE, SANDALWOOD FIRE, RECHE FIRE, WOLF FIRE, HILL FIRE, WATER FIRE, 46 FIRE), VENTURA COUNTY (MARIA FIRE, EASY FIRE, WOOLSEY-HILL FIRE), SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY (HILLSIDE FIRE), AND THE FOUR WESTERN STATES DEVASTATED BY WILDFIRES IN 2020 - OREGON, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, AND COLORADO. IN THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE YEAR, UP STEPPED UP TO HELP THE FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE 2021 MARSHALL FIRE IN BOULDER, COLORADO.?HOSTED 85 ROADMAP TO RECOVERY(R) EVENTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, OREGON AND WASHINGTON, INCLUDING: 33 R2R WORKSHOPS, 22 SURVIVOR TO SURVIVOR FORUMS, 26 Q&AS AND 4 LEGAL CLINICS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR SERVICES WERE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN PERSON SERVICES WHEN THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS EASED AND OUR ORGANIZATION CAPACITY ALLOWED FOR IT. THE OFFERINGS INCLUDED A MIX OF STATE SPECIFIC AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (I.E., TAXING MATTERS WEBINAR FOR ALL 4 STATES ON WHAT DISASTER SURVIVORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CASUALTY LOSSES AND THEIR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT AND INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.?PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED INSURANCE AND RECOVERY CLAIM SUPPORT THROUGH OUR ASK AN EXPERT, INSURER-SPECIFIC VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS, Q&A SUBMISSIONS, AT OUR R2R EVENTS, AND THROUGH STAFF ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS.?CONDUCTED TRAININGS FOR EMPLOYEES OF ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING THE 2020 TENNESSEE TORNADOES, A STATEWIDE DISASTER CASE MANAGER TRAININGS FOR THE IOWA DERECHO, AND THE 2020 CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES, WHICH IMPACTED 23 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.?DISTRIBUTED FREE COPIES OF THE DISASTER RECOVERY HANDBOOK AND HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY GUIDE AND ROADMAP TO RECOVERY ORGANIZERS TO CATASTROPHIC LOSS VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. ?ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED DEDICATED ONLINE HELP LIBRARIES FOR VICTIMS OF WILDFIRES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, OREGON, COLORADO, WASHINGTON, THE TEXAS ICE STORM, THE IOWA DERECHO, THE NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE TORNADOES, AND HURRICANES DELTA, IDA, AND SALLY.?ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND PROCESSED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS USING UP AND STAFFED BY EXPERT VOLUNTEERS THAT INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION, CLAIM, FORENSIC, AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WITH PERSONAL EXPERTISE IN DISASTER RECOVERY.?RECEIVED MORE THAN 10,000 VISITORS TO OUR ONLINE WILDFIRE RECOVERY CLAIM HELP LIBRARIES. DURING THIS TIME WE UPDATED THE LIBRARIES WITH RELEVANT AND TIMELY INFORMATION, INCLUDING ADDING NEW TOOLS,CREATING MORE CURATED RESOURCES FOR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS, LIKE SPANISH LANGUAGE HOUSEHOLDS, RENTERS, MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME OWNERS, AND PEOPLE WITH PARTIAL LOSSES/SMOKE DAMAGE.?SUPPORTED OVER 664 VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVE THROUGH OUR TEAM UP VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF PREVIOUS DISASTER SURVIVORS AND PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS THAT SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS.?DISTRIBUTED CLIENT HELP MATERIALS TO NGO, FAITH-BASED, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY PARTNERS.?EXPANDED OUR NATIONAL FIND PROFESSIONAL HELP AND STATE-BY-STATE ASSISTANCE DIRECTORIES.

ADVOCACY AND ACTION HIGHLIGHTS 2021 ?THE RESTORING INSURANCE SAFETY NETS COALITION (RISC) PROJECT: LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO HIGHLIGHT AND REVERSE THE STEADY EROSION OF AMERICANS PERSONAL FINANCIAL SAFETY NETS THROUGH REDUCTIONS IN AVAILABLE PROPERTY INSURANCE COVERAGE AND BENEFITS TO PAY FOR REPAIRING, RESTORING AND REPLACING REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT GETS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED IN CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. THE EROSION IS RESULTING FROM WORDING CHANGES AND EXCLUSIONS THAT INSURERS ARE DRAFTING TO LIMIT PAYOUTS AND PROTECT THEIR PROFITABILITY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. IT IS CAUSING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF HARM TO PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, REAL ESTATE VALUES, LENDERS, AND ULTIMATELY, ALL OF US. ?WRAP (WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION AND ASSET PROTECTION INITIATIVE AND WORKING GROUPOCOLLABORATED WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, RESILIENCY ADVOCATES AND FIREFIGHTING AGENCIES TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN RURAL AND SUBURBAN REGIONS MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE INSURANCE.ODEVELOPED AND DISSEMINATED A LIST OF 13 HOME IMPROVEMENT STEPS FOR CONSIDERATION TO BE THE OFFICIAL STANDARDS FOR A WILDFIRE PREPARED HOME. ?COVID-19 BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INITIATIVE: CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES AROUND THE COUNTRY RELATING TO BUSINESS INTERRUPTION ("BI") INSURANCE CLAIMS CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND VIRUS. UNITED POLICYHOLDERS CONVENED NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS INVOLVING LEADING INSURANCE PRACTITIONERS THROUGH ITS COVID-BI WORKING GROUP. UNITED POLICYHOLDERS ALSO FILED OVER 30 AMICUS BRIEFS AND HOSTED MOOT COURTS FOR IMPORTANT ORAL ARGUMENTS IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS AND STATE SUPREME COURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.?WORKED WITH OREGON STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAM MARSH AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENACT HOUSE BILL 3272 TO IMPROVE THE POST-DISASTER INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS AND CREATE UNIFORMITY WITH STANDARDS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN THE ADJACENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THEY INCLUDE:?ADDITIONAL/TEMPORARY LIVING EXPENSE) AND REPLACEMENT COST BENEFITS MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST 24 MONTHS, 36 MONTHS IF REASONABLY NECESSARY.?AN UNDERINSURED HOMEOWNER CAN USE OTHER STRUCTURES BENEFITS TOWARD THE COST OF REBUILDING THEIR DWELLING. OTHER STRUCTURES BENEFITS ARE NORMALLY AVAILABLE FOR GARAGES AND OUTBUILDINGS, RETAINING WALLS, ETC.?A HOMEOWNER CAN OPT TO SKIP THE CHALLENGES (AND TRAUMA) OF REBUILDING THEIR HOME FROM THE GROUND UP AT ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION AND INSTEAD ACCESS THEIR DWELLING, EXTENDED DWELLING AND BUILDING CODE AND ORDINANCE BENEFITS TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT HOME.?HOMEOWNERS CAN AVOID UNDERINSURANCE BY ACCESSING THEIR INSURERS CONSTRUCTION COST EXPERTISE AND OBTAINING AN ESTIMATE FOR INSURING THEIR HOME TO ITS CURRENT REPLACEMENT COST.?WORKED WITH WASHINGTON STATE COMMISSIONER MIKE KREIDLER TO ADOPT IMPORTANT REGULATIONS SUPPORTED BY UP THAT PROHIBITS INSURERS FROM REDUCING CLAIM PAYMENTS BY UNFAIRLY DEPRECIATING THE COST OF LABOR.?FILED 54 "FRIEND OF THE COURT" LEGAL BRIEFS PRESENTING INSURANCE CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVES IN APPELLATE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE 50 STATES.?REPRESENTED POLICYHOLDERS ON THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, U.S. TREASURY.?ADDRESSED AUDIENCES AT NUMEROUS VIRTUAL CONFERENCES AND EVENTS ON MATTERS THAT IMPACT INSURANCE CONSUMERS. ?REPRESENTED POLICYHOLDERS IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS.?SUBMITTED SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION LETTERS TO STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT INSURANCE CONSUMER INTERESTS IN PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS. ?RESPONDED TO INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS FROM MEDIA PROFESSIONALS AND WAS REFERENCED AS A SOURCE IN MORE THAN 72 DIGITAL, PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA PIECES.?CONDUCTED SURVEYS TO GATHER DATA, DISSEMINATED THE RESULTS.?PROVIDED CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVES AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES OF ACTUARIES, REGULATORS, LAWMAKERS AND INSURANCE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES.?ISSUED PRESS RELEASES/MEDIA ADVISORIES AND PUBLISHED RESEARCH REPORTS ON A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT INSURANCE ISSUES.

ROADMAP TO PREPAREDNESS 2021?CONTINUED HELPING RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE ZONES FIND AND MAINTAIN INSURANCE ON THEIR HOMES THROUGH OUR WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION AND ASSET PROTECTION INITIATIVE.?ADVANCED A WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION REWARDS PILOT PROJECT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY THROUGH A CA RESILIENCE CHALLENGE GRANT?EDUCATED HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO ON HOME, RENTERS, EARTHQUAKE AND FLOOD INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS. ?DISTRIBUTED WISE UP: THE SAVVY CONSUMERS GUIDE TO BUYING INSURANCE. ?CONDUCTED PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS AND PARTICIPATED IN PREPAREDNESS FAIRS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA?CREATED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN DROPPED BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY.?SERVED AS EXPERT PRESENTERS AT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.?PARTNERED WITH FAITH-BASED AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO BROADCAST PREPAREDNESS MESSAGES AND DISTRIBUTE MATERIALS AND TOOLS.?EXPANDED RESOURCES IN THE ROADMAP TO PREPAREDNESS SECTION OF WWW.UPHELP.ORG.?PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY-LED AND VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER MEETINGS ON THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL AND FORMED ALLIANCES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.?WORKED WITH VENDORS OF PRODUCTS THAT IMPROVE HOME SAFETY AND INCREASE DISASTER RESILIENCE.?PUBLISHED NEWSLETTERS AND MONTHLY CONSUMER TIPS.