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 2022 * EDUCATED AND ASSISTED OVER 450,000 CONSUMERS ON PROPERTY, AUTO, HEALTH, DISABILITY, LONG-TERM CARE, LIFE, TITLE, AND COMMERCIAL INSURANCE MATTERS VIA PHONE, EMAIL AND WWW.UPHELP.ORG* PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM RECOVERY SERVICES TO HELP THE LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AT THE END OF 2021 FROM THE MARSHALL FIRE IN BOULDER, COLORADO. * WE ALSO PROVIDED RECOVERY PROGRAMMING FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY 2022 CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN REMOTE, RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE. WE REACHED PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE OAK FIRE IN MARIPOSA COUNTY, THE ALEX, MCKINNEY, AND YETI FIRES IN SISKIYOU COUNTY, THE FAIRVIEW FIRE IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, AND THE MOSQUITO FIRE IN PLACER AND EL DORADO COUNTIES. OUR WORK ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ALSO INCLUDED CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD DAMAGE FROM THE ANTELOPE, BECKWOURTH, CACHE, CALDOR, DIXIE, GLEN, LAVA, MCFARLAND, MONUMENT, MCCASH, RIVER COMPLEX, AND RIVER FIRES, ALL OF WHICH TOOK PLACE IN 2021. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO OFFER LONG-TERM RECOVERY SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN WESTERN STATES DEVASTATED BY WILDFIRES IN 2020 - OREGON, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, AND COLORADO.* HOSTED 58 ROADMAP TO RECOVERY(R) WORKSHOPS EVENTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, OREGON AND WASHINGTON WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF MORE THAN 4,500 INDIVIDUALS. THE EVENTS INCLUDED: 35 R2R WORKSHOPS, 19 SURVIVOR TO SURVIVOR FORUMS, 7 Q&AS, 5 FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING CLINICS, AND 3 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 FOUR STATES ON WHAT DISASTER SURVIVORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CASUALTY LOSSES AND THEIR INSURANCE PROCEEDS) TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT AND INFORMATION, TIMED AT KEY RECOVERY MOMENTS, AS POSSIBLE.* PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED INSURANCE AND RECOVERY CLAIM SUPPORT THROUGH OUR ASK AN EXPERT, INSURANCE CARRIER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS, Q&A SUBMISSIONS, AT OUR R2R EVENTS, AND THROUGH INDIVIDUAL STAFF ASSISTANCE. * CONDUCTED TRAININGS FOR EMPLOYEES OF ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING THE 2021 MARSHALL FIRE (COLORADO), 2022 MONTANA FLOODING, A STATEWIDE DISASTER CASE MANAGER TRAINING SERIES FOR THE 2021 CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING ONGOING DCM SUPPORT FOR THE 2021 MARSHALL FIRE, 2020 CZU FIRE, AND 2020 AND 2021 CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES LONG TERM RECOVERY GROUPS.* 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, AND HURRICANES IAN AND NICOLE.* 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 18,900 VISITORS TO OUR ONLINE DISASTER 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.* EXPANDED STATE SPECIFIC CLAIM GUIDANCE CONTENT BY PUBLISHING 51 INSURANCE CONSUMER RIGHTS IN THE STATE OF TO HELP CONSUMERS IN EVERY STATE KNOW THEIR RIGHTS. * SUPPORTED OVER 738 VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVE THROUGH OUR TEAM UP VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF PREVIOUS DISASTER SURVIVORS AND PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS THAT SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS, WITH 190 INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERING 2,048 HOURS IN 2022.* 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 2022 * HELPED DRAFT, NEGOTIATE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS IN COLORADO FOR FUTURE WILDFIRE VICTIMS. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LEGISLATION INCLUDE: A REQUIRED MINIMUM OF 24 MONTHS OF ADDITIONAL LIVING EXPENSE BENEFITS PLUS UP TO TWO EXTENSIONS OF 6 MONTHS; 36 MONTHS TO COLLECT THE FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE OF DESTROYED PROPERTY; THE RIGHT TO USE ALL AVAILABLE REBUILD BENEFITS AND OTHER STRUCTURES BENEFITS TO BUY A REPLACEMENT HOME; THE RIGHT TO COLLECT 65% OF CONTENTS BENEFITS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE TRAUMA OF HAVING TO INVENTORY A LIFETIMES WORTH OF POSSESSIONS; AND THE RIGHT TO KNOW HOW AN INSURER CALCULATED AND APPLIED DEPRECIATION TO REDUCE AVAILABLE BENEFITS.* COORDINATED WITH LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE OF OREGON TO CRAFT LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE POST-WILDFIRE INSURANCE PAYOUTS IN ORDER TO FINANCE REPAIRS AND REBUILDING.* COLLABORATED WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, CA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, & CALFIRE ON THE SAFER FROM WILDFIRES FRAMEWORK THAT INCORPORATES WILDFIRE SAFETY MEASURES TO HELP SAVE LIVES AND WHILE MAKING HOMES AND BUSINESSES MORE RESILIENT.* CONTINUED COLLECTING SAMPLES OF NEW LANGUAGE APPEARING IN POLICIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT IS CREATING COVERAGE GAPS AND USING THEM TO ADVANCE UPS RESTORING INSURANCE SAFETY NETS (RISC) PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS AIMED AT REVERSING THE EROSION OF INSURANCE PROTECTION THROUGH POLICY LANGUAGE CHANGES THAT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE BENEFITS FOR REPAIRING AND REPLACING DAMAGED PROPERTIES. THESE WORDING CHANGES AND EXCLUSIONS, DESIGNED TO PROTECT INSURER PROFITABILITY, ARE DANGEROUSLY ERODING THE FINANCIAL SAFETY NETS THAT HOMEOWNERS ARE PAYING FOR AND EXPECTING TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON WHEN DISASTER STRIKES. THEY ARE CAUSING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF HARM TO PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, REAL ESTATE VALUES, LENDERS, AND ULTIMATELY, ALL OF US. * CONTINUED FILING AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS THAT ADVANCE POLICYHOLDERS REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF COVERAGE IN CONNECTION WITH BUSINESS INTERRUPTION LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 AND PARTICIPATING IN ORAL ARGUMENTS IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS AND STATE SUPREME COURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.* FILED 41 "FRIEND OF THE COURT" LEGAL BRIEFS PRESENTING POLICYHOLDERS PERSPECTIVES IN APPELLATE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE 50 STATES, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AMICUS BRIEFS FILED BY UP SINCE OUR INCEPTION TO 600.* PUBLISHED A WHISTLEBLOWER REPORT ON UNFAIR INSURANCE PRACTICES AND CALLING FOR ENHANCED INSURANCE PROTECTION LAWS IN THE STATE OF OREGON.* REPRESENTED POLICYHOLDERS ON THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE TO THE U.S. TREASURY.* ADDRESSED AUDIENCES AT NUMEROUS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS ON MATTERS THAT IMPACT INSURANCE CONSUMERS. * TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS, STATE HOUSES AND INSURANCE REGULATORS.* 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 100 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 2022* CONTINUED HELPING RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE ZONES FIND AND MAINTAIN INSURANCE ON THEIR HOMES THROUGH OUR WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION AND ASSET PROTECTION PROJECT (WRAP), OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.* LAUNCHED A CAL OES LISTOS FUNDED PREPAREDNESS CAMPAIGN ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ACROSS 31 COUNTIES, MANY OF WHOM WERE IMPACTED HEAVILY BY PREVIOUS WILDFIRES. UP UPDATED AND ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL PRINTED MATERIALS TO HELP HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS LEARN MORE ABOUT INSURANCE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. * PROVIDED CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS BY PROVIDIG INFORMATION ON HOME HARDENING AND MITIGATION.* PRESENTED AT 50+ EVENTS, HEARINGS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA TO HELP EDUCATE HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA ON HOME, EARTHQUAKE AND FLOOD INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS. * SERVED AS EXPERT PRESENTERS AT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.* LEVERAGED UPS EXPERTISE IN INSURANCE ADVOCACY AND DISASTER RECOVERY TO HELP RENTERS, HOME AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TAKE SPECIFIC STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR ASSETS AND BUILD FINANCIAL SAFETY NETS FOR DISASTER RESILIENCY AS PART OF THE READY NORTH NETWORKS TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE 2012 FLOODS AND RELATED PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS, INCLUDING PRINT MATERIALS AND A PSA.* DISTRIBUTED WISE UP: THE SAVVY CONSUMERS GUIDE TO BUYING INSURANCE. * CREATED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN DROPPED BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY.* 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 PRINT AND ONLINE NEWSLETTERS AND MONTHLY CONSUMER TIPS.