Most homeowners and commercial insurance policies contains exclusions for loss or damages caused by mudflow or other similar occurrences. An example of on such exclusion is included below: b. Earth Movement and Settlement, meaning earthquake, which includes land shock wavers or tremors before, during or after a volcanic eruption; landslide; mudflow; sinkhole; earth sinking, rising … Continue Reading
New Jersey State Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr., has introduced a bill to the State Senate1 that would amend N.J.S.A. 43:21-19, which is the statute that determines eligibility for unemployment benefits.… Continue Reading
Steaming ahead on our 50-State claims handling tour, we now pull in to the Peach State – Georgia. Insurance carriers operating in Georgia are subject to both the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act1 and regulations that set forth the guidelines they must follow.… Continue Reading
As I am writing this blog, most of the country is in the middle of a deep freeze. Here in New Jersey, the forecast doesn’t show any signs of warming up: So naturally, my mind turned to more temperate climates and so today we are going to chat about the claims handling guidelines in California.… Continue Reading
Our next stop as we tour the claims handling guidelines of the 50-states is the First state, Delaware. I have never spent a lot of time in Delaware but I do have a fondness for it. When I was young, I was fortunate enough to have a family home on the Delaware Bay about a … Continue Reading
The Professional Public Adjusters Association (PPAANJ) recently held its Fall general meeting on November 15, 2017, at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, New Jersey. As Always, the meeting was a great success and was well received by all in attendance.… Continue Reading
Up next in the state-by-state claims handling tour is the Centennial State – Colorado. Colorado property owners have been devastated by massive hail storms over the last several years so it is very important that policyholders and their representatives are aware of the claim handling requirements of the state. Colorado’s claim handling is governed by … Continue Reading
As we have toured around the country, we have seen states that are very protective of policyholders through extensive claim handling guidelines. Others have very few regulations. While Connecticut has a statute barring unfair claims practices, it is actually an example of the latter.… Continue Reading
The Professional Public Adjusters Association (PPAANJ) held its Spring meeting on May 11, 2017, at the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, New Jersey. Chip Merlin recently wrote about the meeting and its highlights. In addition to the great speakers, the association elected two new trustees.… Continue Reading
Next up in our state-by-state anthology of claims handling guidelines is the Beaver State – Oregon. Claims handling in Oregon is governed by the Oregon Administrative Rules.… Continue Reading
I recently received a request to write about the claims handling guidelines in Texas. In the great state of Texas, the handling of insurance claims are governed by both the Administrative Code and Insurance Code.… Continue Reading
Recently I received a number of requests for states in this series. I promise I am working through all the requests in the order I received them. Up next, the Aloha State – Hawaii.… Continue Reading
I recently received a request to write about the claims handling guidelines in Oklahoma. Again, I plan to go through all 50 states, but if you have a burning desire to see your state sooner rather than later, speak up! In Oklahoma, the handling of insurance claims is governed by both statute and the administrative … Continue Reading
I recently received a request to write about the claims handling guidelines in Arkansas. As always, I am happy to help. The Arkansas Insurance Rules and Regulations state that the “purpose of this rule is to define certain minimum standards which, if violated with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice, will be … Continue Reading
I recently received a request for a blog on the claims handling requirements for Missouri. I always aim to please, so here are the requirements for an insurer handling claims in the Show Me state.… Continue Reading
Next up in our whirlwind 50-state tour of claims handling requirements is the Tar Heel State. Unlike our previous stops in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, North Carolina has relatively few explicit claims handling requirements. This may be why North Carolina ranked dead last in a 50-state ranking of insurance regulations as pointed out by my … Continue Reading
As promised in my recent post regarding the Gatlinburg fires, today we are looking at the claims handling guidelines provided by the Tennessee code. The Tennessee code has general requirements that require insurance carriers to develop standards and practices for the prompt and proper handling of claims in the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act.1… Continue Reading
I am taking a quick break from my series on claims handling guidelines to write about an issue that is probably just coming up for many folks in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The other night I was showing my wife Chip Merlin’s blog about the Gatlinburg fires and then we looked at photos of the devastation there. … Continue Reading
The next stop in our 50-state tour of claims handling requirments is the Keystone State. While New Jersey and Pennsylvania may have a bit of rivalry (Giants v. Eagles or Pennsylvania drivers in the left lane, for example). Their claims handling requirements are somewhat similar.… Continue Reading
I was recently asked by a collegue how long an insurance carrier has to pay a claim once it has been submitted. Because I maintain a database of regulations for the fifty states at my desk, I could answer the question quickly, but I realized that having a quick reference for these materials might be … Continue Reading
If you have spent time handling your own insurance claim or are fortunate enough to represent policyholders in claims with their insruance carriers, you know that not all insurance companies are created equally. Some treat their customers very well. Some don’t. Likewise, not all states are equal when it comes to laws that … Continue Reading
