KCAL Insurance Agency

31 Jan 2012

Make a plan for evacuating your pets before disaster

Experts suggest the following steps to take for pet owners when natural disaster happens: 1. Create a pet-friends evacuation plan. Identify friend of yours or hotels can...

27 Jan 2012

Average age of U.S. cars hits record high

According to Polk, the average age of U.S. cars reached 10.8 in 2011 showing a slight increase from 10.6 in 2010. This report is based on an analysis of national vehicle...

26 Jan 2012

U.S. teen pregnancy rate remains highest in developed world

According to data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen pregnancy rates in the United has the highest rate among all developed countries. The...

25 Jan 2012

U.S. says 28 states took steps on health insurance exchanges

According to a report by the Department of Health and Human Services, 28 states have already been on the way to establish insurance exchanges under the Patient Protection...

19 Jan 2012

Secret ways insurance companies fight claims fraud

According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF), insurance fraud is an $80-billion-a-year crime, costing the average American family about $950 annually in...

18 Jan 2012

Employers paying a bit more in workers' compensation premiums

Employers in California are facing a higher premium rates for workers'compensation insurance. The current new rates, according to the top 100 companies, have already...

17 Jan 2012

Rising home insurance rates point to climate change

NPR reported Monday that home insurance premiums are going up across the board in response to the record number of tornadoes, floods, fires, blizzards and other heavy...

16 Jan 2012

Insurance companies send less junk mail

According to recent data from Mintel Comperemedia, a Chicago-based firm, insurance companies sent less direct-marketing mail during the first three quarters of 2011 than...

15 Jan 2012

Insurance companies send less junk mail

Aetna is offering four of its online wellness products to the general public through Best Buy retail stores in the Chicago area. The "My Resources for Living Well"...

14 Jan 2012

Cost biggest factor for delaying dental care

According to a new Consumer Reports survey,the cost of dental care is the biggest reason consumers delay going to the dentist. Among those who had a dental procedure for...

13 Jan 2012

Insurance study: Women are better drivers than men

Women are less likely than men to cause auto accidents. Statistics also reveal that men were involved in 6.1 million car accidents while women were involved in 4.4 million...

12 Jan 2012

Allstate to hike homeowner insurance rates up to 10 percent

Allstate insurance company said on Wednesday that Homeowners insured with Allstate Corp. will soon be hit with rate increases from 4 percent to 10 percent annually, which...

11 Jan 2012

How to do a 'needs analysis' before you buy life insurance

When buying life insurance, don't choose a policy before you understand the financial needs of your beneficiaries. A new study by the international insurance consulting...

10 Jan 2012

Study: 9.3 million adults lost health insurance during recession

According to a new study by researchers at Cornell, Indiana and Carnegie Mellon universities, an estimated 9.3 million American adults lost health insurance coverage...

09 Jan 2012

Study: Customers want contact from their insurance agent

According to new research from the PIA Partnership, most customers want to hear from their insurance agents or companies. PIA Partnership is a group of insurance companies...

08 Jan 2012

Health insurance linked with healthier habits

According to an analysis based on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Americans who have health insurance are more likely to exercise and eat better and less likely to...

07 Jan 2012

Busy season creates delay in unemployment and insurance payments

The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation discovered that a computer error is causing issues processing claims for benefits for this week. The Department...

06 Jan 2012

Tax guides for long-term care insurance available

Two new guides explaining 2012 tax-deduction limits and regulations for long-term care insurance are available through the American Association for Long-Term Care...

05 Jan 2012

California tweaks low-cost car insurance program

California recently made its low-cost auto insurance program more convenient for consumers by authorizing participating insurance agents to print valid new temporary proof...

04 Jan 2012

Study: Private insurance companies could play flood insurance role

According to a new study by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, private insurance companies could play an important role in providing flood insurance and...

03 Jan 2012

California adds patients to health insurance rolls

California now ranks second only to Pennsylvania with the highest number of enrollees in the temporary insurance plan. Despite a slow start, California's push to extend...

02 Jan 2012

Insurance among most complicated industries

According to Siegel+Gale's second annual Global Brand Simplicity Index, which ranks industries and brands on simplicity, American consumers consider general insurance and...

01 Jan 2012

More Health Clinics Pop Up Inside Retailers

According to a new report, the growth of health clinics inside retail stores rebounded in 2011 and is poised for a "second spring" this year, driven by well-capitalized...

30 Dec 2011

CoreLogic: 2011 a big year for natural disasters

2011 was the most expensive U.S. hurricane season since 2008, and the U.S. tornado season was the third most active since 1980, according to a new report by CoreLogic, an...

29 Dec 2011

Pet insurance: A good deal? Or a rip off?

A recent survey by the Associated Press found that a significant number of pet owners (41 percent) are extremely or somewhat worried they could not afford the medical...

28 Dec 2011

Car insurance injury claim costs rise

According to a new report by the Insurance research Council, Car insurance injury claim costs have increased nationwide. The cost of personal injury protection claims per...

26 Dec 2011

States to get more flexibility in health insurance plan design

The Obama administration says it will give states more flexibility in determining which benefits must be included in health insurance plans offered to individuals and...

21 Dec 2011

Feds push for nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is asking all 50 states and the District of Columbia to ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices for all...

19 Dec 2011

2010 highway deaths lowest in 61 years

Highway traffic deaths fell to 32,885 in 2010, the lowest level since 1949, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The number of fatalities decreased in...

16 Dec 2011

Did you get the license number of that Christmas tree?

Every year, there is a common occurrence for newly purchased Christmas tree fallen off the roofs of their drivers. When this situation happens on the freeway, instead of...

13 Dec 2011

California annuity buyers get new protections in 2012

A new California law protecting consumers who buy annuities will go into effect Jan. 1. The law will require insurance companies to verify that an annuity purchase,...

12 Dec 2011

How to protect yourself from 'insurance revenge' during divorce

California has built-in legal protections to guard against insurance revenge during divorce. When couples file for divorce, there are automatic temporary restraining...

09 Dec 2011

Tips for car break-ins

Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (H.E.A.T.), a Michigan auto-theft prevention program，warns consumers to be aware of car thieves at packed shopping mall parking lots. To...

08 Dec 2011

Medicare to allow using its data to rate doctors, hospitals

The federal government announced Monday that employers, insurance companies and consumer groups will be able to use Medicare's database on physicians'performing. Medicare...

07 Dec 2011

Suspicious insurance claims rise 7 percent

According to a new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, insurance companies referred 7 percent more suspicious insurance claims to fraud investigators during...

05 Dec 2011

Employees say rewards motivate them to get healthier

As many employers offer wellness and other programs to cut health insurance costs, a growing number are introducing incentives for participating and reaching goals, and...

04 Dec 2011

Will your homeowners insurance cover wind damage?

Homeowners whose properties sustained damage from the strong winds this week might face costly repairs. Standard homeowners insurance covers wind damage. But there are...

02 Dec 2011

Research and Markets: Non-Life Insurance in the United States

The non-life insurance consists of the general insurance market segmented into the accident and health insurance sector and the property and casualty insurance sector. The...

01 Dec 2011

Study: Fewer children in US lack health insurance

According to a report released Tuesday by Georgetown University, the number of children without health insurance in the U.S. has dropped by 1 million in the past three...

30 Nov 2011

6 Types Of Insurance Coverage You Didn't Think You Needed

There are several types of insurance you didn't think you needed, but in reality, you might need them. Here are a list of the most-needed but least understood insurance...

29 Nov 2011

Group reminds holiday party hosts to play it safe

Different states have different liability laws, but in most states, the one who served alcohol will be held liable for any related consequences. At the beginning of a...

28 Nov 2011

10 things travel insurance doesn't cover

This article provides the 10 common exclusions from the coverage of travel insurance. You should consider them before you plan your next trip: 1. Your tour operator...

27 Nov 2011

Insurers Boost California's Economy by $34.7 Billion

A report from the insurance information institute (III) found that the insurance industry contribute a lot to the economy boost in California. California employs the...

26 Nov 2011

Avoid a DUI -- and car insurance disaster

The penalties for DUI is known to be harsh in terms of the money you need to pay and the time you need to face in jail in most states. You'll pay fines as high as $5,000...

25 Nov 2011

Black Friday Brings Out the Risk Grinch

The Black Friday holiday madness draws growing fears of ravenous gift-seeking crowds for people in the insurance industry. Much of the concern over Black Friday safety...

23 Nov 2011

Your uninsured neighbors are costing you big time

A new study shows that in communities where a large share of residents lack medical insurance, those who are insured have trouble gaining access to care and often are...

22 Nov 2011

Allstate Drops North Carolina Homeowners Who Insure Autos Elsewhere

Allstate Insurance Co. has decided to drop North Carolina residents if they refuse to bundle their home and auto insurance policies. Up to date, 45,000 homeowners have...

21 Nov 2011

Hybrid cars safer than gas cars, but not for pedestrians

According to an industry research, hybrid cars are safer for owners and passengers, but more dangerous for pedestrians. Hybrid cars are safer for owner and passengers...

20 Nov 2011

Family health care premiums exceed 20% of income

From 2003 to 2010, the family health insurance premiums in California have grown up by 52%. Now the total exceeds 20% of income per family. By 2010, the premiums jumped...

18 Nov 2011

New York orders 11 health insurance companies to refund $114.5 million

Under New York state law, health insurance companies must spend 82 cents of every dollar collected in premiums on providing medical care. 11 health insurance companies in...

17 Nov 2011

Study: Consumers in denial about long-term care needs

A recent survey conducted by the 3in4 Association disclosed some facts regarding the use of long-term care insurance. Study found that 82 percent of people in the age of 45...

16 Nov 2011

California shifts unemployment insurance payments to debit cards

The Employment Development Department that runs the unemployment and disability insurance programs announced that it's completed the process of issuing 1.8 million debit...

15 Nov 2011

The Importance of Disability Insurance Coverage

Disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you are unable to work because of injury or illness. When you review your employer's disability benefit, here is...

14 Nov 2011

Poll: Smokers, obese people should pay more for health insurance

According to a Thomson Reuters-National Public Radio poll, almost one-third of Americans think overweight and obese people should pay more for their health insurance, and...

13 Nov 2011

Consumers unaware they can buy life insurance from car and home insurance companies

According to a new study by LIMRA, only 48 percent of consumers know they can buy life insurance from companies that sell other types of coverage, such as home and car...

11 Nov 2011

Your lying, cheating ways: 5 biggest car insurance customer lies revealed

Insurance company might be the last person you would like to inform when any changes happen to your household. When an accident occurs, insurance companies no doubt will...

10 Nov 2011

Is your dog a backseat driver?

A recent survey conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Kurgo, a pet-travel product manufacturer, found no amount of auto insurance can offset the...

09 Nov 2011

Breast cancer survivors are getting better access to life insurance

It is easier for women with a history of breast cancer to buy life insurance now. Not only can they qualify for coverage, but they can also get better rates and apply...

08 Nov 2011

GEICO launches insurance Facebook app

GEICO has launched a Facebook application which is called"GEICO Shortcuts"that lets policyholders access pay their bills, retrieve identification cards to save or print,...

07 Nov 2011

Survey: Public-sector employers want to cut employee benefit costs

Most public-sector employers want to cut employee benefit program costs，according to a new survey by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co.. Among public-sector...

06 Nov 2011

P/C Market to See Only Moderate Changes in Rates in 2012: Willis

property/casualty insurance rates will continue to be flat to with some slight increases or decreases. Some exceptions to that trend include catastrophe-exposed property...

04 Nov 2011

Social media changes the insurance business

A report based on third-quarter interviews with 15 North American insurance industry executives showed that although insurance companies see the marketing potential of...

03 Nov 2011

Blue Shield Opens First Retail Health Insurance Store in California

Blue Shield of California has taken the bold step of opening the first retail health insurance store in San Francisco. The 500-square-foot store will open on Nov.7 within...

02 Nov 2011

Vision Care Insurance: Do you really need it ?

Deciding whether to purchase vision care insurance or not can be tricky. A number of factors you need to know to make sure you're getting a product that will be valuable...

01 Nov 2011

Should You Pass on Buying Burial Insurance?

Usually completed with simplified underwriting, burial policy applicants will have to answer a few basic questions about their health but will not be subject to a medical...

31 Oct 2011

Scary insurance claims: Are Halloween tricks covered?

Trick-or-treaters aren't the only thing you have to contend with on Halloween. Mischievous acts and vandalism are common during this time of year, which means your...

30 Oct 2011

Should smokers and fat people pay more for health care?

Smokers and fat Americans could soon be paying a lot more for their health care. One recent survey shows the use of penalties is expected to climb next year. That's up...

28 Oct 2011

California gets OK for large cuts to Medi-Cal

California state government plans to reduce Medi-Cal rates by 10%，the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday. The Obama administration will...

27 Oct 2011

CMS ask feds to review Medi-Cal rates

The California Medical Association is asking federal Medicaid authorities to review whether the state pays enough to guarantee adequate access to care for patients who rely...

26 Oct 2011

Affordable Employer Health Insurance Options: eHealthInsurance Releases Open Enrollment Tips for Sma

Open enrollment is the time when businesses ask employees to make health insurance choices and other benefit selections for the coming year. Many small businesses will...

25 Oct 2011

Insurers, employers offer incentives to promote healthful habits

Growing numbers of employers and insurance companies, struck by continued healthcare costs, are offering employees inducements to lead healthier lives. Advocates of the...

24 Oct 2011

The health insurance plight of part-time workers

The Nation's largest private employer, Wal-Mart, announced last Friday that it would end the part-time workers health benefits which started since 1996 and would not offer...

23 Oct 2011

Teen crash risk sky high in first month of unsupervised driving

According to a study from AAA Foundation, teen drivers are about 50 percent more likely to crash in the first month of driving on their own than after the first year...

22 Oct 2011

New worksite health stations let employees connect virtually with doctors

Aetna has introduced new computerized worksite health stations that let employees check their blood pressure, look up health and wellness information, and consult doctors...

21 Oct 2011

Best Age to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance?

Researches from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance show that the 45-to-54 demographic accounts for more than 1 in 5 long-term care policies, while those...

20 Oct 2011

California Home Insurance Rates Up 6.5 Percent Since Same Time Last Year

HomeownersInsurance.com reported that average premiums on new homeowners policies sold in California were around $770 in May 2011. This was a 6.5 percent increase from May...

19 Oct 2011

Michigan Democrats oppose auto insurance changes

Michigan now is the only state that mandates uncapped medical benefit coverage for people seriously injured in auto accidents. A new proposal in consideration would...

18 Oct 2011

New Insurance Hotline to Aid Consumers

Consumers in Illinois can now get unbiased information about a wide range of insurance topics from a statewide toll-free hotline. The hotline offers information to help...

17 Oct 2011

Most baby boomers baffled by Medicare plans

Over the next 20 years, an average of 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. According to a new survey released by the National Council...

16 Oct 2011

Insurance companies look at social media accounts to fight fraud

The insurance information institute says absolutely some companies monitor people's social media pages, mostly to find potential fraud. Insurance companies could use what...

15 Oct 2011

Oh, deer: Repair costs climb even as deer collisions fall

Despite the falling deer-vehicle collision rates, the cost to fix a car after a collision with a deer is actually on the rise. According to State Farm, the average...

14 Oct 2011

Fewer deer caught in the headlights

Deer-vehicle collisions in the United States fell for the third consecutive year, says an annual State Farm report released Oct. 3. Vermont, Michigan, West Virginia and...

13 Oct 2011

Autism treatment law again shows insurers' need for therapy

Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill requiring health insurers to include coverage for treatments associated with autism. Insurers have long argued that...

12 Oct 2011

Blue Shield of California to return money to customers

Under new federal regulations, insurers must spend at least 80% of consumers' premiums on medical care and not reserve that income for administrative costs or profit. But...

11 Oct 2011

2011 already a record-breaking year for disasters

U.S. business, car and home insurance companies paid out almost $25 billion in catastrophe claims through the first nine months of 2011.This year is already the fifth or...

10 Oct 2011

Cutting Life Insurance From Budget Is A Bad Idea

Life insurance is often the item that families consider cutting from tight budget. In a survey, 40 percent of households show their worries on paying bills if the primary...

09 Oct 2011

Hire your own health insurance claims assistant

The medical payment has grown more and more complicated. It might be the time to ask for help from claims assistance professionals provide a wide range of services...

08 Oct 2011

New California law protects disability insurance consumers

Insurers have been increasingly relied upon discretionary clauses to reject legitimate claims for disability insurance when a consumer becomes disabled. The law, Signed by...

07 Oct 2011

Nervous? Buy your own unemployment insurance

Assura Group of New York is providing a new private unemployment insurance policy to minimize your economic loss if you lose a job. Depending on the state you live your...

06 Oct 2011

Would you buy health insurance from your drugstore?

Walgreens may enter the health insurance marketplace this fall, selling a variety of health plans at a variety of price points, although the company has not confirmed such...

05 Oct 2011

Cities that spend most, least on health care

According to a study by Thomson Reuters, American employer-sponsored health care plans spend money on medical services differ a lot from city to city. Gathered data from...

04 Oct 2011

Covering maternity care in California

Instead of waiting for the provision in Affordable Care Act to take effect in 2004, two bills, SB 222 and AB 210, which require maternity coverage to be included in...

03 Oct 2011

U.S. seeks Supreme Court review of healthcare law

The Obama administration is seeking the constitutionality from the Supreme Court earlier than scheduledof the federal healthcare reform regarding the requirement that all...

30 Sep 2011

Premiums for employer-provided health insurance jump

A national survey shows that the price of health insurance provided by employers for families increased by 9% over 2010. Although employers picked up most of the cost,...

28 Sep 2011

As economy sinks, pay-as-you-go car insurance soars

More and more people are choosing "pay-as-you-go" car insurance programs because of the bad economy. "Pay-as-you-go" car insurance measures your insurance rate based on...

16 Sep 2011

Title fees are hard to swallow when refinancing mortgage

Mortgage rates are at the lowest levels in decades. The average for a 30-year fixed loan has fallen to 4.09%. The average 15-year rate has dropped to 3.30%. Most experts...

15 Sep 2011

Expats in China to pay social insurance from Oct 15

From Oct 15, foreigners working in China will be required to pay social insurance, making them eligible for benefits. Currently, foreign workers are covered by commercial...

14 Sep 2011

Young Adults' New Dilemma: Stay on Parents' Health Insurance Policy?

Under the Affordable Care Act, signed into law March 2010, young adults under age 26 now have the choice to stay on their parents'plan, buy an individual policy or be...

11 Sep 2011

Irene insurance losses estimated at $5.5B

Hurricane Irene, which struck the East Coast late last month, could cost insurers up to $5.5 billion, according to the latest estimate from a disaster-modeling...

10 Sep 2011

Why People Don't Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

The researchers, Jeff Brown of the University of Illinois, Gopi Shah Goda of Stanford, and Kathleen McGarry of UCLA conducted a research survey based their conclusions on...

09 Sep 2011

Wedding insurance: Calamities and cold feet

More couples are opting to buy wedding coverage. Aside from natural disasters, many reception facilities now require liability coverage for out-of-control celebrations....

08 Sep 2011

Fat baby can get coverage after all, insurer says

A Colorado insurance company is changing its attitude about fat babies after the news that insurer turned down a Grand Junction 4-month-old who weighs about 17 pounds were...

07 Sep 2011

Pet insurance: A good deal? Or a rip off?

A recent survey by the Associated Press found that a significant number of pet owners (41 percent) are extremely or somewhat worried they could not afford the medical...

02 Sep 2011

Find cheap auto insurance in 8 easy steps

Sometimes focusing solely on the lowest insurance rates is a mistake if you're also shortchanging quality. However, with a little research, you should be able to find...

01 Sep 2011

Top Seven Mistakes Business Owners Make Filing Insurance Claims

Here are the top seven mistakes business owners make in filing insurance claims:
1. Not contacting your insurer immediately. Many people make the mistake of cleaning...

31 Aug 2011

10 new health insurance freebies

Health insurance reform requires that new group or individual health plans created or purchased since March 23, 2010, cover 100 percent of the costs of preventive care....

29 Aug 2011

CDC: Don't skip this year's flu shot

The 2011-12 flu vaccine protects against seasonal flu and H1N1, just like last year's, but that doesn't mean it's OK to skip your yearly flu shot, researchers from the...

19 Aug 2011

New health insurance rules would let consumers compare plans in 'plain English'

Regulations proposed by the Obama administration on Wednesday would require all private health insurance plans to provide customers a brief, standardized summary of policy...

18 Aug 2011

Do Single People Need Life Insurance?

According to USAA Life Insurance, the number of single people buying life insurance has increased 10 percent compared to a year earlier. The biggest growth was among...

17 Aug 2011

6 shady behaviors that kill insurance claims

Here are six ways that could cause insurance to kill your claims:
1. Many people struggle to pay bills, and some will go to extreme measures to get out from under an...

16 Aug 2011

Health Insurance During Early Retirement

For early retirees, one of your biggest challenges is finding health insurance. If you retire before age 65, you won't yet be eligible for Medicare. If you already have an...

15 Aug 2011

Hospitals not immune to rising insurance costs for their staffs

California's hospitals， like other types of employers are struggling to afford healthcare for their own employees. A new statewide survey shows that hospitals face...

11 Aug 2011

Do you really need cell phone insurance?

Your new phone comes with a manufacturer's warranty, but that only covers equipment failure caused by a defect or malfunction. When it comes to insurance, it's the actual...

10 Aug 2011

Before the deluge: Why to buy flood insurance

Flash floods occur in all 50 states. According to a 2006 RAND Corp. study, even in areas of the Northeast and Midwest where flood insurance is considered mandatory for...

09 Aug 2011

Economy has many rethinking insurance

This summer, saving money is chic. Americans are finding all sorts of creative ways to save money. But others are making far tougher choices that threaten to cost them...

08 Aug 2011

How to get the best deal in life insurance

It is unnecessary for most single people life insurance. But with a spouse and a family, your decision to get coverage is a smart one. The key to picking the right policy...

07 Aug 2011

Offshore coverage? Insurance may pay.

While at least 150,000 Americans travel abroad for medical care every year, according to the American Medical Association. It's a trend applauded by insurers and patients...

06 Aug 2011

Home prices are down, so why not insurance?

According to industry experts, in spite of the deep housing bust of the last few years, the cost of rebuilding a damaged home , which is what you pay insurance for, has...

05 Aug 2011

U.S. employers expand health benefits coverage under reform

Around 18 months after passage of the national healthcare overhaul, employers in America say they are providing health benefits for growing numbers of people as they...

04 Aug 2011

Is Dental Insurance Worth It? 5 Ways to Save on Care

Most dental policies pay for semiannual cleanings, but only partially cover restorative work like fillings and won't touch cosmetic procedures at all. For people with...

03 Aug 2011

The 25 Documents You Need Before You Die

The 25 Documents You Need Before You Die
1. Marriage license
2. Divorcement license
3. Copies of health-care documents
4. A durable health-care...

02 Aug 2011

No co-pay required for birth control, new U.S. guidelines say

Health insurance companies will be required to provide women free birth control, in keeping with new Obama administration guidelines. The rules, called "historic" by the...

01 Aug 2011

Cancer disparities exist despite good insurance

Despite having equal access to health care through military health insurance, black women with breast cancer are less likely than white women to receive certain aggressive...

31 Jul 2011

Petplan Pet Insurance Provides Travel Tips to Keep Fido and Fluffy Feeling Fine

Traveling with pets has become increasingly common - 18 percent of U.S. travelers now usually take their pets with them on trips, according to the U.S. Travel Association....

30 Jul 2011

U.S. hopes states to move soon on insurance exchanges

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month proposed the first wave of regulations for health insurance exchanges. The proposal offered states...

29 Jul 2011

How Travel Insurance Covers Terrorism

Given the recent terror alert, Americans traveling overseas should understand how travel insurance can protect them against terrorism, advises Squaremouth.com. Policies...

28 Jul 2011

Life Insurance Purchasing Habits Changing as One in Four Consumers Now Prefer to Buy Direct

A new study finds that Americans' preferences for purchasing life insurance are shifting towards direct buying methods. While two thirds of still prefer to buy life...

27 Jul 2011

New York life insurance companies directed to find and pay beneficiaries

New York is cracking down on life insurance companies, requiring that they try harder to find and pay beneficiaries when policyholders die. When someone dies after they...

26 Jul 2011

Ways to Lower Your Health Insurance

Health insurance is a must to hedge against an emergency medical need, but for some it's a struggle to pay premiums. Here are a few ways to trim your health costs. 1.Stay...

25 Jul 2011

Aunt's nursing home hinders exit

My aunt is in a nursing home. They tell us she isn't allowed to leave unless she gets the doctor's permission. If she does, she has to sign a statement saying she doesn't...

24 Jul 2011

You've got the wrong home insurance!

Homeowners in disaster-prone areas of the U.S. increasingly are dealing with nightmare home insurance scenarios. Many homeowners who thought they were fully insured are...

23 Jul 2011

KCAL INSURANCE URGENT CENTER LIST

URGENT CENTER 1:Allied Physicians IPA

22 Jul 2011

Small Violations With a Big Impact on Car Insurance Costs

Car insurance rates can be a mysterious thing. Each insurance company uses its own formula to decide how much to charge you for coverage. The major violations such as DUIs...

21 Jul 2011

California's Low-Cost Car Insurance Option

Adding car insurance is may be a lot more affordable than you realize. California drivers are required to carry a basic insurance policy, but some four million drivers...

20 Jul 2011

If Your Child is Headed off to College, Remember to Study the Insurance Implications

The parents of college students moving to on-campus or off-campus housing should review their insurance policies to make sure their children's personal possessions are...

19 Jul 2011

Expanded coverage of contraceptives urged by experts

An independent panel of doctors and health experts Tuesday recommended that health plans cover contraceptives for women without co-pays, setting the stage for another...

18 Jul 2011

Insurance Coverage for Your College Student

If your kid is going to college, your homeowners insurance will generally cover his living in a dorm. The kid 'll have the same liability limits as if he were in your...

17 Jul 2011

Federal Auditors Will Soon Review Health Insurance Rates in 10 States

The Obama administration will soon take over the review of health insurance rates in 10 states because state officials do not adequately regulate premiums for insurance...

15 Jul 2011

Insurance covers diagnosis, treatment of most sleep problems

The diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders have come a long way in recent years. Insurance usually covers the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems, with some...

13 Jul 2011

Over 50s Struggling To Get Travel Insurance, Lloyds TSB Discovers

Getting older is no longer a barrier to traveling the world, however over a quarter (26%) of adults aged 50 and over going on holiday are struggling to get adequate travel...

12 Jul 2011

Health officials ease requirements for states' insurance exchanges

The Obama administration moved Monday to ease some requirements on states to help them set up new insurance exchanges in 2014. In a nod to this resistance, the Obama...

11 Jul 2011

Medicare guidance is here

People have long complained that doctors have either dropped out of the program or are no longer accepting new Medicare patients into their practice. If you're having a...

08 Jul 2011

Insurance Key to Health for Poor Americans

A National Bureau of Economic Research study has confirmed it: When you give poor people access to health insurance, they end up happier and healthier. Because people...

07 Jul 2011

Adults with Medicaid feel healthier than those with no insurance, a unique study finds

Adults with Medicaid use more medical services, have less financial stress related to health and, overall, feel healthier than those without insurance. So says a...

05 Jul 2011

Same-Sex Spouses in New York Will Get Heatlh Insurance

According to the state insurance department, an employer that provides coverage to spouses must now also extend that coverage to same-sex spouses who were legally married...

03 Jul 2011

About Real Estate: Some household possessions need extra insurance coverage

A standard homeowner's insurance policy covers items such as jewelry and antiques, but additional protection may be needed if the items are unusually valuable. But...

02 Jul 2011

1.5 Million Californians to See July 1 Health Insurance Premium Increases, Some as High as 92.5%

More than 1,500,000 Californians will face health insurance premium increases on July 1 averaging 3% to 17.4%, according to state filings. California insurance regulators...

01 Jul 2011

As Risks Rise, Currency Insurance Could Gain Favor

If the political situation were to get chaotic，companies would consider a type of political-risk insurance that protects against governmental exchange-rate...

30 Jun 2011

Govt. Wants 'Mystery Shoppers' to Probe Docs About the Ease in Getting an Appointment

Some research has found that as many as 60 million Americans can't get primary care physicians, the federal government wants to use 'Mystery Shoppers' to investigate if...

29 Jun 2011

Today's homeowners face a world of modern concerns

Homeowners today present a host of challenges that previous generations never concerned about. Owning a home brings a rising potential for extreme weather and toxic...

27 Jun 2011

Study: 354,000 Tennesseans lost employer-provided health insurance in past decade

In the last decade, the number of employer-provided insurance cases dropped largely. And those who still had coverage ended up paying much more for coverage. Study by the...

26 Jun 2011

Child-only health insurance policies to be sold for 6 weeks

Iowa health insurers will resume selling children individual policies, but it only will last for six weeks. This is in response to the sudden drop in sales due to...

22 Jun 2011

Cobination Life Insurance Up 62%

According to LIMRA’s research, new premium sales of individual life combination products increased 62 percent in 2010, hitting 1. 2 billion. It accounts for six...

22 Jun 2011

Want to Pay Less for Car Insurance? Have Good Credit

Having a good credit score not only helps you to lower the interest rates on loans, but also affects the rates you pay for car insurance. When quoting a rate, the insurers...

18 Jun 2011

5 Claims Insurance Companies WANT You To Make

Insurance companies do not always frown upon any type of claim. Sometimes they are probably happy about your claim. Here are five examples: 1. A claim they don't owe you...

15 Jun 2011

Is travel insurance worth the extra money?

Travel insurance can include trip cancellation, trip interruption, accidental death or dismemberment, medical and dental care, loss of luggage or personal possessions and...

10 Jun 2011

Why ID theft insurance might not be worth it

With so many people worried about identity theft, this insurance is hot right now. The majority of these cases involve a stolen credit card number. Some people are...

03 Jun 2011

Shrink your BMI and your insurance bill

With a growing obesity trends in the United States, an insurance company has started being one of the first in the nation to offer discounts to customers who keep a low...

01 Apr 2011

'Get Off The Road, Grampa!': Insurance Commish Urges 'The Talk'

The state's top insurance executive says more Californians should speak up if they think it's no longer safe for an elderly family member or friend to drive. The number of...

10 Mar 2011

Anthem to boost deductibles on some individual plans

You soon may not be able to judge your cost for healthcare by the name on the PPO insurance plan. For example, the PPO Share 500 plan will have a $550 deductible. State...

20 Jan 2011

Survey US Doctors Fear Healthcare Reform

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. doctors surveyed fear healthcare reform could worsen care for patients, by flooding their offices and hurting income, according to a Thomson...

20 Jan 2011

House Passes Repeal of Healthcare Law

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would repeal President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare reform law Wednesday in a mostly...

20 Dec 2010

Operation Warmth

Operation Warmth’s main goal is to provide the homeless population of Los Angeles & Orange Counties with a warmer winter.

In the winter months, due to ocean...

16 Dec 2010

CA Workers Comp Insurance Raised

California's workers' comp insurers wrote approximately 10 percent more premium the first nine months of 2010 compared to 2009. Written premium for the first nine months...

15 Dec 2010

California and Federal Emergency Responders Signed A Plan

California and federal emergency responders have signed a plan designed to respond to a disastrous earthquake in Southern California. A similar state-federal pact was...

14 Dec 2010

Many suffer personally on account of Medicare cuts

Nationwide, state lawmakers have taken harsh actions to attempt to lower the budget-busting costs of Medicaid, the health care program that serves 58 million poor and...

14 Dec 2010

VA Attorney General Cuccinelli's strategy looks good in light of ruling

Virginia's go-it-alone legal strategy to challenge the nation's sweeping federal health-care overhaul - once questioned by both advocates and some opponents of the law -...

11 Dec 2010

After expanding coverage, Mass. looks to cut costs

BOSTON (AP) -- Four years after Massachusetts embarked on the nation's most ambitious health care overhaul, Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders are stepping up...

10 Dec 2010

Mercury Insurance Cuts Their Rates

Mercury insurance rates are set to go down by at least 10% starting next week for many policyholders. The Los Angeles-based company announced Thursday that state...

10 Dec 2010

Q&A: What does the Obama tax deal mean?

The extension of Bush-era tax cuts negotiated Monday by the White House and Republican leaders would affect taxpayers, economic growth and even the political hot potato of...

06 Dec 2010

Study: Illegal immigrants increase uninsured numbers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The increase in the number of people without health insurance has occurred largely because of illegal immigration, a study found.

Researchers at...

30 Nov 2010

California's Seven Largest Health Plans Fines

California's seven largest health plans, Aetna Inc., Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Cigna Corp., Health Net Inc., Kaiser Foundation Health...

30 Nov 2010

More than Half of U.S. Households Lack Life Insurance

More than half of all American households don't have life insurance, potentially jeopardizing millions of families' financial security in the event of a loved one's death....

29 Nov 2010

Hospital Need to Clear Record or Report Medical Error

State law outlines 28 medical errors that hospitals must report to the state because they place patients at risk of death or serious injury.

After investigating, the...

24 Nov 2010

Fire-and-casualty Licensees got More Time to Gain Health Insurance License

The California Department of Insurance is delaying for six months the implementation of a new licensing requirement for fire and casualty licensees that want to sell...

22 Nov 2010

The California Insurance Commissioner rejected Increase rate for Workers' Compensation Insurance Pre

The California Insurance Commissioner rejected a call by industry financial analysts for a 28% increase in workers' compensation insurance premiums, which are paid by most...

22 Nov 2010

The Fallout is Hammering Healthcare Industry

A lousy economy has caught up with healthcare, an industry once considered virtually immune to downturns. The sector, which employs about 1 in 10 Californians, has...

19 Nov 2010

Insurance Company Evaluation

An evaluation by the California Department of Insurance comes as many workers assess their healthcare options this month before enrolling for another year of insurance...

17 Nov 2010

Washington To Stop Construction at Sites Without Insurance

Employers dodging workers' compensation premiums in Washington can expect to face significant new consequences from the state's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). The...

12 Nov 2010

Nearly 59 million lack health insurance: CDC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nearly 59 million Americans went without health insurance coverage for at least part of 2010, many of them with conditions or diseases that needed...

11 Nov 2010

Calif. Workplace Injuries on Decline

The number of work injuries and illnesses reported by California employers showed a sharp decline in 2009.Data display that California's 14.9 million public and private...

27 Jul 2010

Extend jobless benefits

President Obama signed a $33.9-billion package of legislation on July 22 extending unemployment benefits for 2.5 million jobless Americans. The California Employment...

16 Jul 2010

Reviews of health insurance rate hikes

Actuary David Axene, a state consultant who found errors in Woodland Hills Anthem Blue Cross' rate filings, is expected to deliver his findings by mid-August to the...

15 Jul 2010

Health Tests at No Cost

The White House on July 14 issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide free coverage for dozens of screenings, laboratory tests and other types of...

15 Jul 2010

Federal Flood Insurance Up for Vote Again

Insurers are urging the House of Representatives to pass legislation today that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years. The measure, HR...

14 Jul 2010

California budget impasse

Health clinics that serve hundreds of thousands of California residents face the prospect of not being paid as the state lurches toward a third week of a budget stalemate...

13 Jul 2010

Unemployment benefits

In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to resume its debate about whether to extend the emergency jobless benefits that were passed in response to the steep increase...

13 Jul 2010

HealthCare.gov

People who don't have employer-provided insurance coverage have options, ranging from individual insurance policies to government-funded programs. But information about...

09 Jul 2010

Increasing Privacy Liability

Billing companies, customer service contractors and other businesses regularly handle private health records, but currently, they are not liable for information breaches....

08 Jul 2010

Blue Shield accused of overcharging for safety-net insurance

Amalia Lample, 64, of Los Angeles seeks class-action status in her July 7 suit of Blue Shield of California, accusing the health plan of knowingly exceeding maximum...

08 Jul 2010

Health insurance rate review

Gov. Schwarzenegger moved on July 7 to implement a major element of the new national healthcare overhaul, seeking a $1-million federal grant to strengthen the state's...

05 Jul 2010

Small Business Advice

A common trick targeting small businesses that scammers hope are too busy or disorganized to keep track of is business documents renewals. Phishing schemes, which...

02 Jul 2010

Premium for high risk pool

President Obama's new health coverage for uninsured people with health problems won't be cheap -- monthly premiums as high as $900. There are going to be meaningful...

02 Jul 2010

Eliminating Workers' Comp Insurance Monopoly

A campaign to end the state of Washington 's monopoly on workers' compensation insurance appears to have enough support to qualify for the November ballots. Initiative...

01 Jul 2010

High Risk Pool Medical Insurance Program

The Obama administration and some state governments will begin accepting applications July 1 for new insurance programs designed to cover people who have been denied...

30 Jun 2010

Treating Workers and Customers

You should treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers. In order to be effective we need to be of good character. And good character entails...

28 Jun 2010

California Launches Disaster Corps

In the aftermath of the 2007 Southern California Wildfires and Cosco Busan Oil Spill, thousands of disaster volunteers poured into affected areas to assist with...

24 Jun 2010

More young adults on parents' health insurance policies

More than 30% of young adults nationwide are without insurance. They earn less, on average, than those who are older, and have higher rates of unemployment. They account...

24 Jun 2010

Health insurers boost customer service

Folks are confused now about health insurance, and it's going to get more confusing with reform before the tide turns. As a result of the new healthcare-reform law, more...

24 Jun 2010

House passes flood insurance extension

The House of Representatives passed HR 5569, another temporary extension of the National Flood Insurance Program, until Sept. 30, 2010. The program has been suspended from...

23 Jun 2010

Hiring cheap is a mistake

You still get what you pay for. That's the message compensation experts have for small-business owners looking to pluck top talent at bargain rates from today's crowded...

23 Jun 2010

Electronic health records

Electronic health record systems likely will soon become a fixture in medical settings. Advocates claim they will reduce health care costs and improve medical outcomes,...

23 Jun 2010

Changing health insurance

Many small-business owners are caught in a bind created by the federal health-care overhaul that has made choosing health-insurance plans for their workers a trickier...

22 Jun 2010

Premium hikes for health insurance

About 14 million Americans under age 65 receive health insurance through the non-group or individual market. In contrast, about 157 million U.S. residents get their...

22 Jun 2010

Obama gives insurers a warning

President Obama plans to sternly warn industry executives at a White House meeting on Tuesday against imposing hefty rate increases in anticipation of tightening...

22 Jun 2010

Healthcare dilemma

The nation's existing health system is continuing to fray, raising the prospect that the country could experience a crisis before the law establishes a new safety net in...

21 Jun 2010

Medicaid eligibility

The Medicaid look-back rules are designed to prevent trying to hide assets from the government by transferring them away from the potential Medicaid recipient. Medicaid...

21 Jun 2010

Doctors limit new Medicare patients

The number of doctors refusing new Medicare patients because of low government payment rates is setting a new high, just six months before millions of Baby Boomers begin...

21 Jun 2010

San Gabriel Valley Association installs officers

San Gabriel Valley, Calif., chapter of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society has installed its 2010-2011 officers and directors. The officers are: President...

17 Jun 2010

Supreme Court rules in favor of California police chief who read employee's texts

The Supreme Court rejected a broad right of privacy for workers Thursday and said supervisors may read through an employee's text messages if they suspected that work...

16 Jun 2010

Flood insurance program remains in Limbo

The Senate today voted against legislation that included a provision to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Along with short term extensions for...

24 May 2010

National restaurant assn and UnitedHealth coverage for restaurant workers

The restaurant industry, which employs nearly 13 million people nationally, has among the lowest levels of health coverage, a reflection of the transitory nature of the...

21 May 2010

California Department of Public Health officials fined nine California hospitals

California Department of Public Health officials fined nine California hospitals for medical errors last year that in some cases killed or seriously injured patients and...

19 May 2010

Video Monitors in Vehicles

The California Assembly passed AB1942 by a vote of 49-0 that would allow video recorders to be installed on vehicle dashboards. State law currently prohibits dashboard...

14 May 2010

Employers who do not offer insurance

If your employer doesn't offer insurance coverage, you will be able buy insurance on the health insurance exchanges that will start up in 2014. You would also be eligible...

14 May 2010

Insurance agree to sanctions against Iran

The California Insurance Commissioner announced that 1,010 insurance companies -- more than 75 percent of insurers licensed to do business in California -- have agreed to...

13 May 2010

Revised budget plans

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to present a revised budget plan Friday that would dismantle some of California's landmark healthcare programs after efforts to...

12 May 2010

California regulators to inspect Olive View hospital

State regulators said that they plan to inspect Olive View- UCLA Medical Center as soon as possible, following admissions by hospital and county officials that they did...

12 May 2010

Worker's Comp Claimants

Injured workers are getting the care they need, according to a recent study on access to medical care in the California workers' compensation system. The study, conducted...

11 May 2010

Risky Elderly Drivers

In California, more than 2.5 million seniors carry driver's licenses -- and that number is expected to balloon in the coming years. Stubbornness, aggressive behavior and...

10 May 2010

Mental Health Parity Brouhaha

A huge fight has erupted over rules issued by the Obama administration to enforce a 2008 law that requires equal insurance coverage for the treatment of mental and...

10 May 2010

California Insurance Guarantee Association Bonds

The California Senate has passed SB 1242 by 34-0 to extend from Jan. 1, 2011, to Jan. 1, 2013, the sunset date on the authority of the California Insurance Guarantee...

05 May 2010

CalPERS May Pursue Lawsuit Against Rating Agencies

A San Francisco superior court judge ruled in favor California Public Employees' Retirement System, allowing it to proceed with its lawsuit accusing Moody's Investors...

28 Apr 2010

WellPoint and Blue Shield of California to stop dropping sick policyholders

WellPoint Inc., the parent of Anthem Blue Cross of California, and Blue Shield of California say they will stop the practice known as rescission, of dropping sick...

27 Apr 2010

Insurance Surcharge to Develop Emergency Fund

The California Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee has passed a bill that would impose a surcharge of 4.8 percent on commercial and residential fire and...

23 Apr 2010

2007 San Diego fire fines

Under a settlement approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. will pay $14.4 million to the State and CoxCom Inc. will pay $2...

22 Apr 2010

Easter Quake Damage $91 Million

California estimated the 7.2 April 4 earthquake caused about $91 million in damage in impoverished Imperial County. Schwarzenegger's office sent a letter to the federal...

21 Apr 2010

Healthcare coverage for young adults

United Healthcare, WellPoint Inc. and Humana Inc. said they will not wait until President Obama's new healthcare reforms take effect and that young adults can remain...

19 Apr 2010

Earthquake Insurance

Earthquake insurance is a pricey decision facing small companies each year. Quake damage is not covered by standard business insurance policies: Most insurers don't sell...

16 Apr 2010

Medicare Funding to Murrieta Hospital

Days after state officials announced Southwest Healthcare System in Murrieta had received California's first $100,000 fine for putting patients at risk of death or serious...

14 Apr 2010

Hospitals fined over patient care

California public health officials have imposed the first $100,000 fine under a new escalating system of penalties for hospitals that put patients at risk of death or...

14 Apr 2010

Obama signs extension of jobless benefits

President Obama signed an extension of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed Thursday night. About 212,000 people lost benefits when Congress failed to act before...

09 Apr 2010

Regulations to Alleviate Under-Insurance

In order to alleviate concerns about homeowner under-insurance, the California Department of Insurance has scheduled a hearing on May 17 in Los Angeles to discuss proposed...

09 Apr 2010

Flood Insurance

When Congress went into recess at the end of March, it failed to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program. It expired on March 28th. This is not the first time the...

05 Feb 2012

Seven California Insurance Companies Fined

California's seven largest health plans, Aetna Inc., Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Cigna Corp., Health Net Inc., Kaiser Foundation Health...