Live Insurance News

The federal flood insurance program is broken and the repairs will be costly

January 7, 2019January 6, 2019 H. Cutner

NFIP is now fifty years old but the program has not undergone a healthy aging process. The subsidized federal flood insurance program is half a century old and is in dire need of fixes – or potentially a complete overhaul – that will, unfortunately, be unavoidably expensive. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has become increasingly costly and unsustainable. Federal flood insurance faced its second highest ever claim year in 2017. Hurricanes Florence, Harvey ad Michael placed the spotlight back onto the NFIP’s fundamental flaws. Insurance industry models show a…

Flood insurance extension to be approved through new spending package

March 27, 2018March 26, 2018 G. Turner

The good news, however, may only extend until July when a new deadline may approach once more. A new flood insurance extension will take the pressure off the program for another four months. The $1.3 trillion federal spending deal will give the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) another reprieve. This is the fourth temporary extension the NFIP has experienced since September 2017. Washington lawmakers have now given themselves until July to either create another flood insurance extension or overhaul the NFIP. The alternative would be to allow the country’s flood…

Tropical Storm Cindy provides this year’s flood insurance reality check to homeowners

June 22, 2017February 9, 2021 Julie Campbell

Property owners who didn’t heed warnings at the start of the hurricane season are thinking again. From the point that Tropical Storm Cindy received its name, it was already too late for homeowners to buy flood insurance for coverage against any damage it may cause. This was the warning government officials issued at the start of the hurricane season, but the message always reaches too few. The severe weather is expected to bring a foot of water, along with high winds, to Louisiana and Texas. Tropical Storm Cindy brought several…

West Virginia flood insurance rare despite increased risk

July 15, 2016July 13, 2016 G. Turner

The vast majority of homeowners don’t have coverage against the most expensive type of natural disaster. West Virginia flood insurance has yet to become commonplace in that market. That is problematic when taking into account the fact that flooding is the fastest growing form of natural disaster. Moreover, it is also the most costly form of natural disaster in the state. In the majority of West Virginia counties, not even one percent of households have this insurance coverage. Not even a month after deadly flooding struck a great deal of…

Flood insurance premiums to grow in the US

April 8, 2016April 6, 2016 S.Vagus

Homeowners will face higher flood premiums as of April 1 Flood insurance premiums in the United States are set to spike on April 1. Those with coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will see higher rates as the program continues to recover from its massive $24 billion debt. Much of the debt came in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. These two disasters caused significant financial damage, which NFIP has been unable to recover from despite action taken by Congress. Consumers believe higher rates may be…

Flood insurance rates set to rise

March 12, 2015March 11, 2015 Logan B.

Homeowners and businesses will see an increase in their coverage costs Flood insurance rates are expected to rise soon, with homeowners in risk-prone areas being hit the hardest by the increase. While flood protection costs have been mitigated for a time, higher rates were inevitable in order to ensure that the National Flood Insurance Program from its financial problems. Per the provisions of the Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which had initially halted the rise in insurance premiums, new surcharges will be issued on properties with flood protection. Primary residences will…

Flood insurance refunds coming to policyholders

October 6, 2014October 4, 2014 S.Vagus

FEMA has announced that refunds will be issued for consumers covered by flood protection The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that refunds for those that have overpaid their flood insurance premiums will begin being delivered this week. These refunds are part of federal action that has modified a law that was enacted in 2012. The law had initially put an end to subsidies being offered by the federal government, but revisions to the law have reinstated these subsidies, and has also authorized the issuance of refunds from the Federal…