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Insurance
 Websites presented in alphabetical order A.M. Best Company 
 Site of "a worldwide insurance-rating and information agency ... devoted to issuing in-depth reports and financial-strength ratings about insurance organizations." Includes ratings and analysis, and industry news and trends. Searchable. Registration (free) required. From the publisher of "Best's Key Rating" insurance guides. http://www.ambest.com/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Investing Last updated Feb 23, 2004 The Actors Fund of America: Health Insurance Resource Center
"The Center identifies alternative routes to coverage and local resources for care for performers, visual artists, stagehands, filmmakers, musicians, artisans, and other self-employed and episodic workers." Provides information on the center's services and programs such as counseling sessions, workshops, and free health clinics. Includes links to related national, state, and local resources. http://www.actorsfund.org/services/Health_Care_and_Health_Insurance/Health_Insurance_Resource_Center/index_html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health Last updated Jan 9, 2008 Are You Prepared for Hurricane Season?
This insurance industry organization was formed to provide "information on the insurance industry's response [to hurricanes], supplying claim filing tips and maintain a dialogue with the public through an active consumer outreach program." Includes insurance advice for Hurricane Katrina damage recovery, a brochure about settling insurance claims after a disaster, a list of toll-free phone numbers of insurance companies, and related information. Some material also available in Spanish. http://www.iii.org/prepare/home/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Home & Housing, Hurricane Katrina, Science, Weather Last updated Jun 13, 2007 Can the Retiree Health Benefits Provided by Your Employer Be Cut?
This fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor discusses the questions "How secure are my health care benefits after retirement? Under what circumstances can the company reduce or terminate my health benefits?" The sheet advises that "the key to understanding your retiree health benefits lies in the documents governing your plan," and suggests what to look for in plan documents. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/retiree_health_benefits.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Investing, Jobs & Work, Seniors Last updated Apr 28, 2004 CLUE and You: How Insurers Size You Up
Questions and answers about property claims databases that are used by insurers to generate risk profiles of potential customers. Provides details about information maintained by the two databases, Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) and Automated Property Loss Underwriting System (A-PLUS), both of which "have come to be known generically as CLUE reports." Also discusses legislation, privacy, how to get a report, and related topics. From the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs26-CLUE.htm Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance Last updated Jun 27, 2006 CLUE Reports in Compliance With the FACT Act
This site provides access to the free CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) personal property and auto reports offered by ChoiceTrust. CLUE reports, which contain a five-year history of losses and which are often used by insurance companies to determine rates, can be obtained by the property owner under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The site includes a FAQ, a sample report, and instructions for disputing report information. From ChoicePoint. http://www.choicetrust.com/servlet/com.kx.cs.servlets.CsServlet?channel=welcome&subchannel=clue Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance Last updated Jun 27, 2006 CMS: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Consumer information on Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments). Covers news, laws and regulations, and programs. Resources include a searchable directory of contact information, forms, and a glossary. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Senior Health, Seniors Last updated Jun 24, 2002 Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI)
CAHI "is a research and advocacy association of insurance carriers active in the individual, small group, MSA [Medical Savings Accounts] and senior markets. ... Membership includes insurance companies, small businesses, providers, nonprofit associations, actuaries, insurance brokers and individuals." Site includes current industry news, publications and reports, consumer information, and a glossary of insurance terms. http://www.cahi.org/index.asp Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health Last updated Jul 5, 2004 CoverTheUninsured
Website for a project that promotes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a federal program that provides health insurance coverage for children whose parents work but cannot afford insurance on their own. Includes fact sheets, state profiles, guides to finding health insurance coverage for each state, research reports, statistics, legislative updates, personal stories, and related material. Some material available in Spanish. A project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. http://covertheuninsured.org/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Health Last updated Nov 29, 2007 Deposit Insurance
"Learn how deposit insurance works and whether the [Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation] FDIC insures your deposits." Features a guide to the types of investments that are FDIC-insured (for up to $100,000, generally, and to $250,000 for certain retirement accounts) and those that are not insured (such as mutual funds), a bank look-up tool, general investment tips (such as looking for "Not FDIC Insured" disclosure), and related consumer materials. From the FDIC. http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/ Topics: Finance, Investing, Money Last updated Jul 17, 2007 The European Health Insurance Card
Official information about the European Health Insurance Card, which "makes it easier for people from the European Union’s 27 Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to access health care services during temporary visits abroad." From the European Union (EU). http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&langId=en Topics: Business, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health, International Governments, Regions of the World, Regions of the World Last updated Apr 7, 2009 Firemarks
Search or browse this commercially-oriented site for hundreds of high-quality photographs of firemarks, which were emblems attached to buildings by insurance companies to indicate that the buildings were insured against fire damage. The practice began in London in the late 17th century and "carried on for two hundred and fifty years." http://www.firemarks.co.uk/ Topics: Architecture, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, History By Place, Photograph Collections, Photograph Collections: Regional Last updated Jun 17, 2003 FloodSmart.gov: An Official Site of the National Flood Insurance Program
This website helps property owners "learn the basics about how to stay financially secure if a flood damages your property." Features a database that provides the likelihood of flood damage at a specific address, a tool for estimating premiums, a description of damage for different amounts of flooding, facts and statistics, articles, links to flood insurance agents, and related material. From the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). http://www.floodsmart.gov Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Home & Housing, Water Last updated Jan 15, 2007 Frequently Asked Questions About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage
A brief explanation of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) that "provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates." The site discusses who qualifies, qualifying events, the duration of COBRA coverage, what it costs, and more. From the United States Department of Labor. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html Topics: Business & Consumer Law, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health Last updated Mar 16, 2004 From Homeowner to Renter: What You Need to Know About Renter's Insurance
Questions and answers about renter's insurance, with discussion of coverage amounts, discounts, coverage in case of floods or earthquakes, potential effect of pets on premium costs, and how to expedite a renter's insurance claim. From the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), "a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories." http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_renters_0812.htm Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy Last updated Mar 23, 2009 Glossary of Insurance Terms
Hundreds of terms related to the insurance industry. Glossary entries include acronyms and cross-references. Browsable and searchable. From the Insurance Information Institute (III). http://www.iii.org/media/glossary/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Dictionaries, English Language, Finance, Ready Reference & Quick Facts Last updated Aug 11, 2003 Health Insurance & Disability Benefits
An overview of public and private health insurance plans and benefits, aimed at California cancer patients. Includes information on the general types of health insurance, extending group health insurance, and obtaining insurance with a pre-existing condition. Opens directly into a PDF document. From the Cancer Resource Center, University of California, San Francisco. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/edu/HealthCoverage.pdf Topics: Cancer, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health Last updated Jun 8, 2009 healthinsuranceinfo.net
Consumer guides for getting and keeping health insurance "for each state and the District of Columbia -- fifty-one in all. These Consumer Guides ... will be updated periodically as changes in federal and state policy warrant." Materials include a summary of protections, group and individual health plans, financial assistance, contact information, and helpful terms. Also includes a booklet about managing medical bills and links to related sites. From the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Health Last updated Nov 29, 2007 HICUP: Health Information in Chinese Uniting Patients, Physicians and the Public
Librarians and health educators at the New York University School of Medicine have created a site with patient education and consumer health materials in Chinese. All materials and Web site links have been reviewed by bilingual health educators for accuracy, readability, and authority. The materials offer information about diseases and conditions, diagnostic procedures, safety, nutrition, and insurance. http://library.med.nyu.edu/patient/hicup/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Languages, Medical Treatments & Devices, Senior Health, Seniors Last updated May 14, 2002 Hot Topics & Issues Updates: CLUE Claims Databases
Consumer fact sheet about property claim databases used by insurers to assess risks of loss. Discusses the two major databases, CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) and A-PLUS (Automated Property Loss Underwriting System). "Most people refer to the reports generated by either system as CLUE reports." Also covers how CLUE reports are used, and state and national legislation related to claims databases. From the Insurance Information Institute (III). http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/clue/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance Last updated Jun 27, 2006 Institute of Business & Home Safety
The mission of the insurance industry initiative "is to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters." The site focuses on the safety of buildings before, during, and after disasters such as floods, high winds, wildfires, earthquakes, and tornados. Includes publications on topics such as rebuilding homes to make them more resistant to hurricanes and protection against flood damage. Some information only available to members. http://www.disastersafety.org Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Hurricane Katrina, Outdoor Recreation, Weather Last updated Sep 3, 2005 Insure Kids Now
This site provides information on free or low cost health insurance for children of low-income families. Coverage includes most states and various U.S. territories. Where available, links are provided to the states' relevant program Web sites. There is also other information on children's health insurance and other health programs such as Medicare. http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Senior Health Last updated Jul 21, 2000 Insure.com
This site for "self-directed insurance shoppers" offers quotes from insurance companies. Information includes company address, policy information, benefit analysis, plan guidelines, premiums, the latest A.M. Best, Duff & Phelps, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Weiss Research, Inc. ratings, and ability to apply online. Includes term life, life, auto, medical, Medicare, long-term care, homeowner and renter's, dental, disability, annuities, and travel insurance. http://www.insure.com/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Investing, Long-term Care, Senior Health Last updated Jun 12, 2004 LIFE [Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education]
LIFE "is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance decisions to safeguard their families’ financial futures. The main topics we address in our educational efforts are life, disability, long-term care and health insurance." Each section includes descriptions and sources of various types of insurance coverage, and the site has calculators and a glossary. From an insurance trade organization. http://www.lifehappens.org/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Health, Investing, Long-term Care Last updated May 26, 2008 The Medicaid Resource Book
This full-text guide is intended "to assist the public and policymakers in understanding the structure and operation of the Medicaid program." Describes program eligibility, benefits, financing, and administration. Also includes legislative history, resource bibliographies, and indexes to federal laws and regulations. From the Kaiser Family Foundation. http://www.kff.org/medicaid/2236-index.cfm Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Health, Senior Health Last updated Dec 12, 2006 Medicare: The Official U.S. Government Site for People With Medicare
The site provides databases for comparing nursing homes, Medicare plans and providers, dialysis centers, hospitals, home health agencies, and health plan options. Explains eligibility, what Medicare covers, prescription drug programs, and billing. Also provides contact information and links, a glossary, a directory of medical equipment suppliers, and information about the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Some material available in other languages. http://www.medicare.gov/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Health & Medical Disciplines, Long-term Care, Medical Treatments & Devices, Senior Health, Seniors Last updated Aug 4, 2005 National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
"The National Credit Union Administration, governed by a three-member board appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, is the independent federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions." This site includes history and background information on credit unions, a FAQ, a directory of credit unions, credit union data, NCUA publications (such as opinion letters and interpretive rulings), and related legislation, news, and links. Searchable. http://www.ncua.gov/ Topics: Business & Consumer Law, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Money Last updated Oct 6, 2003 National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and National Hospital Week (May 8-14)
"National Nurses Week coincides with Florence Nightingale's birthday, May 12. ... The celebration of National Hospital Week began in 1921 when a magazine editor suggested that more information about hospitals might alleviate public fears about them." Provides facts and statistics about nurses, hospitals, and health insurance in the United States. A special report from the U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/004491.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Long-term Care, Statistics Last updated Apr 12, 2005 Renters Insurance
Fact sheet about renters insurance, which "covers your possessions against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm, and water damage from plumbing. ... [It] does not cover floods, earthquakes or routine wear and tear. You can, however, buy separate policies for flood and earthquake damage." Covers items to discuss with your insurance agent (such as discounts) and common questions about renters insurance. Also includes a glossary. From the Insurance Information Institute. http://www.iii.org/media/publications/brochures/rentersins/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy Last updated Mar 23, 2009 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps at the University of Virginia Library
"Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are highly detailed city plans providing researchers with a wealth of information about urban change in American cities during the first half of the twentieth century. ... The highly detailed plans ... record detailed information about streets, businesses, residences building materials, [and] utilities." This site provides examples of two Sanborn maps for Charlottesville, Virginia, a history of the maps, and a guide to reading the maps. From the University of Virginia. http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/maps/sanborn/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Maps, Social Science, U.S. Maps Last updated Mar 2, 2005 Slavery Era Insurance Registry
"In August 2000 the California legislature found that insurance policies from the slavery era have been discovered in the archives of several insurance companies, documenting insurance coverage for slaveholders for damage to or death of their slaves, issued by a predecessor insurance firm." Here are three reports resulting from this discovery: information received from the insurers in response to the California legislature (May 2002), a registry by slave name, and a registry by slaveholder name. From the California Department of Insurance. http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0300-public-programs/0200-slavery-era-insur/ Topics: Black Resources, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Labor, United States History Last updated Nov 5, 2005 Texas Watch
This consumer watchdog site provides information on "insurance, nursing home resident protection, patient protection and consumer law issues in legislative and regulatory activities." State and national issues include patient blacklisting by doctors, caps on medical malpractice damages, credit scoring, homeowner insurance, and online activism. http://www.texaswatch.org/TW/ Topics: Business & Consumer Law, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Investing, Law by Place (U.S. States & non-U.S.) Last updated Jul 2, 2008 Travel Insurance: The Benefits and Limitations
Provides an overview of travel insurance, including trip cancellation insurance ("covers you for the period of time before you travel"), trip interruption insurance (for expenses incurred when returning early from a trip due to illness or injury), and types of insurance that are generally covered already by health, homeowner's, or renter's insurance policies. Additional travel articles are available on this site, up a level in the "Consumer Issues" section. From Findlaw and Nolo Press. http://public.findlaw.com/consumer/travel-insurance.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Travel Last updated Jul 2, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau: Health Insurance Data
Reports and statistics on U.S. health insurance coverage from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS) and other sources, covering various periods from the late 1980s on. Includes a FAQ, health insurance definitions, and related links. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthins.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health, Statistics Last updated Sep 28, 2009 |
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