Author: Julie Campbell

Julie Campbell has been writing professionally for over 15 years, following a brief career in the insurance industry, in which she took emergency claims while guiding and supporting policyholders through some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Today, she reports on the latest stories and most recent news in the insurance industry, with a particular focus on how current events are impacting everyday people. Follow Julie Campbell on Google+

Cancer insurance coverage is not consistent for keeping hair during chemo

Julie Campbell
Cancer Insurance - Medicine in drip at hospital

Patients no longer need to lose their hair from chemotherapy, but insurers don’t always pay for it. New treatments are now available to stop hair loss as a chemotherapy side effect, but many cancer insurance policies are not covering it. Oncologists feel that, especially for women, this is an important technique to ensure people get well. “Several patients have told me it’s one of the worst side effects of their treatment. It can affect them really badly psychosocially. Some patients have even refused lifesaving chemotherapy because they don’t want to…

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State health care study ranks insurance coverage across the country

Julie Campbell
State health care study - Book with pages shaped like a heart

A new data analysis has revealed the best and worst performing states for U.S. health insurance. Vermont currently boasts the best state health care system, whereas Louisiana’s is the very worst, according to a new study conducted by WalletHub.com. CDC data shows that 88.1 percent of Americans have access to regular medical care. That said, despite the availability of state health care for most Americans, the quality and cost of those services varies greatly across the country. Depending on the individual state, there is a significant difference in the population’s…

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Stolen Swedish crown jewels were insured but are irreplaceable

Julie Campbell
Swedish Crown Jewels - Crown

Despite the coverage from a policy for the royal regalia, the items are essentially priceless in nature. Thieves stole the Swedish crown jewels on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. They made their escape in a speedboat and have yet to be apprehended. Though there was insurance coverage for the royal regalia, the monetary value will never replace the historical artifacts themselves. The thieves made off with two crowns and an orb dating back to the 17th century. Two crowns and an orb were taken from the 17th century collection of the…

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Canadian man legally changes gender for cheaper auto insurance premiums

Julie Campbell
Cheaper auto insurance - Man holding car keys

A motorist fed up with paying more because he was male has found a loophole in a new law in Canada. A driver in Canada seeking cheaper auto insurance rates legally changed his gender from male to female in order to dupe the system. Gender-based car insurance premium calculations charge male drivers far more than females. The man wasn’t just chasing slightly cheaper auto insurance rates. In fact, he discovered that by changing his gender from male to female, he would save almost $1,100 (CAD) per year. The man, whose…

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Wells Fargo pet insurance refunds on their way to many policyholders

Julie Campbell
Wells Fargo Pet Insurance - dog - Bulldog

A new report shows the scandal-plagued bank is reviewing a whole new batch of possible add-on problems. Wells Fargo pet insurance is among the latest add-ons linked with the bank’s rash of scandals. Thousands of the bank’s customers have been paying for insurance coverage they didn’t need or were overpaying for the coverage they did require. The bank is still coping with having mis-sold auto insurance to more than half a million drivers. More recently, the San Francisco-based lender has been looking at financial and insurance add-ons. What they have…

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Earthquake insurance and preparedness low in Israel, despite risk

Julie Campbell
Earthquake Insurance - Earthquake aftermath - disaster - house collapse

The region typically experiences large quakes every 80 to 100 years and is now coming due. In Israel, preparedness and earthquake insurance to protect against a major quake remains too low. The State Comptroller, Yosef Shapira has now issued a warning to the country that preparedness is entirely inadequate. This is a serious problem as the country is now considered to be due for a major earthquake. Earthquake insurance coverage is only one of many steps residents and businesses could take to protect themselves. Over the last week or so,…

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Swiss Re insurance stops covering coal-dependent companies

Julie Campbell
Swiss Re insurance - Coal Station

The massive insurer is a part of a growing movement finding that fossil fuels are becoming a liability. The Swiss Re insurance giant has implemented a new policy against covering firms highly reliant on coal. As the world works to eliminate coal power, firms are finding that the move is as good for their bottom line as it is for the environment. The insurance industry is starting to see many fossil fuels as a type of reliance too risky to cover. The new Swiss Re insurance coverage policy will refuse…

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Allstate pay per mile insurance rolls out for New Jersey drivers

Julie Campbell
Pay per mile insurance - Speedometer - Miles

The Milewise program makes it possible for low-mileage drivers to pay based on their usage. New Jersey drivers now have a new pay per mile insurance policy available from Allstate. The auto insurance company has rolled out Milewise in the state. This insurance policy is designed to appeal to drivers who don’t go very far in their vehicles. The Allstate Milewise pay per mile insurance policy allows drivers to reduce their coverage expenses by driving less. The less these motorists use their vehicles, and the shorter the distances they travel,…

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Insurance fraud technology now includes artificial intelligence

Julie Campbell
Insurance fraud technology - Artificial Intelligence Tech

Insurers are looking to A.I. and machine learning to help spot suspicious claims in all new ways. Insurance fraud technology is looking all the more futuristic these days with the introduction of artificial intelligence. Machine learning is helping the insurance industry to identify suspicious-looking claims. Moreover, A.I. can also make its way through social media posts to identify signs of fraud. Fraudulent activities can include anything from falsified claims to sketchy brokers, and it’s expensive. The FBI estimates fraud is costing insurance customers over $40 billion per year. The industry…

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Auto insurance customer satisfaction reaches new record, says J.D. Power

Julie Campbell
Auto insurance customer satisfaction - Thumbs Up

Considerable improvements to policyholder support and services have made the difference. Auto insurance customer satisfaction has reached an all time high, says a new J.D. Power study. The J.D. Power 2018 Auto Insurance Study said there were a number of improvements that led to this positive result. Insurance companies are starting to find their balance with customer interaction, said the study. The study results showed the difference was made by improvements in billing and payments, digital interactions, and offerings. The auto insurance customer satisfaction is improving due to a better…

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