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+

Allstate warns policyholders of home break ins spike at this time of year

Julie Campbell
Home Break Ins - Mayhem - The Social Media-Savvy Burglar - Allstate Insurance YouTube

The insurance company is reminding its customers to be vigilant throughout December. December is often the month with days in which there is most likely to be home break ins, according to a reminder from Allstate Insurance. In Texas, for example, the first of the month is traditionally the busiest for burglars breaking into houses and apartments. According to the insurer, this trend has been ongoing, driven by a rise in holiday shopping. With Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and sometimes Cyber Monday falling on or before December 1, that day has…

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Bed and breakfast insurance can help to keep a dream business safe

Julie Campbell
Bed and Breakfast Insurance - Victorian home

A B&B can be a highly rewarding home business, but ownership comes with very specific risks. Many people dream of opening a B&B and just as important as a perfect location and customer experience is the right bed and breakfast insurance. Many owners begin a B&B as the first business they have ever run and misunderstand the importance of coverage. There is often a far greater focus on trying to keep up with daily tasks, advertising effectively, and bringing in enough money. It’s not uncommon for B&B owners to assume…

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State Farm partners up with an Arizona autonomous vehicle consortium

Julie Campbell
Autonomous vehicle - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey

The partnership makes the insurer the first one to join forces with this automotive technology group. The Institute for Automated Mobility (I.A.M.) and State Farm Insurance have announced that they are entering into an autonomous vehicle partnership. The consortium was launched a year ago and was formed to move ahead the development of automated vehicles. The partnership represents the first entry of an insurer into this effort. Governor Doug Ducey made the first announcement of this new tech and insurance partnership. Arizona Governor Ducey made the announcement that State Farm…

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California wildfire preparedness takes the spotlight as evacuations rise

Julie Campbell
California wildfire preparedness - forest fire

Thousands of residents are learning how to prepare as power outages and smoky conditions increase. California wildfire preparedness has become an important topic in the state as blazes continue to rage in various parts of the state, including in regions around Los Angeles. As the threat of fire intensifies and evacuations increase, residents are learning how to be ready. Residents who have not already made a California wildfire preparedness plan are being advised to do so. The reason is that there isn’t always a lot of advance warning before the…

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Cat takes this year’s Nationwide pet insurance weirdest claim prize

Julie Campbell
Nationwide pet insurance - brown tabby cat

The injured animal has become the 2019 winner of the insurer’s annual Hambone Award. Though everybody thinks their own animal stories are weird, Nationwide pet insurance uses its claims and consumer votes to discover whose is the weirdest each year. This year, policyholder Andrea Brannen’s cat, Minnow, took the top prize for weirdest insurance claim. As reported last week on Live Insurance News, the Hambone Award at Nationwide pet insurance is awarded to the dog or cat with the strangest claim in the previous 12 months. The award was named…

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California health insurance subsidies now apply to more middle-income families

Julie Campbell
California health insurance subsidies - Covered California - YouTube

As the open enrollment period begins, more state residents will qualify for financial assistance. Open enrollment began as of yesterday, and a higher number of middle-income families will discover that they qualify for California health insurance subsidies for next year’s coverage. The open enrollment period for the Covered California exchange is October 15 to January 31. Families who have enrolled for their health plans by December 15, regardless of whether they qualify for California health insurance subsidies, will have coverage effective January 1, 2020. That said, their coverage will begin…

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HIV prevention drugs to be available prescription-free in California

Julie Campbell
HIV Prevention Drugs - Pills and bottle

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to give pharmacists authority to dispense these medications. To start the week, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill providing pharmacists the authority to dispense Truvada and other HIV prevention drugs to patients without a doctor’s prescription. The new California bill will make it possible for pharmacists to dispense PrEP and PEP drugs. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can play important roles in preventing HIV infection among patients potentially exposed to it. Patients in California will no longer require a doctor’s prescription…

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