Author: H. Cutner

Crash Stats You Need to Know and the Cars Helping to Reduce Them

H. Cutner
Car Crash Statistics

Auto Safety Technologies at a Glance Advancements in automotive safety technologies over the last decade have significantly reshaped how we drive, offering greater protection for passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. These advanced features, collectively referred to as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), are not only improving safety outcomes but also influencing auto insurance rates. Here, we take a comprehensive look at some of the most impactful systems, the vehicles that incorporate them, and how these technologies are reducing fatalities, injuries, and crash risks. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) How It…

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Is It Time for an ACA-Style Transformation in the Homeowners Insurance Market?

H. Cutner
Affordable Care Act in Homeowners Insurance Market

Exploring Critical Vulnerabilities in America’s Homeowners Insurance Market Recent events, including Hurricanes Milton and Helene, have highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the U.S. homeowners insurance market. These climate-induced disasters have added pressure to insurance providers, with the sector experiencing turmoil due to the increasing frequency and severity of such events. This has raised concerns over the financial security of millions of American homeowners. Florida is among the top 10 states with the highest number of uninsured homes. Between 15% and 20% of Florida homeowners currently lack property insurance. Home insurance premiums…

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How the 2.5% Social Security Increase Impacts Retirees

H. Cutner
Social Security Increase

Social Security’s Cost-of-Living Adjustments: What Do the Numbers Tell Us? The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security is an essential mechanism designed to ensure that benefits keep pace with inflation. Over the past decade, these adjustments have varied significantly, reflecting the economic climate and inflation rates. Notably, in 2023, beneficiaries experienced an 8.7% increase, the largest in nearly 40 years, driven by soaring inflation. In contrast, the 2024 adjustment was more subdued at 3.2%. Historically, the COLA has averaged around 2.6% over the last 20 years, indicating that this year’s…

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Hurricane Milton – A Category 3 Storm Unmasks Florida’s Insurance Fears

H. Cutner
Hurricane Milton in Florida

Hurricane Milton: A New Threat to Florida’s Insurance Market Hurricane Milton has emerged as a significant challenge for Florida, impacting both the state’s infrastructure and the property insurance market. Making landfall as a Category 3 storm, it has brought to light vulnerabilities in the region’s insurance sector, already strained from previous storms. This article explores the widespread damage caused by Milton, its influence on Florida’s insurance industry, and comparisons to its predecessor, Hurricane Helene. Florida Reels as Storm Tears Through Power Lines, Homes, and Tropicana Field Milton struck Florida’s Gulf…

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Blazing Debate Over California Insurance Costs in the Wake of Wildfires

H. Cutner
California insurance wildfire debate

Mounting Insurance Costs and Wildfire Challenges Highlighted in Recent Testimony In a striking display of the mounting homeowners insurance crisis in California, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara testified this week at a state Assembly Insurance Committee hearing in Los Angeles. The hearing was marked by emotional accounts from homeowners like Bruce Breslau, whose insurance ordeal underscores the challenges faced by many across the state. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, Bruce Breslau, a resident of a Chatsworth condo complex since 2009, saw his insurance costs soar after Farmers Insurance dropped…

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Hawaii’s Governor Green Ignites State Farm Debate and Disaster Fee Proposal

H. Cutner
Governor Green critizising the insurance industry

Governor Green Proposes Visitor Impact Fee for Disaster Insurance Amid Maui Wildfire Recovery In the aftermath of the devastating Maui wildfires on August 8, 2023, which claimed 102 lives and destroyed nearly 4,000 structures, Hawaiian Governor Josh Green has proposed a visitor impact fee to fund state disaster insurance. This initiative aims to ensure Hawaii’s resilience in the face of future natural disasters while addressing the immediate needs of those affected by the recent fires. Criticism of the Insurance Industry With an Emphasis on State Farm Governor Green has criticized…

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Montana Insurance Department Challenges Liberty Mutual on Repair Cost Denial

H. Cutner
Repair Cost Denial

Overview of the Dispute In a significant move reported by RepairerDrivenNews.com, the Montana Insurance Department has called out Liberty Mutual for its handling of a consumer complaint regarding repair cost denial. Deputy Insurance Commissioner Frank G. Cote challenged Liberty Mutual’s settlement process, specifically their refusal to cover certain repair costs without sufficient evidence. Details of the Case The dispute originated when Liberty Mutual denied payment for blending services performed by a repair facility, asserting that the 50% blend time was “successful” and “well-established.” This response was deemed unsatisfactory by the…

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