The Texas Insurance Podcast

With the start of hurricane season around the corner on June 1, now is the time to review your insurance and prepare your house and your family for hurricanes . When is the peak of hurricane season? Texas typically gets its biggest hurricanes in August and September, with August being the peak month. Hurricanes have also formed as early as May.  When should I start worrying about a storm turning i...

Just a couple of inches of unwanted water in your house can cause extensive and expensive damage. Most home and renters insurance policies cover water damage—if the water comes from inside the house.  What’s the difference between water damage and flood damage?  Flood damage is caused by water from a rainstorm or a body of water that suddenly rises over a dry area and into your house.   Water dama...

As we turn the corner into spring, it’s time to think about rain showers and flooding. Most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover damage from flooding. Who should consider flood insurance? Everyone, according to FEMA . Everyone is at some risk of a flood damaging their home and property . Developers might build a neighborhood in a place where bayous or wetlands would have soaked up rainwater....

Understand the process of filing an auto or home claim to help make the experience less stressful. When should I file a home or auto claim?  As soon as you can. You’ll want to talk to the company while the accident or incident is fresh in your mind. If you’re not sure you want to file a claim, you can still call your company and discuss your options. Ask how much your deductible is to help you dec...

If you need an auto insurance policy, use our tips to shop. What are some factors that affect insurance costs? Some factors are riskier driving, weather events, and inflation. Inflation causes auto parts and repairs to cost more. What should I do if my auto policy price increases? First, ask your company if they offer any discounts you’re not getting. They might have discounts if you haven’t filed...

Finding a new health plan can be challenging. We have tips to make it easier. How do I get a health insurance plan? Most people get health insurance in one of four ways: 1.     Ask your employer if they offer a health plan for employees. 2.     Ask your spouse’s employer if you can join their plan. 3.     Stay on your parent’s plan until you’re 26. 4.     Buy a plan through an insurance company, H...

Kitchen fires started by cooking are the No. 1 cause of home fires . Learn more about keeping your home and your family safe from cooking fires .  What’s the main cause of fires when cooking?  People leaving cooking food unattended . This can lead to frying grease igniting, cooktop flames getting out of control, or electric burners igniting potholders, towels, or paper that are close by.  How can...

Shopping around is a good way to save money on your home insurance What’s affecting home insurance prices? Some factors include weather that has caused more damage to more homes. And the cost of materials and labor has increased in the last few years. As insurance companies spend more money on claims, they raise their rates to compensate. How often should I shop for home insurance? Every year is a...

If you live along the Texas coast, wind and hail insurance (also called windstorm insurance) often isn’t part of your homeowners policy. You’ll need a separate windstorm policy. TDI’s Coastal Outreach and Assistance Services Team program can help with windstorm insurance questions and complaints. Where do I get windstorm insurance? Ask if your homeowners insurance company sells windstorm insurance...

Si vive en la costa de Texas, el seguro contra viento y granizo (también conocido como seguro contra tormentas) usualmente no está incluido en su póliza de vivienda. Necesitará una póliza contra tormentas por separado. El equipo del Programa de servicios de asistencia y actividades de alcance comunitario (Coastal Outreach and Assistance Services, COAST por su nombre y siglas en inglés) puede ayuda...

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) can help if you have a problem with your insurance agent, company, or adjuster. We resolve thousands of complaints annually. What kind of issues can TDI help with? We can help resolve issues you're having with your coverage. This could be claims and the way they're handled, cancellations or nonrenewals, discriminatory underwriting practices, and cust...

If you’ve had a power outage in your home, you might have bought a portable generator. Here’s how to stay safe while using it.   What’s considered a portable generator?  Portable generators are intended to be used temporarily while you’re without power. They take gas, diesel, or propane. You plug an extension cord into the generator to run small appliances, fans, and phone chargers. Portable gener...

Cómo prepararse para la temporada de huracanes   La temporada de huracanes ocurre desde junio hasta noviembre. Aún tiene tiempo suficiente para preparar a su familia y su vivienda para una tormenta .   ¿Qué debo hacer para prepararme para un huracán?   Preste atención a los informes del estado del tiempo que hablen sobre las predicciones y pronósticos de la temporada de huracanes.   Usted también...

How to prepare for hurricane season  Hurricane season runs from June to November . There’s still plenty of time to prepare your family and your home for a storm .  What should I do to get ready for a hurricane?  Pay attention to weather reports talking about hurricane season predictions and storm forecasts.  You can also start preparing a plan for your family. A plan should include how you’ll comm...

Spring is typically the most dangerous time of the year when it comes to weather and thunderstorms.  What kind of storms happen in spring?   Thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes are common in the spring. But so is rain and flooding. During the wettest month in Texas history in 2015, a flood caused massive damage throughout Wimberley in Central Texas on Memorial Day.  Are hailstorms becoming more com...

Does insurance fraud affect me? We all pay the costs of fraud because it drives up insurance costs. Some estimates: · Fraud in the U.S. steals more than $300 billion a year from all of us. · Non-medical insurance fraud costs the average American family $400 to $700 a year in higher premiums. Q: What are some kinds of insurance fraud, that consumers should watch for? · Agent fraud: Insurance agents...

Scammers steal about $3 billion from older adults each year through frauds and scams. Learn more about avoiding fraud and staying safe . Why are older adults targeted by scam artists?   Older adults are generally more trusting and more likely to pick up the  phone. Identity thieves target older adults because they generally have  more financial resources and assets, which leads to g...

Can you shop around for health insurance? Where can I get health insurance? There are four possible options for private health insurance (if you don’t qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP) 1. An insurance company or HealthCare.gov. Use HealthCare.gov to see if you can get a tax credit. 2. Employer: If your employer has a plan, it may pay for part of your premium. 3. Spouse’s employer: If your s...

Medicare open enrollment is the time you can change your plan each  year if you’re not happy with yours. The enrollment period runs from  October 15 to December 7. If you like your plan, you don’t have to do  anything. Learn more about open enrollment and how to avoid common scams. How do I know if I have the wrong Medicare plan? If your doctor doesn’t take a specific plan or the dr...

Learn about how your health plan covers mental health treatment . And what to do if you have any issues getting help. Does my health plan cover mental health treatment? Most plans do. There are exceptions for plans that aren’t subject to Texas law, like large employer plans. For plans that do offer mental health treatment, they must offer coverage that is equal to medical treatment. This is called...

One thing most drivers don’t want to hear after a car accident is, “Sorry, your car is totaled.” Learn what that means and what your options are. What does “totaled” mean? Totaled means that the cost to repair your car is more than its worth. If your car is worth  $10,000, and the cost of repairs is $12,000, the insurance company will want to pay the lower of the two. How does the insurance c...

Shopping, packing, saying goodbyes. Going off to college is a busy time. But don’t forget to build in time to talk to your college student about using their health plan and staying safe in their dorm or apartment. Where can college students go if they get sick? Most health plans pay for visits to urgent care clinics or virtual doctors. Call your plan or go to their website to find out which urgent...

Thousands of people are sent to the emergency room each year with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Learn how you can protect your family from this invisible killer. Do I need a carbon monoxide detector in my home or camper? Yes, everyone does. Carbon monoxide is let off by anything that burns fuel to run, like a car or appliances. Cars running in closed garages or  gas-powered appliance...

Just about everyone has woken up to the sounds of a smoke or a carbon monoxide alarm going off in the middle of the night. But what do those chirps and beeps mean? We talked to the National Fire Protection Association to find out what the noises mean and how to keep your family safe. What do all those different sounds mean? Alarms have different sequences of beeps. A smoke alarm is a three-beep se...

Texas had more lightning strikes than any other state in 2021. Each year in the U.S., there are about 70,000 insurance claims and $2 billion of damage from lightning. What are my chances of getting struck by lightning? The odds are low, but your chances go down if you’re not being safe around thunder. Your chances of getting struck in any given year are about one in 1.5 million . If you live until...