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Jul 14, 2008 -- The 10 worst insurers in America

Why do you buy home or auto insurance? You do it because if something goes wrong, the insurer is there to make it right -- be it repair your home, fix your car or replace it if stolen.

But some companies only do half the job. They take the premiums, but they aren't vey good about paying out claims. A trial lawyer's group called the American Association for Justice has come with a list of the worst insurers in America.

Topping the list as the single worst insurer is Allstate. This company once enjoyed a great reputation for customer service, but Consumer Reports also concurs in a separate tally that now they're way toward the bottom of the heap. In a J.D. Power survey, Allstate also gets the lowest score of any home insurer.

But this is not a bash on Allstate segment. Clark just wants you to keep in mind that cutesy TV ads do not a good insurer make.

The penny-pincher prefers to concentrate on those insurers that actually do a good job. Such elites typically include USAA and Amica Mutual.

USAA is open only to active military and those who have recently retired from the service. Clark has been a member for 30 years. During that time, his family had 3 claims (none of them major) and each time the service has been phenomenal. Christa, meanwhile, has been with Amica for 2 years now.

There is one other insurer that Clark knows has a great reputation. That's a small company called New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, which has nosed out both USAA and Amica in some surveys.


Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • All Insurance Companies are the same
    All insurance companies are the same regardless of what anyone says. They are all out to make money and to do that they scrimp on paying out claims and charge ridiculously high premiums. The government needs to take over this industry and make it a non-profit. Only then will people get their money's worth from these blood suckers.
  • Bad insurers
    I have had 2 bad experiences with AIG in 2 months. I will avoid them in the future at all cost. First, they took over 21st Century Auto and cancelled our policy. We had only one auto claim since 1983 and no tickets in over 20 years. Second, they gave me a quote on aircraft insurance, which I turned down, but they keep billing me as though they had issued a policy. AIG Insurance is the worst company I have ever dealt with (Allstate is second-worst).
  • Consider the source
    As an insurance professional, I'm actually disappointed that Clark would use this highly subjective and biased (produced by the American Association for Justice, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers) list to 'inform' his audience. As you can see from the comments below, people listen to you and take financial actions based on the information. In the future, consider the source before you unfairly prejudice the people who trust your advice.
  • I pay attention to your advice
    I have been a car insurance customer of State Farm for the last 7 years and never had a claim.
    Now, after reading this survey, I might decide to switch insurance service.
  • Liberty Mutual
    As a 35 year customer of Liberty Mutual with both auto and homeowner insurance, I would like to come to their defense. They were listed as number 10 of the worst. I am a resident of Florida and have experienced several hurricanes. They have paid claims for two roof replacements on my home as well as repairs on my autos from accidents. Sometimes there is more to a story. If USAA is so great, why don't they offer their services to NON military people ? It must be beneficial to them to exclude the general population. Quit bragging about a company that is selective !!
  • USAA
    Maybe USAA treats their customers good, but get into an accident with someone who has USAA as their insurer and you'll have a different story about how great USAA is and how well they will treat you. They will cheat you every way they can to save a couple of bucks and will tell you to take their policy owner to court if you don't agree with them. I'm sure if this study took the opinions of people who had to deal with these same "great" insurance companies, the list would be in a much different order.
  • Insurers
    I agree with Clark but have him beat. I have been with USAA since April 63, 45+ years and the service has been fantastic.
    Pete Nelson
    USAF retired
  • Complaints about Insurance Companies
    Most people don't know they can file complaints about bad insurance experiences with their state's Department of Insurance. In Missouri, our Department of Insurance stands ready, willing and able to assist policy holders with problematic insurance companies. 9 years ago I fought for a year with Bankers Life and casualty Insurance company over their refusal to honor my aunt's nursing home policy. They kept telling me they were NOT going to pay even though I wrote letters to them and called continually about their denying her claim. Finally after a year of this nonsense I filed a claim with our Missouri Department of Insurance and within a month my aunt received the full proceeds of her nursing home policy. Insurance companies like Bankers Life hope and expect senior citizens to just give up on trying to get the company to pay out. If you file a complaint with your state's Insurance Division, the insurance company HAS to respond to the State or risk losing their license to sell insurance in your state. So log on to your state government's website and start filing your complaints and see what happens. If nothing else, your complaint will at least be a statistic in marketing data about that company's complaint record for the year.
  • Best Companies??
    I see the list of the 10 worst.. and I'd agree with some by experience. But, how about the best companies? At the moment, I have the ability, I believe, to sign up for USAA, but, other than the two or so comments here.. I know little about them.
  • State Farm
    Perhaps performance depends upon the agent. Ron Ray and his office in Cedartown are the best. Some 16 years ago we had a claim when a tornado hit town. Our home was repaired before most people had adjusters out. I asked Mr Ray how he did it and he said that the company had weather experts following the track of the storms hitting our area. He said adjusters were on the way to Cedartown almost before the storms were over and that they knew ahead of time which neighborhoods were most damaged. I also appreciate the staff at Ron Ray Insurance. They keep up with the paperwork and payments, plus they are always great over the phone.
  • Liberty Mutual
    A foreign driver driving under the influence in a borrowed car ran a stop sign t-boning our 16 year old. The woman who owned the car had Liberty Mutual. Liberty Mutual refused to pay the medical expenses of our son and his three passengers, as well as for the totaled car. We went to court. The settlement helped pay for college for our other two children. From our experience with Liberty Mutual, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole and a gas mask.
  • American Family Insurance is the worst
    My car was rearended by a guy who has American Family Insurance. He weaseled out of the claim saying it was my fault because I stopped quickly. Traffic in front of me was stopping on the freeway and he smacked into me while looking to his right so he could abruptly change lanes. It took two months for American Family to finally contact me after I left several messages to see when I could get my car fixed. The adjuster named Julie was a very unfriendly, cold person. I left several messages and never heard from them until they called to say they couldn't honor my claim.
    She said she couldn't fill my claim because it was a matter of his word against mine. He rearended me!!! So the druggie guy wins and the innocent victim loses out again.
    Beware of American Family Insurance. They are absolutely horrible.
  • Worst Insurance is Travlers
    I have been dealing with them for 3 months and still do not have my houes fix. My roofer said he is having same problem with another customer and He has said just like me when and if we get things fix we are changing Combanies. I also have inside damage and need 2 bedrooms, and kitchen and dinning room and a small hall way, which means all ceilings need to be strip repainting and popcorn spray back on my walls, The first check they send was for 57.00 with my 1000,00 deducible. I hate Travereles because U\I am getting screed by tham. Then later they sent a check for 4,500 to paid for roof and to fix the inside which is still not enough money to have a new roof and strip a my ceilings. They must thik i am crazy. Thank You very much, Linda Vaughn
  • Homowners Claim
    Clark,
    I was somewhat upset that you mentioned Allstate and gave little attention to other insurers who might not rate so good as well. We have had Allstate insurance on our cars and homes for 40+ years. We had a large homeowners claim in the late 80's and Allstate handled this claim starting the next day after the problem. They did not minimize expense and we were very pleased.
    My observation of this is: No insurance company is better than the agent representing the company just like no school system is better than the teacher representing it. We have a great agent.
    Thanks for letting me vent.
  • Allstate
    I've been insured by Allstate for over 35 years. Both automobile and home. I'm had one claim for home and one claim for the automobile. To call them the worst, I totally agree. No loyalty to a long time customer is evidenced by raising my home owner's insurance five times higher within the last year and half. Also, with this came the notice I will no longer be insured for hurricane and other. Still more, if I drop the home owner's policy, my auto insurance will triple. Why, no multiple polices. Yes, I live on the Gulf Coast. Needless to say, I dropped both and did find better coverage for all for less than one third price.
  • American Family Insurance
    American Family Insurance should be at the top of the list. In Missouri, American Family is on record for the highest number of consumer complaints with the Missouri Department of Insurance. We had AFI for 18 years and never in that time did our agent tell us about Underinsured Motorist coverage. They don't want you to know about this coverage because they want to keep their loss ratios down. They love to sell cheap auto insurance to young drivers in states like Arizona where they happily sell puny $15,000 liability policies to young adult drivers. Our son was killed by one of these drivers of American Family Insurance. Event though our AFI agent was negligent in purposely not disclosing the availability of Underinsured Motorist coverage to us, we cannot sue the agent because courts have already ruled you cannot sue an agent for being deceitful in not discloing coverages. Amazingly, J.D. Power and Associates endorses this good for nothing company even though AFI is at the top of the list for complaints in Missouri. It seems to me that the surveys that JDPA sends out to insurance company policy holders are just busy work and have very little to do with the quality of the company. The large amount of money that the insurance company is willing to pay JDPA for survey results and licensing fees appears to be the real factor in getting an "endorsement" by JDPA.
  • Bear River Mutual
    Bear River Mutual is a company that insures autos and homes in Utah. They have low rates and now I know why. I had to take them to court when they would not pay for almost 4 years for an auto/pedestrian accident I was involved in. I had to foot the bill for surgery, lost wages, etc. Don't get trapped by just looking for the lowest rates--you'll get what you pay for.
  • Insurance
    Today I was just dropped by Allstate. Isn't it ironic that Allstate is no. 1 on your list. Thanks for the info.
  • USAA facts
    Howard, I red around the collar when you misrepresent USAA. I am a retired Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) but cannot join USAA because the membership rules did not allow it when I was on active duty. Now certain enlisted ranks (active duty) can join. It is an officer organization although they advertise that most anyone can join. Officers dependents (never been on active duty) can join just because they are related. I would like to join and have written to them asking to have there membership rules relaxed but their board only meets every 2 years. In my opinion their membership rules are biased and very predjudiced.
  • USAA is great
    I became a member of USAA (as a dependent of a former navy officer) when I started driving. My parents told me they were the best, and afer 30 years, I agree! My husband became a member when we married, we added home insurance to our auto insurance, and now we bank with them, too. Their customer service is tops!
    A Bank of America employee was giving me a hard time when I closed my account, asking what they could do to keep me as a customer. I said I was going to a company that treated its customers right. He asked, "Who?" As soon as I said, "USAA," all his objections stopped. He said he not only understood, but he was also a USAA customer!
    I've had one claim for hail damage to my roof and one for damage to my car when a (probably uninsured) motorist hit me and drove away. Both were quicky and fully resolved to my satisfaction.
    Interesting to note that the orthopedic doctor I went to after the car accident asked if I was paying or if insurance was paying. He then prescribed physical therapy and medications that I didn't need (and didn't use). No wonder premiums keep increasing!
  • Allstate
    I concur with this. I once had Allstate.. back in about 65. My wife was in two accidents, neither of which were her fault as noted by the police reports. Allstate called us accident prone and would not renew our policy.
  • Allstate Insurance
    Too bad I wasn't included in the J.D.Power Insurance survey. I've been with Allstate for over 20 years and had claims for both cars & houses. Have never had a problem & had excellent coverage & service. I give them an A+ for overall satisfaction.
  • Allstate Insurance Co.
    In March a tornado knocked a tree over on my home. The adjustment was so low, I was dumb founded. I had nine different contractors give me estimates and none of them was even close to the adjustment. I had to fight for another adjustment and with the help of an independent L.P.C.U. and the threat of a report to the state insurance commission, they sent me another check. It took over six weeks to settle my claim.
  • Insurance
    Clark,
    I applied to Amica for auto ins. and was turned down! I have never had a claim and i am a dental surgeon and earn in the top 3% of US incomes. I did lose a small claims case to a lousy painting repair contractor 4 years ago. Could this be the problem. I have not even had a parking ticket.

    Thanks
  • USAA, and Lawyers
    I have USAA, and it really is great. I'm eligible only because my Dad was in the military - I never was. The amazing thing is that my daughters are eligible, too. USAA gave them member numbers when they were infants!

    That said, I do have to comment that reading a lawyer's list of bad insurance companies is a bit like reading the fox's list of bad chicken farmers!
  • Allstate is the worst in my book
    I have Allstate. I have hail damgage to my roof and my siding. Allstate adjuster measured my roof wrong and then wanted to say the roofing contractor was ripping me off. It just so happens that my sister works for the roofing contractor so I knew that was not true. It has taken 3 months to get Allstate back to my house to remeasure my roof. I do plan on changing insurance co. quick. By the way in 8 years this was my first claim.
  • Allstate
    Auto seemed fine but Allstate tried to pull a fast one on me years ago with home insurance so I fired them, went with Amica for both home and auto and haven’t looked back. Allstate loses for being stupid and greedy.
  • Insurance
    Why would anyone believe what a trial lawyer said? (or an association of trial lawyers)
  • A BAD PRACTICE
    STFM HAS NOW PAID MANY KATRINA CLAIMS AND LBRTY MUTL RENEWS STILL INSUREDS MANY COASTAL CUSTOMERS. KATRINA WAS ONLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST DISASTERS IN U.S. THIS COMPANIES SHOULD NOT BE ON THIS LIST BECAUSE THE LAWYERS DID NOT LIKE THEM MAKING IT HARD FOR THE LAWYERS TO SUE THEM FOR MILLIONS AND THEN CLEAN THEIR HANDS BY SAYING THEY DON´T AGREE WITH THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES.
  • Worst Insurance Companies
    Good article. I have never had insurance with State Farm but many of my friends have and they all say they will screw you out of your back teeth on the most legitimate claim. One friend was insured with them for 24 years and his wife had a parking lot fender bender and they canceled him. It was the only claim he had made in 24 years.
  • usaa
    I have been loyal member for 40+ years. It is not restricted to active and retired military. Children, ex-dependents of members and others might also get USAA insurance.
  • Allstate
    My car insurance has been with Allstate for 38 years. I have had no problems. Why should I believe what lawyers say?
  • Insurance companys
    There is also another company that is tops it is Response insurance in business for 17 years and only take drivers with good records, rates are unbeliveable. I lowered my insurance 1600.00 with better coverage,they only do auto insurance.
  • Allstate
    I am so shocked to read this about them. Just wanted you to know my personal experience with Allstate. They are the only insurers for my auto's I have had since I started driving over 40 years ago.They have expediantly handled any claim I ever had. They automatically reduce my rates when they see I am eliigible without my inquiring.They have checked on me personally when I have been hit to see if I was OK or needed any additional medical help. They check to see if my rental car is working out and if I need an extension.They have paid immediately. I from time to time have thought about inquiring to see if my rate is the best I can get. I met a State Farm Agent a few weeks ago and mentioned that I had wondered if I had the best plan I could get. He said without a doubt if you have been serviced all these years with excellence-You will not get that kind of caring anywhere else. And your rate is way far lower than anything I have heard of! Thanks-I love your program and have learned so much from it. Laura
  • State Farm
    We have had State Farm for over 38 years. We carry auto, homeowner etc. We raised to boys, each learning to drive, good student rates, college driving coverage. They have been fair, timely and helpful. I cannot agree with the evaluation being hinged entirely on Trial Lawyer opinion of the Gulf experience. But I do know the human nature and tendancy to get all you can get - abuse of claims as one writer mentioned. In the Gulf experience there where many in dire, horrible circumstances. But many lacked the proper coverage, not State Farms fault. Does the insurance company pay for all ills especially if they were not covered? If you do a little research several insurance companies had these problems. When you have a diaster like this there are huge losses and if you are a good business protecting all your insured you will be delegent in all investigation of all claims. And for the record - No, I am not connected to any insurance company other than personal need. Insurance Companies are there to protect you fairly, not your personal biggy bank.
    Get a better rating than from trail lawyers.
  • USAA disappointing, usually great
    My neighbor uses USAA for her car and rental insurance. Her meticulously-service older station wagon was stolen from her driveway. USAA screwed her. They had to look for a recent sale so they could find the value of a car that old. The only car of that model and year that USAA found was sold really cheap. So USAA based their payment to her based upon only that one car.

    My neighbor complained that her car was in terrific shape, and told USAA that that particular year and model was so popular that other people sell it themselves, so the sales aren't recorded with car places. She called the owner of the car that USAA had based their payment on. He said the car had been dumped in his lap, and it was in such terrible shape nobody would buy it. So he dumped in into a car dealership's lap.
    USAA did not change anything as a result of her explanations.
    So, my neighbor's payment was for the percentage of a very low price that was not reasonable. Then, they also increased her premium because her car was stolen.
    This bothers me (and her) because she and I have been longtime USAA members and have been delighted with customer service for credit cards, and insurance for rentals, homes, and car insurance before this.
    Maybe some time you could address what someone could do in my neighbor's situation? Because, I have an old car that I keep in meticulous shape because it's a station wagon and Toyota doesn't make traditional station wagons anymore. Cars like mine get sold in private sales. So the same thing could happen to me if my car were stolen. We live in an area that is incredibly safe, so this theft was an anomaly.

    When I switched my insurance policies to USAA, I was thrilled to know that I would be paying only half of what I'd paid with a previous insurer. USAA also lowered my premiums after 3 years with no accidents. (teen-agers took a toll on my insurance premiums)
  • Best Insurance Companies
    I have had my home and 3 cars insured with Liberty Mutual for 5 years. I had 1 claim for a car totaled when a tree fell on it in a rain/wind storm. Service was prompt and courteous. A check was received just as promised. The premiums did not increase the next year nor the current year.
  • AIG
    I find it funny that on this page you have AIG advertising, they are number 3 on your list of worst insurers in America. HAHA
  • Allstate
    I would not change from allatate for anything. I had homeowner claim from a quake in the 90's for $200,000. Totally satisfied with result and service. Also a freeze claim for $45,000, complete satisfaction also.Both were in CA. Now in Idaho with homeowners and 8 cars, 2 boats,3 jet skis,4 motorcycles and a motorhome. no problems whatsoever. The motorhome is higher priced than most but not enough to go somewhere else.Also you have to look at the source of the information a lawyers Group??? Three guesses why they complain. Could it be because Allstate trys to keep the fraudulent claims down. I'm all for it.
  • List of worst insurers
    List does not come up when you click on the link-rather, it takes you to a consumer affairs website. Where can I find the list plese?
  • Best Insurance
    I've had State Farm for 37 years. Home owners and car and I think their the best in the world.
  • Look in the mirror
    I've worked as a claims adjuster and as a communications consultant for several large insurance companies. Policyholders routinely abuse the claims process, and claims that go to trial are routinely inflated by attorneys who have every incentive to do so. To keep costs and rates under control, any good insurer should aggressively combat inflated or bogus claims. Good job mentioning the JD Power survey, which is a more reliable indicator of customer service than a trial lawyers group. Certainly, sometimes insurance companies wrongly deny or underpay claims, and sometimes trial lawyers bring these companies to justice. But on the whole, trial lawyers just make insurance less affordable for everyone. Trial lawyers are a major reason why so consumers in our culture now see an insurance claim as a winning lottery ticket.
  • Allstate Insurance
    It's too bad that articles like this make people change their minds when I have a specific case in which my sister who has Allstate had major hail damage within the last 2 years. All her neighbors who had other carriers had minimal help but all those in her neighborhood who had Allstate were told they needed a brand new roof and fixes on siding and they were paid in full to cover those costs. Those other neighbors were wishing they had Allstate.
  • Worst Insurer in America
    Please note that the criteria does not necessarily mean that Allstate provides bad customer service. It means that the American Trial Lawyers HATE to go up against Allstate, because they tend to lose more than they win!

    Don't punish a company because they are tough on Fraud and Overpayment for what should be non-claims. More insurance companies need that kind of backbone to get the American Association of Justice out of the pockets of hard working Americans!

    Allstate isn't perfect, but HEY! Let's call a spade a spade here. They do as well as anyone in the industry in terms of taking care of it's customers. Don't come looking for something you don't deserve.

    Does any of this ring a bell that these steps to cut down claims also cut down the rising premium costs everyone crys about?
  • Allstate
    We have had our auto and homeowners with Allstate for 28 years and have had one auto claim and 3 homeowner claims -- all minor. Allstate paid our claims quickly and fairly and never raised our premiums as a result. Maybe we are just one of the fortunate families that are in "good hands."
  • United Health
    After reading the article by the AAJ, I totally agree that United Health is one of the WORST insurance companies in the US from personal experience. After a hospital stay for myself of 2 days and my daughter of 4 days in OCTOBER, they did not pay any claims until February. I CONTINUALLY sent paperwork to them regarding my daughter, made calls to them to find out what the problem was which I was never told why they waited so long, and received so many calls from the hospital wanting to know what the problem was as to why the claims were not paid. Suffice to say, I'm looking to change health insurance companies when open enrollment begins.
  • USAA and Other companies
    Clark,

    Your love for USAA fails to mention the manditory 1% wind / hail deductible for all new policies and endorsed policies in GA.

    You also do not mention other companies which ranked high in consumer satisfaction. Auto-Onwers, Firemans Fund, Cincinnati Insurnace Company.

    It pays to work with your independant Insurance agents.
  • Liberty Mutual
    We live in central Florida and have had a policy with Liberty Mutual for 9 years on our home, auto, and flood. We have experienced modest increases, but none of our claims have ever been denied and service has been outstanding. I actually often recommend them to those who ask.
  • Allstate
    Unfortunately, I can personally attest that Allstate does not pay their claims. I will be meeting them in court shortly.
  • Insurers
    You tell him Allstate.

    Are you going to remove this comment too?
  • ALLSTATE RESPONSE WHEN I ASKED MY AGENT
    In a report issued by an organization called "The American Association for Justice” (formerly known as The American Trial Lawyers Association), Allstate was labeled as one of the ten worst insurers in America.

    "When your company is at the forefront of resisting unfair and unreasonable claim demands made by certain lawyers and fighting insurance fraud, as Allstate is, it should come as no surprise that we are targeted by a relatively small segment of the legal community," said Allstate general counsel Michele Coleman Mayes. "Allstate is viewed as an adversary by this organization. Indeed, many actions taken by Allstate in the interest of its customers and shareholders directly impact members of AAJ.

    "We are proud to point out that a high percentage of our customers renew their policies," said Mayes. "This is a current and concrete fact that contradicts the opinion expressed in this report. Allstate is committed to serving its customers well. We believe there is ample proof that we are doing so as we attract millions of new customers every year in no small part because we've built a hard-earned reputation for being there for our customers in their time of need. Our customers' voices are what we listen to."
  • USAA
    USAA wrecked my life by not handling my house repair properly in 2001.... it drove my then wife nuts trying to deal with their adjuster who was totally not easy to deal with... Not having a local agent for my home was a major mistake.. Instead, we only had some voice on a phone to deal with after a major water claim caused by a broken pipe. USAA adjuster never showed up to look till weeks later. Then, wouldn't properly OK repairs on our home. We were forced out of our home and during the next year, my wife got severly depressed and blamed me and asked for a divorce. We ended up having to sue USAA and ended up settling on a total loss on my house after the divorce. Now before this horrible incident, USAA insured my cars and paid out on a couple of problems over the years without a problem... It's too bad the way they handled a major claim was so poor,
  • USAA Members
    You don't have to server in the military to be a member of USAA if your parent served in the military as an officer. I am such a situation. They have gathered statistics that show that children of those that serve in the military generally do not cost as much to insure as the general population.

    I added myself to USAA when they looked up my father's information.
  • RE: "Agent would only pay out 70% of the appraised value
    To Thom who said: "Agent would only pay out 70% of the appraised value, though the value was clearly listed on the policy."

    Insurance companies can either replace the item with another item of equal value or pay you for what it costs them to replace it. Since many insurance companies buy jewelry on a secondary market they only have to pay you what it costs them to replace the item. That is a lot less than it would cost you. I have a degree in Insurance and the example we went over in class was a Rolex watch. The watch originally cost $20k but the insurance company could replace it for $11k with an identical watch using their own buyers on a special market. So the guy had two choices, an identical watch (which would make him whole) or $11k. He wasn't happy but insurance isn't to reinburse you with case it is to "indemnify" you or "make you whole." You don't get the cash value of what you paid if the insurance company can make you whole by replacing the item lost or stolen. This is basic insurance law.
  • Geico is worse than Allstate
    My 81 yr old mother was involved in an auto accident where the car she was driving was hit when the other car pulled out in front of her. The attending police officer cited the other driver, but when my Mother told this to the Geico claims rep, the rep responded "Oh, cops lie." My mom ended up having to sue and won a judgement against the other driver and Geico, which was totally unnecessary.
  • You've got to be kidding....Trial Laywers !!
    Geeez Clark,

    As much as I appreciate your mostly good info, taking a list from trial lawyers is certainly not trust worthy information and far beneath the level of input I've come to expect from you and your staff !!
  • USAA
    I recently had some water damage in my house. I called USAA...within 1.5 hours someone was at my house working. Everything was done far better than I expected. Been with USAA for over 27 years...have my bank account with them. They care for their customers!
  • usaa home insurance
    after hurricane katrina, usaa repaired ok. the problem was if you chose to move inland after making a claim....they REFUSED to insure you at the new location but WOULD continue to insure you at the previous location and the rates have gone up astronomically. so depends on why you make a claim and where you live!
  • State Farm
    Last winter snow slid from the roof of my home taking the chimney with it. I fixed some of the damage around the gaping hole in the roof and called my agent. My insurer had a bonded roof repair company on the job the next day. The cost for the repair was $3500, I paid only the deductable of $500. Further; State Farm paid me $250 for the repairs I did that lessoned the damage, (stopped rain and snowmelt from getting in the attic). The chimney was replaced and improved with proper stays and a snow deflecter at no extra charge.
  • Unum Insurance
    denied my disability too. They STINK at best!

    I'll be sending this to my atty.

    Thanks
  • amica
    they r great but badly in need of some quality control
  • Trial Lawyers?
    Do you really think trial lawyers can give an unbiased opinion of insurance companies? If you were a harbor seal with two great whites circling around which one would you pick to be your friend?
  • USAA
    The secret to USAA's success is who they insure - Military, Secret Service Officers, FBI Officers, NOAA Officers, Public Health Officers (CDC). They all take an oath of office to protect and defend our country. How many do you think file bogus claims? How many write NSF checks for their premiums? Few! For the most part they are the core of American values. Just like Clark Howard, they try to do the right thing. So, is it a pleasure to provide good customer service to our American heros? No!
  • consider the source
    Clark, your comments on insurance companies are well taken, but you must consider the source here--a trial lawyers group. I know from experience these folks like companies who wave the settlement flag and offer to pay up ASAP. Allstate may really be the worst insurance company out there, but I'd want to hear that from more than a trial lawyers' group before I'd believe it.
  • USAA
    Recently filed a claim with USAA on a personal jewelry rider. Paid premium on the ring for 10 plus years at a stated value (backed up by an appraisal accepted by USAA). Agent would only pay out 70% of the appraised value, though the value was clearly listed on the policy. I feel cheated, but cannot determine who to complain to at USAA.
  • USAA
    is there any policies in USAA for Prior service personnel who did not get an opporunity to enroll after retirment. it has been since 1993 when i left Active service.
  • Original article
    I appreciate the link. As the excutrix for my father's estate, I had the unpleasant task of dealing with Conseco, which is on this list, and the description is very much reflective of my experience. My parents had a "cancer" policy, which should have paid on several aspects of my father's final illness— lung cancer.

    Instead of good service, I was told to provide claim after claim, including an itemized bill from the hospital— a 40+ page document for over two hundred thousand dollars.

    After weeks of wrangling, including a letter wherein I stated that I would pursue the claim until my own death (at the time I was 48) I finally got a couple of thousand dollars.

    Conseco preys upon the elderly, and no doubt many claims go unpaid due to the ill health or death of those who should be paid.
  • Trial Lawyers
    JD Powers is a wonderful tool to help consumers make informed decisions about different companies. AM Best is useful as well. But using a survey from a trial lawyer group to make a point in your show takes the cake! I hope Boortz heard you. He'll be RELENTLESS! What's next? A segment on the top 10 healthiest foods from a McDonald's survey? Holy smokes!
  • allstate
    after 20 years of premiums, they lied to me, the hospital and to several doctors trying not to pay claims. The biggest insult was that I was not at fault in the accident, and they would eventually get all the money they paid out back after I got an attorney and sued the other motorist. Allstate does not take care of their clients.
  • AIG Insurance
    Clark,
    Even though AIG is ranked the 3rd worst insurance company I see you have no problem with their advertising on your site. Gotta love capitalism.....
  • Trial lawyers
    The opinion of trial lawyers goes both ways. You really want to fall in the middle. No, you don't want trial lawyers thinking you're the easiest insurance company because you roll over. However, a company that kicks and gnashes teeth to save every penny puts their insured in danger (by exposing them to a lawsuit) and will probably employ the same tactics against their own insured in an uninsured motorist claim. You want attorneys to think you are firm, but fair.
  • USAA
    I have all my property insured with USAA and do all my banking with the company as well. I only have good things to say about the company and their practices. When I added my wife to my policy last month her State Farm premiums were cut in half even after raising the rates to fit with my umbrella. So, you don't have to pay for excellent service when you can go with a selective insurer. They also treat you like a customer and not a crook or potential cash machine.
  • Trial lawyers
    Wouldn't you think it would be a good thing for an insurance company if they were hated by trial lawyers!?!? I wouldn't want my insurance company to be a favorite among any type of trial lawyer organization!
  • Amica
    I had a homeowners claim (a fire that was an accident, still our fault though) with Amica two years ago. They were fantastic. I had to buy a new house near a beach and they wouldn't insure us there, which was disappointing because I love the company. I would go with them over anyone else. It was horrible having such a devastating house fire, but they made the experience a lot better.
  • Amica
    Amica is not what they once were. As a 24 year customer with exactly zero claims under our home owner insurance, last year Amica eliminated the dividend on our homeowner insurance, raised their estimate of the replacement value of our house to roughly 25% above the recent fair market tax appraisal of the entire property including land, and raised their rates. That effectively doubled the premium from approximately $1500 net of dividend to $3000 with no dividend. This year, they added another roughly $1000 to the premium, now nearly $4000. We do not live on the beach, have a well maintained brick house on high ground in a golf course community. Did I mention that we have had zero homeowner claims?
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