NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Insurance adjusters, catastrophe personnel and mobile claim centers have already been deployed to staging areas along the East Coast and are ready to respond to customers impacted by Hurricane Matthew, according the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Whether reporting damage to your property over the phone or through your mobile device, the I.I.I. offers the following tips on how to file an insurance claim:

1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible to begin the process.  Provide your insurer with your policy number and the best phone number and email address at which to reach you. After a major storm, insurers visit those with the most severe damage first, so prepare to provide an accurate description of the extent of the property damage. Be sure to explain any special needs of your family, particularly if personal circumstances require that you get priority. Ask your insurer when you can expect to be contacted by an insurance adjuster so that you can be prepared for the visit. Since adjusters may be in areas in which cell phone towers are damaged, it is also a good idea to get the phone number of your adjuster’s supervisor so you have an additional contact. If you have a flood insurance claim, contact the agent or broker who sold you the policy to start the claims filing process.
2. Document your loss. The insurance adjuster most likely will inspect the damage to your home, auto and possessions in order to write a check to help you replace, repair and rebuild. It is a good idea to take photographs and document the details of damaged items, including the date of purchase and approximate value—and collect receipts, if you have them. Many companies will ask you to submit an inventory of the items. Having a home inventory will make this process easier—the I.I.I.’s free Know Your Stuff® – Home Inventory app can help you create or update your home inventory, even after a disaster.
3. Check with your insurer before discarding damaged items and materials. You will generally need to show storm damaged items to your adjuster. If, however, you are required by your local municipality to discard them for safety reasons, take photographs to help with the claims process.
4. Sign up for SMS/text alerts. Many insurance companies use SMS/text message alerts that will notify you of the status of your claim. You will receive text messages on your phone when you first report your claim, when your estimate is available and when a payment has been sent.  
5. Know what emergency services are available. In the event you need emergency services, such as removing water from your home, covering your roof, or boarding up windows or doors, many companies will dispatch an approved emergency services company to protect your home from further damage. If your home has sustained severe damage, making it unlivable, your homeowners insurer will provide you with a check for additional living expenses.
6. Keep a claim diary. Good recordkeeping is important when filing a claim. Make a list of everyone you speak to about your claim. Note their name, title and contact information. Also, keep track of the date, time and issues discussed. The better organized you are, the simpler and easier the claims process will be.

A Word About Deductibles
Keep in mind, hurricane deductibles exist in every coastal state from Maine to Texas. Unlike a typical homeowners policy deductible of $500 or $1,000, hurricane deductibles usually are listed as a percentage of the property’s insured value—generally between 1 percent to 5 percent of the total coverage. These separate deductibles are prominently located on your declarations page, and spell out specifically the specific percentage and often the dollar amount. Hurricane deductibles typically are applied to damage caused by named storms that have hit land, as determined by the National Weather Service. In Florida, for example, the deductible would be in effect for any damage incurred during the 72 hours after a hurricane warning is issued. Each insurer and state applies the deductibles differently, however, so it’s crucial for homeowners to be familiar with their policies.

Experts Available for Interviews
To arrange an interview about the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew with a subject matter expert at the I.I.I., contact Jeanne Salvatore at 917-612-4088 or [email protected].

RELATED LINKS
Issues Update: Hurricane and Windstorm Deductibles
Article: Recovering from a Flood
Infographic: How to File a Flood Claim

The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its You Tube Channel. Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038 (212) 346-5500 www.iii.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/InsuranceInformationInstitute  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/iiiorg

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NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today Verizon announced it has launched a new program aimed at providing multicultural entrepreneurs an opportunity to collaborate with Verizon by opening specialty stores throughout the United States. The specialty stores will deliver a unique experience to both current and future Verizon customers in communities with the most growth potential and provide a turnkey opportunity to aspiring business owners. Verizon will support these budding entrepreneurs through strategic funding, marketing initiatives and strong marketing support. Verizon will make a formal presentation directly to potential business owners during the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention (USHCC) National Convention on October 10, 2016; additional presentations will be held throughout the country.

“We are fueling Hispanics’ entrepreneurial spirit with a turnkey business opportunity with a known, trusted brand,” said Walter Rodriguez, Multicultural Marketing Director at Verizon. “Now is the chance for those interested in self-employment to own a business in areas they know well and in their own communities.” 

The launch of these new specialty stores is the direct result of two other recent launches by Verizon: The new Verizon plan and the Bienvenido a lo Mejor campaign, both of which offer customers simple pricing, access to America’s largest and fastest 4G LTE network ever and targeted promotional offers for the Hispanic segment, respectively.

Hispanic-owned businesses continue to grow in comparison to other minority groups and U.S. companies. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 27.6 million businesses in the United States, with 3.3 million of those being Hispanic-owned. The Hispanic purchasing power was $1.3 trillion in 2015, with a projected reach of $1.7 trillion by 2020. As part of this initiative, Verizon will be hosting a series of informational specialty store presentations and webinars throughout the year. 

“This new multicultural store model offers many benefits to entrepreneurs like my partner and me. It truly is a turnkey approach when you factor in the support Verizon offers with the floor plan, fixture designs and the marketing support,” said Harpreet Katari, co-owner of United Telecom USA Inc., a Verizon Indirect Agent.

To see more of what Verizon is doing follow @Verizon via Twitter or visit www.verizon.com.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of nearly 162,700 and generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with 113.2 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over mobile broadband and the nation’s premiere all-fiber network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide.

VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: News releases, feature stories, executive biographies and media contacts are available at Verizon’s online News Center at www.verizon.com/news/. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

Media contacts:
Tamika Rivera
908.559.7210
[email protected] 

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COLUMBUS, Georgia, Oct. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the United States, announced the launch of a new national Hispanic marketing campaign. The initiative will help educate Spanish-preferred consumers about how Aflac helps protect their pockets during unplanned medical events. The campaign includes a new television ad called “Help,” which will air nationally on major Spanish-language networks through late November. It is the company’s second commercial designed specifically for the Hispanic market without an English-language version.

“Research indicates a need to provide better education within the Hispanic community about the value of voluntary insurance products,” said Gail Galuppo, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Aflac. “We want to share information with Hispanic-Americans in culturally sensitive ways, in their preferred language, so that families can better protect their pockets from the financial challenges of an unexpected illness or injury.”

The campaign debuted during one of the Latin community’s most popular music awards shows of the year, the Latin American Music Awards, last week on Telemundo. The Aflac Duck played a pivotal role during the awards show, as he was the “official protector” of the envelopes holding the names of the winners of the night. After walking down the purple carpet, the fearless feathered security guard worked tirelessly to assure the audience that the awards were kept safe throughout the night. Viewers can see highlights of the evening on social media (@AflacDuck) or visit Aflac’s exclusive “Winners of the Night” section on Telemundo.com.

“Help” opens with a woman, who has her leg propped on a bench and wrapped in a cast, sitting on a couch reviewing medical bills. Her father enters and asks how she is doing. The daughter expresses her surprise about the fact that her major medical insurance isn’t covering all of her expenses.

Luckily, she has Aflac and received her money in one day, which means she doesn’t have to touch her savings or the grocery money. The Aflac Duck pushes two full bags of groceries into the room to prove that the grocery money went to its intended use. The father is pleased but must ask, “If not with money, how else can I help?”

The daughter cleverly looks over to her child, who has been playing offscreen, and suggests, “You could change your first diaper.” He looks bewildered with this task and even looks down at the Aflac Duck for assistance. The Duck slowly steps backwards out of the room, leaving a trail of duckprints in spilled baby powder.

In addition to the television commercial, the campaign will include local radio advertising in select markets, digital advertising, social media, online videos and more.

To learn more about Aflac, visit aflac.com/teayuda.

About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite. Through its trailblazing One Day Pay^SM initiative, Aflac U.S. can receive, process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims in one business day. In Japan, Aflac is the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac individual and group insurance products help provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For 10 consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. In 2016, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 18th consecutive year and included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 15th time, ranking the company No. 1 in innovation for the insurance, life and health category for the second consecutive year. In 2015, Aflac’s contact centers were recognized by J.D. Power by providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” for the Live Phone Channel. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One Day Pay^SM, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.

Media contact – Kristen Fraser, 706.243.5543 or [email protected]

Analyst and investor contact – Robin Y. Wilkey, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667, FAX: 706.324.6330, or [email protected]

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