MT Commissioner of Securities and Insurance

Auto insurance

Times are tight. Can you offer any suggestions for reducing the cost of my auto insurance?

Would you explain the different parts of a basic automobile insurance policy?

I want to insure both my teen-age children to drive my car, but doing so will increase my premium significantly. What can I do to get the best value for my insurance dollar?

My family is taking a vacation next month and we plan to rent a car. Do we need to buy rental-car insurance?

I've got a teen-ager who is about to begin driving. What are the benefits of driver education and is it really worth enrolling new drivers in the course?

This summer my teenager will be learning to drive. What do I need to do with respect to my auto insurance to make sure all drivers are covered and what can I do to get the best value for my insurance dollar?

My wife and I are taking a driving vacation next month and we plan to rent a car. Do we need to buy rental-car insurance?

Deer are on the move and motorists are paying the price; crashes with deer peak in November

Get more Mileage out of your Auto Insurance

Winter Driving - I bought my first vehicle last month before heading off to college and I am wondering if there is anything I need to do to prepare my vehicle for winter?

Fraud prevention

I have heard warnings to be on guard against affinity fraud. What is affinity fraud?

I keep hearing about people who have lost money in one scam or another. Do these scams exist in Montana and do you have any tips to help people avoid them?

I have been contacted several times by people offering "work-at-home" opportunities and am surprised by how much money they say I can make. Are these jobs for real?

I have been contacted by someone who is trying to sell me insurance, but I am uncomfortable with the way he is rushing me to buy a policy. How can I verify that the offer is legitimate?

My mother is being recruited to join a program that promises her $16,000 in return for a $2,000 investment. All she has to do is recruit new members to the program. I am a little bit skeptical and wonder, is this legal?

I have heard that following the terrorist attacks in New York and near Washington, D.C., people have concocted opportunistic investment scams similar to those associated with the Year 2000 computer bug. I understand that the scams prey on the fears of consumers and convince them to make hasty, unwise investment decisions, but I don't know how to spot them. What are the signs and how can I protect myself?

I have heard that some people have used the heartbreaking terrorist attack on the World Trade Center as a way to scam money out of innocent Americans. What can I do to protect myself and make sure no one takes advantage of my family?

My sister raises purebred dogs and recently ran a classified ad to sell puppies. She was contacted by a guy claiming to be from outside of the U.S. who saw her ad online. He offered full price for a male puppy and he said he would make the shipping arrangements. He sent her a cashier’s check to cover the cost of the puppy plus the shipping. He instructed her to deduct the cost of the puppy and wire the remainder ($750) to his shipper at a bank account he provided. My sister went to the bank, deposited the check and was literally ready to pull the trigger on the wire transfer when an astute teller asked my sister if she was sure this was not a scam. When the bank officials examined the check carefully, they found that it was a counterfeit! If she wired the money to this so-called shipper’s account, she would’ve been swindled out of $750. Have you ever heard of a scam like this?

I have been contacted several times by people offering “work-at-home” opportunities and am surprised by how much money they say I can make. My sister tells me these are scams and I should stay away from them. What do you think? 

I plan on doing much of my holiday shopping online and with my credit card; what do I need to be aware of to stay safe while shopping online?

We received an e-mail claiming to be from the IRS asking for our personal financial information. I am suspicious because we already filed our taxes but my husband thinks we should respond. What do you think we should do? 

General insurance

I am interested in shopping for insurance on the Internet. Can you give me some tips on what I should look for and avoid?

I just received a check from my insurance company for a claim I filed for damages to my property. Am I required to use that money to repair the damages?

Do you have any tips for consumers to help them in filing claims with insurance companies?

My auto insurance policy is up for renewal and I have heard that my insurance company may be looking at my credit history. Why would it look at that information and can it affect my premiums?

I have been offered so many kinds of insurance, from terrorism insurance to cell-phone insurance. How do I determine which offers are legitimate and necessary?

Get Smart About Insurance Week

I don't have a lot of time to spend researching insurance issues, but would like to make sure my family is covered properly. Do you have any tips I can use to make sure we have adequate protection?

My mother is getting on in years and is asking me to help her with some of her finances. Can you suggest ways I can help her with insurance matters?

My neighbor says she reviews her insurance policies every now and then and she's encouraging me to do the same. Is it really necessary?

What kinds of questions should I expect to be asked when I apply for an insurance policy and why does a company need the information?

What is the time limit in Montana for filing a claim or a lawsuit against an insurance company?

I hear lots of warnings about protecting yourself from identity theft and preserving your privacy. What kinds of things should I be looking for and what can I do to protect myself?

I don't want to worry that my insurance agent is taking advantage of me so can you give me some suggestions for protecting myself?

My family is taking a vacation next month and we have been offered travel insurance. Do we really need it?

I’ve recently moved out on my own and need to buy insurance. What should I look for in an agent?

In a recent radio interview I heard you talk about a new law that would help pay health insurance premiums if I work for a small business. The small business I work for can't afford health insurance and currently doesn't offer it. I would like to find out more to see if this would be an option for my employer.

With all the forest fires burning in Montana I'm concerned about the possibility of one reaching my property. I live in a wooded area. How can I make my home more resistant to forest fires, and make sure my family and possessions are protected?

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, policyholders wonder if damage in the Gulf will affect rates and service in Montana

As Medicare's new prescription drug plan rolls out next week, Montanans raise questions about the new benefit

We are planning a Caribbean cruise in the coming months and we have been offered travel insurance. Is it even necessary? If so, what exactly does it cover?

I recently received a fax at work offering a "total discount health plan" for $79 per month. Since I don't have health insurance this sounds like a pretty good deal, but I am concerned that this might be too good to be true. Last month I read a Business Week article entitled "They think they're insured, they're not" about fraudulent health plans and I am wondering how I can check out this offer.

I bought health coverage through an organization I belong to. Until recently, I was happy with the coverage -- although I hadn’t submitted that many claims. But two months ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and now they are refusing to pay for any medical expenses. My daughter looked into it and found out they are what’s known as an “unauthorized insurer” and I have no recourse for these claims. What does this mean and what are my options?

During the last winter storm, a tree blew down and fell onto my roof. This resulted in quite a lot of damage to my home. What steps should I take to file a claim with my insurer?

Health insurance

My husband and I are about to have a baby. Will she automatically be covered under our health insurance policy?

How can I find the best health insurance plan for my needs?

Can you give me some information about long-term care insurance and who needs to buy it?

My brother was contacted by someone offering an insurance policy that is exempt from state law. I told him not to buy the policy because it sounded suspicious. Have you heard of people doing this and is it illegal?

A few months ago my doctor called my insurance company to get pre-authorization for a surgical procedure I needed. The company pre-authorized the surgery but recently denied my claim for it. How can they do that?

I have received a number of privacy notices in the mail, but haven't given them much attention. Now I'm hearing that if I don't return the notice, companies can share or sell my private financial information. Is that true?

I have a 22-year-old son who is an undergraduate student. He is covered by my health insurance plan, but after his next birthday he won't be eligible. What are his options?

My fiancée and I are getting married this summer. We must decide whether to enroll in his company's health care plan or mine. What should we look for?

Will I be eligible for Medicare right away if I take Social Security retirement at age 62?

My daughter is heading off to college this fall, do I need to worry about health insurance for her?

Homeowner-Rental insurance

I know what I should do to prepare for a major storm. What are some things I would need to do, or avoid doing, after a storm?

My insurance agent told me homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flood damage? Can property owners buy flood insurance and what does it cover?

Based on the impact of last summer's forest fires and the drought predictions for this year, I'm concerned about another summer of fires and the possibility of one reaching my property. I live in a wooded area. How can I make my home more resistant to forest fires, and make sure my family and possessions are protected?

Our landlord is suggesting we consider renter's insurance. Is it really necessary and what does it cover?

Each time a natural disaster strikes somewhere in Montana, such as a spring snowstorm or a wildfire, I think I should review my insurance policy to make sure I have adequate coverage, but then time passes and I don’t do anything. How can I plan ahead to protect my property for an event that may never occur?

How do I know if I have adequate home insurance for the summer storm season?

The storms that recently swept through the state caused major damage to several houses in our area. Since then I have been wondering if "Acts of Nature" are covered by insurance.

Watching all of the hurricane coverage and seeing the extensive damage to homes due to flooding has prompted me wonder about flood insurance. My friend, who is an insurance agent, told me that homeowner's insurance doesn't cover flood damage. Is this true?

Frozen, Broken Water Pipes Can Be Home Owner Nightmare

I just came back from skiing at Lost Trail where they had a ton of snow! My buddy commented on the threat of spring flooding which led us to a discussion about flood insurance. I told him it's not covered under most homeowner's policies and he's under the impression that it is - who's right?

Investor education

I am concerned about some of the activity in my investment account. What can I do to make sure my investment advisor is adhering to my financial objective of long-term growth?

How can I check on the advice of my broker to see if it is in my best interest? My husband has always handled our finances, but I'm recently widowed.

We are a young working couple with two kids and a mortgage and are worried about saving for college along with our retirement. We know we need to develop a plan for saving and investing, but the stock market scares us. Where do we start?

I will be receiving a tax refund this year and I am thinking about investing it. What should I be aware of when considering all the different investment opportunities out there?

I received an e-mail message the other day from a charity asking for donations to help the victims of the London bombing attacks. I thought it seemed suspicious because they asked for my banking information in an online form. Should I be concerned about e-mails like this, or am I just being overly cautious?

I belong to a professional group that meets regularly. We recently had a newcomer join our group who has been promoting what seems like a wonderful investment opportunity. I visited with my son about the proposal and he advised me to be on guard against affinity fraud. What exactly is affinity fraud and do you think my son has a legitimate concern?

Recently my mother was asked to join a program that promises her $16,000 in return for a $2,000 investment -- all she has to do is recruit new members. She has been looking to earn extra money for Holiday shopping so naturally she is excited to participate. I am a little bit skeptical and wonder, is this a scam?

DON'T GET HOOKED BY A PHISHING SCAM

Protect Yourself from 'Bad Brokers'

Life insurance

What can I do to make sure the right people benefit from my life insurance policies?

If something should happen to me, my family would need the life insurance money right away to cover ongoing expenses. What is the quickest, easiest way to collect on life insurance when someone dies?

I've never had life insurance. Do I need it, and if so, how much do I need?