Insurance Commissioner Scott White encourages all Virginians to be prepared for storms and natural disasters. Make sure your home, business, or automobile is properly insured and know how to file an insurance claim in the event of property damage. The best time to prepare for a natural disaster is before a storm strikes.

Before the Storm

• Create a detailed inventory of your belongings. Include photos and receipts of your property if you have them. You can use the Inventory Checklist as a guide.
• Review your insurance policy and contact your insurance company if you have any questions about your coverage. You can find your insurance company’s phone number using our Company Lookup.
• Store your home inventory checklist and insurance policy information in a secure, waterproof location.
• Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies do not cover losses due to flooding. Talk with your insurance agent about flood insurance or visit the National Flood Insurance Program website.

After the Storm

• If your home or other insured property was damaged during a storm, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible.
• Take photos of your damaged property once it is safe to do so.
• Save the receipts of any emergency repairs that are needed to prevent your property from becoming further damaged.
• If you feel you are treated unfairly, please contact our Property & Casualty Consumer Services team at 804-371-9185 or file a complaint online.

Helpful Resources

• InsureU Disaster Preparedness Tips and Guides
• National Flood Insurance Program
• Virginia Department of Emergency Management
• Ready.gov

Virginia Insurance Guides

• When a Disaster Strikes: What to Do After an Insured Homeowners Loss
  • Mobile App: When a Disaster Strikes: What to Do After an Insured Homeowners Loss Size: 1.5MB (provides offline access)
• When A Disaster Strikes: What to Do After an Insured Commercial Property Loss
  • Mobile App: When a Disaster Strikes: What to Do After an Insured Commercial Property Loss Size: 1.5MB (provides offline access)

Contact Us
We are here to help. If you have general insurance questions or trouble getting your claim paid, our team of specially trained representatives can assist you.

• General insurance questions – 804-371-9741
• Property & Casualty consumer complaints – 804-371-9185
• BureauofInsurance@scc.virginia.gov
• File a complaint online

COMPLAINT SYSTEM and APPEAL PROCEDURES MANAGED CARE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (MCHIP) FILING REQUIREMENTS

Mortgage Loan Information

• Information to Know About Mortgage Rate Locks
• How to Manage Your Mortgage If Your Lender Closes or Files for Bankruptcy
• When Paying the Mortgage is a Struggle
• CFPB:  Buying a House:  Tools and Resources for Homebuyers.
• CFPB:  Cómo preparar sus finanzas antes de comprar una casa.
• Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs -- Are They for You?
• Reverse Mortgages
• CFPB – Considering a Reverse Mortgage?

Cryptocurrency

• What to Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams
• Notice to Virginia Residents about Virtual Currency
• FDIC Fact Sheet - FDIC Insurance and Crypto Companies

Debt Counseling / Debt Settlement / Debt Collection

• Debt Collection
• Getting Out of Debt

Deposit Account Information

• What is Check 21
• Deposit Account Basics
• FDIC Consumer News
  FDIC Consumer News provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Issues and selected articles offer helpful hints, quick tips and common–sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.

Student Loans

• State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
  The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating agency for higher education. As an entity of the Commonwealth of Virginia government, SCHEV exists to serve the public interest and to assist the state’s system of higher education.
• SCHEV - Student Complaints
  If a student has exhausted the avenues provided by the institution and the complaint has not been resolved internally, the student can submit a “Student Complaint Form” to SCHEV.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
  Temporary changes by U.S. Department of Education available through October 31, 2022
          Additional Resources about Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Student Loans
  Whether you are preparing for college, attending school, or already repaying your student loans, see the CFPB tools and resources to help you make the best decisions for you.
• How Student Loans Work and How to Avoid Scams
• How to Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams

Free Credit Report, Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts on Credit File

• Free Annual Credit Report is the only source authorized by Federal Law
  www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
• What to Know about Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
  www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts
• Free credit freezes are here
  www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/free-credit-freezes-are-here
• Identity Theft - Report Identity Theft and Get a Recovery Plan
  www.identitytheft.gov/#/        www.robodeidentidad.gov/#/

Miscellaneous Information

• Identity Theft Resources from the FTC
• E-Mail Phishing Scams Circulate on the Internet
• Virginia Telephone Privacy Act

2019 bfi statistical summary

1. It is well worth your time and effort to read thoroughly and understand as much as you can from documents provided to you by your Plan. This includes your Evidence of Coverage, as well as other documents such as Member Handbooks, Provider Directories, Newsletters, and any other material provided by your plan.
2. Know as much as you can about how your plan works before you need to use it. It is most important to know beforehand about such things as selecting a primary care provider, obtaining referrals to specialists, copayment requirements, and access to emergency care. Realize that your plan will probably not cover all of your medical expenses, and that you may have to pay part of the cost.
3. Ask questions about anything that is not clear, confusing, or that you do not understand.
4. If you need assistance, talk with your plan's representatives, your agent, your employer, or contact the Office of the Managed Care Ombudsman.
5. If a problem arises, you should first contact your Managed Care Health Insurance Plan. Your evidence of coverage contains a telephone number and mailing address for your use in contacting the plan. Be sure to record the day you call, the name of the person you speak with, the title of the person you speak with, and a summary of the conversation.
6. If you or your physician have difficulty obtaining approval for medical care, or if you experience difficulty with a claim, know what your rights are according to your particular plan.
7. Understand your right to appeal decisions made by the plan that are not in your favor (an "adverse decision"), and follow the instructions provided by your plan to appeal an adverse decision. You need to familiarize yourself with the various levels of appeals and grievance procedures that are available to you directly through your plan.
8. If you write a letter to your plan to file an appeal or a grievance, document the facts that support your case. Keep your letter business-like and clearly state why you believe you are correct. Include any supporting documents from you or your physician that support your appeal or grievance.
9. Follow the time lines established by your plan for filing any appeals, grievances or complaints. Record the date you provide information to your plan, and be sure to keep a copy of any letters you send to your plan.
10. At any point in the process, you can contact the Office of the Managed Care Ombudsman for assistance.

Summary of Benefits and Coverage and Uniform Glossary