September 12, 2024
Why do you need a home inventory?
When you file a home insurance claim, you can also get paid for any personal property that was stolen or destroyed. Your agent or company will ask if you have a home inventory.
August 1, 2024
Fraud Files with Steve Richardson
Sgt. Steve Richardson led the TDI Fraud Unit’s investigation into William Neil “Doc” Gallagher, a radio host in the Dallas area. Gallagher, known as the “Money Doctor,” targeted seniors to surrender their annuities and give him the money to “invest.”
In 2020, Gallagher was convicted of securities fraud, theft, and money laundering, all first-degree felonies. He got three life terms and was ordered to repay more than $10.3 million in restitution.
June 13, 2024
Campfire and grilling safety tips
Summers in Texas usually means cooking on a campfire or barbecue. Learn more about keeping your family safe while cooking outdoors.
May 9, 2024
When should you start preparing for hurricane season?
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.
April 11, 2024
What insurance do you need for water damage?
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.
March 14, 2024
Who should have flood insurance?
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.
February 8, 2024
How to file an insurance claim
Understand the process of filing an auto or home claim to help make the experience less stressful.
January 11, 2024
How to lower your car insurance costs
If you need an auto insurance policy, use our tips to shop.
November 2, 2023
Top tips to choose the right health insurance plan
Finding a new health plan can be challenging. We have tips to make it easier.
October 10, 2023
The number one cause of home fires
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.
September 7, 2023
Saving money on home insurance
Shopping around is a good way to save money on your home insurance.
August 3, 2023
Windstorm insurance in Texas
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.
July 7, 2023
How to get help with an insurance complaint
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.
June 1, 2023
How to safely use a portable generator
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.
May 2, 2023
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.
April 6, 2023
How to prepare for spring storms
Spring is typically the most dangerous time of the year when it comes to weather and thunderstorms.
March 2, 2023
What’s insurance fraud?
Insurance fraud is an illegal act in which someone lies or intentionally misrepresents facts about insurance for financial gain. Knowing the common types of insurance fraud can help you recognize and prevent it.
January 5, 2023
How older adults can avoid scams
Scammers steal about $3 billion from older adults each year through frauds and scams. Learn more about avoiding fraud and staying safe.
December 1, 2022
Can you shop around for health insurance?
When looking for health insurance, know your needs; ask questions; compare plans; and avoid scams. Use these tips when shopping for health coverage.
November 17, 2022
What’s Medicare open enrollment?
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.
October 20, 2022
Your mental health: What to know about getting help.
Learn about how your health plan covers mental health treatment. And what to do if you have any issues getting help.
September 1, 2022
How to deal with a totaled car
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.
August 3, 2022
How college students can stay healthy, safe, and protect their stuff
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.
July 7, 2022
How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
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.
June 2, 2022
How to know what your smoke alarm is telling you
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.
May 5, 2022
How to stay safe from lightning
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.
April 7, 2022
How to lower car insurance costs
Has your car insurance gone up lately? Or maybe you’re just wondering about some ways to lower it. We talk about ways to save.
March 3, 2022
New home? How to shop for insurance.
If you’re buying a home, it could be your biggest investment. You’ll want to make sure that it’s protected.
February 2, 2022
Are your water pipes ready for winter?
Incoming freezing weather means it’s time to find those faucet covers, water shut-off wrenches, and get those pipes ready.
January 6, 2022
How to keep healthy New Year’s resolutions
It’s that time of year again when we set New Year’s resolutions to get healthy, eat better, and exercise more. The wellness coordinator at the Texas Department of State Health Services gives us tips for sticking to our goals.
December 2, 2021
Staying safe on winter roads
Many Texans experienced bad driving conditions during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021; tires spun in snow and vehicles slid through ice.
Winter weather can turn travel into a tense experience. Even knowledgeable drivers need reminders about how to commute in sloppy road conditions. The Texas Department of Transportation explains what you should do.
November 4, 2021
Should you get travel insurance?
Taking a trip this holiday season? More people are considering travel insurance as part of their vacation planning. The US Travel Insurance Association explains what insurance covers.
September 30, 2021
Answers to your auto insurance questions
Not sure what kind of auto insurance you need? Wondering why your rates went up? TDI experts answer Texans’ top auto insurance questions.
September 2, 2021
How to protect your home from storm damage
We’re in the peak of hurricane season, which means homes are at risk of storm damage. We spoke with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety about tips to strengthen your home. It can start on the roof with spending about $50 on the right nails.
August 5, 2021
How to check a used car’s history and avoid scams
Technology is changing the way most people buy new and used cars. But it also opened the door to a lot of new scams. We talked to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out how you can steer clear of the latest scams.
July 1, 2021
Need health insurance? How to find a new health plan now
Are you shopping for health coverage? We have tips to pick the right health plan, including what questions to ask before you buy. We also talk about the special open enrollment period for ACA health plans.
June 3, 2021
How to prepare for 2021 hurricane season
The 2021 hurricane season runs from June through November, but you still have time to prepare. We talked to the National Weather Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management for tips on being prepared this storm season. We’ll also talk about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after a storm.
May 6, 2021
After a storm: Dealing with insurance claims and avoiding repair scams
Most people file an insurance claim after a storm or disaster damages your home. Then you have to find the right person or company to make the repairs. We have tips on the claims process, what to do if you disagree with your insurance company, and how to find a good contractor.
April 15, 2021
Car burglaries and break-ins are increasing. Here’s how to protect your car
Auto thefts and burglaries were up in Texas and across the nation last year. We talked to Sgt. Tracy Hicks with the Houston Police Department’s Auto Theft Crimes Task Force about how thieves pick their targets, what they’re really after, and how you can protect your car.
