Insure U program widens its scope

The award-winning Insure U consumer education program has been expanded, with new topic areas for domestic partners, single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren and members of the military.

The Insure U curriculum – developed by the New Hampshire Insurance Department along with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners – provides insurance tips and special considerations about four basic types of insurance: auto, home, health and life. The expanded topics build on the information already available on the site for young singles, young families, established families and seniors.

“Insure U is an important resource to help consumers better understand insurance issues specific to their experiences,” said New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny, who’s also president-elect of NAIC.

In developing the new Insure U content, national research was conducted among domestic partners, single parents, grand-parents raising grandchildren and members of the military.

“In order to help us develop relevant tips and information, we first needed to find out where the information gaps occur,” said Sevigny. “Our research identified many misperceptions and misunderstandings about insurance among these consumer groups.”

Among the research findings:

• 49 percent of domestic partners said they have no formal documentation providing evidence of their relationship.

• 15 percent of single parents said their children did not have health insurance.

• 52 percent of grandparents raising grandchildren said they had no proof – such as legal guardianship papers – to document their role in raising their grandchildren.

• 57 percent of grandparents who were raising a teenager of driving age said they did not have their grandchild listed as a secondary driver on their auto insurance policy.

• 32 percent of members of the military were unaware whether their homeowners policy limited coverage of unoccupied homes.

Sevigny said the Insure U curriculum also provides information about how to avoid being scammed by fake insurance companies selling fraudulent insurance policies. Disaster preparedness and long-term care insurance tips also are included.

For more information, visit nh.gov/insurance or insureUonline.org.