a chilly welcome

By: kathstack
Published On: 10/19/2007 10:29:17 PM

got my first less-than-warm "welcome to norfolk" last week with a note from farmers' insurance that they were cancelling my homeowners' coverage because i live within half a mile of the bay. calling around to try to find a policy, i unearthed a couple of companies with similar stands, plus one whose representative told me they don't write new policies in norfolk at all.
why does the state of virginia let these people operate within its borders if that's the way they do business? what do we need with insurance companies that only sell coverage (health or homeowners') to people who are unlikely to need it? sure does help the old bottom line, though.
at some point when i wasn't paying attention the property insurance companies have clearly followed the lead of health insurers and changed their primary mission from providing a vehicle for shared risk to making lots of money for their ceos and stockholders. really, i don't know why they don't just sell the policies--they could always follow the new orleans strategy of refusing to pay claims if anything actually happens to the people they claim to cover.
ah well--i did eventually find a (very expensive) policy. and i find myself wondering how this version of redlining impacts my new city's efforts to grow and diversity.

Comments



Welcome to Norfolk! (DemVet - 10/19/2007 11:55:56 PM)
Hi Kathstack!

Very sorry to hear about your experience with insurance.  Extremely expensive insurance is a problem many of us homeowners in Hampton Roads experience.  It stinks.

Aside from that, I suspect you'll find plenty to like in Norfolk. 

I'm working with the DPVA through the DNC's 50 State Strategy as the Deputy Political Director of the DPVA in Hampton Roads.

I'd love to get you involved with the Northam and Paula Miller races in Norfolk!  We've got a lot of momentum and we're having a blast, but we are always in need of more volunteers.  So please come on board and make some new friends!

Please email me at susan@vademocrats.org so that I can give you more details.

Thanks and looking forward to meeting you soon!

Susan