Is insurance fraud on the rise in the Katrina devestation area?
112459
I don't know for sure, but there usually is an increase in insurance fraud after a major disaster such as this.
610045
hello, i am from louisiana, 30 minutes south of new orleans. i am not exactly sure what the answer is. you are probably talking about the 9th ward (which is one of the hardest hit areas), it is not one of the best neighborhoods and that could be why they do not want to rebuild. i heard something about it becomming a rich neighborhood. but honestly who would want to rebuild there. the entire area is protected by a levee. the other area that was hard hit was chalmette, the entire parish flooded and the water was up to the roofs of the homes. i personally would not live in an area protected by a levee. also i am sure that most of the people in the 9th ward area can not afford to rebuild. the insurance companies aren't exactly being fair. i hope i helped you understand a little bit better, if not feel free to contact me.
1029586
Are you selling Pre-Paid Legal?  If so, I'm sorry.\nIts a pyramid scam.  \n\nIf you are talking about Umbrella policies.  Most people get those through their homeowners insurance agent.
145001
Absolutely, just look at some of those frauds out there.  The guy that sells that little piece of green cloth?  Don Stewart is a total fraud.  How about the Bakers, they stole millions!  In Texas there is The Tiltons that are stealing from our more gullible fellow Americans.  My brother's church recently added on a huge indoor basketball court.  It's only used by their school that has all of 20 kids between 1st and 10th grade.
294389
FEMA/fraud/thegovernment.gov
1144457
Because, private flood insurance is a scam.  Say you buy flood insurance.  Then a hurricaine comes through and floods your house.  The insurance company will claim your house was damaged by the wind, therefore  they will refuse to pay your claim.
502022
if you look at the economy where the Katrina victems moved to, you would see that we are suffering, higher cost on homes, harder for us to obtain a home! And of course the insurance has gone up.
101702
It is mandatory that you have homeowners insurance in New Orleans and flood insurance in a flood zone, which many areas that weren't considered flood zones and had never flooded before had 8ft. of water.  Fema is thouroghly investigating each and every situation and requiring all kinds of proof of insurance from home owners to determine if they need further assistance after contacting insurance agencies, they are not just handing out checks!\nThe people that didn't have insurance were RENTERS, not just poor black people.  Fema is giving them money for personal property inside there home that was lost.  Wouldn't you want the government to help you get a new start in life after you just lost everything you owned and now left in a unfamiliar place?  I mean what were the people paying taxes for if when they have a major (devastation leaving them jobless) interruption in their lives they can't get some help!\nThere have been so many negative things said about the people from New Orleans, but how can anyone who has not gone through what they have gone through say what they should or should not be doing, how they should or should not feel. If you didn't have to go through it, you will never be able to understand how it fells to be in a city that is entirely covered by water (except the french quaters), with no lights, food, and water in extremely hot weather, sitting on a roof top or a bridge with your small children or sick elderly parents, watching dead people float by you, and there aren't enough boats and rescue workers so they have to take one or two of you to safety (the superdome?) hoping they will remember to go back and get the others before they die. Some people couldn't even make it to their attic in time and were found floating on a mattres with only a few inches between them and the ceiling(close your eyes and imagine that you were laying there hoping and praying that by the grace of God somebody finds YOU, when thousands of people were in the same or similar situation). \nMANDATORY EVACUATION WASN'T ISSUED IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS UNTIL SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2005. SOME HOURS BEFORE LANDFALL NOT SEVERAL DAYS.
431853
I'm a FEMA employee(responding to this question on behalf of my daughter), and I see situations like this all the time: it does appear that New Orleans residents are receiving more help/support than other Katrina survivors; however, I would simply encourage you to contact FEMA, by phone, and request a FEMA trailer -- if you haven't already -- ask for rental assitance -- if you're not already getting it (starting the process is a relatively simple process, and ideally, you can have a check, averaging $2,358, for your first 3 rental months, within 14 days (this can possibly continue for 18 months of rent coverage). Also, if you had personal property losses (the contents of your home -- renter or owner), you can/should be compensated by FEMA for it. If for some reason you received nothing, appeal FEMA's decision for another chance to be awarded something. Writing a brief appeal letter and asking for a reconsideration is your most effective tool to address any decision FEMA makes that you are not pleased with.  Also, there are other programs -- such as HUD's "Disaster Voucher Program" -- that can assist you in achieving your goal of getting back to MS, re-gaining employment, and getting back on your feet.  More than anything, know this, despite what you've heard, FEMA really does try to help and really can help! When you call us up and get a phone representative who is insensitive to your struggle, unwilling to spend the necessary time on helping you get the help you need, rude or rushed -- simply shorten the call with that person and call back until you get someone who really wants to help you! We have many resource phone numbers that can help -- other than FEMA -- ask for them when you call us -- make us give them to you.  Please know that we can help, and some of us, many of us take our work/mission at FEMA very seriously, and we won't rest until we know that we have truly done our best, and all that we can do, to assist families like yours get re-established! I trust, hope and pray that you and yours will find yourselves in the place you want to be real soon!
825322
Healthcare fraud may take months or years to discover.  A policyholder who has a serious, costly medical condition & has relied on fraudulent coverage is not only without insurance, but now unable to purchase it on an existing (pre-existing) condition.  (Due to the customary exclusion of pre-existing conditions in all medical insurance).  This also typically means that other than qualifying for some form of group insurance, the individual can no longer purchase insurance at all, due to underwriting selection practices by the insurers.\n\nThe unpaid medical bills may lead to financial ruin, the inability to obtain replacement insurance may do the same.
755703
AS A VICTIM OF FEMA AND THE RED CROSS AS WELL AS KATRINA THE BEST THING THATS HAPPENED IS THE PRIVATE VOLUNTEER GROUPS!  HERE ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST THEY ARE DOING MIRACLES!  WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO!  BUT WITHOUT JUST THE DONATED HELP WE WOULD BE DEAD!\n\nFORGET ANY FORMAL HELP!  THE GOVERNMENT HELP IS REBUILDING THE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND INTRASTRUCTURE!  BUT PERSONAL HOMES ARE FROM VOLUNTEER HELP ALONE!\n\nON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST RIGHT NOW THERE IS A YAHOO GROUP COORDINATING ALL THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES, IT IS LISTED BELOW!\n\nTHEY NEED ANY HELP YOU CAN FURNISH CONTACT THEM!\n\n\nAPS\n\nKatrinaVolunteersHancockCounty@yahoogroups.com
362314
I'm not sure if it is classic fraud, such as billing for services not rendered, but it does sound like there is a problem in the billing department.  I'd write the doctor a letter explaining what happened and telling him your concern.  He/she may not be aware of the problem.  The billing department is filling in the wrong information on the form.  \n\nHowever, if the problem persists, you have your letter as proof that he knows it.  Change doctors and get all of your medical files forwarded.  Then, send a formal complaint to your state attorney general with a cc to the insurance company and the doctor.  Be sure to enclose a copy of the letter previously sent to your doctor, and his response, if any.
309667
There were deferrals for some kinds of debts for persons displaced or whose banks were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. If you were a resident of Louisiana or Mississippi in the affeected areas, check your state's web site.
172500
I live in New Orleans.  I am one of those other thousands of people that you are NOT hearing about; I found a place to live, I did not ask for more FEMA money.  It has been over 5 months since we all lost practically everything.  That's 5 months.  That's a lot of time to pull oneself together and get on with getting on.  Thousands of us did just that, but you aren't reading about us, are you?  I think it is right, and anyone still expecting FEMA to pay for a hotel room should be able to show FEMA proof why they would still need it.
272308
The is NO DOUBT in my mind that it is a total FARCE. These are the same people who recommended duct tape to seal your house in case of a chemical, biological, and radiological attack. Look at how much contraband that has eluded  airport checkpoints. Look at how FEMA and the rest of the US government handled the Hurrican Katrina diaster in  New Orleans. Need I cite any more examples?
139846
Consumer Fraud Awareness\nhttp://www.westernunion.com/info/faqSecurity.asp
307821
I have been through Lafeyett,La. Not much their. La. Got hit so hard by Katrina Hurricane, they all have not recovered yet, I would wait another 1-2 before moving their.