Nationwide Suspends Some New Business Underwriting in Florida, Alabama and
Mississippi
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.,
the country's seventh-largest property and casualty insurance company, has
claim representatives and agents prepared to assist customers following
landfall of Tropical Storm Bonnie or Hurricane Charley.
As weather alerts track the storm patterns, Nationwide has people and
resources in place to respond quickly to customers' needs.
"Claims specialists will be positioned in hotels outside of the storm's
path and ready to be deployed," said Ken Enscoe, Nationwide's director of
catastrophe claims operations. "We are preparing so that immediately following
the event we can have claims specialists in place to support policyholders."
Call centers are prepared to receive and handle claims from customers and
pallets of supplies are ready for distribution to temporary storm centers once
the locations are confirmed. Policyholders with storm damage should call the
Nationwide claims hotline at 1-800-421-3535 or contact their local agent.
Currently, Nationwide has suspended some new business underwriting (see
listing below; additional suspensions are anticipated). Those with a pending
renewal are still able to maintain coverage.
Policyholders, however, will not be able to improve upon their existing
policy until the suspension has been lifted. The suspension applies to
physical damage coverage for auto, homeowners, commercial and other Nationwide
products (i.e., boiler & machinery coverage, inland marine, and boat
coverage.)
In Florida, Nationwide insures 301,260 homes (fifth largest statewide*)
and 304,917 vehicles (sixth largest statewide*). Nationwide also insures more
than 44,000 homes and 84,000 vehicles in Alabama and more than 44,000 homes
and 39,000 vehicles in Mississippi.
Policyholders in the expected path can take the following steps now to
help expedite a possible claim:
- Read and understand your insurance policy, especially disclosures.
- Make sure important documents, such as insurance policies or mortgage
papers, are stored in a safe deposit or fire safe box.
- Inventory valuables and contents in the home with photographs or video.
Note the approximate value of each item and the date of purchase. You
can also send an inventory to a family member outside your region for
safekeeping.
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified
insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than
$148 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks 118th on the Fortune 500 list. The
company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including
auto, homeowners, life, health, commercial insurance, administrative services,
annuities, mutual funds, pensions and long-term savings plans.
The Nationwide companies include the country's seventh-largest
property/casualty, the fourth-largest homeowners and the fifth-largest auto
insurance group. For more information, visit http://www.nationwide.com .
* According to A.M. Best, 2002
Effective immediately, all binding authority has been suspended for
Nationwide and Allied property exposures (including but not limited to
Nationwide Mutual, Nationwide Mutual Fire, Nationwide Insurance Company of
Florida, P&C, NGI, Nationwide Agribusiness, AMCO, Depositors, Allied P&C, THI,
Farmland Insurance and NW Assurance) in the following states/counties:
Alabama:
Baldwin Monroe
Florida:
Bay Gadsden Leon Wakulla
Calhoun Gulf Liberty Walton
Dixie Holmes Okaloosa Washington
Escambia Jackson Santa Rosa
Franklin Jefferson Taylor
Mississippi:
George Jackson
Hancock Pearl River
Harrison Stone
Contacts:
Kevin Craiglow at (614) 249-6356 or (614) 565-6556 (cell)
craiglk@nationwide.com
Eric Hardgrove at (614) 677-8516
hardgre@nationwide.com
SOURCE Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
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Related links:
http://www.nationwide.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/607050.html
CONTACT:
Kevin Craiglow, +1-614-249-6356, or cell,
+1-614-565-6556, or craiglk@nationwide.com , or Eric Hardgrove,
+1-614-677-8516, or hardgre@nationwide.com , both of Nationwide
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