Commissioner Thomas E. Hampton of the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB), today urged District residents and businesses  affected by Monday’s fires that destroyed the Eastern Market, Georgetown Library and 12 homes to contact DISB if they need any assistance related to insurance matters. 

“We at DISB are deeply concerned about District residents and businesses affected by the fires, especially those businesses that suffered direct losses,” said Commissioner Hampton. “It is our priority to make sure those affected get the assistance and information they need in filing claims with their insurance providers and understanding their rights as policyholders.”

Anyone who has questions about insurance coverage or who wants general information about insurance should call DISB at (202) 727-8000 or visit the DISB website's Consumers' section. 
 
“It is times like these that remind us of the importance of having proper insurance coverage suitable for your life’s needs to protect what you cannot afford to lose,” Commissioner Hampton added. DISB is using this occasion to reintroduce to the public the national consumer-education insurance campaign, Insure U, which offers easy-to-understand information on the most common types of insurance for individuals and small businesses.

For information on small business insurance, please visit the Insure U for Small Business website at www.insureUonline.org/smallbusiness. Launched last week by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the site offers information ranging from workers’ compensation, business property and liability, commercial auto, group health and liability, group life and key person life, and home-based business.   

For information on individual insurance, please visit the Insure U website at http://www.insureuonline.org/, which has mirror sites in English and Spanish. The site explains consumer insurance based on four life stages—young singles, young families, established families and empty nesters. For each life stage, you may find out what are your insurance needs for home, auto, health and life.
 
DISB offers year-round workshops and consumer tips on various financial services. To request a speaker or obtain consumer-education materials, please contact (202) 727-8000, or disb.dc.gov.