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Boston Globe
11-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Floods come again. Is it time to get flood insurance?
First things first, what is flood insurance? Standard homeowner insurance generally covers water damage, but that's different from flood damage. Flood insurance is offered through a separate policy and specifically covers property damaged by a flood. What's the difference between water damage and flood damage? Advertisement Water damage can be as simple as a pipe leaking or a washing machine breaking and damaging belongings. A flood has a specific description, defined by the National Flood Insurance Program as 'a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Do I need to get flood insurance? It depends. People who live in a designated floodplain face higher flood risk and should consider getting flood insurance -- if they don't have it already. The government has created an Even if your house is not within high-risk zones, you might be close to one. In that case, you might still want to get flood insurance. Advertisement In other cases, your house may not be near a high-risk flood zone, but it could still be at risk of flooding if, for example, it's at the bottom of a hill or a cul-de-sac. Again, you might consider flood insurance. How do I get flood insurance? Many homeowners insurance brokers offer flood insurance in a separate policy. If you can't find a reasonable private policy, the federally-run National Flood Insurance Program is an option. The federal insurance is usually cheaper than private policies, but has lower coverage limits. How much does it cost? The average flood insurance cost in Massachusetts is $1,142 per year from the NFIP program, according to the personal finance company, Properties located in flood zones but at higher elevations might qualify for reduced policy rates. You can request an elevation inspection through What about coverage? The downside to purchasing flood insurance through the NFIP is its coverage cap. The maximum building property coverage is $250,000 and content coverage of $100,000. Private insurers can offer a much higher coverage, but it comes with a cost. Motor vehicles are not covered by flood insurance, but auto policies with comprehensive insurance typically cover flood damage. I want to sell my property, should I cancel my flood insurance? Not yet! If you purchased your flood insurance through NFIP, you may be eligible for a grandfather rule. This rule means the agreed policy price is locked and won't increase when transferred to a new homeowner, which could be a selling point. If you cancel your insurance, the next homeowner might have to pay a lot more. Advertisement What about the future? Climate change is accelerating natural hazards. scientists agree. Wildfires, hurricanes, storms and floods are more common and brutal each year. In 2024, Many homeowners insurance companies Yogev Toby can be reached at
Voice of America
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Trump signs order aimed at ending benefits for some immigrants
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order aimed at ending federal benefits for people in the country illegally, the White House said Wednesday, his latest in a blizzard of moves to crack down on immigration. The White House said the order seeks to end "all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens," but it was not clear which benefits will be targeted. People in the country illegally generally do not qualify except for emergency medical care. Children are entitled to a free K-12 public education regardless of immigration status under a 1982 Supreme Court ruling. The order notes that a 1996 welfare overhaul denies most public benefits to people in the country illegally but says that law has been gradually undermined. "Over the last 4 years, in particular, the prior administration repeatedly undercut the goals of that law, resulting in the improper expenditure of significant taxpayer resources." Trump's words appear directed at former President Joe Biden's extensive use of parole authority to allow people in the country temporarily, including more than 900,000 through an online appointment app called CBP One used at border crossings with Mexico and more than 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who flew to the United States at their own expense with a financial sponsor. Trump immediately ended both programs. Biden also granted parole to nearly 300,000 people from Ukraine and Afghanistan. People granted parole for at least a year are considered "qualified noncitizens," making them eligible for some income-based benefits, but only after five years. They include Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Some states have shortened the five-year wait. Trump's order appears to have other targets, some already subjects of earlier edicts and Justice Department lawsuits. It directs all departments and agencies to identify federal benefit spending that is inconsistent with the 1996 welfare law. It also seeks to ensure that state and local governments are not using federal funds for policies that support "sanctuary" policies or encourage illegal immigration. Trump signed 10 executive orders on immigration on his first day in office. They included ending automatic citizenship for people born in the United States and asylum at the southern border. The birthright citizenship order has been temporarily halted in court.
