National Association of Insurance Commissioners recentlyunveiled Insure U, a public education program to help consumersbecome insurance savvy. Aimed at helping consumers get smart aboutinsurance as their needs change at different life stages, theprogram also seeks to educate them about how to avoid winding up avictim of fraud.

NAIC was troubled by recent consumer research, according to arecent release, which necessitated the need for Insure U. Among itsfindings were:

20 percent of young singles say they would let their autoinsurance policies lapse to save money and 18 percent would declineemployer health insurance to save money.

Fewer than half of young families have life insurance purchasedon their own for either spouse.

More than half of respondents in established families did notunderstand the terms under which they can elect to continue theirhealth coverage under their old employer's policy if they leave ajob, as stipulated under COBRA law.

12 percent of empty nesters/seniors think they are likely toneed long-term care, and they significantly underestimate the costof such care.

45 percent of consumers overall get suspicious about the numberone warning sign associated with fake insurance: a policy thatcosts significantly less (i.e. , 15-20 percent less) than otherpolicies with comparable coverage.

More information is available at www.insureUonline.org .