Michelle Megna's Image

Michelle Megna

Lead Editor, Insurance

About

Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.

Michelle is a lead editor for insurance at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. PPrior to covering insurance, Michelle was: a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News; a magazine editor covering consumer technology; a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires; and a local newspaper reporter.

In her role as an insurance writer and editor, Michelle covers travel, auto, home, life and health insurance, distilling complex insurance topics for consumers. This involves writing and editing data-based and survey-based articles, company reviews and articles that help consumers make educated choices about insurance coverage.

Expertise

  • Travel insurance
  • Car insurance
  • Home insurance
  • Life insurance

Achievements

  • Journalist for 35 years
  • Worked as a local news reporter coving city politics, elections, government, schools, crime
  • Worked as a foreign correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea, for Time and DPA, the German national newswire
  • Worked as a magazine editor for one of the first consumer technology publications, owned by Disney
  • Worked as a magazine editor for Time Inc. Custom Publishing covering consumer technology
  • Worked as consumer technology and lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News
  • Worked as an editor of several consumer technology and personal finance sites
  • Worked as editor of CarInsurance.com, Insure.com, Insurance.com covering consumer technology for QuinStreet.

Education

University of Massachusetts Amherst

B.A. in Communications, with a minor in Journalism

  • 10 Best Travel Insurance Companies For 2024: Expert-Rated

    Like other insurance, travel insurance is something you buy in the hopes that you don’t have to use it. Especially because using it means that some part of your trip has been ruined. That’s what happened to Katy Dubinsky, a...
    10 Best Travel Insurance Companies For 2024: Expert-Rated
  • How Life Insurers Get Info On You

    You might be surprised at how much information life insurance companies gather about you when you apply for a policy. From your medical history to your driving record—and even your social media presence—life insurance companies leave no stone unturned to...
    How Life Insurers Get Info On You
  • Travel Insurance Outlook 2025: It’s All About You

    Travel insurance companies hope to smooth out any turbulence you may encounter on your trips in 2025 by rolling out more consumer-friendly benefits. Among them are pet-inclusive policies, enhanced multitrip policies and automatic claim payouts. These extras may help take...
    Travel Insurance Outlook 2025: It’s All About You
  • Can Pet Insurance Ease Your Dog’s Anxiety?

    Editor’s Note: In The Insurance Sleuth, Jason Metz tracks down answers to your questions about enigmatic insurance topics. Have a question? Send him a message and be sure to choose a fun pseudonym in case we use your question. We...
    Can Pet Insurance Ease Your Dog’s Anxiety?
  • The Best High-Risk Homeowners Insurance Companies Of 2024

    Progressive and State Farm are the best high-risk home insurance companies, based on our analysis. Progressive is best for homeowners with poor credit, while State Farm is best for homes in areas prone to severe weather. If you need high-risk...
    The Best High-Risk Homeowners Insurance Companies Of 2024
  • What Is Travel Insurance And What Does It Cover?

    If you can’t afford to lose the hard-earned money you’ve invested in your trip, travel insurance can be a financial safety net. Travel insurance provides compensation for pre- and post-departure problems that can derail your trip. The best travel insurance...
    What Is Travel Insurance And What Does It Cover?
  • 8 Best Car Insurance Companies Of December 2024

    The value of car insurance can shine brightest after an unexpected disaster. That’s what Kathleen Flynn in Missouri discovered when her family lost their car in an EF4 tornado that also took their newly remodeled house. “We made a split-second...
    8 Best Car Insurance Companies Of December 2024
  • Find Cheap Car Insurance In Florida 2024

    The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Florida for Good Drivers   Cheap Car Insurance for 20-Year-Olds in Florida Young drivers in Florida can face very high insurance costs, especially if you’re not on a parent’s car insurance policy. In Florida,...
    Find Cheap Car Insurance In Florida 2024
  • Find Cheap Car Insurance In Minnesota 2024

    The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Minnesota for Good Drivers Cheap Car Insurance for 20-Year-Olds in Minnesota Young drivers in Minnesota can face very high insurance costs, especially if you’re not on a parent’s car insurance policy. In Minnesota, these...
    Find Cheap Car Insurance In Minnesota 2024
  • The Insurance Sleuth: Does An Out-Of-State Speeding Ticket Affect My Car Insurance Rates?

    Editor’s Note: In The Insurance Sleuth, Jason Metz tracks down answers to your questions about enigmatic insurance topics. Have a question? Send him a message, and if you want to remain anonymous, be sure to choose a fun pseudonym in...
    The Insurance Sleuth: Does An Out-Of-State Speeding Ticket Affect My Car Insurance Rates?
  • Best Life Insurance Companies In New York Of 2024

    Life insurance is an important component of a well-rounded financial plan. Whether you’re reevaluating your needs or buying for the first time, it’s a great time to consider your life insurance options. We evaluated key metrics for different types of...
    Best Life Insurance Companies In New York Of 2024
  • AKC Pet Insurance Review 2024

    AKC pet insurance offers an impressive array of annual coverage and deductible choices so you can customize a plan that fits your budget. You can also add a wellness plan to cover routine vet expenses like wellness exams, vaccinations, spay/neuter,...
    AKC Pet Insurance Review 2024
  • Best RV Insurance Companies Of 2024

    Progressive is the best RV insurance company, followed by American Family and Foremost, based on our analysis. We evaluated RV insurers nationwide and scored them on complaints, coverage options, claims processes and discounts. An RV allows you to enjoy the...
    Best RV Insurance Companies Of 2024
  • Best Luxury Car Insurance Companies Of 2024

    Travelers is the best car insurance company for luxury cars, according to our research. Nationwide and Erie are also among our top picks. We evaluated insurance companies countrywide based on their auto insurance rates, complaint level, coverage options and claim...
    Best Luxury Car Insurance Companies Of 2024
  • IMG Travel Insurance Review 2024

    The iTravelInsured Travel LX policy earned a top rating in our evaluation thanks to its superior travel medical coverage of $500,000 and $1 million in medical evacuation benefits per person. Also included: $50,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage and $10,000 for...
    IMG Travel Insurance Review 2024
  • Best ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ Travel Insurance Of 2024

    Our analysis found that AIG, Seven Corners and WorldTrips offer the best “cancel for any reason” travel insurance. If you cancel for reasons not listed in the policy, a travel insurance policy with CFAR typically reimburses 75% of your insured...
    Best ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ Travel Insurance Of 2024
  • 8 Best Pet Insurance For Rescue Dogs 2024

    We analyzed 10 policies and found that Pets Best, Embrace and Paw Protect are the three best pet insurance companies for rescue dogs. Pet insurance for rescue dogs covers major veterinary expenses, like cancer treatments or getting struck by a...
    8 Best Pet Insurance For Rescue Dogs 2024
  • Openly Home Insurance Review 2024

    Openly home insurance offers generous coverage for high-value homes and homeowners. On the other hand, Openly doesn’t provide insurance quotes online and doesn’t sell other types of insurance like most other insurers do.
    Openly Home Insurance Review 2024
  • What Is A Car Insurance Declaration Page?

    After you purchase a car insurance policy, you might forget exactly what type of coverage you have—and how much you paid for them. Your car insurance declaration page includes these details and lets you access them in an instant. Typically,...
    What Is A Car Insurance Declaration Page?
  • Kin Home Insurance Review 2024

    Kin home insurance stands out in our analysis because it sells flood insurance, which is a benefit not found with many competitors. You can buy flood coverage as a policy endorsement that may have higher dwelling and property limits than...
    Kin Home Insurance Review 2024
  • PrimeCover Travel Insurance Review 2024

    One reason PrimeCover’s Luxe policy stood out in our evaluation was its superior medical evacuation coverage of up to $1 million per person. The Luxe policy includes a “hospital of choice” feature, allowing you to be transported to your preferred...
    PrimeCover Travel Insurance Review 2024
  • What Is The Make And Model Of A Car?

    It’s helpful to understand what the make and model of a car represent when buying a vehicle. Every vehicle has both a make and a model: The make is the car’s brand, or the manufacturer—for example, a Ford or Toyota....
    What Is The Make And Model Of A Car?
  • Homesite Homeowners Insurance Review 2024

    Homesite has a low level of complaints filed with state regulators compared to the industry average, which can signify customer satisfaction. Its rates are higher than some competitors, but if you’re interested in a wide range of optional benefits, Homesite...
    Homesite Homeowners Insurance Review 2024
  • Massage Therapist Insurance: Coverage & Costs

    If you're a massage therapist, you're likely used to dealing with business challenges from time to time, even as you help others find their inner Zen. But you can’t predict the future. Damage to your business equipment and injuries to...
    Massage Therapist Insurance: Coverage & Costs
  • Best Health Insurance Companies Of December 2024

    Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance company that offers Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans. Aetna, Oscar and Blue Cross Blue Shield also rank highly in our analysis of health insurance costs, complaints, metal tiers and breadth of health plans...
    Best Health Insurance Companies Of December 2024
  • Best Life Insurance Companies In Georgia Of 2024

    Whether you’re reevaluating your needs or buying life insurance for the first time, it is always a good time to add life insurance to your financial plan. Georgia residents have no shortage of options for life insurance. We evaluated key...
    Best Life Insurance Companies In Georgia Of 2024
  • Best Life Insurance Companies in Texas Of 2024

    Life insurance is a must-have in any healthy financial plan, and there is no shortage of life insurance options for Texans. Whether you’re reevaluating your needs or buying for the first time, it is always a good time to get...
    Best Life Insurance Companies in Texas Of 2024
  • Best Life Insurance Companies In Maryland Of 2024

    Life insurance is a critical piece of a healthy financial plan. Whether you’re reevaluating your needs or buying for the first time, the right time is always now when it comes to life insurance. Marylanders have no shortage of options...
    Best Life Insurance Companies In Maryland Of 2024
  • Best Car Insurance For Pickup Trucks Of 2024

    Our top picks for best pickup truck insurance 2024 are Erie, Nationwide and Travelers, all of which earned five stars in our assessment. Trucks may be big and somewhat intimidating vehicles on the roadways, but it doesn’t mean their insurance...
    Best Car Insurance For Pickup Trucks Of 2024
  • Is Airbnb Travel Insurance Worth It?

    Planning an Airbnb vacation but worried about the host’s strict cancellation policy? Trip disruptions like flight delays or rental issues can quickly derail the best-laid plans. But Airbnb offers travel insurance to safeguard your stay. Adding this optional insurance during...
    Is Airbnb Travel Insurance Worth It?

About

Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.