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Joel Laucher
Joel Laucher

Joel Laucher is a part-time employee with United Policyholders after 35 years with the California Department of Insurance. Joel started his career at the CDI as a market conduct examiner and went on over the years to serve in management positions including Division Chief of Consumer Services, Division Chief of Market Conduct, Deputy Commissioner for Rate Regulation, and Chief Deputy Commissioner.
Before joining the CDI, Joel was a commercial insurance underwriter.
He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz – yes, a banana slug.

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Commercial Insurance

We live in CA and own a 6 unit building that is under rent control in the city of LA. Our building insurance is now due for a renewal, which of course, they are not going to renew. We were originally paying around $3000 annually…

Joel Laucher answered 2 years ago • Coverage Question • California
694 views1 answers
Do automatic fire extinguishers count as home hardening and mitigation?

I have deployed 30 automatic fire extinguishers on the outside of my house and outbuildings. If approached by fire, they spray 360 degrees, out to 8 feet. Are such things taken into consideration? State Farm has just decided not to renew my homeowner’s policy, despite…

Joel Laucher answered 2 years ago • General Question, Rebuilding, Remediation • California
632 views1 answers
Homeowners insurance premium increase based upon change in risk factor that is not justified

Can insurance companies change the risk factor to increase premiums without California Department of Insurance approval? Our homeowners insurance premium increased over 160% because the insurance company changed the risk factor for “water” risk, i.e. flooding.  Our home and neighborhood are at about 150 feet…

Joel Laucher answered 3 years ago • General Question • California
1061 views1 answers
Non renewal of Homeowner’s policy during rebuild

We are rebuilding our home lost in the Marshall Fire. We are framing our home now and received a notice of nonrenewal for our homeowner’s policy due to “unacceptable risk.” I’ve contacted our insurer and the DOI, but feel pressure to shop for homeowner’s insurance…

Joel Laucher answered 3 years ago • Cancellation / Non-Renewal • Colorado
1296 views1 answers
safer from wildfires within city limits

How does the “safer from wildfires” list apply to home within city limits? i.e., “defensible space” can’t really be 100′ in town. Also, what does our Fire Safe Council need to do to be recognized by insurance companies as making our community resilient – and…

Joel Laucher answered 3 years ago • Coverage Question • California
1115 views1 answers
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