Furious homeowner says her insurance company flew a drone over her house and refused renewal — for 1 minor reason
Furious homeowner says her insurance company flew a drone over her house and refused renewal — for 1 minor reason

When Lynne Schueler looked up at the branches of a beloved tree in her Massachusetts yard, she never expected that a drone might be looking down on her. Schueler, who had held a policy with the same insurer for more than a decade, was shocked…
Drones and aerial imaging raise new questions for homeowners and insurers
Drones and aerial imaging raise new questions for homeowners and insurers

California is pushing for homeowner rights as insurers use flying cameras for property assessments Why it matters: Flying cameras are changing how home insurers evaluate properties, raising questions about consumer rights and transparency. As California considers new disclosure rules, property owners face growing consequences from…
Flying Cameras Are Snapping Photos of Houses for Insurers. Will a California Bill Help Homeowners See Them?
Flying Cameras Are Snapping Photos of Houses for Insurers. Will a California Bill Help Homeowners See Them?

Airborne cameras are taking pictures of individual houses across the U.S. Insurance companies use the photos to inspect buildings after extreme weather, from hurricanes to hailstorms. But they also use them to determine which homes are too risky to insure. A bill in California—a state…
California moves to set nation’s first smoke damage insurance standard
California moves to set nation’s first smoke damage insurance standard

One of the most common insurance complaints after a fire comes from people whose homes are still standing but covered in potentially toxic soot. Because there is no state or federal standard for smoke damage, insurance companies often refuse to pay for cleanup, leaving victims…
California Insurance Bill – The Fight Over Public Adjuster Fees and Homeowner Payouts
California Insurance Bill – The Fight Over Public Adjuster Fees and Homeowner Payouts

What’s the real cost of AB 597? The proposed California bill is stirring up heated debates. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a game-changer or a disaster waiting to happen. On the surface, it’s all about “transparency” and reining in shady contracts. But dig…
A bad bill to rein in insurance adjusters? Proposed state law draws criticism
A bad bill to rein in insurance adjusters? Proposed state law draws criticism

After the devastating January firestorms left thousands of homeowners to grapple with their insurers over complicated claims for smoke damage and burned-down houses, many turned to public adjusters for help. The state-licensed professionals play a vital role in assisting policyholders in preparing property claims and…
Forum offers direction for protecting homes from wildfire, details property insurance efforts
Forum offers direction for protecting homes from wildfire, details property insurance efforts

The first defense against wildfire is in the hands of California homeowners: securing defensible space. “If you’re going to do one thing after this meeting, go buy mesh screening (for roof vents). It’s very easy to do, affordable but very effective,” California State Fire Marshal…
State officials urge homeowners to check fire insurance coverage
State officials urge homeowners to check fire insurance coverage

With the Gifford Fire now the largest wildfire in California this year, Assembly Member Dawn Addis gathered state leaders and insurance experts to help Central Coast homeowners better protect their property and coverage. Experts said many Californians are underinsured and do not realize it until…
Proposed California Ballot Initiative Seeks to Repeal Prop. 103
Proposed California Ballot Initiative Seeks to Repeal Prop. 103

A proposed ballot measure could significantly alter California’s property insurance regulations by repealing Proposition 103, a law passed in 1988 that governs home, auto, and other property and casualty insurance. Background on Proposition 103 Under Prop. 103, insurance companies must obtain approval from the state’s…
Homeowners insurance warning: Why your trust must be listed on your policy
Homeowners insurance warning: Why your trust must be listed on your policy

Many homeowners risk denied claims by not listing their trust on insurance policies. A simple update can prevent major financial and legal headaches. A Right on the Money viewer recently sent me an urgent message asking me to cover a very important financial topic. I…
Long-shot ballot initiative could have huge effect on California insurance
Long-shot ballot initiative could have huge effect on California insurance

A proposed ballot initiative would drastically change the way property insurance is regulated in California by repealing a law voters passed almost four decades ago. Proposition 103 has regulated home, auto and other types of property and casualty insurance in the state since 1988. It…
Florida Peninsula Insurance announces rate reduction request that will benefit ‘about 80,000 policyholders’
Florida Peninsula Insurance announces rate reduction request that will benefit ‘about 80,000 policyholders’

Florida Peninsula Insurance is seeking a rate reduction of 8.4% on homeowners policies and 12% on condo policies, according to an announcement from the Boca Raton-based company. “Given that everything seems to be going up right now, the cost of living, food, housing and everything…
The Point Fire came and went in days. A year later, some Sonoma County residents still waiting for answers
The Point Fire came and went in days. A year later, some Sonoma County residents still waiting for answers

The Point Fire burned for just over a week, but for some in Dry Creek Valley, recovery has dragged on with lingering damage, insurance hurdles, and no known cause. Read More 
Crucial Insurance Deadline Approaches for Maui Wildfire Victims
Crucial Insurance Deadline Approaches for Maui Wildfire Victims

Two-Year Deadline Tied to 2023 Maui Wildfires The deadline coincides with the second anniversary of the disaster that devastated Lahaina and other Maui communities. Under most insurance policies, replacement cost claims for property and contents must be filed within two years of the loss. Some…
California to allow catastrophe modeling for insurance rates, raising concerns about premium hikes
California to allow catastrophe modeling for insurance rates, raising concerns about premium hikes

SAN DIEGO — California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has announced a new “Sustainable Insurance Strategy” that will allow insurance companies to use catastrophe modeling to determine wildfire risk and set rates. This move, aimed at stabilizing the insurance market in high-risk areas, could potentially lead…
Crucial Insurance Deadline Looms In Two Weeks For Maui Fire Victims
Crucial Insurance Deadline Looms In Two Weeks For Maui Fire Victims

The second anniversary of the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires that devastated Lahaina and damaged other communities on Maui is also a major deadline for insurance policyholders to file claims for replacement cost benefits, the primary coverage for property and contents damaged or lost in the…
Kaibigan ng Lahaina and United Policyholders to host insurance policy review workshop
Kaibigan ng Lahaina and United Policyholders to host insurance policy review workshop

Kaibigan ng Lahaina, in partnership with United Policyholders, will host an insurance policy review workshop at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Office of Recovery within the Lahaina Gateway Center. The session will focus on navigating personal property claims and inventory. The workshop is free and…
Embers of Change: Building a fire-resilient California
Embers of Change: Building a fire-resilient California

The recent wildfires that have ravaged Southern California have left an unprecedented trail of destruction. The Eaton fire in Altadena burned more than 14,000 acres, while the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades consumed 23,448 acres. In total, over 16,000 structures were destroyed, including thousands of…