‘In deep doo-doo’: Policyholders left scrambling as state’s largest home insurer retreats
‘In deep doo-doo’: Policyholders left scrambling as state’s largest home insurer retreats

This week, with little forewarning, more than 70,000 State Farm policyholders in California were unceremoniously informed that their insurance policies would not be renewed. Via a thin boilerplate letter, the state’s largest insurer gave little in the way of details to some 30,000 residential customers…
Insurers Report Rising Hail Damage Claims
Insurers Report Rising Hail Damage Claims

Inflation is driving up the cost of materials and labor to repair roofs and cars. Adding to insurers’ costs is increased development in areas affected by severe storms. Golf balls, tennis balls, softballs. All sound like the stuff of fun games — except when they…
Rising insurance costs are making homeownership even more expensive
Rising insurance costs are making homeownership even more expensive

As homeowners in Vero Beach, Florida, Marie and Jack Zuzack have had their share of insurance problems. She’s a retired city planner; he worked in biotech research. They own an older home that’s more vulnerable to hurricanes than modern buildings, and two years ago, after…
State Farm dropping 72,000 California home, apartment insurance policies
State Farm dropping 72,000 California home, apartment insurance policies

The Illinois-based company is one of several carriers that in the past two years have back off of or walked away from property insurance coverage in the Golden State. Windsor resident Julie Tyler is among the latest round of policyholders who was forced to find…
State Farm will not renew thousands of California insurance policies over the next year
State Farm will not renew thousands of California insurance policies over the next year

State Farm plans to continue scaling back on what it offers to policyholders in California. That includes homeowner and rental dwelling policies. (Previous coverage in video player above: Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help after State Farm won’t take on new policies for…
Little Hoover Commission plans March 28 hearing on homeowners’ insurance market
Little Hoover Commission plans March 28 hearing on homeowners’ insurance market

On Thursday, March 28, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct the first in a series of public hearings on California’s Homeowners’ Insurance Market at 10 a.m., followed by a Business Meeting. Both meetings will be held in the Coastal Hearing Room at the CalEPA Headquarters…
Complaints to MN Department of Commerce about homeowner insurance doubled since 2020
Complaints to MN Department of Commerce about homeowner insurance doubled since 2020

Homeowners insurance complaints to the Minnesota Department of Commerce have more than doubled since 2020, jumping from 569 in 2020 to 1,185 complaints in 2023. Many of those complaints are from homeowners concerned their claims were denied or they faced high out-of-pocket costs after damage…
California proposes rule that would change how insurers assess wildfire risk
California proposes rule that would change how insurers assess wildfire risk

Insurance companies in California currently use historical data to assess wildfire risk. A proposal would allow them to use catastrophe modeling instead. Read more.
Cost of homeowner’s insurance going way up for some in California
Cost of homeowner’s insurance going way up for some in California

Owning a home in San Diego County can be a dream come true for those who can afford it. But the dream is becoming increasingly more expensive, and that’s if you can even get insurance. The California Department of Insurance said 7 out of the12…
What Does “Surface Water” Mean? NAPIA Files an Amicus Brief in a Legal Fight Over Its Meaning
What Does “Surface Water” Mean? NAPIA Files an Amicus Brief in a Legal Fight Over Its Meaning

The term “surface water” generally refers to water that accumulates on the ground’s surface in a diffuse manner, typically resulting from precipitation (rain or snow) that does not flow within a defined channel or watercourse. This definition is crucial in understanding coverage limitations and exclusions…
CALL KURTIS Call Kurtis Investigates: Escrow disaster leaves Antelope mom without full insurance after house fire
CALL KURTIS Call Kurtis Investigates: Escrow disaster leaves Antelope mom without full insurance after house fire

Theresa Ingraham paid for her homeowners insurance each month through her mortgage payment but learned that after her house fire, her AAA bill went unpaid. The mom of three is a fire dispatcher and overheard the call to fight the fire at her own home.…
Catch UP on Insurance for Repairing Flood Damage with David Maurstad
Catch UP on Insurance for Repairing Flood Damage with David Maurstad

In this Catch UP segment, Amy Bach talks to David Maurstad about Flood Insurance. David Maurstad is FEMA’s Assistant Administrator of Federal Insurance Directorate and Senior Executive of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
An acre of land with an abandoned house: Time to call insurance agents
An acre of land with an abandoned house: Time to call insurance agents

Question: We want to build a house. There is a Bay Area lot for sale in our area. It is an acre. It is close to town. There is natural gas connected. However, it is in a high-fire designated area. Plus, the roads are narrow.…
Catch UP on Roof Damage and Insurance Claims with Sarah Parker
Catch UP on Roof Damage and Insurance Claims with Sarah Parker

In this Catch UP segment, Public Adjuster Sarah Parker shares her insights and expertise on roof damage and insurance claims.
Local expert addresses hot topic of home insurance availability
Local expert addresses hot topic of home insurance availability

The Via Farallon La Cuesta Firewise group hosted a Zoom meeting, open to the public, on Feb. 22, so that local residents could hear from a local insurance expert about the problem of home insurance nonrenewals. Joel Laucher, a Moraga resident who worked for the…
United Policyholders: February 2022 Events
United Policyholders: February 2022 Events

United Policyholders (UP) is offering a Roadmap to Recovery® Q&A workshop in February for survivors of wildfires in California. You can submit your questions in advance and UP will address them during the webinar. UP will also have two Survivor to Survivor Forums scheduled for…
California Legislature OKs Annuity Sales Rule Update
California Legislature OKs Annuity Sales Rule Update

The California Senate voted 37-0 earlier this week to give final legislative approval to Senate Bill 263, California’s version of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners annuity sales standards model. The bill would update California’s existing annuity suitability rules and require annuity sellers to act…
7 Investigates: Sky-high surprise
7 Investigates: Sky-high surprise

Your insurance company might be checking out your house from the sky. And 7 Investigates found if they don’t like what they see, they’ll cancel your policy. Hank Phillippi Ryan has the story. While the family who owns a Saugus home was hanging out inside……