California lawmakers propose wildfire insurance bill to protect homeowners
California lawmakers propose wildfire insurance bill to protect homeowners

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — A bill introduced into the California Legislature on Tuesday would add protections to some homeowners at risk of nonrenewals. The “Renew California Bill” would require insurance companies to write or renew policies for existing homes in communities that meet state…
Working to keep the HOME in home insurance
Working to keep the HOME in home insurance

Consumers buy home insurance where legally required AND for the peace of mind of knowing that if adversity strikes, the policy will generate money to deal with whatever that adversity is.  They don’t sit around thinking up doomsday scenarios of every possible event that could damage or…
Oh baby…insurance and maternity care
Oh baby…insurance and maternity care

What to expect (from your insurance company) when you’re expecting When you bring your new baby home, the last thing you should have to worry about is the hospital bill. So before your due date, find out your health plan’s rules on delivery care costs.…
Next battle in California with insurers is over home policyholder discounts for cutting fire risks
Next battle in California with insurers is over home policyholder discounts for cutting fire risks

Will Abrams and his family barely escaped from their house in the Riebli-Wallace neighborhood of Santa Rosa as the flames from the 2017 Tubbs fire bore down on their residence. “I had my two) kids under my arms running to our cars and we barely…
California Insurance Commissioner Says Renew California Bill Would Create an Insurance Guarantee to Harden Homes Against Wildfire
California Insurance Commissioner Says Renew California Bill Would Create an Insurance Guarantee to Harden Homes Against Wildfire

Requiring insurance companies to write and renew homeowner insurance policies for hardened homes and communities that meet statewide standard. February 19, 2020 – SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yesterday, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez D-San Diego), Assemblywoman Monique Limón D-Santa Barbara), Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, and United Policyholders introduced…
Legislation Designed To Forge Community, Insurance Partnership
Legislation Designed To Forge Community, Insurance Partnership

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez D-San Diego), Assemblywoman Monique Limón D-Santa Barbara), Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, and United Policyholders on Tuesday introduced legislation to give insurance companies a greater role in protecting communities from devastating wildfires. Renew California AB 2367) would require insurance companies to write or…
What’s a wildfire score? Do you know yours?
What’s a wildfire score? Do you know yours?

SAN FRANCISCO KGO) — Recent firestorms have increased the profile of wildfire modeling companies, firms that rate homes by their likelihood to burn. Most California homes have a wildfire score, but about the only homeowners who know they have one are those who have been…
Renew California’ bill seeks to ease wildfire-fueled homeowners insurance crisis
Renew California’ bill seeks to ease wildfire-fueled homeowners insurance crisis

Insurance companies have been dropping coverage for homeowners living in fire-prone areas, leaving them unprotected at best and unable to keep their homes at worst. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A wildfire-related crisis facing counties all over the state could have one solution in sight. As the…
Most California insurers don’t incentivize fire prevention. A bill would change that
Most California insurers don’t incentivize fire prevention. A bill would change that

A group of state lawmakers, regulators and consumer advocates hope the insurance industry can encourage homeowners and communities to harden their homes and neighborhoods against wildfires. That’s the intent behind a newly introduced bill that would set statewide standards for fire-hardened homes and communities. It…
Shannen Doherty reveals terminal cancer amid wildfire insurance battle
Shannen Doherty reveals terminal cancer amid wildfire insurance battle

The actor Shannen Doherty has revealed her battle with terminal breast cancer in an interview about her ongoing fight with State Farm, California’s largest home insurer, to receive compensation for her wildfire-damaged home. Doherty’s Malibu home was damaged by smoke from the Woolsey fire in…
Newborn Charged $10,000 For Hospital Room And Board
Newborn Charged $10,000 For Hospital Room And Board

SACRAMENTO CBS13) — Little Lainey Walls came into the world with a big surprise — a $10,000 bill. Even though her mom had insurance, the newborn was charged room and board for her first two days of life. “It’s frustrating and I feel like it’s…
The cost of fire insurance across California is rising at a frightening pace if you can get it at all
The cost of fire insurance across California is rising at a frightening pace if you can get it at all

Homeowners are finding their insurance premiums outpacing their incomes, if they can find insurance at all. Who is responsible for the crisis? AUBURN, Calif. — A crisis has been building in the foothills of the Sierra and other fire-prone communities in California. It’s related to…
How to Save Money on Homeowners Insurance
How to Save Money on Homeowners Insurance

The average premium for the most common type of homeowners insurance was $1,211 in 2017, the most recent year for which data was available, according to a report issued last year by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. That figure was up slightly from $1,192…
NAIC Names 2020 Consumer Liaison Representatives
NAIC Names 2020 Consumer Liaison Representatives

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently named 32 consumer liaison representatives for 2020. The 20 funded and 12 unfunded consumer representatives began their terms Jan. 1. Fifteen of the funded consumer representatives participated in the program in 2019. They receive funds from the NAIC,…
Camp Fire recovery rebuilding with bigger homes in Paradise
Camp Fire recovery rebuilding with bigger homes in Paradise

PARADISE — Paradise homes are getting bigger during the rebuild. Around 60 percent of the homes under construction in the town are larger in square footage than the home they are replacing, according to permit and property data collected by the Chico Enterprise-Record and Chico…
What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim
What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim

After the storm has cleared or the fire has died down, your sense of relief at surviving may quickly give way to a sense of shock when you gaze at the charred or battered wreckage that used to be your home and all the stuff…
How to Figure Out How Much Homeowners Insurance You Need
How to Figure Out How Much Homeowners Insurance You Need

One thing to keep in mind about homeowners insurance is that if you’re like most people, you probably don’t have enough coverage. “Whenever we do a survey in a disaster area, we generally find that two-thirds of the people whose homes are a total loss…
How to Get Your Insurer to Cover Treatment for an Eating Disorder
How to Get Your Insurer to Cover Treatment for an Eating Disorder

If you or a member of your family are suffering from an eating disorder, your insurer may balk at covering treatment by claiming it’s “not medically necessary” or that coverage is limited by plan terms. Knowledge is power when dealing with insurance companies. Their opinion…