Up in the News

As many Californians recover from the devastating winter storms, many are realizing there are gaps in their insurance coverage, leaving them vulnerable. It’s been months since the devastating winter storms destroyed homes and businesses in the state. As many Californians are still struggling to recover,…

Two more insurance companies will exit the California homeowners market, further narrowing options for people seeking to insure their home or to purchase a house with a mortgage. AmGUARD Insurance—a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies—will withdraw its homeowners and personal umbrella programs in…

Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Lakers and Ross Stores are among 10 parties that have filed amicus briefs as the California Supreme Court ponders whether the virus that causes COVID-19 can cause direct physical damage or loss to property. The sports organizations and discount…

It’s becoming harder and harder to get a homeowner insurance policy in California. State Farm and Allstate stopped writing new policies, citing wildfire risks. Others are limiting new customers. And now, several viewers tell San Francisco’s KGO-TV that AAA is not renewing their longtime policies…

Homeowners in San Francisco and the East Bay who protect their homes with Safeco Insurance may need to brace for some bad news. The insurance company plans to quietly drop over 950 policies in the Bay Area when they come up for renewal starting in…

To address growing concerns surrounding finding and maintaining homeowners insurance coverage in California, experts at the California Dept. of Insurance, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of consumers, recently gathered for an insurance townhall briefing for REALTORS®. View…

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association says California’s insurance marketplace is “fragile,” and has joined with other organizations calling for reforms to modernize the state’s rules and regulations when it comes to the homeowner insurance market. The association was one of 30 presenters participating in…

Three decades after deadly firestorms, overgrowth and dead trees have residents on edge Admiring East Oakland from a lookout point at Joaquin Miller Park, Dale Risden feels right at home, having lived just a block away from an entrance to the park’s 500 acres of…

Balancing a ‘chilling effect’ for modelers with consumer transparency The use of catastrophe modeling to influence insurance rates in California has been mooted as one part of a potential fix for the state’s property insurance crisis, but private-led use remains a controversial option with consumer…

Wildfires and floods in the Santa Cruz Mountains have not only upended the lives of thousands of residents in recent years, but they have also contributed to higher prices for homeowners insurance and caused some insurance providers to not renew coverage. Advocates this month offered…

“I’ve gone through some stressful things in my life, and this is right up there,” one homeowner said If you own a home in California or Florida — or are planning to sometime soon — you may be feeling increasingly worried about something that’s supposed…

“Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen speaks with Amy Bach, executive director at United Policyholders, about what homeowners can expect after Rolling Hills Estates landslide. Hector De La Torre of the California Air Resources Board talks about the environmental concerns behind hexavalent chromium. And later,…

Big wildfires had started burning more often in California, creeping closer to Beth Pratt’s home near Yosemite National Park. So Pratt did what homeowners in fire-prone areas are supposed to do: She added a metal roof, traded wood decking for laminate, installed a water tank…

United Policyholders, a non-profit organization that helps disaster victims navigate fair and full insurance claim settlements, is holding an online “Survivor to Survivor” meeting on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. The meeting is only for people who’ve been impacted by Hurricanes Ian or Nicole. Insurance…

When it was time for Florida retiree Sue Maher to renew her homeowners insurance this year, she experienced sticker shock. Her insurance carrier informed her in March that it was increasing her annual premium, already at $3,800, by $2,000. “I kind of freaked out when…

WHAT IS THE PRICE OF PARADISE? As Tampa Bay continues to attract new residents and businesses, the impact of living in paradise comes at a cost for all of us— from the increasing cost of housing and infrastructure to utilities and insurance. ABC Action News…