Los Angeles Fires Become Existential Test for California’s Stopgap Insurer
Los Angeles Fires Become Existential Test for California’s Stopgap Insurer

The conflagrations tearing across Los Angeles are on track to be among the most expensive wildfire disasters in US history, draining insurance coffers and threatening California’s massive state-sponsored insurance program. Losses from the fires “could push insurance markets over the brink in California,” said Michael…
Sonoma County firefighters and aid workers rally to help Los Angeles in its time of need
Sonoma County firefighters and aid workers rally to help Los Angeles in its time of need

It’s been seven years and three months since Annie Barbour lost her Coffey Park house in the Tubbs Fire. On Tuesday afternoon, as fierce winds fed similarly destructive wildfires in Southern California, her phone started blowing up. “You know how close Coffey Park is,” said…
California overhauled its insurance system. Then Los Angeles caught fire.
California overhauled its insurance system. Then Los Angeles caught fire.

On Tuesday, after a ferocious Santa Ana windstorm blew through Southern California, a severe brush fire broke out in the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, burning at least 1,000 structures and forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate as of Thursday morning.…
Insurance claim tips for homeowners affected by Southern California wildfires
Insurance claim tips for homeowners affected by Southern California wildfires

Multiple wildfires have been sweeping across Los Angeles County since Tuesday, killing at least five and pushing thousands out of their homes. The total damage is not yet known; the fires were 0% contained as of Wednesday. For the owners of the 1,000-plus structures destroyed…
If you lost your home or business in the wildfires, here’s what to do next
If you lost your home or business in the wildfires, here’s what to do next

With thousands of structures destroyed by wildfires that continue to rage out of control around Los Angeles, homeowners and business owners face a long road ahead to recoup their losses. Filing an insurance claim is one of the many tasks to take care of after…
Frustrated About Insurance Denials? You’re Not Alone.
Frustrated About Insurance Denials? You’re Not Alone.

My book “Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It” was thrust into the spotlight recently after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed last month in what authorities say was a targeted attack. Investigators at the scene…
Getting Insured: Tips for finding home insurance in California
Getting Insured: Tips for finding home insurance in California

If 2024 is the year you can finally buy a new home, the next and maybe even greater challenge could very well be getting home insurance. Or perhaps you are a current homeowner and have been dropped by your insurance company. That’s what happened to…
California finalized its plan to ease home insurance crisis. Here’s what it means for rates
California finalized its plan to ease home insurance crisis. Here’s what it means for rates

When a major wildfire hits, insurance companies call on insurance of their own — and starting next year, they’ll be able to charge consumers for part of the millions of dollars they spend on it. Insurance companies purchase reinsurance for the same reasons homeowners purchase…
Liberty Mutual exiting condo, rental insurance market
Liberty Mutual exiting condo, rental insurance market

Liberty Mutual plans to stop offering condo and rental insurance policies in California over the next two years. One of the state’s largest insurers made three filings indicating the withdrawal of business in this category of coverage, the California Department of Insurance reported Dec. 20.…
Plans take shape for Colorado’s FAIR Plan “last resort” home insurance
Plans take shape for Colorado’s FAIR Plan “last resort” home insurance

The Colorado FAIR Plan is the first public insurance program to operate in the United States in 40 years to sell property insurance policies to those who cannot find coverage on the open market. Read more
Earthquake policyholders few despite quake risk
Earthquake policyholders few despite quake risk

North Bay property owners may be rethinking their insurance coverage following the 7.0 earthquake offthe coast of Humboldt County on Thursday morning. Despite experiencing 90% of the nation’s earthquakes, only 10% of California’s residents have earthquake insurance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “I…
Liberty Mutual company Safeco drops condo coverage and renters insurance
Liberty Mutual company Safeco drops condo coverage and renters insurance

Another major insurance company is trimming its risk by refusing to sell more insurance to multifamily developments. The insurance commissioner promised a more stable and affordable market, but what we have right now are cross currents, contradictions, and chaos. Safeco is a branch of Liberty…
Policyholders See Notable But Limited Win In NC Virus Suit
Policyholders See Notable But Limited Win In NC Virus Suit

North Carolina’s top court handed policyholders a rare victory last week in finding that the “direct physical loss” requirement for “all-risk” insurance can cover losses connected to the coronavirus pandemic, but… Read more
Franklin Fire Update In Malibu
Franklin Fire Update In Malibu

On Sunday, December 15, the LA County Sheriff’s Department posted on its Facebook page an update to the Franklin Fire. As of 9 a.m. @lacountyfd reported that acreage remains at 4,037, and containment is now at 42 percent. Teams have completed 95 percent of the…
Rockets to our rescue? New insurer uses physics to sell (not drop) home policies
Rockets to our rescue? New insurer uses physics to sell (not drop) home policies

Insurance is complicated, with long lawyerly contracts and jargon by the ream. To the average policyholder, it’s as complex as rocket science. And that’s exactly what a new insurance company is bringing to California’s insurance crisis: some rocket science. “This will be a new way…
Why California Insurers Are Being Forced Back Into Wildfire Zones
Why California Insurers Are Being Forced Back Into Wildfire Zones

California Introduces New Rules to Boost Wildfire Coverage in At-Risk Areas California has long struggled with providing adequate home insurance to residents living in wildfire-prone regions. After devastating fires in recent years and increasing climate risks, a new set of regulations aims to stabilize the…
Insuring your home has never been harder. Here’s how to do it.
Insuring your home has never been harder. Here’s how to do it.

Christina Temple moved to Truckee, California, to buy her first home. The small mountain town, a short drive from Lake Tahoe, offered the former preschool teacher and her husband, a carpenter, a shot at becoming middle class by escaping crushing housing costs near Santa Cruz,…
Policyholders Win a Covid Case! North Carolina Supreme Court Rules Government Closure Order Can Result In “Direct Physical Damage”
Policyholders Win a Covid Case! North Carolina Supreme Court Rules Government Closure Order Can Result In “Direct Physical Damage”

I have a vision of Amy Bach, the Executive Director of United Policyholders, jumping for joy as she read the North Carolina Supreme Court opinion, which the insurance industry must think of as a Friday the 13th ruling. The court noted its conclusion early in the opinion: Because…