As focus turned to coronavirus crisis, insurers pushed for a sneaky rate hike on homeowners
As focus turned to coronavirus crisis, insurers pushed for a sneaky rate hike on homeowners

It’s fair to say that most Americans see the coronavirus outbreak as an enormous and fearsome burden. Not the insurance industry. In California, the industry is using the crisis to bring about a sneaky change in insurance rules that could lead to massive increases in…
California Appoints Curriculum and Insurance Guarantee Board Members
California Appoints Curriculum and Insurance Guarantee Board Members

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced the newest members of the California Department of Insurance’s Curriculum Board and the California Insurance Guarantee Association’s Board of Governors. The Curriculum Board oversees the development of pre-licensing and continuing education curriculum for agents and brokers, which includes a…
Returning residents grapple with overgrown abandoned neighboring properties
Returning residents grapple with overgrown abandoned neighboring properties

Some solutions are emerging, but funds are short PARADISE — Abandoned properties overgrown with flammable vegetation vastly out-number new homes under construction in the burn scar, and there’s little cash-strapped local officials can really do. The fire risk caused by overgrown empty lots is putting…
A Primer On The Push To Combine COVID-19 Coverage Cases
A Primer On The Push To Combine COVID-19 Coverage Cases

Law360 June 9, 2020, 7:00 PM EDT) — Insurers and policyholders have weighed in on two petitions to centralize disputes over businesses’ coronavirus-related losses in multidistrict litigation, with supporters touting the efficiency of consolidation and opponents arguing that differences in companies’ policies and claims make…
Insurance Covers Vandalism, But Not COVID-19 Claims
Insurance Covers Vandalism, But Not COVID-19 Claims

SAN FRANCISCO—On Thursday, June 4, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in insurance claims filed by businesses in the Bay Area, but some insurance companies have been denying the payouts. “Almost all business ranging from small to medium to…
Calif. Insurance Commissioner opposes new wildfire bill; warns of unfair rates
Calif. Insurance Commissioner opposes new wildfire bill; warns of unfair rates

California Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara, alongside the California Department of Insurance and a host of other organisations, have stressed that a new wildfire bill set to be voted on this week would harm policyholders in the region with higher rates. Assembly Bill 2167 is scheduled…
Insurance companies deny COVID-19 claims, but cover vandalism damage
Insurance companies deny COVID-19 claims, but cover vandalism damage

SAN FRANCISCO KGO) — Businesses across the nation have been devastated by the COVID-19 shutdown. Now, many are suffering the added losses of vandalism and looting. But an odd twist to the dual crises: insurance. Businesses were outraged to find their insurance refused to cover…
Does auto insurance cover cars damaged during protests or riots?
Does auto insurance cover cars damaged during protests or riots?

Streets filled with damaged cars are a common sight in the wake of civil unrest and even peaceful mass gatherings. Whether intentionally inflicted or incidental, both parked cars and those driven by passers-by can sustain scratches, broken mirrors, smashed windows, or get covered in paint…
Does auto insurance cover cars damaged in demonstrations?
Does auto insurance cover cars damaged in demonstrations?

SAN JOSE, Calif. KGO) — We’ve seen the videos of cars on fire, and windows smashed. One of the earliest was on the freeway in San Jose last Friday. A couple of drivers, caught behind a blockade, drove away with broken windows. So is anyone…
When To Drop Collision & Comprehensive Insurance
When To Drop Collision & Comprehensive Insurance

If you own a car, you don’t have a choice about buying certain auto insurance coverage types. Depending on your state, you’ll be buying some combination of liability auto insurance, uninsured motorist coverage and/or PIP insurance. Collision insurance pays for damage to your car after…
How to Bundle Renters and Auto Insurance
How to Bundle Renters and Auto Insurance

Bundling is a common way to save money on most types of insurance policies, including renters insurance. When it comes time to renew your renters insurance policy or shop for a new one, it’s worth finding out if you can save money by bundling your…
Insurance Industry Pushes “Wildfire” Legislation to Increase Homeowners Insurance Rates
Insurance Industry Pushes “Wildfire” Legislation to Increase Homeowners Insurance Rates

While the rest of the state is sheltering at home, lobbyists for the insurance industry are busy promoting legislation, scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, that would allow them to boost insurance rates on homeowners and renters. The bill would derail voter-approved protections against insurance price-gouging…
Insurers challenged for denying business-interruption coverage during coronavirus economic lockdown
Insurers challenged for denying business-interruption coverage during coronavirus economic lockdown

In a shot over the bow and precursor of a long, upcoming legal battle, the California insurance commissioner on April 14 issued an order requiring carriers to investigate claims filed by businesses seeking relief for losses incurred from government shutdowns as the result of the…
INTERVIEW: Amy Bach On Insurance Rebates
INTERVIEW: Amy Bach On Insurance Rebates

Daniel Trucios talks to Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders, about insurance rebates, effectiveness, future charges, good publicity and business interruption insurance.
NJ residents face insurance challenges beyond grace periods during pandemic
NJ residents face insurance challenges beyond grace periods during pandemic

Among the many impacts of the coronavirus are those on insurance. Gov. Phil Murphy last week mandated a 90-day grace period for auto, homeowner’s and renter’s insurance payments and a 60-day grace period for health insurance payments. Murphy’s reprieve, however, doesn’t aid the uninsured and…
Why isn’t car insurance cheaper as we all stay home?
Why isn’t car insurance cheaper as we all stay home?

Chris Norlin, like so many others, is hardly ever behind the wheel these days as he follows guidelines to stay at home and play hide-and-seek with the coronavirus. Which naturally leads him to wonder: Why is he still paying so much for car insurance? His…
Sonoma County businesses with pandemic-related losses hit wall with commercial insurers
Sonoma County businesses with pandemic-related losses hit wall with commercial insurers

In the aftermath of the power shut-offs during the October 2019 wildfire, Berlin Fisher realized he needed to get business interruption insurance coverage for his West County Style Bar in Guerneville because another disaster could put his hair salon on precarious financial footing. Fisher had…
Business interruption insurance falls short in a pandemic
Business interruption insurance falls short in a pandemic

When Salvatore Ferro saw his Commack-based home remodeling business plummet by more than half due to the coronavirus pandemic, he contacted his insurance broker to find out how to make a claim on his business interruption insurance. He was shocked to learn the policy –…