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…
Check deductibles on homeowner insurance
Check deductibles on homeowner insurance

There’s nothing wrong with a high deductible, as long as you keep enough funds in savings to pay it. Like a spare tire or a flashlight, homeowner’s insurance is one of those things that you don’t really want until you need it. Now, even when…
State addresses insurance issues
State addresses insurance issues

Homeowners who have faced difficulty renewing home insurance policies can breathe a little easier for now. On Dec. 5, state insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one year moratorium on insurance companies not renewing policyholders, helping at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas…
Wall Street Could Make $1 Billion Off PG&E’s Bankruptcy – and Ratepayers Are on the Hook
Wall Street Could Make $1 Billion Off PG&E’s Bankruptcy – and Ratepayers Are on the Hook

PG&E’s bankruptcy is making some people very rich. Since the utility filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, lawyers and consultants have made a staggering $217 million. Big banks have netted $114 million in financing fees — and that number could top $1 billion by…
Do you know your home’s wildfire risk score? Your insurance company does
Do you know your home’s wildfire risk score? Your insurance company does

Do you know your wildfire risk score? Most people know they have credit scores that help determine whether they get a loan and what their interest rate will be. They probably don’t know that if they live in the West, they have a wildfire risk…
When Your Insurer Decides Your Home Isn’t Worth the Risk
When Your Insurer Decides Your Home Isn’t Worth the Risk

Homeowners living in areas prone to fire- and hurricane-related damage face another risk: getting dropped by their insurance company As if living through a string of deadly wildfires weren’t bad enough, some California homeowners were further burned when their insurers wouldn’t renew their fire-protection policies.…
State bans insurers from dropping policies in fire areas
State bans insurers from dropping policies in fire areas

Helping at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas in Northern and Southern California, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies non-renewing policyholders Thursday. The action is the result of Senate Bill 824 in order to give temporary relief from…
California imposes non-renewal moratorium after wildfire crisis
California imposes non-renewal moratorium after wildfire crisis

California has issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies non-renewing policyholders in a bid to provide temporary relief to residents hit by recent wildfires. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara believes the moratorium will help at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas in Northern and…