California consumer group blasts insurance bill backed by Newsom
California consumer group blasts insurance bill backed by Newsom

A bill backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that is intended to halt more exits from California’s troubled homeowners insurance market by speeding up reviews of proposed rate hikes drew sharp criticism Wednesday from an influential consumer group. The administration this week released the draft of…
How Newsom ended up siding with insurers
How Newsom ended up siding with insurers

HITTING A CRISIS POINT: The wildfire insurance problem in California has gotten so bad that Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking a counter-intuitive stance for a top Democrat: siding with industry in its long-standing feud with consumer advocates. A legislative proposal the Newsom administration published late…
As insurers around the U.S. bleed cash from climate shocks, homeowners lose
As insurers around the U.S. bleed cash from climate shocks, homeowners lose

At first glance, Dave Langston’s predicament seems similar to headaches facing homeowners in coastal states vulnerable to catastrophic hurricanes: As disasters have become more frequent and severe, his insurance company has been losing money. Then, it canceled his coverage and left the state. But Langston…
As insurers around the US bleed cash from climate shocks, homeowners lose
As insurers around the US bleed cash from climate shocks, homeowners lose

At first glance, Dave Langston’s predicament seems similar to headaches facing homeowners in coastal states vulnerable to catastrophic hurricanes: As disasters have become more frequent and severe, his insurance company has been losing money. Then, it canceled his coverage and left the state. But Langston…
Residents face uncertainty as home insurance options dwindle amid fire risks
Residents face uncertainty as home insurance options dwindle amid fire risks

Wildfire preparedness meeting highlights dire situation in the Valley There was a moment, about an hour and a half into City of Scotts Valley’s wildfire preparedness meeting May 14, when the stark reality of the current home insurance landscape in California came into focus. Vice…
Home-insurance payouts are shrinking. Here’s how to prevent the worst.
Home-insurance payouts are shrinking. Here’s how to prevent the worst.

Thanks to inflation and climate change, homeowners are getting less money back from their insurers to repair and rebuild. With tornado season in full swing — hitting Texas and Iowa hard in the last week — and hurricane and wildfire season looming this summer, insurance…
As Home Insurers Exit the State, Officials Promise Faster Action
As Home Insurers Exit the State, Officials Promise Faster Action

Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for swifter reforms to California’s beleaguered home insurance market as homeowners across the state continue to lose coverage or face rate hikes. A growing number of insurance companies have stopped writing new policies in the state, citing increased climate-related risks…
Lawson-Remer: State Farm a ‘bad neighbor’ for abandoning longtime policyholders
Lawson-Remer: State Farm a ‘bad neighbor’ for abandoning longtime policyholders

72,000 State Farm policyholders will lose coverage starting in July 2024. What you can do if this happens to you. San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer called State Farm a ‘bad neighbor’ in a press conference Monday for abandoning longtime policyholders. CBS 8 is Working…
How to find home insurance in Santa Cruz County
How to find home insurance in Santa Cruz County

As thousands of Santa Cruz County homeowners are losing home insurance, a state official and insurance professionals this week offered advice for finding, keeping and affording policies. Prompted by catastrophic wildfires and floods made more frequent by climate change, many insurance companies in California have…
With 15,000 Santa Cruz County homeowners being ‘non-renewed’ for insurance, anxieties grow as plans are hatched in Sacramento
With 15,000 Santa Cruz County homeowners being ‘non-renewed’ for insurance, anxieties grow as plans are hatched in Sacramento

When Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Derek Timm asked a crowd of about 100 how many had been dropped by their insurance or otherwise not renewed, nearly every audience member raised a hand. The crowd had assembled Tuesday evening for a forum at the Scotts Valley…
What to do if you’ve been ‘non-renewed’ by your insurance company
What to do if you’ve been ‘non-renewed’ by your insurance company

Homeowners are trying to figure out a way forward in this new non-renewal landscape. The law requires that homeowners receive a non-renewal notice at least 75 days before the policy expires. Some agents have alerted long-standing clients, even if their parent companies have not provided…
Bach Talk: Skyfall(out) – Aerial photos impacting property insurance
Bach Talk: Skyfall(out) – Aerial photos impacting property insurance

One of the tools property insurance companies are using to screen potential and existing customers are aerial images captured by satellites and drones of  homes, surroundings and roof conditions.  When the images show damage or hazards, they can trigger a non-renewal or rejected application. This…
Coverage cuts, digital claims and other changes impacting the P&C market
Coverage cuts, digital claims and other changes impacting the P&C market

The proliferation of risks impacting the property and casualty insurance market means that insurers have to be constantly aware of the latest developments that are reshaping their business. On the West Coast, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) announced in March a sustainable insurance strategy…
Fed up Scotts Valley residents look for answers after insurance companies drop coverage
Fed up Scotts Valley residents look for answers after insurance companies drop coverage

Fed up residents in the Santa Cruz mountains packed a community center and overflow room on Tuesday night to voice concerns about being left without homeowners insurance. According to an independent insurance agent at the meeting, none of the major insurance companies are issuing new…
As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose
As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose

At first glance, Dave Langston’s predicament seems similar to headaches facing homeowners in coastal states vulnerable to catastrophic hurricanes: As disasters have become more frequent and severe, his insurance company has been losing money. Then, it canceled his coverage and left the state. But Langston…
California home insurance: Map reveals State Farm’s latest price hikes by ZIP code
California home insurance: Map reveals State Farm’s latest price hikes by ZIP code

State Farm just raised home insurance rates an average of 20% across California, but some homeowners will pay far more. This map shows where. This spring, State Farm General Insurance Company raised homeowners insurance rates an average of 20% in California — but the size…
HOT TOPIC: HOME INSURANCE
HOT TOPIC: HOME INSURANCE

Insurance Commissioner Rep to Visit May 14 A representative of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara will be in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley Tuesday, May 14, to discuss the vanishing insurance market for residents in what’s known as the the wildland-urban interface. Major insurers paying…
Authorities offer tips on homeowners insurance, wildfire protection
Authorities offer tips on homeowners insurance, wildfire protection

1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 / Online and at 701 Ocean St., Room 525, Santa Cruz California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is expected to speak to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at their May 14 meeting about how homeowners can get insurance and…