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…
California Insurance Commissioner’s Office to make stop in Santa Cruz County
California Insurance Commissioner’s Office to make stop in Santa Cruz County

Amid an escalating crisis in homeowners insurance both locally and statewide, a representative from California’s Department of Insurance — the nation’s largest state consumer protection agency — will come to Santa Cruz County to discuss recent market shifts and answer questions from county leaders. The…
2 insurance firms agree to collaborate to write California home policies
2 insurance firms agree to collaborate to write California home policies

Tokio Marine America and Mercury Insurance announced Thursday the former’s home policies would transition to the Los Angeles-based firm. As firms continue to pull out of the California market, a Los Angeles insurance company is teaming up with a Texas-based insurer to write homeowners insurance…
Complaints dominate insurance forum
Complaints dominate insurance forum

Legislative remedy seems unlikely A forum organized by San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller last week to address California’s insurance crisis provided a lot of information about increasing costs and decreasing availability of home insurance, as well as an outlet for mounting consumer frustration. The…
Sonoma County to talk fire insurance in Tuesday virtual town hall
Sonoma County to talk fire insurance in Tuesday virtual town hall

Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore plans to host a virtual town hall Tuesday at 6 p.m. that’s expected to ignite much interest among homeowners — fire coverage and the lack thereof. “I’m hearing from a number of constituents — insureds with policies being pulled or…
Allstate indicates resuming new California policies amid insurance crisis
Allstate indicates resuming new California policies amid insurance crisis

Amid the ongoing insurance crisis in California, Allstate says it could soon resume writing new policies, though the move would come with some conditions. Allstate Insurance stopped writing new homeowners policies in California two years ago but says it may start offering them again if…
Allstate could resume issuing new home insurance policies in CA
Allstate could resume issuing new home insurance policies in CA

Allstate, one of California’s biggest home insurers, could resume writing new homeowner policies if the department of insurance approves rule changes. The company stopped writing new homeowner policies in late 2022 because of wildfire risk and the cost of rebuilding homes. Lenny Higgins of Santa…
Allstate indicates resuming new California policies amid insurance crisis
Allstate indicates resuming new California policies amid insurance crisis

Amid the ongoing insurance crisis in California, Allstate says it could soon resume writing new policies, though the move would come with some conditions. Allstate Insurance stopped writing new homeowners policies in California two years ago but says it may start offering them again if…
Aerial photos are leading to insurance non-renewals
Aerial photos are leading to insurance non-renewals

InsurTech may not be a buzz word at dinner parties, but it sure is in consumer advocate circles. Turns out, “disruptive” is not such a good thing for property owners and home values, especially with climate change in the mix. Today, insurance companies are using…
California insurers must give discounts for wildfire mitigation. Have homeowners benefited?
California insurers must give discounts for wildfire mitigation. Have homeowners benefited?

In 2022, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced he would force companies to offer discounts to people who take specific steps to protect their homes from wildfires. It was part of an effort, he said at the time, to “reward the hard work that California consumers…
Insurers won’t renew some homes, citing risk of earthquake-induced fires. This map shows where
Insurers won’t renew some homes, citing risk of earthquake-induced fires. This map shows where

The magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, toppled buildings, brought down power lines and fractured water mains. The front page of the Chronicle the next day read “San Francisco in ruins.” But 80% of the property damage, according to a…
California insurers must give discounts for wildfire mitigation. Have homeowners benefited?
California insurers must give discounts for wildfire mitigation. Have homeowners benefited?

The discounts are for people who take actions to protect their homes and properties from wildfires. Read More.
City Wildfire and Disaster Insurance Online Town Hall
City Wildfire and Disaster Insurance Online Town Hall

California’s insurance commissioner, local elected leaders provide information on property insurance State and local public agency representatives held an online Wildfire and Disaster Insurance town hall workshop for residents on April 4 to address homeowners insurance and how they can navigate resources to get coverage…