Insurance In California Is Changing. Here’s How It May Affect You
Insurance In California Is Changing. Here’s How It May Affect You

For most people, insurance is the first line of defense against climate change. When struck by wildfire, flooding or other calamity, an adequate insurance policy can come to the rescue. It’s like a financial first responder, an ambulance full of money to help people back…
Advice from experts on securing property insurance and keeping costs down
Advice from experts on securing property insurance and keeping costs down

As another insurer leaves California, organizations like United Policyholders and the Department of Insurance have tips and resources to help homeowners shop for coverage and challenge nonrenewal. Before settling for the California FAIR Plan, make sure to exhaust all other options. The California Department of…
Another insurer is leaving California. Here’s what the troubling trend could mean to North Bay homeowners
Another insurer is leaving California. Here’s what the troubling trend could mean to North Bay homeowners

A subsidiary of Farmers Insurance has become the latest in a long string of companies to leave or limit coverage in the state since May, including Allstate, State Farm, Farmers and USAA. Yet another insurer is leaving the California market, affecting tens of thousands of…
‘Prompt action’ on fire insurance has yet to help California homeowners
‘Prompt action’ on fire insurance has yet to help California homeowners

While state regulators craft new regulations and consult with the insurance industry, many Californians are paying extra-high premiums — or going without insurance entirely. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order for “prompt regulatory action” to address the plight of California homeowners facing…
Climate change is impacting the home insurance industry and damaging the housing market
Climate change is impacting the home insurance industry and damaging the housing market

When Michael Monaghan, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Sellers Realty in northern California, got an offer for a home in Bayside at the seller’s $650,000 list price in September, he told the buyer’s agent that the buyer needed to start looking for insurance…
Climate change is impacting the home insurance industry and damaging the housing market
Climate change is impacting the home insurance industry and damaging the housing market

When Michael Monaghan, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Sellers Realty in northern California, got an offer for a home in Bayside at the seller’s $650,000 list price in September, he told the buyer’s agent that the buyer needed to start looking for insurance…
Here’s why insurance companies want to raise rates in California
Here’s why insurance companies want to raise rates in California

Climate change and inflation are fueling problems for the California home insurance industry. Bay Area Congressman John Garamendi served as California’s very first insurance commissioner. “The insurance companies are pulling out, pulling policies,” Garamendi said. “They’re raising rates in many cases without justification.” Garamendi claimed…
Sunday’s Letters to the Editor
Sunday’s Letters to the Editor

Insurance market EDITOR: Amy Bach writes that insurance companies are probably overreacting to the Glass Fire, Tubbs Fire, etc. in terms of fire insurance rates (“Crisis rooted in climate change and big profits,” Oct. 29). I do know that according to my insurance broker, fire…
Calfire Wildfire Prevention Grants: Open 11/1/23-1/10/24
Calfire Wildfire Prevention Grants: Open 11/1/23-1/10/24

Statewide Grant Alert:  Calfire Wildfire Prevention Grants: Open 11/1/23-1/10/24 Funds for projects in and near fire threatened communities to improve public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Learn more here: https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/wildfire-prevention-grants Thank you to Chief Berlant for sharing this opportunity with our WRAP working…
Close to Home: Insurance crisis rooted in climate change, big profits
Close to Home: Insurance crisis rooted in climate change, big profits

Press Democrat Op Ed, by: Amy Bach In the North Bay today, and many other areas considered to be at risk for wildfires, we are in the grip of a serious property insurance availability and affordability crisis. Until fairly recently, most North Bay residents didn’t…
Insurance Access Emergency Hits Close To Home
Insurance Access Emergency Hits Close To Home

Across California, the cost of homeowners insurance is further fueling housing unaffordability. While many city households in California may still enjoy some of the lowest homeowners insurance rates in the nation, the astronomical insurance cost increases for residents, businesses and even public service agencies like…
California Insurance Crisis: ‘Insurer of Last Resort’ Gets ‘Astronomical’ 1,000 Applications a Day
California Insurance Crisis: ‘Insurer of Last Resort’ Gets ‘Astronomical’ 1,000 Applications a Day

As a string of major insurers have pulled out of California or restricted business in the state, more and more homeowners have been forced to seek coverage from the California FAIR Plan, a fire insurer for high-risk properties. Last month, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said…
Insurance Crisis: Bay Area Insurance Company That Left California Leaves Arizona, Nevada
Insurance Crisis: Bay Area Insurance Company That Left California Leaves Arizona, Nevada

When CSE Insurance announced to its agents earlier this month that it was pulling out of California and would not be renewing its customers’ policies, the company was the latest in a long list of insurers exiting the state. Now, The Standard can report that…
Homeowners Flock to Last-Resort Insurance Policies
Homeowners Flock to Last-Resort Insurance Policies

Robert Dubie was paying around $1,100 a year to insure his Paradise, Calif., home before it burned down in a wildfire five years ago. He rebuilt it with a host of fire protections, but it costs 10 times as much to insure. He couldn’t get…
Local Organizations and Individuals Express Support for California Wildfire Insurance Companies’ Coverage Expansion
Local Organizations and Individuals Express Support for California Wildfire Insurance Companies’ Coverage Expansion

California wildfire insurance companies are expected to change their policies based on the sustainable strategy before the year ends in an attempt to provide more affordable insurance and safety from wildfire for residents, Politico reported. Local organizations and individuals also expressed their support and optimism,…
Mitigation Matters
Mitigation Matters

No matter where you live, if you’re a homeowner today, you need to do your best to maintain your property and take steps to avoid it being damaged or destroyed in a severe weather event. Why? 1) No place on earth is immune from risk…
Will this plan solve California’s insurance crisis? This is what you need to know
Will this plan solve California’s insurance crisis? This is what you need to know

A week after negotiations to save California’s faltering home insurance market stalled in the Legislature, the state’s top insurance regulator unveiled its own plan to save the effective value of a swap for the first. which is the state insurer. Under the proposed regulations announced…
What to know about California’s plan to fix its insurance crisis
What to know about California’s plan to fix its insurance crisis

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement last month of a major home insurance overhaul is being met with skepticism in some corners over fears the deal will cause rates to rise for the average homeowner, even as Sacramento seeks to safeguard the marketplace for millions of landowners.…