California plans big insurance shifts as climate change hits home
California plans big insurance shifts as climate change hits home

The actions of the nation’s biggest insurance market could have implications for U.S. consumers, as more carriers leave disaster-prone states California top leaders announced Thursday that they are making reforms to the state’s insurance system to stabilize the market, a big shift in one of…
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

A new plan from California’s insurance commissioner aims to stop the nation’s top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state by letting them consider climate risks when setting their prices. Unlike most states, California tightly restricts how insurance companies can price policies. Companies aren’t allowed to…
California overhauls home insurance market after wildfire coverage losses. Here’s what that means
California overhauls home insurance market after wildfire coverage losses. Here’s what that means

California will overhaul its home insurance market in an effort to shore up wildfire coverage under new regulations announced Thursday. In recent years as natural disasters have torn through the state, some insurance companies have stopped writing new policies, non-renewed customers and increased rates —…
How Your Insurance Rates are Set in California
How Your Insurance Rates are Set in California

The following was written by Joel Laucher, a former regulator and United Policyholders’ staff member whose work is focused on wildfire risk reduction and appropriate insurance rewards for mitigation. Prior to joining Team UP, Joel rose through the ranks at the California Department of Insurance…
California considers new rules for property insurance pricing
California considers new rules for property insurance pricing

A new plan from California’s insurance commissioner aims to stop the nation’s top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state by letting them consider climate risks when setting their prices. Unlike most states, California tightly restricts how insurance companies can price policies. Companies aren’t allowed to…
Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis? What you need to know
Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis? What you need to know

A week after negotiations to rescue California’s floundering home insurance market stalled out in the Legislature, the state’s top insurance regulator put out his own rescue plan that effectively amounts to a trade for the state’s major insurers. Under proposed regulations Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara…
Commissioner Lara announces Sustainable Insurance Strategy to improve state’s market conditions for consumers
Commissioner Lara announces Sustainable Insurance Strategy to improve state’s market conditions for consumers

Commissioner Lara announces Sustainable Insurance Strategy to improve state’s market conditions for consumers Governor Newsom issues executive order — comprehensive package of executive actions aimed at immediate and lasting changes to protect insurance consumers from climate change Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a package of…
Wildfire-prone California announces new rules for property insurance pricing
Wildfire-prone California announces new rules for property insurance pricing

California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said the state will let insurance companies consider climate change when setting their prices, a move aimed at preventing insurers from fleeing the state over fears of massive losses from wildfires and other natural disasters. Unlike other states, California does…
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

A new plan from California’s insurance commissioner aims to stop the nation’s top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state by letting them consider climate risks when setting their prices. Unlike most states, California tightly restricts how insurance companies can price policies. Companies aren’t allowed to…
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

A new plan from California’s insurance commissioner aims to keep the nation’s top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state California will let insurance companies consider climate change when setting their prices, the state’s chief regulator announced Thursday, a move aimed at preventing insurers from fleeing…
Webinar: Briefing on the Current Home Insurance Market in California
Webinar: Briefing on the Current Home Insurance Market in California

BUTTE COUNTY AND CONSUMER GROUP TO HOST A BRIEFING ON THE CURRENT HOME INSURANCE MARKET IN CALIFORNIA Oroville, Calif.— On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the County of Butte and the consumer non-profit United Policyholders (UP) will co-host a countywide webinar for California homeowners on the…
Americans Are Bailing on Their Home Insurance
Americans Are Bailing on Their Home Insurance

Homeowners are increasingly forgoing home insurance, gambling that the likelihood of a disaster isn’t high enough to justify the cost of a policy Some skipping insurance say they are doing so because they can no longer afford the rising premiums. The national average for home…
Tubbs Wildfire survivor helping Maui victims with insurance claims
Tubbs Wildfire survivor helping Maui victims with insurance claims

A Santa Rosa woman is in Maui helping survivors of the wildfires rebuild their lives and futures. As a survivor of the North Bay Wildfires herself, the mission is a labor of love. “I tend to see the challenges. I tend to see the heartache,”…
Santa Rosa survivor of Tubbs Fire on the job in Maui with counsel for fire victims
Santa Rosa survivor of Tubbs Fire on the job in Maui with counsel for fire victims

Sonoma County resident Annie Barbour arrived in Maui last week hoping her past may help rebuild the future of survivors of the devastating wildfires that leveled the island town of Lahaina. Barbour’s work connecting survivors with resources through United Policyholders of San Francisco comes with…
Maui Wildfire Survivors Accessing “Been There” Roadmap to Recovery® Expertise
Maui Wildfire Survivors Accessing “Been There” Roadmap to Recovery® Expertise

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The national non-profit United Policyholders (UP), which has earned high marks over three decades for easing and improving wildfire recovery for impacted households in California, Colorado, Washington, Arizona and Oregon,announced today that it is delivering help to Maui residents through multiple…
First Steps After a Wildfire
First Steps After a Wildfire

The devastation on Maui is heartbreaking, and for those who’ve lost loved ones, homes and businesses, it’s overwhelming and painful beyond words. United Policyholders (UP) staff and volunteers will be supporting recovery in the Lahaina region now and in the months and years ahead. As…
Rolling with the policy punches
Rolling with the policy punches

UPdated shopping tips Our guidance on shopping for property insurance has been focused on helping consumers select from competing options and avoid underinsuring their assets. For reasons we explained in last month’s tip, a growing number of people across the United States are now scrambling…
Press Release: Rural Representatives and Consumer Group partner to address California’s regional home insurance crisis
Press Release: Rural Representatives and Consumer Group partner to address California’s regional home insurance crisis

        Rural Representatives and Consumer Group partner to address California’s regional home insurance crisis For Immediate Release: July 26th, 2023 Contact: Amy Bach, Executive Director, media@uphelp.org SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2023 – To assist the thousands of California residents in rural and…