Calif. Long-Tail Ruling Continues Policyholder-Friendly Trend
Calif. Long-Tail Ruling Continues Policyholder-Friendly Trend

The California Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Cement & Gypsum, rejecting horizontal policy exhaustion, was the latest in a string of its decisions involving insurance coverage for continuous or progressive injury claims that favor policyholders, say Billie Mandelbaum and David…
First Steps After a Wildfire
First Steps After a Wildfire

United Policyholders is a nonprofit organization that is a voice and an information resource for insurance consumers in all 50 states.  UP has helped guide disaster survivors on the road to recovery since 1991.  Use this information with The Disaster Recovery Handbook and Household Inventory Guide. …
State Farm seeking 30% rate hike for CA homeowners: Here’s what to know
State Farm seeking 30% rate hike for CA homeowners: Here’s what to know

Many California homeowners are concerned about their home insurance, and that anxiety ratcheted up on Friday when State Farm requested one of its biggest rate increases ever, a sign they may be struggling financially. “It’s critical to understand that nothing changes today for State Farm…
Opinion: In California, State Farm is not such a good neighbor after all
Opinion: In California, State Farm is not such a good neighbor after all

For decades, people have dutifully paid their insurance premiums, trusting that when disaster strikes, their insurance companies would stand by them. However, recent decisions by major insurers to abandon homeowners, renters and businesses across California, including in San Diego County, have shattered this trust. This…
State Farm seeks ‘seismic-level’ rate hike as insurance crisis becomes ‘perfect storm’
State Farm seeks ‘seismic-level’ rate hike as insurance crisis becomes ‘perfect storm’

Mere months after its last rate increases went into effect, California’s largest insurance provider is asking for another huge hike. Earlier this week, State Farm’s California subsidiary submitted a request to the Department of Insurance to raise its rates by an average of 30% for…
State Farm customers in California may have to significantly pay more coverage
State Farm customers in California may have to significantly pay more coverage

Insurance prices continue to rise in the state, even as some lose their coverage despite working to keep areas safer from wildfires The latest hike request coming from insurance companies comes from State Farm, which earlier this week asked the California Department of Insurance for…
GPIA gives update on island’s recovery
GPIA gives update on island’s recovery

Representatives of United Policyholders attend meeting, provide information to assist islanders Last Tuesday, June 18, the Greater Pine Island Alliance providing an update on the island’s recovery during its monthly meeting at the Pine Island Community Church where guest speakers from United Policyholders were asked…
Strategies for staying protected
Strategies for staying protected

In the past, insurance companies were insuring homes, regardless of their age and condition. That has changed dramatically thanks in part to new technologies that pinpoint risk factors. Many Americans today, particularly those with older homes, are having the unpleasant experience of getting turned down…
12% Americans Don’t Have Home Insurance: Why More Homeowners Don’t Think The Rising Prices Are Worth It
12% Americans Don’t Have Home Insurance: Why More Homeowners Don’t Think The Rising Prices Are Worth It

Americans are increasingly dropping their homeowner insurance policies or falling behind on payments amid high living costs and rising coverage premiums. Read more.
As Insurance Soars, Homeowners Ask: Is It Worth It?
As Insurance Soars, Homeowners Ask: Is It Worth It?

In the face of inflated supply costs and extreme weather wreaking havoc, home insurance rates have shot through the roof, leaving many Americans begging the question: is owning a home worth it? Retired high school teacher Anjali Tierra is one homeowner who has been without…
Marin homeowners grapple with fire insurance cancellations
Marin homeowners grapple with fire insurance cancellations

Marin residents are among the many Californians who are getting their fire insurance canceled despite the county’s aggressive fire prevention measures. Not even Mark Brown, executive director of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, is immune. “I received my non-renewal notice,” Brown said during a program…
Asbestos contribution fight sent back to lower California appellate court
Asbestos contribution fight sent back to lower California appellate court

The California Supreme Court said Monday that a lower appellate court should determine if a primary insurer can seek contribution from first-level excess insurers for asbestos injury claims. The unanimous high court panel in Truck Insurance Exchange Co. v. Kaiser Cement and Gypsum Corp. reversed…
Excess Insurers May Need To Pay In Kaiser Asbestos Dispute
Excess Insurers May Need To Pay In Kaiser Asbestos Dispute

A policyholder can tap into first-layer excess policies as soon as the primary coverage for that period is exhausted, the California Supreme Court ruled, potentially implicating several first-level excess insurers to contribute to coverage for underlying asbestos exposure claims against Kaiser Cement and Gypsum Corp.…
New proposal could help Californians in high-risk fire areas get their insurance back
New proposal could help Californians in high-risk fire areas get their insurance back

California’s wildfire risk has sent premiums skyrocketing and insurance companies fleeing the state. But this week, the state insurance commission released a new proposal to help homeowners, especially in higher fire risk areas. As part of the proposal, the state released new maps showing the…
Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in his strategy to expand coverage options for Californians in areas of high wildfire risk
Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in his strategy to expand coverage options for Californians in areas of high wildfire risk

Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in his strategy to expand coverage options for Californians in areas of high wildfire risk First-ever wildfire risk map showing where insurance companies need to write more coverage LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today released further details of…
California Shows Where Insurers Would Need to Boost Coverage in Fire-Prone Areas
California Shows Where Insurers Would Need to Boost Coverage in Fire-Prone Areas

California insurance regulators on Wednesday released maps of the state’s most wildfire-distressed areas, where they aim to require insurance companies to write more policies, the next phase of their plan to address the ongoing crisis in the state’s home insurance market. The new draft state…
Berkeley homeowners scramble after insurers end coverage citing fire risk
Berkeley homeowners scramble after insurers end coverage citing fire risk

The Department of Insurance has been working on regulatory reform but in the meantime many residents are facing scenarios where their only option is the California FAIR Plan, which they say costs too much and covers too little. Like many around the state, Berkeley homeowners…
Imagining a post-insurance world
Imagining a post-insurance world

THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: California’s leaders are determined to save a private property insurance market roiled by climate change. But others are — somewhat begrudgingly — starting to imagine a world without insurance (as we usually think of it) at…