California’s FAIR Plan facing legal action from State Insurance Commissioner for smoke damage claims
California’s FAIR Plan facing legal action from State Insurance Commissioner for smoke damage claims

SACRAMENTO, Calif — California insurance officials are taking legal action against the state’s last-resort wildfire insurance provider, accusing it of illegally denying or limiting smoke damage claims from homeowners. State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced this week the California Department of Insurance filed an enforcement…
Crucial Insurance Deadline Approaches for Maui Wildfire Victims
Crucial Insurance Deadline Approaches for Maui Wildfire Victims

Two-Year Deadline Tied to 2023 Maui Wildfires The deadline coincides with the second anniversary of the disaster that devastated Lahaina and other Maui communities. Under most insurance policies, replacement cost claims for property and contents must be filed within two years of the loss. Some…
A Tiny Company Is Vouching for Risky Insurers
A Tiny Company Is Vouching for Risky Insurers

LaPlace, La., is the sort of town that is becoming a no-go zone for major insurance companies. Sandwiched between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain outside of New Orleans, it is only about 10 feet above sea level and has an alarming history of serious…
California to allow catastrophe modeling for insurance rates, raising concerns about premium hikes
California to allow catastrophe modeling for insurance rates, raising concerns about premium hikes

SAN DIEGO — California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has announced a new “Sustainable Insurance Strategy” that will allow insurance companies to use catastrophe modeling to determine wildfire risk and set rates. This move, aimed at stabilizing the insurance market in high-risk areas, could potentially lead…
Crucial Insurance Deadline Looms In Two Weeks For Maui Fire Victims
Crucial Insurance Deadline Looms In Two Weeks For Maui Fire Victims

The second anniversary of the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires that devastated Lahaina and damaged other communities on Maui is also a major deadline for insurance policyholders to file claims for replacement cost benefits, the primary coverage for property and contents damaged or lost in the…
The INSURE Act: Could a New Federal Backstop Stabilize Home Insurance and Make Homes Insurable Again?
The INSURE Act: Could a New Federal Backstop Stabilize Home Insurance and Make Homes Insurable Again?

Across the country, homeowners are facing a home insurance crisis. Not only are premiums on the rise, but the policies themselves are becoming harder—and in some places, nearly impossible—to find. In states vulnerable to natural disasters like California, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, major insurers are…
Schiff revives INSURE Act to create federal reinsurance program
Schiff revives INSURE Act to create federal reinsurance program

US Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has reintroduced the Incorporating National Support for Unprecedented Risks and Emergencies (INSURE) Act, legislation aimed at addressing instability in the residential insurance market through the creation of a federal catastrophic reinsurance program. The bill proposes a federally backed reinsurance mechanism…
Celebrating Inclusive Leadership in Action: A Spotlight on our 2025 Inclusive Leadership Award Finalists
Celebrating Inclusive Leadership in Action: A Spotlight on our 2025 Inclusive Leadership Award Finalists

At Greater Rochester Chamber, inclusion is not an initiative, it’s a foundation. It shapes how we lead, how we grow, and how we show up for our region. That’s why the Inclusive Leadership Award is one of the most meaningful honors we celebrate each year.…
Kaibigan ng Lahaina and United Policyholders to host insurance policy review workshop
Kaibigan ng Lahaina and United Policyholders to host insurance policy review workshop

Kaibigan ng Lahaina, in partnership with United Policyholders, will host an insurance policy review workshop at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Office of Recovery within the Lahaina Gateway Center. The session will focus on navigating personal property claims and inventory. The workshop is free and…
Wildfire victims in limbo as fight with insurers hits another snag
Wildfire victims in limbo as fight with insurers hits another snag

After receiving more than 1,000 complaints from Jan. 7 fire victims about how insurers are handling their claims, state regulators are considering referring hundreds of the cases to mediation — a little used practice that some consumer advocates fear could hurt policyholders. The Department of…
Sen. Schiff Introduces Bill to Stabilize Insurance Market, Protect Homeowners from Increased Costs of Natural Disasters
Sen. Schiff Introduces Bill to Stabilize Insurance Market, Protect Homeowners from Increased Costs of Natural Disasters

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Incorporating National Support for Unprecedented Risks and Emergencies (INSURE) Act, legislation to stabilize the home insurance market by creating a federal catastrophic reinsurance program. This bill will help keep insurance premiums affordable and provide…
How to prepare for a wildfire evacuation
How to prepare for a wildfire evacuation

A wildfire can start at any moment, and they can move fast and unpredictably. Preparing for an evacuation should begin before there is any danger. If your household is under voluntary or potential evacuations, begin to prepare your home and get ready to leave. If…
Embers of Change: Building a fire-resilient California
Embers of Change: Building a fire-resilient California

The recent wildfires that have ravaged Southern California have left an unprecedented trail of destruction. The Eaton fire in Altadena burned more than 14,000 acres, while the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades consumed 23,448 acres. In total, over 16,000 structures were destroyed, including thousands of…
As Texas floods capture attention, experts urge Californians to reconsider flood insurance
As Texas floods capture attention, experts urge Californians to reconsider flood insurance

While Californians are typically more concerned about wildfires than flooding, many are watching the devastation in Texas unfold. It’s estimated that just 2% of households statewide carry a flood insurance policy. Amy Bach, the executive director of United Policyholders, joined us on ‘The Nine,’ who…
The next big insurance fight headed to California’s ballot
The next big insurance fight headed to California’s ballot

POLITICS OVER POLICIES — Nearly 40 years ago, insurance companies and consumer advocates waged an epic David vs. Goliath battle at the ballot. Now both sides are wondering whether it’s time for a rematch. Since its narrow passage in 1988, Proposition 103 has set the…
Altadena fire survivor is told State Farm’s $900K check on hold due to insufficient funds
Altadena fire survivor is told State Farm’s $900K check on hold due to insufficient funds

Amelia McDonald couldn’t believe her ears. She had been navigating what she calls “a horrible experience” trying to get her claims paid by State Farm after the Eaton Fire burned down her Altadena home and ranch in January. She, along with her father, daughter and…
Advice on rebuilding after fires — from people who’ve lived it
Advice on rebuilding after fires — from people who’ve lived it

Full panel discussion from LAist article by Aiko Offner. Be realistic about timing and costs, join forces with your community and allow yourself some guilty pleasures. That’s the advice of fire survivors and rebuilding experts who participated in LAist’s discussion about the six-month anniversary of…
California Positioned to Lead National Property Insurance Reform
California Positioned to Lead National Property Insurance Reform

Insurance attorney Daniel Veroff says the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires have created an opportunity for California to address systematic underinsurance of homeowners. The devastating Los Angeles County wildfires in January exposed a crisis that has been decades in the making: the systematic underinsurance of…