Preparing your home for wildfire season? Here’s what you need to know
Preparing your home for wildfire season? Here’s what you need to know

As a relative newcomer to the North Bay, I’ll admit I didn’t know much about how to best protect my home from wildfires. But, experts tell me there are many misconceptions even among those who are more seasoned, informed and have lived through the trauma…
It’s getting harder and more expensive to insure your California home. What can you do?
It’s getting harder and more expensive to insure your California home. What can you do?

Consumer advocate shares homeowners insurance tips as wildfires make policies harder to get, more expensive Californians are finding it harder and more expensive to insure their homes in the wake of devastating wildfires across the state in recent years. Premiums are rising sharply, even with…
California Annuity Sales Rule Bill Faces Consumer Group Opposition
California Annuity Sales Rule Bill Faces Consumer Group Opposition

SB 263, California’s annuity sales standards update bill, sailed through the state Senate in May, with no opposing votes at the committee level or on the state Senate floor. But the ultimate fate of the bill is still uncertain because of ongoing strong opposition from…
Climate disasters make it harder to insure your home. Here’s what to know.
Climate disasters make it harder to insure your home. Here’s what to know.

Premiums are soaring and carriers are pulling back coverage, citing disaster risks. Climate change is a big factor, but there are others at play. Homeowners are bracing for hurricane and fire seasons, but with insurance premiums rising and carriers pulling back coverage in riskier states,…
Allstate becomes the second home insurer to pull out of California
Allstate becomes the second home insurer to pull out of California

State Farm announced a similar decision last week The question must now be asked. Will California homeowners be able to buy insurance coverage for their homes? Allstate has become the second major insurance company to announce it will stop writing homeowners insurance policies in the…
State Farm won’t sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market?
State Farm won’t sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market?

State Farm made national headlines last week when it said it would stop selling new home insurance policies in California. As California’s largest single provider of bundle home insurance policies — the company had 20% of the market in 2021 — the news struck some…
State Farm won’t write new home policies in California. Here’s what could happen next
State Farm won’t write new home policies in California. Here’s what could happen next

State Farm, California’s largest property and casualty insurer, ceased writing new homeowners’ policies in the state on Saturday, citing wildfires, rising construction costs and challenges with reinsurance. Consumers were left worrying that their rates would soar and it would be harder to get insurance. Some…
Can California shore up home insurance market after State Farm halts new policies?
Can California shore up home insurance market after State Farm halts new policies?

The retraction of California’s biggest home coverage provider is only the latest development in a wildfire-fueled crisis State Farm made national headlines last week when it said it would stop selling new home insurance policies in California. As California’s largest single provider of bundle home…
Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help after State Farm won’t take on new policies for property owners
Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help after State Farm won’t take on new policies for property owners

Consumer advocates say other insurance companies can help New neighborhoods going up in the Foothills could be in the path of grassfires, and homeowners are required to have insurance. But some are asking now what? State Farm announced it would no longer be accepting new…
California’s largest homeowner insurance provider no longer writing new policies
California’s largest homeowner insurance provider no longer writing new policies

While State Farm’s decision impacts potential new customers, those who currently hold a homeowner’s policy with State Farm will continue to be covered. California’s largest provider of homeowner insurance says that it will no longer write any new policies for both personal and business properties.…
Getting Answers: What does State Farm’s updated insurance policy mean for Californians?
Getting Answers: What does State Farm’s updated insurance policy mean for Californians?

When State Farm recently announced it would not accept new home insurance policies in California, it sent a ripple effect throughout the market. The state’s largest property insurer said it would not drop existing customers. People living in the Sierra Foothills know nature and uncertainty…
Insurance consumer advocate group unveils state-by-state guide to insurance legal rights
Insurance consumer advocate group unveils state-by-state guide to insurance legal rights

For Immediate Release:  March 13, 2023 Contact: Amy Bach, Executive Director SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2023 – United Policyholders (UP), a national insurance consumer advocacy non-profit, today announced a major expansion of its services. Insurance company claim adjusters are required to know and follow the…
UP alerts CA legislators to proceed with caution on insurers’ wish list
UP alerts CA legislators to proceed with caution on insurers’ wish list

California consumers have long enjoyed the benefits of property insurance premium savings thanks to the voter-enacted Proposition 103 rate regulation regime, and insurers have long decried that regime. United Policyholders generally focuses on helping consumers get treated fairly by insurers, avoid and solve coverage gaps,…
Marin lawmaker aims to protect home insurance for seniors in fire-prone areas
Marin lawmaker aims to protect home insurance for seniors in fire-prone areas

A bill introduced by Assemblymember Damon Connolly of San Rafael would prohibit home insurance providers from dropping coverage for seniors living in high fire-risk areas and would cap premium hikes. The bill, AB 478, would forbid insurance providers from dropping policies for residents 65 and…
Businesses and Residents Hope for Post-Storm Relief
Businesses and Residents Hope for Post-Storm Relief

Costs continue to add up even with assistance from FEMA and flood insurance When Watsonville resident Amy Thomas reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for help, she had already paid thousands of dollars to repair damages caused by a spate of recent…
After the Storm: Insurance and recovery tips for wind-driven rain, flooding and storm damage
After the Storm: Insurance and recovery tips for wind-driven rain, flooding and storm damage

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 along with the 2023 Winter Storm Disaster Recovery…
FEMA can help California communities recover under the Stafford Act
FEMA can help California communities recover under the Stafford Act

When disaster hits, FEMA can help communities recover under the Stafford Act (Disasterassistance.gov). If a Disaster Declaration is issued, it can be either a Emergency Declaration (to supplement state, local, and tribal government efforts to provide debris removal and emergency protective measures or to lessen/avert…
CDI Regulations Moving Forward
CDI Regulations Moving Forward

United Policyholders is pleased to share the news that the California Department of Insurance has now announced its intention to formally move forward with its proposed “Mitigation in Rating Plans and Wildfire Risk Models” regulations.  Once formally adopted, the regulations will legally require insurers to…