California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Holds Malibu Town Hall
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Holds Malibu Town Hall

Even six months after the Woolsey Fire, some fire victims are still having difficulties collecting what they’re owed by their insurers; that includes residents with partial damage to their homes as well as those experiencing total losses. To help smooth the way, California’s top insurance…
Groups Petition CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara To Ban Use of Occupation and Education to Price Auto Insurance
Groups Petition CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara To Ban Use of Occupation and Education to Price Auto Insurance

Community organizations representing consumers, low-income workers and communities of color petitioned Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today to ban the use of occupation and education to set auto insurance premiums. Many California auto insurance companies charge lower-income and less-educated drivers up to 15% more in order…
Their Home Survived The Camp Fire — But Their Insurance Did Not
Their Home Survived The Camp Fire — But Their Insurance Did Not

Tom and Tamara Conry were dead set on returning to Paradise after the deadly Camp Fire destroyed the town last November. The couple’s home was barely touched by the fire, and most other survivors had a much steeper climb to recovery. But when their property…
Press Release: Wildfire-impacted households face emotions, decisions at the one-year mark: Help is available, survey underway
Press Release: Wildfire-impacted households face emotions, decisions at the one-year mark: Help is available, survey underway

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 6, 2018 – United Policyholders (UP), a nonprofit insurance consumer organization, will offer guidance to wildfire-impacted households on navigating deadlines, decisions and emotions at the one-year anniversary of their devastating losses at a free workshop. UP is also asking all…
CA legislature enacts helpful insurance reforms
CA legislature enacts helpful insurance reforms

The California legislature, after hard work by North Bay lawmakers, the Department of Insurance, concerned citizens, and United Policyholders enacted several useful insurance-related bills this session that are awaiting the Governor’s signature. Although retroactivity provisions were removed, (which means victims of the 2017 wildfires can only use them indirectly as…
California Supreme Court Finds Valid Insurance Coverage Claim Even If Employee Intentionally Caused Injury
California Supreme Court Finds Valid Insurance Coverage Claim Even If Employee Intentionally Caused Injury

The California Supreme Court has ruled that when a third party sues an employer for the negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of an employee who intentionally injured that third party, the suit can allege an “occurrence” under the employer’s commercial general liability insurance policy. The…
UPdate on remedies for UNDERINSURED CA disaster survivors
UPdate on remedies for UNDERINSURED CA disaster survivors

Wildfire survivors in regions throughout California are using UP’s guidance on how to remedy the fact that they are grossly underinsured.  Upon learning that assurances they’d gotten and relied upon from insurers, agents, and brokers that their homes were adequately insured were untrue – these…
Wildfire Mitigation & Insurance Project
Wildfire Mitigation & Insurance Project

If you take action to make your home less likely to be seriously damaged or destroyed in a wildfire, your insurance company should reward you with a discount on your premium … or at the very least keep you as a customer and not drop…
Fire survivors reunite to mark 10th anniversary
Fire survivors reunite to mark 10th anniversary

A “low-key” reunion of more than 130 Witch Creek fire survivors and recovery coalition members was held Sunday to mark the wildfire’s 10th anniversary. “This is a celebration of homecoming and friendship,” Jan Rasmussen told attendees. She was co-chair of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church’s…
Upfront: Fair Questions
Upfront: Fair Questions

High-risk fire insurance pool grapples with new normal of urban wildfires Homeowners insurance is not mandated by the state of California, but is a requirement for anyone who wants to get a home mortgage from a bank. As the historic North Bay fires are brought…
Public adjusters can help consumers with fire claims, but tread cautiously
Public adjusters can help consumers with fire claims, but tread cautiously

People who lost homes in the Wine Country fires might be approached by public adjusters offering to represent them in their insurance claims. While some disaster victims have had good experiences with public adjusters, consumer advocates and the California Department of Insurance warn against rushing…
Insurers must pay even if home damage exceeds property value
Insurers must pay even if home damage exceeds property value

Insured homeowners in California whose homes have been badly damaged, but not destroyed, are entitled to coverage for the cost of repairing them, even if that cost far exceeds the property’s market value, under a ruling that has now become final. The state Supreme Court…
This family lost everything in one of California’s worst wildfires. Now, they’re almost home
This family lost everything in one of California’s worst wildfires. Now, they’re almost home

COBB MOUNTAIN The wooded path between Maya Leonard’s house and the elementary school where she is a sixth-grader remains scarred and blackened, a reminder of the epic wildfire that stole so much from this community on a September afternoon in 2015. But as she has…
Fire Safe Council gathering data on homeowner’s insurance – Take the survey
Fire Safe Council gathering data on homeowner’s insurance – Take the survey

NEVADA CITY, Calif. March 15, 2017 – The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County FSCNC) is participating in the State’s Tree Mortality Task Force. Our local group is looking to gather data to make a case that insurance companies are not following state law when…
ConsumerWatch Weekend: Flood Insurance
ConsumerWatch Weekend: Flood Insurance

Consumer reporter Julie Watts spoke with Emily Rogan, with consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, about resources available to flood victims without insurance.
Help with flood insurance claims
Help with flood insurance claims

There are things you can do to make life easier when it’s time to file your insurance claims. We talked to the consumer advocacy group, United Policyholders and they said you should take pictures before and after the evacuation, document how much water entered your…
Press Release: United Policyholders Praises California Supreme Court Decision That Will Help Underinsured Wildfire Victims
Press Release: United Policyholders Praises California Supreme Court Decision That Will Help Underinsured Wildfire Victims

Insurance Companies now held to higher standard for setting homeowners policy limits; Court finds Insurance Commissioner has authority to regulate replacement cost estimates SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 23, 2017 – United Policyholders (UP), a nonprofit insurance consumer organization, today praised a California Supreme Court…
Consumer Watchdog collects millions, but does it lower your insurance rates?
Consumer Watchdog collects millions, but does it lower your insurance rates?

Nearly 30 years ago, consumer activist Harvey Rosenfield wrote and helped qualify Proposition 103, the November 1988 ballot measure that overhauled state regulation of home and auto insurance rates. The initiative, dubbed by supporters as the “Voter Revolt to Cut Insurance Rates,” also contained a…