He claims to have saved California homeowners billions. The insurance industry hates him
He claims to have saved California homeowners billions. The insurance industry hates him

Insurance industry groups have called it a “bomb-throwing bogus advocacy” group, a “publicity-seeking, dark money front,” and an organization out to protect its own “financial $elf-interest$.” These are the kinds of attacks that Harvey Rosenfield and Consumer Watchdog, the advocacy group he founded nearly 40…
New images reveal more damage to historic Bisbee hotel than first reported
New images reveal more damage to historic Bisbee hotel than first reported

The owner of the historic Letson Loft Hotel has shown News 4 Tucson new pictures to show how bad the damage was from the Valentine’s Day blaze. Before News 4 Tucson met up with Tom Firth on Feb. 15, his Letson Loft Hotel was nothing…
Local expert addresses hot topic of home insurance availability
Local expert addresses hot topic of home insurance availability

The Via Farallon La Cuesta Firewise group hosted a Zoom meeting, open to the public, on Feb. 22, so that local residents could hear from a local insurance expert about the problem of home insurance nonrenewals. Joel Laucher, a Moraga resident who worked for the…
United Policyholders: February 2022 Events
United Policyholders: February 2022 Events

United Policyholders (UP) is offering a Roadmap to Recovery® Q&A workshop in February for survivors of wildfires in California. You can submit your questions in advance and UP will address them during the webinar. UP will also have two Survivor to Survivor Forums scheduled for…
California Legislature OKs Annuity Sales Rule Update
California Legislature OKs Annuity Sales Rule Update

The California Senate voted 37-0 earlier this week to give final legislative approval to Senate Bill 263, California’s version of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners annuity sales standards model. The bill would update California’s existing annuity suitability rules and require annuity sellers to act…
Coalition of Consumer and Senior Groups Urges Governor Newsom to Veto SB 263
Coalition of Consumer and Senior Groups Urges Governor Newsom to Veto SB 263

SB 263 Harms Consumers and Undermines Vital Regulations Sacramento, California–(Newsfile Corp. – February 23, 2024) – A coalition of consumer and senior groups has sent a letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to veto SB 263. Senator Bill Dodd’s (D – Napa) Senate Bill 263, sponsored…
Trade Group Tells NC Justices COVID-19 Losses Not Covered
Trade Group Tells NC Justices COVID-19 Losses Not Covered

A dozen North Carolina eateries are not owed coverage for pandemic-related losses, the American Property Casualty Association told the state’s highest court, saying the policies at issue were never intended to cover economic damages “untethered” to physical loss or damage… Read more. 
Texas Supreme Court Hears Arguments in a Case With Significant Implications for TWIA Policyholders
Texas Supreme Court Hears Arguments in a Case With Significant Implications for TWIA Policyholders

Yesterday, on February 21, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments in the case Texas Windstorm Insurance Association v. Stephen Pruski, Case No. 23-0447, in which Raizner Slania filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the non-profit organization United Policyholders. Uniquely for both United…
7 Investigates: Sky-high surprise
7 Investigates: Sky-high surprise

Your insurance company might be checking out your house from the sky. And 7 Investigates found if they don’t like what they see, they’ll cancel your policy. Hank Phillippi Ryan has the story. While the family who owns a Saugus home was hanging out inside……
Virtual town hall will spotlight ‘homeowner insurance crisis’ in Humboldt County
Virtual town hall will spotlight ‘homeowner insurance crisis’ in Humboldt County

As insurers abandon fire-prone areas, homeowners are hard pressed to find — and afford — coverage. Wildfires are increasingly common in rural Northern California, and many homeowners are having to rely on insurance coverage through the insurer of last resort known as the FAIR Plan.…
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TO ADDRESS HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TO ADDRESS HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA

At this virtual Town Hall, participants will hear from experts from the California Department of Insurance, United Policyholders, University of California Cooperative Extension of Humboldt/Del Norte Counties (UCCE) and CAL FIRE, who will discuss on-going actions being taken to address California’s homeowner insurance crisis and…
California Public Adjusters Legislative Conference in Sacramento, February 27 and 28
California Public Adjusters Legislative Conference in Sacramento, February 27 and 28

One of the easiest and best presentations I will make this year will be on February 27 at the California Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (CAPIA) Legislative Conference in Sacramento. The topic is “Update to Significant California Property Insurance Legislation Recently Enacted.” California public adjusters…
As Home Insurance Bills Go Up, Owners’ Coverage Is Going Down
As Home Insurance Bills Go Up, Owners’ Coverage Is Going Down

Frequent natural disasters and high inflation have led insurers to raise premiums, and forced many customers to pare back their policies. Robert Shiver’s bill for his homeowner insurance jumped from $3,800 in 2022 to $8,000 in July. “I remember opening the bill and, honestly, laughing,…
Leading Senior Groups Join Coalition Opposing SB 263
Leading Senior Groups Join Coalition Opposing SB 263

Senator Bill Dodd’s (D – Napa) Senate Bill 263, sponsored by the California Department of Insurance (CDI), was passed by the Assembly on Monday, February 12, without the implementation of key amendments proposed by consumer protection groups. The coalition of consumer groups opposing SB 263…
Tucson homeowners struggle with insurance hikes, and non-renewals
Tucson homeowners struggle with insurance hikes, and non-renewals

A growing number of homeowners in southern Arizona are being dropped by their insurance companies. Despite paying for years of coverage, some policy holders aren’t being renewed in 2024. A family from Tucson tells 13 News they weren’t renewed by their insurance company due to…
Bach Talk: CALIFORNIA HOME INSURANCE UPDATE – 2024
Bach Talk: CALIFORNIA HOME INSURANCE UPDATE – 2024

The following is an update on the California home insurance situation from the non-profit consumer organization, United Policyholders, (“UP”).  UP is working hard to help California property owners stay insured and financially protected despite unprecedented availability and affordability challenges in the current marketplace. Insurers are…
Desperate California homeowners turning to the Fair Plan for insurance, but facing severe delays
Desperate California homeowners turning to the Fair Plan for insurance, but facing severe delays

The delays are forcing them to go uninsured, so mortgage lenders are putting them on force-placed insurance, which can cost thousands of dollars a month Lloyd Messineo’s Simi Valley home is surrounded by beautiful hills. But those hills are now creating a problem. “We thought…
Caught in the Crossfire: One Homeowner’s Battle with California’s Overwhelmed Insurance System
Caught in the Crossfire: One Homeowner’s Battle with California’s Overwhelmed Insurance System

When Lloyd Messineo’s homeowners insurance was abruptly dropped due to wildfire risk, he found himself ensnared in a bureaucratic labyrinth. Turning to the California FAIR Plan as a last resort, he faced inexplicable delays and costly force-placed insurance. His story underscores a larger issue that…