The United Policyholders “WRAP” initiative aims to reduce wildfire risk and help restore affordable, available property insurance options for home and business owners who are being hit with premium spikes, non-renewals and no place to turn but the California Fair Plan. Drought and extreme heat associated with climate change has increased wildfire risk in WUI (“Wildland Urban Interface”) and brush areas, and insurance companies are reacting by dropping long time customers and declining new business in those regions. This has made it very hard for home and business owners outside urban areas to keep their assets affordably or fully insured and comply with lender requirements.
If you live in an area where it’s hard to find a company that will insure your home, shopping online and finding an “Independent” agent are your best bets. Here are a list of UP publications to help you to help you navigate finding insurance in a challenging marketplace:
UP hosts shopping help webinars twice a year to help California homeowners find replacement coverage after being dropped by their insurer. Watch the most recent webinar for information and advice on shopping for insurance in a challenging marketplace below. For previous webinar’s visit our YouTube Channel.
NOTE: Our next Shopping Help Webinar will be held on Friday, June 9th at 12pm.
Here are the additional resources referenced in the Shopping for Home Insurance in a Challenging Marketplace webinar to help you find replacement coverage after you’ve been dropped by your insurer:
Recent changes in California law require insurance companies to factor in wildfire mitigation into their rating plans (the cost of the insurance they sell. The more wildfire mitigation you can do, the more you are improving your home’s chances of surviving a wildfire AND potentially qualifying you for an insurance discount. Visit the WRAP Resource Center to find out the steps to take and local programs in your area that may help with cost, planning, or labor for fire mitigation.
