As premiums rise, consumers need answers – some states are on the case
As premiums rise, consumers need answers – some states are on the case

As auto and home insurance premiums continue to rise across the United States, insurance oversight agencies are reporting a marked increase in consumer complaints and inquiries that seek to understand the reasons for increased pricing and what they can do to qualify for lower rates.…
What is Reinsurance?
What is Reinsurance?

What ( the #%!) is Reinsurance? And how does it impact homeowners insurance in California? The following was written by Joel Laucher, a former regulator and current United Policyholders’ staff member whose work is focused on wildfire risk reduction and appropriate insurance rewards for mitigation.…
How Your Insurance Rates are Set in California
How Your Insurance Rates are Set in California

The following was written by Joel Laucher, a former regulator and United Policyholders’ staff member whose work is focused on wildfire risk reduction and appropriate insurance rewards for mitigation. Prior to joining Team UP, Joel rose through the ranks at the California Department of Insurance…
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

California will let insurance companies consider climate change when setting their prices, the state’s chief regulator announced Thursday, a move aimed at preventing insurers from fleeing the state over fears of massive losses from wildfires and other natural disasters. Unlike other states, California does not…
The flood of insurance companies out of California is so bad that the golden state is changing its whole climate change pricing plan
The flood of insurance companies out of California is so bad that the golden state is changing its whole climate change pricing plan

A new plan from California’s insurance commissioner aims to stop the nation’s top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state by letting them consider climate risks when setting their prices. Unlike most states, California tightly restricts how insurance companies can price policies. Companies aren’t allowed to…
Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis? What you need to know
Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis? What you need to know

A week after negotiations to rescue California’s floundering home insurance market stalled out in the Legislature, the state’s top insurance regulator put out his own rescue plan that effectively amounts to a trade for the state’s major insurers. Under proposed regulations Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara…
Insurance Crisis: Newsom Orders Action That Could Raise Rates
Insurance Crisis: Newsom Orders Action That Could Raise Rates

California has announced a new plan to shore up the state’s tenuous home insurance market after multiple insurers cut business in the state and legislators failed to negotiate a solution. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state’s insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, to take “prompt…
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing
Wildfire-prone California to consider new rules for property insurance pricing

A new plan from California’s insurance commissioner aims to keep the nation’s top insurers from leaving the wildfire-prone state California will let insurance companies consider climate change when setting their prices, the state’s chief regulator announced Thursday, a move aimed at preventing insurers from fleeing…
Insurance premiums could surge in these American cities because of climate disasters, new data shows
Insurance premiums could surge in these American cities because of climate disasters, new data shows

Millions of American homeowners could see insurance rates surge in the coming years in part due to worsening climate disasters, new data shows. An analysis of from nonprofit research group First Street Foundation found nearly 39 million homes and commercial properties – about 27% of…
Insurance premiums could surge in these American cities because of climate disasters, new data shows
Insurance premiums could surge in these American cities because of climate disasters, new data shows

Millions of American homeowners could see insurance rates surge in the coming years in part due to worsening climate disasters, new data shows. An analysis of from nonprofit research group First Street Foundation found nearly 39 million homes and commercial properties – about 27% of…
Insurance premiums could surge in these U.S. cities because of climate disasters, new data shows
Insurance premiums could surge in these U.S. cities because of climate disasters, new data shows

Millions of American homeowners could see insurance rates surge in the coming years in part due to worsening climate disasters, new data shows. An analysis of from nonprofit research group First Street Foundation found nearly 39 million homes and commercial properties – about 27% of…
Webinar: Briefing on the Current Home Insurance Market in California
Webinar: Briefing on the Current Home Insurance Market in California

BUTTE COUNTY AND CONSUMER GROUP TO HOST A BRIEFING ON THE CURRENT HOME INSURANCE MARKET IN CALIFORNIA Oroville, Calif.— On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the County of Butte and the consumer non-profit United Policyholders (UP) will co-host a countywide webinar for California homeowners on the…
Policyholder forum set for Lahaina
Policyholder forum set for Lahaina

Attorneys and insurance officials will help Maui residents understand the insurance process after the recent fires during a forum from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. The Maui Wildfires Policyholder’s Forum will take place at Hula Grill Restaurant in Whalers Village Shopping Center at 2435 Kaanapali…
California tries for a different path than Florida on insurance
California tries for a different path than Florida on insurance

State officials trying to figure out how to stem the exodus of property insurers from wildfire-prone areas are looking with trepidation at hurricane-ravaged Florida. Floridians are furious at their elected officials for allowing sky-high insurance premiums driven by catastrophic storms. California’s leaders are eager to…
Fire insurance topic of PV Fire Safe Council meeting
Fire insurance topic of PV Fire Safe Council meeting

Joel Laucher, preparedness advocate for United Policyholders, will talk about “Keeping Your Home Protected When Insurance Options Are Limited – and Expensive” at the Pleasants Valley Fire Safe Council meeting on Monday. An item on being safer from wildfires is also on the agenda. The…
What a night! Thank you to everyone who helped us get UP to Good!
What a night! Thank you to everyone who helped us get UP to Good!

On Friday, September 8th, 2023, wildfire survivors, public officials and generous businesses and individuals gathered outdoors at the elegant and historic Buena Vista Winery to raise funds for the our Roadmap to Recovery, Preparedness and Advocacy programs. Funds raised in connection with this event will…
California insurers lobby for sweeping changes to state law in ‘secret’ meetings
California insurers lobby for sweeping changes to state law in ‘secret’ meetings

Insurers are reportedly engaged in negotiations with the California insurance commissioner and state legislators, seeking significant revisions to the state’s insurance laws before the conclusion of the legislative year. Consumer Watchdog, a longtime consumer advocacy group, said insurers are working on a secret plan to…
A Wildfire Sheds Light: Mutual Aid Is Everyone’s Future
A Wildfire Sheds Light: Mutual Aid Is Everyone’s Future

Will We Change or Will We Burn? Everywhere in the US decades of public funding cuts are a fact of life. At present, governmental sources of crisis support, though they are crucial, are unlikely to ever be sufficient. Community-built systems of mutual aid may, as…