As Insurance Soars, Homeowners Ask: Is It Worth It?
As Insurance Soars, Homeowners Ask: Is It Worth It?

In the face of inflated supply costs and extreme weather wreaking havoc, home insurance rates have shot through the roof, leaving many Americans begging the question: is owning a home worth it? Retired high school teacher Anjali Tierra is one homeowner who has been without…
As homeowner’s insurance prices climb, more Americans ask: Is it worth it?
As homeowner’s insurance prices climb, more Americans ask: Is it worth it?

It was 2019 when Anjali Tierra decided that homeowners insurance wasn’t worth the price. The retired high school teacher, 58, took out a policy in late 2018 after purchasing a three-bedroom home nestled in the Tehachapi Mountains of southern California. She considered the insurance affordable…
Can a Home Insurer Drop You Due to Aerial Photos? Brace Yourself for It
Can a Home Insurer Drop You Due to Aerial Photos? Brace Yourself for It

Is your insurance company spying on you? Insurers are increasingly using technology such as drones, airplanes and even high-altitude balloons to survey homes from coast to coast. If these companies spot something they don’t like, you could lose homeowners insurance coverage. In late 2023, KGO-TV…
Marin homeowners grapple with fire insurance cancellations
Marin homeowners grapple with fire insurance cancellations

Marin residents are among the many Californians who are getting their fire insurance canceled despite the county’s aggressive fire prevention measures. Not even Mark Brown, executive director of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, is immune. “I received my non-renewal notice,” Brown said during a program…
Auto insurance costs up nearly 20% nationwide. Here’s how to save | Dollars & Sense
Auto insurance costs up nearly 20% nationwide. Here’s how to save | Dollars & Sense

“Across all lines of insurance, home, car, you name it, business, prices are up, options are down,” said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders. You’re likely paying more for auto insurance here in California than you were last year, according to new data. The…
Asbestos contribution fight sent back to lower California appellate court
Asbestos contribution fight sent back to lower California appellate court

The California Supreme Court said Monday that a lower appellate court should determine if a primary insurer can seek contribution from first-level excess insurers for asbestos injury claims. The unanimous high court panel in Truck Insurance Exchange Co. v. Kaiser Cement and Gypsum Corp. reversed…
Excess Insurers May Need To Pay In Kaiser Asbestos Dispute
Excess Insurers May Need To Pay In Kaiser Asbestos Dispute

A policyholder can tap into first-layer excess policies as soon as the primary coverage for that period is exhausted, the California Supreme Court ruled, potentially implicating several first-level excess insurers to contribute to coverage for underlying asbestos exposure claims against Kaiser Cement and Gypsum Corp.…
New proposal could help Californians in high-risk fire areas get their insurance back
New proposal could help Californians in high-risk fire areas get their insurance back

California’s wildfire risk has sent premiums skyrocketing and insurance companies fleeing the state. But this week, the state insurance commission released a new proposal to help homeowners, especially in higher fire risk areas. As part of the proposal, the state released new maps showing the…
Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in his strategy to expand coverage options for Californians in areas of high wildfire risk
Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in his strategy to expand coverage options for Californians in areas of high wildfire risk

Commissioner Lara unveils next steps in his strategy to expand coverage options for Californians in areas of high wildfire risk First-ever wildfire risk map showing where insurance companies need to write more coverage LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today released further details of…
California Shows Where Insurers Would Need to Boost Coverage in Fire-Prone Areas
California Shows Where Insurers Would Need to Boost Coverage in Fire-Prone Areas

California insurance regulators on Wednesday released maps of the state’s most wildfire-distressed areas, where they aim to require insurance companies to write more policies, the next phase of their plan to address the ongoing crisis in the state’s home insurance market. The new draft state…
Berkeley homeowners scramble after insurers end coverage citing fire risk
Berkeley homeowners scramble after insurers end coverage citing fire risk

The Department of Insurance has been working on regulatory reform but in the meantime many residents are facing scenarios where their only option is the California FAIR Plan, which they say costs too much and covers too little. Like many around the state, Berkeley homeowners…
Imagining a post-insurance world
Imagining a post-insurance world

THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: California’s leaders are determined to save a private property insurance market roiled by climate change. But others are — somewhat begrudgingly — starting to imagine a world without insurance (as we usually think of it) at…
How Important Is Earthquake Insurance? All Your Questions Answered.
How Important Is Earthquake Insurance? All Your Questions Answered.

Yesterday on AirTalk we talked about a series of small earthquakes that rattled SoCal starting on May 31st with a quake in Ojai, followed by a few in El Sereno and a trio of quakes in Costa Mesa. Today, we’re talking about earthquake insurance. Californian…
State Farm Reverses California Policy Non-Renewals – With a Catch
State Farm Reverses California Policy Non-Renewals – With a Catch

State Farm, the largest insurance carrier in California, has announced a significant reversal of its earlier decision to not renew over 70,000 policies in the state, including 30,000 home insurance policies. This change comes after the company initially cited increasing wildfire risks as the primary…
California home insurance: Should you submit a claim, or will it get you non-renewed?
California home insurance: Should you submit a claim, or will it get you non-renewed?

As insurance nonrenewals and rate hikes pile up in California, many homeowners are wondering: Will paying for repairs out of pocket rather than submitting a claim help avoid being nonrenewed and mitigate higher premiums in the long run? Experts say the answer may be yes,…
Capitol Briefs: Budget deadline is upon us!
Capitol Briefs: Budget deadline is upon us!

Budget trailers bills now in the wild: As reported by McGeorge law professor and registered lobbyist – and Capitol Weekly columnist – Chris Micheli, lawmakers over the weekend released the main budget bill (AB 107, in print) and two trailers bills not in print at…
Insurance woes | Changes underway for earthquake policies
Insurance woes | Changes underway for earthquake policies

“These are not changes that we’re excited about,” said Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders. More insurance changes are underway. This time, they’re impacting earthquake policies. California is no stranger to earthquakes. Yet despite their likelihood here, earthquake insurance isn’t required, and only about…
Insurance companies using new tools to evaluate property
Insurance companies using new tools to evaluate property

Imagine paying for homeowner’s insurance for decades, only to get a letter that your insurer isn’t renewing your policy. Insurers are using new tools, including drones and satellite cameras, to evaluate property. “I felt like I was blindsided,” John D’entremont told us. “If you look…