Who Pays for Disaster? The Fallout from Hawaii Wildfire Settlement

H. Cutner
who pays for wildfire settlement?

Hawaii’s Wildfire Settlement: Why Insurers Are Fuming Insurance companies aren’t happy. Not one bit. The $4.04 billion Maui wildfire settlement, signed into law by Governor Josh Green, has left them frustrated, concerned, and, frankly, a little nervous. Why? Let’s break it down. The Money: Where It’s Coming From First, let’s be clear: this money isn’t coming from insurance companies. The $4.04 billion settlement fund is being paid by seven defendants, including Hawaiian Electric, the State of Hawaii, the County of Maui, Kamehameha Schools, Charter Communications/Spectrum, Hawaiian Telcom, and West Maui Land Co.…

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Kentucky Auto Insurance Gets a Makeover: What It Means for You

Marc
Kentucky Auto Insurance

What Kentucky’s New Auto Insurance Regulation Means for Drivers The Kentucky Department of Insurance (DOI) has shaken up how auto insurance companies determine the value of wrecked or damaged vehicles. This might not seem like the most thrilling news, but if you’re a Kentucky driver, it’ll likely impact you if you file a claim. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changed, how it used to work, and what it all means for policyholders. What Was the System Before? Before this new rule, insurers had to turn to valuation guides by the…

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“Insurance Poor”: The Silent Crisis Draining American Wallets

Live Insurance News
Someone Insurance Poor

You’ve probably heard someone say it: “Every month, it’s like half my paycheck disappears into premiums. It’s exhausting.” That’s what it means to be insurance poor—a reality millions of Americans face every day. They’re stuck paying sky-high premiums for health, auto, home, and life insurance, leaving little to cover the rest of life’s essentials. How did we get here? And how many are stuck in this financial trap? The Numbers Don’t Lie Insurance costs are eating up more of our paychecks than ever before. Health insurance premiums alone have skyrocketed. According to recent…

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MetLife’s Big Surprise: A Dip in Group Life Premiums

Nordstrom
Life insurance benefits - magnifying glass

The first quarter of 2025 brought plenty of lifts and dips for the US life insurance market. But what caught everyone’s attention? MetLife Inc. — the giant of group life insurance — reported a steep drop in its premiums. Strange, right? For a leader with 25% of the market share, a 15.6% year-over-year decline feels… unexpected. Here’s the scoop, based on the S&P Analysis for US Life Insurance. The Shock Factor MetLife isn’t just any group life insurer. It’s the top dog. The big player. With $3.11 billion in direct…

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How to Weather the Storm of Minnesota Home Insurance Increases

Angela Linders
Minnesota Home Insurance Rates

Minnesota Retirees Brace for Rising Insurance Rates Retirement should mean relaxation, not financial headaches. But in Minnesota, rising homeowners insurance costs are becoming a major concern—especially for retirees on tight budgets. If you own a home, you’ve probably noticed your premiums creeping up. And, unfortunately, more hikes are on the way. The Numbers Don’t Lie Here’s the hard truth. Homeowners insurance in Minnesota already costs an average of $4,000 a year. That’s a big chunk of change. And according to Realtor.com, rates are expected to increase by 15% by the…

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The Surprising Truth About Auto Insurance in Safe Cities

Logan B.
Auto Insurance in Safe Cities

Why Brownsville’s Higher Insurance Rates Beat Boston’s Despite Safer Roads Brownsville, Texas. The safest city for drivers, according to Allstate’s report. Drivers here are involved in accidents far less frequently than most places. Then there’s Boston, Massachusetts. The city tops the list of riskiest places to drive, with an enviable collision rate of once every three years. Yet somehow, if you’re insuring your car, Brownsville drivers pay more. Yes—more. How can that be? It’s shocking, counterintuitive even, but it’s a perfect example of why auto insurance isn’t just about safe…

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