Author: Angela Linders

California’s $5 Billion Cannabis Boom Faces Fiery Peril: Insurance Vanishes as Wildfires Close In

Angela Linders
California Cannabis Industry Wildfire Threat

Wildfire Threat Looms Over California Cannabis Industry California’s huge cannabis industry, valued at $5 billion, faces a precarious future as wildfire risks intensify and insurance options dwindle. The industry’s vulnerability is exacerbated by the withdrawal of major insurers and the inadequacy of the state’s FAIR plan to provide necessary coverage for cannabis growers. Rising Risk in Rural Areas Cannabis, a relatively new yet lucrative crop in California, is predominantly cultivated in rural areas, placing it at a significant risk from wildfires. According to recent research by the Department of Environmental…

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The High Cost of Health: Who Gets Weight Loss Prescriptions?

Angela Linders
The High Cost of Health

Disparities in Weight Loss Prescriptions The disparity in access to medications like Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Ozempic highlights a significant issue within the U.S. healthcare system. Despite the increasing medical applications of these drugs, which include managing diabetes and potentially preventing heart disease and stroke, many insurers remain reluctant to cover them for weight loss. Medicare, for example, is legally barred from covering weight-loss drugs unless the patient presents serious health risks. This limitation leaves over two-fifths of American adults who are obese but otherwise healthy without coverage options. Federal spending…

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Record-Breaking Auto Insurance Shopping Trends: The Game-Changer Insurance Agents Can’t Ignore

Angela Linders
auto insurance shopping trends

The national auto insurance shopping and quoting rate reached a record high between April and June of 2024, signaling significant shifts in consumer behavior. According to a new J.D. Power report, this increased activity could have varying implications for insurance agents across the country. Record-Breaking Trends The report highlighted that May 2024 matched the ongoing study’s all-time high monthly shopping rate, with 13.5% of U.S. drivers seeking new quotes. Additionally, 4.2% of drivers switched insurers, setting a new monthly high. This intensified shopping and switching activity reflects consumers’ responsiveness to…

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California Insurance Commissioner and Farmers CEO: A Groundbreaking Dialogue on the Insurance Crisis

Angela Linders
california insurance crisis a

California continues to struggle with a growing insurance crisis, as homeowners face towering premiums and the daunting task of securing coverage. Amidst this turmoil, insurers have retreated, leaving many Californians in a lurch. But in a recent twist, the path to resolution may hinge on a compromise that allows insurers to adjust rates based on future risk assessments. State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, spearheading new regulations to mitigate the crisis, likens his relationship with the insurance industry to a “forced marriage” — staying together for the larger family’s sake. This…

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Florida Homeowners Insurance Market Sees Promising Shift with Depopulation Program

Angela Linders
florida insurance homeowers

The landscape of Florida’s homeowners insurance industry is undergoing significant changes as private insurers have absorbed 275,324 policies from the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp so far in 2023. These changes, spotlighted during the recent Citizens Board of Governors meeting, demonstrate a strategic attempt to balance the market through a process called “depopulation.” What Depopulation Means for Consumers For consumers, the depopulation program has a direct impact on their insurance decisions. Here’s what it boils down to: if a private insurance company extends an offer that exceeds a policy owner’s…

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