Live Insurance News

Wildfire Survivors Get a Lifeline as California Pushes for Full Coverage Payments

February 10, 2025February 9, 2025 G. Turner

California Insurance Commissioner Calls on Insurers to Ease Wildfire Survivors’ Burdens A Compassionate Plea for Full Coverage Without Detailed Inventories California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is taking a strong stance to support survivors of recent wildfires in Southern California. Recognizing the emotional and logistical toll of losing a home, Lara has issued a Notice urging residential property insurance companies to provide full contents coverage limits without requiring policyholders to compile exhaustive inventories of their destroyed belongings. “It is inhumane to require wildfire survivors who have lost everything to list every…

USAA Sues Regions Bank Over Alleged Mobile Deposit Patent Violation

January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 G. Turner

A Legal Battle Over Innovation USAA, the San Antonio-based financial services company, filed a lawsuit against Regions Bank on Tuesday, alleging the Birmingham, Alabama-based bank is infringing on four of its mobile deposit capture technology patents. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, seeks financial damages, calling Regions’ alleged actions “willful.” USAA contends that any damages awarded should be enhanced up to three times their value. This court has proven favorable to USAA in past litigation. Since 2019, the insurer has secured three…

How a Single Bill Could Reshape Insurance Regulation in America

January 29, 2025January 28, 2025 G. Turner

Congressman Troy Downing Introduces Legislation to Abolish the Federal Insurance Office Congressman Troy Downing, representing Montana’s 2nd district, has introduced a new bill, H.R. 643, in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at abolishing the Federal Insurance Office (FIO). The proposed legislation seeks to return full regulatory authority over the insurance industry to state governments, eliminating what supporters consider an unnecessary and duplicative federal entity. “The law is clear. Regulation of the insurance industry rests with the states, not big government,” Downing stated in a press release. This reflects his…

Florida House Bill 13 Aims to Shake Up Home Insurance in the Sunshine State

January 27, 2025 G. Turner

Citizens Insurance Focus - home insurance

Expanding Citizens Insurance to Address Windstorm Damage Florida is no stranger to the wrath of hurricanes. With the state regularly experiencing some of the costliest natural disasters in the United States, reliable home insurance has become both a necessity and a challenge. Enter House Bill 13, a proposal that could significantly alter the insurance landscape. Sponsored by Rep. Hillary Cassel of Broward County, this legislation seeks to make Citizens Property Insurance Corp. — a state-run insurer — available to all Florida property owners for windstorm coverage. The bill primarily targets…

North Carolina’s Biggest Insurance Hike in Years

January 21, 2025January 20, 2025 G. Turner

North Carolina Homeowners Face Rising Insurance Premiums Amid Settlement Agreement North Carolina homeowners will soon see their insurance premiums rise following a recently announced settlement between the state Insurance Department and the insurance industry. The increase will be gradual, averaging 15% statewide by mid-2026. While the new rates are lower than what the industry initially proposed, the settlement demonstrates the growing pressures on insurers as they deal with inflation, costly natural disasters, and other challenges. Understanding the Settlement and Its Impact on Homeowners The settlement reduces what could have been…

Why USAA Tops the 2025 List of America’s Most Trusted Home Insurance Brands

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025 G. Turner

Understanding the Role of Trust in Home Insurance Decisions When choosing home insurance, consumers are making more than a financial decision. They’re entrusting a company with their sense of security, knowing it will play a pivotal role during some of life’s most challenging moments. Whether facing damages from a hurricane, a fire, or a break-in, homeowners rely on their insurer to deliver on its promises. The 2025 America’s Most Trusted Home Insurance Study offers a clear glimpse into which brands are earning that trust and why it matters so much.…

State Farm Reverses Course, Offering Hope to Wildfire-Affected Homeowners

January 17, 2025 G. Turner

Thousands of Homeowners Find Relief Amid Uncertainty After devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles County earlier this month, State Farm has announced a reversal in its policy cancellations, providing much-needed relief to thousands of California residents. Homeowners who feared losing their insurance coverage now have the option to renew their policies, a decision applying to those whose insurance was active as of January 7, 2025—the day the fires ignited. State Farm’s U-Turn in the Face of Crisis State Farm’s decision impacts approximately 1,100 policyholders in Pacific Palisades’ ZIP code 90272…