Author: H. Cutner

State Farm’s Landmark Rate Hearing Could Rewrite California Insurance Rules

H. Cutner
State Farm Financial Challenges

State Farm’s Striking Rate Hike Request: A Closer Look at the Unprecedented Hearing The stakes couldn’t be higher as California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara convened an extraordinary public rate hearing in Oakland, a rarity in the state’s regulatory landscape. At the heart of the drama? State Farm’s urgent request to hike its property insurance rates by an average of 22% for homeowners, alongside increases of 15% for renters and condo owners, and a whopping 38% for rental dwellings. The Los Angeles County fires, catastrophic in both scale and cost, loom…

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From Crisis to Solution: How AB 226 Aims to Transform Wildfire Insurance

H. Cutner
Wildfire Insurance

California Moves to Reinforce FAIR Plan Stability Amid Wildfire Challenges California lawmakers are taking bold steps to protect homeowners and address the state’s wildfire-induced insurance crisis. At the center of these efforts is Assembly Bill (AB) 226, also known as the FAIR Plan Stabilization Act, designed to bolster the state’s insurer of last resort. With unanimous support in the Assembly and growing momentum in the Senate, this bill holds promise for easing the financial strain on an increasingly overburdened insurance market. FAIR Plan’s Crucial Role in High-Risk Areas The FAIR…

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California FAIR Plan Under Fire: Can Emerging Tools and Policies Ease the Pressure?

H. Cutner
California FAIR Plan

California’s Insurance Market Struggles Under Wildfire Pressures: Are We Headed for Another Bailout? California’s insurance market is teetering under the weight of relentless wildfire seasons, leaving consumers, insurers, and regulators to piece together a system that bears increasingly alarming cracks. With wildfires intensifying due to climate change and sprawling development into fire-prone areas, the state faces a financial quagmire deeper than anyone anticipated. Many are asking if another state-backed bailout is inevitable. The Wildfire Tipping Point Wildfires have become a year-round crisis in California, with the latest blazes in Los…

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From Trucks to Trains: Why Rail Theft Is the Fastest-Growing Cargo Crime

H. Cutner
Cargo crime

The Escalating Battle Against Cargo Theft in the U.S. Cargo theft is surging across the United States, posing a significant threat to supply chains, logistics companies, insurers, and consumers alike. Driven by organized crime and opportunistic criminals, this issue is causing losses of up to $35 billion annually. With the frequency and sophistication of thefts on the rise, experts project a steep 22% increase in incidents this year, underscoring the urgent need for stakeholders to address the problem collectively. The Rising Threat of Cargo Theft Cargo theft in the U.S.…

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USAA Settlement Offers Millions to Data Breach Victims

H. Cutner
USAA Settlement

USAA has reached a $3.25 million class-action settlement following a 2021 data breach that exposed customers’ personal information. If you’re a USAA customer impacted by the breach, it’s time to take action; filing a claim before the April 7 deadline is essential to securing your share of the settlement. How to File a Claim in the USAA Settlement If you were affected, you may have already received a unique notification from USAA by email or mail. These notifications include key details, such as a unique ID number and specific codes…

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Liberty Mutual to Refund Louisiana Homeowners Over Assessment Overcharges

H. Cutner
Liberty Mutual refund

Why Louisiana Homeowners Deserve Answers If you’re one of the 138,000 Louisiana residents insured by Liberty Mutual, you may soon see a small refund coming your way. For four years, the insurance giant overcharged policyholders for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. assessment. This surcharge is intended to help homeowners who cannot find coverage on the private insurance market due to natural disaster risks, but errors in Liberty Mutual’s calculations left many consumers paying more than they should have. The overcharges, which total about $4 million, might not break the…

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Liberty Mutual’s Big Move: Why Safeco Insurance Is Retiring After 100 Years

H. Cutner
Liberty Mutual

Safeco Insurance to Retire Brand Name by 2026, Liberty Mutual Consolidates Personal Lines Under Its Banner The insurance industry is undergoing another round of transformation, with Liberty Mutual Insurance announcing plans to retire the Safeco Insurance brand name in 2026. Safeco, a name synonymous with the independent agent channel for home, auto, and specialty insurance, will no longer serve as a standalone identity. All of Liberty Mutual’s personal lines products will instead operate exclusively under the Liberty Mutual name. Safeco’s Legacy of Strength and Partnership Since its founding in 1923…

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