California insurance crisis Archives

State Farm’s Wildfire Claims Spark New Investigation by California Regulators

June 14, 2025 G. Turner

California Investigates State Farm Over Wildfire Claims California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has newly launched a formal investigation into State Farm. Why? Complaints. Lots of them. Survivors of the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires are fed up. They’re accusing the insurance giant of delays, denials, and endless paperwork. It’s left many frustrated, financially strained, and emotionally drained. The wildfires were catastrophic. Over 16,000 buildings destroyed. Thirty lives lost. Thousands displaced. These fires weren’t just another disaster—they were among the costliest in U.S. history. And now, survivors are saying their…

The New Rules State Farm Doesn’t Want Californians to Miss

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 Marc

State Farm’s New “Risky” Rules What do mushroom farms, corn mazes, and professional athletes have in common? Not much, right? Well, State Farm sees it differently. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, these are just a few of the 17 activities the insurance giant has decided it won’t cover under certain personal liability umbrella policies in California. Strange mix, but here we are. If you’ve got a farm that doubles as a family destination with corn mazes or pumpkin patches, that’s a no-go. Own a mushroom farm? Same deal. And…

Consumer Group Takes on Insurance Commissioner in High-Stakes Lawsuit

April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 Angela Linders

Lawsuit Targets California Insurance Commissioner Over Home Insurance Surcharges A courtroom battle is brewing in California over home insurance surcharges tied to devastating wildfire losses, thrusting Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara into the spotlight. The legal challenge, filed by the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, alleges Lara violated state law by enabling insurance companies to pass on the financial burden of wildfire damage to policyholders. At the center of this fight are the ripple effects of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena fires, which left a staggering $4 billion in damages and obliterated…

State Farm Rate Hike Fallout: Californians Brace for Judge’s Decision

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 H. Cutner

California Insurance news State Farm Hearing Update

Californians on Edge as Judge Weighs State Farm’s Rate Hike Request The courtroom drama around State Farm’s emergency rate hike request might be finished, but the fallout is just beginning. After a high-stakes, three-day hearing in Oakland, the insurer, the California Department of Insurance, and advocacy groups are all waiting on an administrative law judge to decide if the proposed increases will formally take effect. And while this legal tug-of-war plays out, roughly three million California homeowners and policyholders are bracing themselves for what these changes might mean for their…

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

April 8, 2025 H. Cutner

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…

California Rejects State Farm’s Emergency 22% Home Insurance Rate Hike Request

February 18, 2025February 17, 2025 Angela Linders

California Insurance Commissioner Rejects Rate Hike Amid Consumer Concern California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has rejected a proposed 22% emergency rate hike for home insurance requested by State Farm General Insurance Company. The decision came after the company failed to provide evidence proving the increase was necessary and could not explain how the additional revenue would address its prior decisions to stop writing new policies in the state and not renew existing ones. Lara’s letter to State Farm underscored his commitment to protecting policyholders from unnecessary financial burdens while voicing…

Liberty Mutual Drops a Bombshell on California Condo and Renters Insurance Market

December 24, 2024December 23, 2024 Angela Linders

Liberty Mutual to Exit California’s Condo and Renters Insurance Market by 2026 Liberty Mutual, the fourth-largest home insurance provider in California, has announced plans to discontinue offering new condo and rental insurance policies starting January 1, 2025. The company aims for a full exit from these markets by 2026. This decision follows a wave of insurance companies pulling back from California, citing increasing risks and market volatility. Liberty Mutual’s subsidiary, Safeco, will also cease providing these policies, leaving thousands of Californians searching for alternative insurance options. Insurance Company Background Over…