State Farm Wants Higher Premiums, Consumer Watchdog Says ‘Prove It!

State Farm rate increase request

Consumer Watchdog Challenges State Farm’s Emergency Rate Hike Request Consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has raised objections to an emergency interim rate increase requested by State Farm, arguing the insurance giant has not provided sufficient justification for its demands. Calling attention to strong consumer protection laws in California, the organization filed two letters with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to challenge the proposed rate hikes. These increases, Consumer Watchdog asserts, could unfairly burden individuals already coping with the rising costs of recovery from natural disasters. What State Farm Is Requesting State…

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California on Fire, Again: Are We Prepared for Bigger and Faster Blazes?

California fires

Wildfires Ravage Los Angeles: A Climate Crisis Unfolds Los Angeles is once again in the grip of a wildfire crisis as multiple blazes, including the Hurst, Palisades, and Eaton fires, scorch the region. These fires have collectively consumed over 16,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 structures, and forced tens of thousands of residents to flee. The Hurst Fire, which broke out in the Sylmar area, alone has spread to 500 acres with 0% containment, underscoring the ferocity of these disasters. This comes as Southern California endures powerful Santa Ana winds,…

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California Insurance Companies Pull Out, But This Rule Could Bring Them Back

California Insurance

California’s New Rules to Tackle Home Insurance Crisis with Reinsurance Costs California has unveiled a new regulation allowing home insurers to charge higher premiums to cover reinsurance costs. This decision, led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, marks the latest step by the state to address its home insurance crisis, as insurers withdraw from high-risk wildfire areas. Here’s what you need to know about the changes and how they could reshape the state’s insurance market. What the New Reinsurance Regulation Means For the first time in California, insurers can factor reinsurance…

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California’s Evolving Insurance Market: Is Relief on the Horizon?

California Insurance Market

California’s home insurance market has been under immense pressure in recent years, leaving homeowners dealing with uncertainty about their coverage. Farmers Insurance, the state’s second-largest home insurer, recently announced a significant decision to expand the number of policies it writes each month. While it marks a potential turning point, many questions remain about the long-term sustainability of California’s insurance landscape. Here’s a breakdown of the situation, players involved, and what lies ahead. Farmers Insurance Expands Policy Sales Cap After limiting itself to selling 7,000 policies per month in California, Farmers…

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California, Colorado and Texas Face Billion-Dollar Home Insurance Dilemma

california wildfire risk landscape

California’s Growing Wildfire Risk for Home Insurance Market California homeowners face a growing problem: over 1.2 million homes are at moderate or high risk of wildfire damage, with reconstruction costs exceeding $760 billion. According to CoreLogic’s Wildfire Risk Report, this is particularly concerning for those living in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), especially in areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside. Climate change is a significant factor, with NOAA’s data showing the number of acres burned each year has nearly doubled since the early ’80s. Reconstruction costs for damaged…

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California Governor Newsom backs property insurance reform measure

Property insurance - California Law - Support

The goal is to ensure that homeowners and business owners will find necessary coverage California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara recently announced that a new draft measure would make it a requirement for property insurance companies using new catastrophe modeling to write more policies in areas at a higher risk of events such as wildfires. Larger insurers must insure properties at a specific minimum level The draft regulation would require that all companies using new catastrophe modeling to write more property insurance policies in distressed areas. That said, larger insurers would…

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State Farm Reverses California Policy Non-Renewals – With a Catch

Allstate home insurance growth and decline

State Farm, the largest insurance carrier in California, has announced a significant reversal of its earlier decision to not renew over 70,000 policies in the state, including 30,000 home insurance policies. This change comes after the company initially cited increasing wildfire risks as the primary reason for its decision back in March. However, the company’s renewed commitment comes with a notable caveat that is bound to impact policyholders significantly. State Farm Reversal and The Catch According to a statement from Sevag Sarkissian, State Farm’s California spokesperson, while the company will…

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