A small bit of good news from the California Insurance Commissioner today….
Some protection for people with insurance.
California insurance commissioner issues 1-year moratorium to protect Southern California homeowners
The California insurance commissioner issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on non-renewals and cancellations to protect Southern California residents affected by the recent fires.
At a news conference on Friday, Commissioner Ricardo Lara said his primary concern is to make sure residents who are affected by the fires get the full insurance benefits they are entitled to.
CBS News Los Angeles
At least 1600 people in Pacific Palisades lost their insurance last July.
Lara's moratorium comes as thousands of Los Angeles homeowners were dropped by insurers before the Palisades Fire erupted. CNS MoneyWatch reported that about 1,600 policies in the Pacific Palisades area were dropped by State Farm in July.
To provide additional support to those affected, Lara called on insurers to extend their 60-day grace period for homeowners to pay their insurance premiums.
CBS News Los Angeles (link in quote above)
You can enter your zip code at the Department of Insurance website to see if you are eligible for these protections.
Palisades, Eaton fire victims’ homeowners insurance protected through 2026
“Losing your insurance should be the last thing on someone’s mind after surviving a devastating fire,” said Lara. “This law gives millions of Californians breathing room and hits the pause button on insurance non-renewals while people recover.”
Officials said residents can go to the Department of Insurance website to see if their ZIP code is included in the moratorium.
KTLA News Los Angeles
From that article above at KTLA, some tips:
The department also provided the following list of tips for consumers during this time:
- Keep all receipts during your evacuation.
- Policy provisions, including deductibles, vary by company, and residents should check with their insurance company or agent as soon as possible to confirm coverage, limits, and any other limitations and documentation requirements. Most renter’s policies also typically include ALE coverage.
- Document the date, time, and names of any insurance company employees you speak to regarding your coverage.
- Consumers should make sure any insurance agent or public adjuster offering their services has a valid license by checking online with the Department of Insurance.
- Download the Department’s Top 10 Tips for Wildfire Claimants (also available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese), which includes information about claiming ALE benefits.
- Under existing law, public adjusters cannot solicit business for seven calendar days after a disaster.
- Don’t forget copies of insurance policies, important papers, and a photo or video inventory of your possessions. An inventory can be completed quickly and easily on your smart phone and safely stored in the Cloud.
For those alarmed that I have suddenly begun posting again after so many years of dormancy, I sincerely promise to go quiet again after these fires have passed. :)
Be safe.
