Tag: insurance reform

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’s FAIR Plan Offers a Lifeline, But Is It Sustainable?

Nordstrom
California Wildfires Costs

California Expands FAIR Plan Insurance Limits Amid Wildfire Risks and Insurer Withdrawals The California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan serves as the state’s insurer of last resort, stepping in to provide essential property coverage when traditional insurers leave high-risk zones. Established in 1968, the FAIR Plan is a private consortium of insurance companies operating under state oversight. It was never designed to replace private insurance but to act as a safety net for those unable to secure coverage due to location or elevated risk factors. Recent years, however,…

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Governor Newsom Backs Bill to Prioritize Homeowners Benefiting from Insurance Payout Interest

G. Turner
Governor Newsom’s proposed bill regarding insurance payouts

When disaster strikes, recovery often feels like an uphill battle for homeowners. For Californians impacted by the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, a new piece of legislation proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom could help alleviate some financial burdens. The proposed bill, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena), aims to ensure that homeowners—not lenders—benefit from the interest accrued on insurance payouts for homes destroyed or damaged during disasters. Understanding the Proposed California Insurance Bill Governor Newsom’s proposed bill addresses a gap in California law that currently allows lenders to collect interest…

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

Logan B.
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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Florida’s Property Insurance Shake-Up: What Homeowners Need to Know

H. Cutner
Florida's Property Insurance

State-Backed Citizens Insurance Plans to Raise Rates Residents across Florida are bracing for another surge in property insurance costs as Citizens Property Insurance, the state’s insurer of last resort, inches closer to finalizing a 14% rate increase for 2025. This proposal, already approved by Citizens’ board, seeks to align rates with the private market while continuing efforts to reduce the insurer’s policyholder count. But as Floridians juggle rising premiums and limited options, the bigger question remains—what’s the way forward? Why Are Florida Insurance Rates Rising? Florida’s property insurance market faces…

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How Fake Accidents Could Be Driving Up Your Uber Ride Cost

H. Cutner
Uber ride

Allegations of Staged Accidents and Unnecessary Surgeries Uber Technologies has taken a bold legal step, filing a racketeering lawsuit against a network of law firms, doctors, and pain management clinics. According to a recent article in Bloomberg, the company accuses these groups of orchestrating staged car accidents and conducting medically unnecessary surgeries to exploit New York’s no-fault insurance policies. Claims of Fraudulent Accidents and Unnecessary Medical Procedures Uber Technologies has initiated a significant legal case, suing a network of law firms, doctors, and clinics for allegedly orchestrating fake car accidents…

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How a Single Bill Could Reshape Insurance Regulation in America

G. Turner
Insurance Regulation

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…

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