Live Insurance News

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…

$1 Billion Plan to Stabilize The California FAIR Plan Insurance Program

February 13, 2025February 12, 2025 G. Turner

California FAIR Plan Insurance Program Stability plan

Funding the FAIR Plan Without Overburdening Californians To address the financial pressures caused by rising wildfire claims, the California FAIR Plan is set to receive a $1 billion financial boost. Announced by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, this initiative balances the need for immediate stability with measures designed to protect policyholders from undue financial strain, ensuring essential support for wildfire recovery efforts continues. The FAIR Plan as a Safety Net The California FAIR Plan provides critical fire insurance coverage to homeowners and renters in high-risk wildfire zones who are unable…

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

February 10, 2025February 9, 2025 Logan B.

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…

Can Chubb Weather the Storm? $1.5 Billion Wildfire Costs Test Resilience

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 Nordstrom

Chubb Faces $1.5 Billion Wildfire Claims as California Insurance Market Struggles Chubb Ltd. is bracing for an estimated $1.5 billion in pretax costs due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. This makes it the first insurance company to reveal its financial hit from these disasters, which claimed over two dozen lives and caused widespread destruction. The Eaton and Palisades fires burned nearly 40,000 acres of homes, businesses, and landmarks, leaving families displaced and communities reeling. Evan Greenberg, Chubb’s Chairman and CEO, expressed solidarity with the affected policyholders, stating,…

State Farm Reverses Course, Offering Hope to Wildfire-Affected Homeowners

January 17, 2025 G. Turner

Thousands of Homeowners Find Relief Amid Uncertainty After devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles County earlier this month, State Farm has announced a reversal in its policy cancellations, providing much-needed relief to thousands of California residents. Homeowners who feared losing their insurance coverage now have the option to renew their policies, a decision applying to those whose insurance was active as of January 7, 2025—the day the fires ignited. State Farm’s U-Turn in the Face of Crisis State Farm’s decision impacts approximately 1,100 policyholders in Pacific Palisades’ ZIP code 90272…

High Wind Warnings Issued as California Faces $20 Billion in Fire Losses

January 11, 2025January 13, 2025 Live Insurance News

California Wind Forecast and Fire Risk Southern California is bracing for another dangerous fire weather event as the Santa Ana winds are set to return. After a brief reprieve over the past 24 hours, forecasters predict wind gusts of up to 65 mph will sweep through the region late Saturday into Sunday morning, once again intensifying wildfire threats. The National Weather Service has issued High Wind Warnings for much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, elevating the fire outlook to a “Critical” risk level. Key fire zones, including areas affected…

Aon Benfield’s June severe weather stats show losses of $2 billion

July 16, 2012July 16, 2012 Marc

Last month experienced significant insured natural catastrophes in the United States. Aon Benfield has released its Global Catastrophe Report, which showed that in June, the losses from severe weather were nearly $2 billion in the United States alone. The report was published by Impact Forecasting at Aon, analyzing natural disasters worldwide. Among all of the severe weather events, the greatest losses were caused by the hailstorms in New Mexico and Texas, where hail the size of tennis balls hurtled to the ground, smashing their way through cars, roofs, and everything…