With Wildfires Causing Nonrenewals, California Publishes Top Ten Tips for Finding Residential Insurance
- Last Updated: Saturday, 17 August 2019 05:55
- Published: Saturday, 17 August 2019 05:55
2008 Telegraph Fire in Mariposa County
Sierra Sun Times file photo
August 17, 2019 - We are aware there has been an increase in nonrenewals and understand that residential insurance is getting harder to find in any area that insurers identify as having a higher than average risk of wildfire. While the Department of Insurance doesn't have the legal authority to tell insurers what level of risk they must write or where they must write insurance, we can monitor that they are consistent in their decisions and that their decisions are based on considerations of risk, not other biases. We are here to help you and have a number of tips to help you through this process.
1 If you get a nonrenewal notice, contact your insurer and ask if there are any specific actions you could take to mitigate your risk and retain your coverage.
2 If you think your nonrenewal was unfair, you may file a complaint with us.
3 Don't let these actions delay starting your search for a new insurer. Make sure you have done everything you can do at your property to mitigate fire risk then start shopping for coverage.
4 In addition to contacting local agents or brokers in the vicinity of your home, you may wish to use our Residential Insurance Company Contact List that provides toll free numbers for over 50 insurers that are licensed to sell homeowners insurance. You can contact each of them to find the closest agent or broker or, in some cases, get a quote from them directly.
5 If you need help from an agent that speaks a specific language, you can use our Agent Language Locator to find one near you.
6 You can also utilize our Premium Comparison Tool and Coverage Comparison Tool to compare premiums and coverages.
7 Some agents may exclusively represent only one company. You should also contact independent agents or brokers who represent multiple insurers to seek coverage. Verify which insurers each agent you contact represents in order to conduct a thorough search of all insurers.
8 Understand that the California FAIR Plan is available to every homeowner as a last option for coverage. The maximum limit written by the FAIR Plan on a residential property for all coverages combined is $1,500,000. Because the coverage provided by a FAIR Plan policy is very limited, it is recommended that you supplement the FAIR Plan policy with a Difference in Conditions policy.
9 If none of these options work for you, you may try obtaining coverage in the "surplus lines" market. Ask your agent or broker if they are able to obtain coverage with a surplus lines insurer or obtain coverage through a surplus lines broker (note, surplus lines insurers are not backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association).
10 If you prefer to speak live with our staff, you are always welcome to call the Department of Insurance toll free at 1-800-927-4357.
Source: CA. DOI
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