California’s insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, has unveiled an extensive plan to tackle the challenges facing the state’s homeowner insurance market. With an increasing number of homeowners struggling to secure coverage and turning to the beleaguered FAIR Plan, Lara’s proposal aims to prevent further deterioration of the insurance landscape.
Dubbed California’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, the plan is in its early stages and hinges on legislative cooperation for implementation. Urgency arises as major insurers, including State Farm, Allstate, Farmers Insurance, and Liberty Mutual, have either paused or restricted new business due to escalating wildfire claims.
The proposal has two primary goals: enticing insurers back into the market to provide homeowners with accessible insurance and alleviating the strain on the FAIR Plan, which faces financial instability due to rapid growth and a concentration on high wildfire-risk areas.
Key provisions of the plan encompass:
- Consideration of Climate Risks in Rates: Allowing insurers to factor in climate risks, such as wildfires, when determining rates, addressing the current limitation on accurately predicting future claims.
- Reforming Rate Filings: Proposing changes to the handling of rate filings, particularly for increases exceeding 7%, streamlining the process, and avoiding delays caused by mandated public hearings under Prop. 103.
- Insurer Commitments: In return for the proposed changes, insurers are expected to commit to covering at least 85% of their statewide market share in high wildfire-risk communities.
- Transition from FAIR Plan: Prioritizing homeowners covered by the FAIR Plan for transitioning to the open market, contingent on compliance with wildfire safety regulations.
- Strengthening FAIR Plan’s Resilience: Implementing measures to fortify the FAIR Plan against bankruptcy in the event of an extraordinary catastrophe, including building reserves and financial safeguards.
While the plan has garnered praise from insurance companies, its success depends on prompt legislative action. Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order aligns with Lara’s initiative, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to expand coverage in underserved areas, account for catastrophe risks in rates, and ensure the FAIR Plan’s solvency. The unfolding developments will be closely monitored.
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