New Data Shows Insurance Is Becoming Harder to Find as a Result of Wildfires
News: 2019 Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New data collected by the Department of Insurance shows insurance is becoming harder to find for those in high wildfire-risk areas as a result of recent wildfires. The data reveals there was a six percent increase in insurer-initiated homeowner policy non-renewals in Cal-Fire State Responsibility Areas from 2017 to 2018, while zip codes affected by the devastating fires from 2015 and 2017 experienced a 10 percent increase in insurer-initiated non-renewals last year.
“We are seeing an increasing trend across California where people at risk of wildfires are being non-renewed by their insurer,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “I have heard from many local communities about how not being able to obtain insurance can create a domino effect for the local economy, affecting home sales and property taxes. This data should be a wake-up call for state and local policymakers that without action to reduce the risk from extreme wildfires and preserve the insurance market we could see communities unraveling.”
The data provided by insurers also revealed the availability of homeowners insurance dropped in high-risk counties. From 2015 to 2018, the number of new and renewed homeowners’ policies fell by 8,700 in the 10 counties with the most homes in high or very high-risk areas. These same counties saw a steady increase in new FAIR Plan policies during that timeframe, growing 177 percent, compared to only a 4 percent increase for the five counties with the lowest risk. The FAIR Plan provides insurance coverage as a last resort for homeowners who are unable to find coverage in the voluntary market.
Nearly 57 percent of new FAIR Plan policies are now written in State Responsibility Areas (SRA), which is up from 47 percent in 2015. Data shows there has been a 49 percent increase in surplus lines policies in State Responsibility Areas between 2015 and 2018.
The new data does not measure the full impact of non-renewals of homeowner policies linked to the devastating 2018 wildfires, including the Camp, Carr and Woolsey/Hill fires. Since California law requires insurers to give a 45-day notice before a non-renewal and these wildfires occurred near the end of the year, the effects of these fires on the insurance market would likely appear in 2019 and possibly beyond.
In recent weeks, Commissioner Lara has met with local leaders in counties affected by wildfire risk, and the Department of Insurance continues to pursue ideas to reduce risk to our communities through mitigation and stronger consumer protections.
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Media Notes:
- Number of New, Renewed and Non-Renewed Homeowners’ Policies
- Number of New, Renewed and Non-Renewed Residential Dwelling Policies in ZIP Codes Affected by 2015 and 2017 Wildfires
- Number of New, Renewed and Non-Renewed Residential Dwelling Policies in Moderate to Very High Fire Risk ZIP Codes
- Fact Sheet: Impact of Wildfires on Insurance Non-Renewals and Availability
- The Department’s analysis is based on responses from insurers who represent 98.3 percent of the voluntary homeowners’ market in California from insurers that wrote $5 million or more in premium in 2018.
- Commissioner Lara Announces Insurance Strike Team During Meetings with County Leaders
- Commissioner Lara takes action to assist 2017 wildfire survivors facing expiration of living expense payments
- CDI wildfire resource page
- The 10 counties with the most homes in high or very high-risk areas include Tuolumne, Trinity, Nevada, Mariposa, Plumas, Alpine, Calaveras, Sierra, Amador, and El Dorado. The five counties with the least homes at risk include Yolo, Merced, Sutter, Imperial, and Kings. The 10 counties are being compared to five counties so each set would have roughly the same number of housing units based on Census data. According to the California Department of Finance, in 2018, there were 248,958 housing units in counties with the most high-risk homes and 260,718 housing units in counties with the most low-risk homes.
- The State Responsibility Area (SRA) is the area where the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires, which excludes lands within city boundaries or in federal ownership. On November 7, 2007, CAL FIRE shared a map of the SRA fire hazard zones, which CDI conjoined with a map of ZIP codes to identify the ZIP codes either partially or completely in the SRA.
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
