Insurers to increase payments to wildfire survivors without itemization
News: 2018 Press Release
For Release: January 18, 2018
Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566
Email Inquiries: cdipress@insurance.ca.gov
Insurers to increase payments to wildfire survivors without itemization of possessions following Commissioner Jones’ notice
Insurers increasing amount of payout without itemization have 97 percent of total loss claims from 2017 wildfires
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones released the results of the formal notice he issued last month to all residential property insurers requesting they provide up to 100 percent of contents (personal property) coverage limits for fire survivors who experienced a total loss and relieve them from the requirement of providing a detailed home inventory. "Many insurers have stepped up to do the right thing for policyholders by agreeing to my request and eliminating more red tape from the claim process," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "Increasing personal property payments for fire survivors who suffered a total loss is an important step in easing survivors' overwhelming burden and helping them move forward by eliminating or reducing the arduous burden of trying to create a detailed home inventory for every piece of personal property they owned and lost to the fire."
The insurers that agreed to Jones' request have 97 percent of the total-loss insurance claims for policyholders who experienced a residential loss. These insurers have agreed to increase their contents (personal property) payments beyond the 25 percent they already agreed to in response to Commissioner Jones' prior notice, which asked insurers to expedite claims payments.
In response to Commissioner Jones' latest formal request insurers have agreed to make payments, without an inventory, ranging from 50 percent up to 100 percent of contents coverage limits, with many insurers agreeing to at least 75 percent or even 100 percent.
The amount of contents coverage varies among insurers, as the law does not require uniformity of contents coverage. This means even if the insurer provides a higher percentage of payout without an inventory, the amount paid to the policyholder may actually be lower than the payout from an insurer with a lower threshold for payout without an inventory, due to the insurer's lower contents limits.
Conversely, a policyholder whose insurer provides a lower percentage of payout may receive a higher claim payment due to the insurer's higher contents limits. For this reason, it is difficult to compare one insurer's threshold for waiver to another insurer's threshold for waiver.
The department has requested each insurer immediately notify their insureds of the new amounts they will provide, without inventory, and the terms and exceptions. Several insurers have already done this or are in the process of sending these notifications.
The department advises wildfire survivors, if they have not been notified by their insurer or if they have further questions, to contact the department. Wildfire survivors should contact their insurance company to determine the specifics of its waiver of the inventory in relation to the policyholder.
Commissioner Jones continues to urge all insurers to waive the inventory requirement. While Jones requested all carriers accommodate their insureds and his request by paying up to 100 percent of personal property limits without requiring a complete inventory list, the Legislature has not passed a law requiring insurers to waive the inventory or giving the insurance commissioner the authority to order a waiver.
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Media Notes:
- The insurers with total loss claims that have so far agreed to waive the inventory for a percentage of contents coverage based upon the Commissioner request are: State Farm Group, Farmers Group (including Foremost), CSAA, Liberty Mutual/Safeco, Allied/Nationwide, USAA, Travelers, Allstate (including Encompass), Hartford, California Capital, Homesite, Chubb, Auto Club of Southern California, American Modern, Aegis Security, National General, Mercury, AIG, Ameriprise, QBE, FAIR Plan, TOPA, Universal North American Ins, First American Title, Western Mutual, Wawanesa, Stillwater Insurance, Horace Mann, Amica, MAPFRE, Auto Club of Southern California, California Capital, Cincinnati Insurance, Hyundai M & F, Pacific Specialty, Encompass, Civil Service Employee Group and Kemper.
- While each insurer agreed to advance at least a certain percentage, there may be exceptions to this commitment. For example, if the home was not furnished, or if other facts exist that suggest the contents were not valued at that agreed to percentage, then the insurer would handle those claims on a case-by-case basis. Policyholders should contact their insurer to confirm how much advance payment will be issued and if there are any exceptions that may exist for their claim.
- Full list of insurers' responses to Commissioner Jones' request.
- Consumers should contact the department at 800-927-4357 or visit us online at www.insurance.ca.gov, if they experience any issues with the handling of their claim.
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.
