Commissioner Lara Announces Insurance Strike Team During Meetings with County Leaders
News: 2019 Press Release
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Nevada County Supervisor Ed Scofield, Nevada County Supervisor Dan Miller and department staff meeting in Nevada County.
BUTTE/PLACER/NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — On Wednesday, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara visited communities experiencing an upsurge in insurance non-renewals and other issues in the wake of the 2017 and 2018 fires, which caused nearly 150 deaths and $25 billion in property losses.
Commissioner Lara announced the formation of a Department of Insurance Strike Team to visit affected communities in the coming weeks and months. The Strike Team will connect residents to resources and assist local governments in assessing and responding to insurance issues.
Commissioner Lara met with community leaders and local officials in Butte, Placer and Nevada Counties to share their concerns about insurance availability and affordability in the wake of the fires. County leaders have recently contacted the Department of Insurance over how wildfire insurance issues are affecting residents. He told them that complaints to the Department of Insurance related to non-renewals are up nearly 600% since 2010 in areas with increased wildfire risk.
“Insurance issues are a reality for many across our state, and I am deploying Department of Insurance strike teams to some of our hardest-hit areas," said Commissioner Lara. "With non-renewals on the rise, I will work with local leaders on statewide policies that reduce risk to make sure we keep insurance available and affordable. My staff at the Department have already begun requesting more detailed insurer data in order to increase transparency.”
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in Placer County meeting with county leaders including Supervisors Cindy Gustafson and Kirk Uhler.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in Nevada County with Supervisor Ed Scofield, Supervisor Dan Miller and CEO Alison Lehman.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara with Placer County Supervisors Cindy Gustafson and Kirk Uhler.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in Butte County with Assemblymember James Gallagher, Supervisor Doug Teeter, Supervisor Steve Lambert, Chief Administrative Officer Shari McCracken, and Sadie Foster from Senator Jim Nielsen’s office.
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.
