2019 Press Releases by subject
News: 2019 Press Releases
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Climate Change
COIN
Disasters – Earthquakes
Disasters – Flood
Disasters – Wildfires
Fraud/Investigations – Auto
Fraud/Investigations – Health care
Fraud/Investigations – Other
Fraud/Investigations – Workers’ compensation
Health care
Homeowners Insurance
Legal
Legislation
Miscellaneous
Workers’ compensation
December 23, 2019
Department of Insurance proposes major course correction on auto insurance group discounts
September 24, 2019
Commissioner Lara Sees “Disturbing” Disparities in Auto Insurance Discounts for Millions of Drivers
| Climate Change | Back to Top |
January 4, 2019
New analysis of climate risk exposure of insurers’ investments released
| COIN | Back to Top |
April 4, 2019
Commissioner Lara reappoints board members for COIN and WCIRB
January 3, 2019
Commissioner announces COIN impact investments estimated to reach $29 billion
| Disasters – Earthquakes | Back to Top |
July 11, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to send notice to insurers regarding earthquake insurance misinformation
| Disasters – Flood | Back to Top |
March 4, 2019
Department of Insurance assists with Russian River flood recovery, urges state homeowners to consider flood insurance
| Disasters – Wildfires | Back to Top |
December 19, 2019
Commissioner announces more than 1 million homes now have protection from insurance non-renewal
December 5, 2019
Wildfire insurance crisis leads commissioner to call for first-ever statewide non-renewal moratorium
October 30, 2019
LA County residents forced to evacuate could tap insurance for cost reimbursement
October 24, 2019
Sonoma County residents forced to evacuate could tap insurance for cost reimbursement
October 18, 2019
Insurance Companies Agree to Extend Time for 2017 Wildfire Survivors to Access Additional Living Expense Benefits Past Two-Year Cutoff
October 11, 2019
Southern California residents forced to evacuate could tap insurance for cost reimbursement
August 20, 2019
New Data Shows Insurance Is Becoming Harder to Find as a Result of Wildfires
August 8, 2019
Commissioner Lara Announces Insurance Strike Team During Meetings with County Leaders
May 29, 2019
Commissioner Lara takes action to assist 2017 wildfire survivors facing expiration of living expense payments
May 8, 2019
Wildfire insurance losses from November 2018 blazes top $12 billion
March 5, 2019
Photo Release - Department assists wildfires survivors at insurance claims workshops
February 12, 2019
Commissioner Lara supports Governor Newsom’s call for creative approaches to reduce wildfire risk to our communities
January 28, 2019
Insurance Commissioner reports insured losses from November 2018 wildfires up to $11.4 billion—a 25 percent increase from initial report
January 14, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara responds to PG&E’s intent to file bankruptcy
| Fraud/Investigations – Auto | Back to Top |
December 6, 2019
Department arrests suspects in San Diego organized auto fraud ring in $500,000 Operation Dealer’s Choice
September 24, 2019
Yuba City resident convicted and sentenced after committing auto fraud
September 23, 2019
San Diegan arrested for allegedly attempting to defraud auto insurer
September 5, 2019
Three San Jose residents arrested in separate automobile fraud cases
June 21, 2019
Four in custody for alleged involvement in Sacramento organized auto insurance fraud ring
| Fraud/Investigations – Health care | Back to Top |
June 10, 2019
Criminal Charges for Dentist Who Fraudulently Billed Insurance Companies Nearly $600,000
May 6, 2019
Pasadena insurance broker allegedly commits identity theft for unearned commissions
February 15, 2019
Inland Empire medical office employees arrested for alleged $540,000 insurance fraud scheme
February 13, 2019
LA podiatrist arrested for alleged inflated billing and kickback scheme
| Fraud/Investigations – Other | Back to Top |
December 10, 2019
Former Orange County agent sentenced in $590,000 fraudulent life insurance and investment scheme
December 9, 2019
Southland bride tied up in fraud scheme through The Knot
November 7, 2019
Ringleader of family arson crew pleads guilty in $4 million Operation Firebird insurance fraud case
November 5, 2019
Santa Barbara insurance agent arrested after allegedly leaving client uninsured during 2018 mudslides
October 24, 2019
LA insurance agent arrested after allegedly stealing $148,000 and leaving a client uninsured
October 22, 2019
Long Beach insurance agent arrested for identity theft and forgery
October 3, 2019
Bay Area man sentenced to two years in prison for $250,000 insurance fraud scheme
September 27, 2019
Whittier ex-insurance agent arrested for grand theft and identity theft
September 20, 2019
Huntington Beach former adjuster gets 180-day jail sentence after stealing over $130,000 from clients
September 19, 2019
Former Orange County agent allegedly steals $590,000 in fraudulent life insurance and investment scheme
September 16, 2019
Case Update - Former Southland agent convicted after guilty plea on multiple felony counts
September 6, 2019
Victims of Investment Fraudster Receive Restitution Totaling More than $1.4 Million
August 16, 2019
Marina del Rey dentist arrested for identity theft in life insurance fraud scheme
July 12, 2019
San Diego scammers target military personnel in $4.8 million life insurance scheme
July 1, 2019
Bay area man pleads guilty to federal charges for $250,000 insurance fraud scheme
June 6, 2019
Sentencing Update -Search for fugitive former insurance agent charged with multiple felonies underway
May 30, 2019
LA insurance agent charged with grand theft and forgery
May 16, 2019
LA insurance agent allegedly steals over $65,000 from small business owners
May 9, 2019
Unlicensed insurance agent sentenced to jail time for stealing nearly $30,000 from clients
April 25, 2019
Southern California insurance agent’s license revoked for illegal action targeting seniors
April 22, 2019
Southland agent arrested in bogus policy scam
April 11, 2019
Elderly Santa Barbara woman target of insurance fraudsters for a decade
April 10, 2019
West Hollywood insurance producer charged with felony fraud, burglary and grand theft
February 28, 2019
Southern California agents charged with embezzlement and theft after allegedly stealing over $60,000 combined
February 22, 2019
Unlicensed agent allegedly steals $174,000 in insurance premiums from truck drivers and charter bus companies
| Fraud/Investigations – Workers’ compensation | Back to Top |
December 11, 2019
Modesto business owner sentenced for workers’ comp fraud
October 21, 2019
Rancho Murieta roofer arrested for workers’ comp fraud
July 18, 2019
Long Beach financial advisor sentenced to over 10 years in state prison after embezzling nearly $1 million
| Health care | Back to Top |
December 20, 2019
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issues statement on latest Trump attack on women’s health care
August 13, 2019
Commissioner Lara calls on Trump administration to stop attempts to deny needed healthcare to transgender Californians
August 5, 2019
Commissioner Lara calls on Trump administration to stop undermining health care protections for transgender Californians
June 20, 2019
Department warns insurers against discriminating over HIV prevention medication
May 3, 2019
Statement of Commissioner Lara on Trump Administration Damaging New Health Rule
March 4, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Lara Promises Full Support for California Lawsuit Over Women’s Health Funding
February 22, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Lara Denounces Trump Administration Attack on Women’s Health
February 19, 2019
Commissioner Lara asks Trump Administration to withdraw proposed changes that ‘wreak havoc on the Affordable Care Act’
January 29, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Lara submits testimony to US House of Representatives Committee on protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions
January 2, 2019
Department of Insurance Issues Report on the Impact of Prescription Drug Costs on Health Insurance Premiums
| Homeowners Insurance | Back to Top |
December 19, 2019
Department issues revised plan of operation for FAIR Plan in response to Commissioner’s order to modernize coverage for California consumers
| Legal | Back to Top |
November 20, 2019
Commissioner Lara issues emergency notice to help expedite insurance claims from California fires
November 14, 2019
Growing need for FAIR Plan leads Insurance Commissioner to order increased coverage options
November 5, 2019
Court issues order to conserve California Insurance Company to protect policyholders
October 21, 2019
Department of Insurance denies application for approval of sale of California Insurance Company
October 2, 2019
Historic $41 million payment closes book on decades-long court battle with Mercury Insurance Company
September 17, 2019
Advisory - Department Holds Hearing Looking Into How Automobile Insurance Groups Affect Driver Premiums
May 10, 2019
Commissioner Lara to Hold Hearing Into How Automobile Insurance Groups Affect Driver Premiums
January 2, 2019
$10 million penalty in Wells Fargo case
| Legislation | Back to Top |
October 17, 2019
California consumers to see increased insurance protections as Governor signs important wildfire and long-term care legislation
October 2, 2019
Commissioner Lara thanks Governor Newsom for signing Department-supported wildfire bills to protect California consumers
April 11, 2019
Insurance Diversity Bill Aims to Promote California’s Woman-, Minority-, LGBT- and Veteran-Owned Businesses
February 14, 2019
Senator Dodd, Commissioner Lara, Treasurer Ma Launch California Disaster Insurance Bill to Stabilize State Budget Costs from Catastrophic Events
| Miscellaneous | Back to Top |
September 6, 2019
Commissioner Lara Appoints Members to Insurance Diversity Task Force
May 1, 2019
NRA agrees to stop unlawful solicitation of Carry Guard insurance
February 15, 2019
Department issues Cease and Desist Order to protect California employers from unauthorized “self-insured” health plans
January 23, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara pledges support for transgender troops
January 18, 2019
Commissioner Lara urges insurers to assist California workers affected by federal shutdown
January 17, 2019
Commissioner Lara announces new members of Department of Insurance Executive Team
January 10, 2019
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to Governor Newsom: Department of Insurance Ready to Expedite Health Care Subsidies and Drug Cost Savings
January 7, 2019
Ricardo Lara pledges to confront climate-fueled wildfires, fight fraud, expand health care as next Insurance Commissioner
January 4, 2019
Supreme Court denies review of decision upholding Commissioner’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations
January 3, 2019
Commissioner issues regulations prohibiting gender discrimination in automobile insurance rates
| Workers’ compensation | Back to Top |
November 14, 2019
Insurance Commissioner Lara approves ninth reduction to workers' compensation average advisory pure premium rates since 2015
February 22, 2019
Insurance agent who allegedly faked insurance to rob small businesses to be arraigned on February 25
