State Farm compromises on emergency rate hikes for Californians – Washington Examiner
State Farm is seeking approval for significant rate hikes on home insurance for Californians in response to financial instability exacerbated by recent wildfires. Following public hearings, the insurance company has proposed a 17% increase for homeowners, 15% for condo owners and renters, and a 38% rise for rental properties. These increases come on the heels of an average 20% hike that started in March 2024. An attorney for the California Department of Insurance described State Farm’s financial outlook as “dire,” warning that failure to address the situation coudl leave millions uninsured. The proposed rate increases are aimed at offsetting approximately $7.6 billion in claims paid out due to the devastation caused by recent fires, which incurred overall damages estimated between $250 billion and $275 billion.while the hikes are expected to be approved, a final hearing will determine the ultimate rates. The turmoil in California’s insurance market, influenced by wildfire risks, has lead several major insurers to reduce or halt new policies, leaving manny residents at risk of having to rely on California’s last-resort property insurer, the FAIR Plan.
State Farm compromises on emergency rate hikes for Californians
State Farm could get the green light soon to raise premiums on California homeowners following public hearings this week, during which the insurance giant argued it needed the price hikes to restore financial stability.
An attorney for the California Department of Insurance described State Farm’s situation as “dire,” likening it to the Titanic, but adding that there was still a window of time to right the ship.
“If we don’t, 3 million Californians are going into the water, and there are not enough lifeboats,” attorney Nikki McKennedy warned.
The three-day hearings were held to determine whether State Farm could move forward with a compromise to implement a 17% hike for homeowners, a 15% rise for condo owners and renters, and a 38% increase for rental dwellings, a type of insurance for landlords who rent out their homes. The price increase came in addition to an average 20% rate hike that customers started seeing in March 2024.
The rates are expected to be approved. However, a final hearing, which will be held sometime in the future, will determine the insurance company’s ultimate rates.
The raging wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles earlier this year caused an estimated $250 billion to $275 billion in total damages. State Farm corners about 20% of California’s homeowners market with nearly 3 million policies.
So far, the insurer has paid out nearly 12,400 claims as a result of the fires and estimated direct losses to be $7.6 billion.
In February, the insurer requested that insurance regulators approve 22% rate hikes on homeowners. It has since lowered its request to a 17% increase. Attorneys for State Farm said at the hearing that it also agreed to seek $400 million in funds from its parent company if the rate increases are approved.
California’s home insurance market has been in turmoil in recent years. Several major insurers, including State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers, have either reduced or halted new policies due to risks from wildfires and state-imposed limitations on premium increases.
If State Farm and other companies leave California, millions of people without policies will likely turn to the state’s FAIR Plan, California’s last resort property insurer. However, the FAIR Plan has its own problems, including new lawsuits filed this week, and is at risk of running out of money.
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