SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Amid ongoing negotiations between California’s Insurance Commissioner and major insurance carriers, over 74,000 Californians are facing the loss of their homeowner’s insurance coverage, raising significant concerns among local officials and residents.
County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer voiced her strong disapproval of the situation, stating, “I think they are trying to play hardball with people’s lives and futures in those negotiations, and I’m here to say that’s not okay.”
Bob Prath, representing the 200,000 AARP members in San Diego County, highlighted the challenges faced by seniors. He cited rising costs in energy, water, and gas bills, alongside insurance premiums that have surged by as much as 400% in some fire-prone areas. “On a fixed income, it’s really horrible,” Prath added.
The crisis also impacts renters like Spencer Katz, who expressed frustration after losing his insurance coverage. “It’s scary, it’s a feeling of being abandoned,” Katz remarked.
Supervisor Lawson-Remer emphasized the need for immediate action, particularly for her constituents in District 3. “We think it’s a negotiation tactic. This is a huge market, don’t forget California is the fifth largest economy in the world,” she asserted.
Jim Custeau, a resident who lost his home insurance twice, echoed concerns over the abrupt cancellations. “I had my car insurance with them, never had a homeowners claim in 28 years and they canceled me in 2020 without as much as an explanation,” Custeau said.
As the debate intensifies, residents and officials are calling for a swift resolution to alleviate the growing uncertainty surrounding homeowners’ insurance in California.
The Board of Supervisors is set to vote on the insurance resolution on Tuesday.
