Submitted by Laura Dyberg
Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council
It has come to our attention that some insurance companies are not recognizing the Fire Risk Reduction Community list for discount or rating purposes. We reached out to Senator Ochoa Bogh’s office and her staff was able to get the following statement from the Department of Insurance to assist with these circumstances:
“Last year all California admitted insurance companies were required to submit new rates with wildfire safety discounts based on the new Safer from Wildfires framework created with Cal Fire and other state preparedness agencies.
If an admitted insurer is not taking mitigation efforts or the fact that the property is in a Fire Risk Reduction Community in account, and are not applying approved discounts, the policyholder should submit a Request for Assistance (RFA) to the Department of Insurance so we may look into their specific situation. An RFA may be completed and submitted through our website: https://cdiapps.insurance.ca.gov/CP/login.
“This regulation does not require insurers to write policies. If they are writing policies in the area, then the appropriate discounts should be applied (in accordance with what the Department of Insurance has approved). I believe there are still some of these rate filings that remain under review and have not yet been approved.
“Anyone who would like to speak with someone at the Department of Insurance, may call the consumer hotline at (800) 927-4357.”
I hope this helps for those who have encountered a brick wall at their insurance company. And please remember the agents are not responsible for the carrier’s position but they CAN help get the word up the chain to those who make the decisions.
Please let me know if you or someone you know has had their FRRCL request accepted or declined. We are trying to track the different companies’ responses.
Contact the Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council at (866) 923-3473; visit the website at www.firesafenow.org.
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