{ “title”: “California Homeowners Find Hope in ‘Wildfire Prepared’ Program to Secure Insurance”, “description”: “Faced with an ongoing insurance crisis, some California homeowners are finding a path to retain coverage by meeting ‘Wildfire Prepared’ standards.”, “tags”: “homeowners insurance, wildfire, California, insurance crisis, Wildfire Prepared, AAA”, “rewritten_content”: “Many California families are desperately seeking solutions to the state’s ongoing homeowners insurance crisis, reaching out to NBC Bay Area’s consumer team for assistance. They share stories of losing their coverage, searching for any available options to maintain their policies. However, one homeowner’s experience offers a glimmer of hope.
A Homeowner’s Success Story
Linette Quist, a resident near Scotts Valley, received a dreaded notice last October from her insurer, stating her policy would be dropped. “I think I was kind of expecting it,” Quist said, mirroring the sentiments of many in the area. But Quist took action and, as a result, kept her insurance. Quist’s insurer, AAA, offered a deal: If she replaced wood fences near her home with metal ones, covered her downspouts, cleared trees and shrubs, and made other improvements, AAA would continue her coverage. “I’m kind of a get-it-done person, and I probably got it done quicker than a lot of people would. And luckily, I had contractors and stuff that could help me out,” she said, adding that the changes took about three-and-a-half months to complete.
The ‘Wildfire Prepared’ Solution
Quist’s success is connected to the “Wildfire Prepared Home” certification, a program that could be key in other cases. To maintain coverage with AAA, homeowners must achieve and maintain this certification and meet all other underwriting requirements. The certification, offered by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), demonstrates that homes meet specific safety standards.
Strict Requirements
To become “Wildfire Prepared,” homeowners must follow strict guidelines, including removing flammable materials and creating a five-foot defensible space around the home. After certification, homeowners should then contact their insurance company. IBHS offers two levels of certification: the Base program and the Plus program. Quist met the Base program requirements to regain her coverage. Steve Hawks, senior director of Wildfire at IBHS, noted, “It’s a business decision for each individual insurance company as to how they view this program, but we certainly know these actions make a difference.”
Beyond AAA: Industry Responses
While AAA offered a direct path to maintaining coverage, the approach varies among other major insurers. Mercury, USAA, and Farmers offer discounts for residents with the “Wildfire Prepared” certification. CSAA is the only insurer that has stated it will reverse dropping someone’s policy or commit to insuring customers for three years. However, Karen Collins, vice president for Property & Environmental at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, cautions that the certification does not guarantee coverage in all cases.
Advocate Perspectives
Consumer advocates, such as those at United Policyholders in San Francisco, believe that homeowners who invest in these improvements deserve to be rewarded with maintained coverage. “What we want to see is that insurance companies can really assure people that if they take the steps, they’ll be able to get their insurance back in force,” said Emily Rogan, senior program officer at United Policyholders.
The Cost of Preparedness
Quist’s upgrades cost $10,000, but she considers it a worthwhile investment, given that she retained her policy and received a discount. “I’m proud that I got it, I’m glad that I got it,” she stated.
Recertification Required
It’s important to note that the “Wildfire Prepared” certification requires recertification every three years. Those interested in the program should contact their insurance agent promptly. Since its inception in 2022, IBHS reports that over 1,200 homes in California have been certified through this program, which has recently expanded to Oregon. ” }
