Around the PIA Western Alliance States – Week of January 13, 2025

California — Commissioner Lara protects insurance coverage for Southern California residents: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara protected Southern California homeowners by issuing a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance non-renewals and cancellations. The Commissioner’s Bulletin shields those within the perimeters or adjoining ZIP Codes of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County for one year from the Governor’s January 7 emergency declaration regardless of whether they suffered a loss.

As firefighters continue to battle wildfires across the region, the Department may issue a supplemental bulletin if additional ZIP Codes are determined to be within or adjacent to a fire perimeter subject to this declared state of emergency for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

“My heart goes out to my fellow Angelenos. Our top priority is protecting Californians during this crisis and helping us recover,” said Commissioner Lara. “I am using my moratorium powers to prevent insurance companies from canceling or non-renewing policies in wildfire-impacted areas, so people don’t face the added stress of finding new insurance during this horrific event. I am working on all fronts to make sure wildfire victims get the benefits they are entitled to, and they get it as soon as possible.”

To provide additional stability for communities near the wildfires, Commissioner Lara also issued a Notice calling on all insurance companies to stop any pending non-renewals or cancellations for any properties located near wildfires, if they are not already protected by the mandatory moratorium. This includes non-renewals issued up to 90 days prior to January 7, but taking effect after the start of the wildfires. This pause on non-renewing and cancelling policies would last six months as impacted communities begin the recovery process. In addition, Commissioner Lara called on insurers to offer beyond the 60-day grace period under existing law for policyholders in the immediate affected wildfire areas, to pay their home insurance premiums given the challenges that many policyholders in these areas are having right now.

Residents can go to the Department of Insurance website to see if their ZIP Code is included in the moratorium. Consumers should contact the Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or via chat or email at insurance.ca.gov if they believe their insurance company is in violation of this law, or have additional claims-related questions.

Commissioner Lara also announced a free two-day insurance support workshop on January 18 and 19 to help survivors understand their insurance policies and the claims process, while also providing information about available resources for rebuilding and recovery. This workshop is open to all those impacted by the recent wildfires. Additionally, the Department is planning another insurance support workshop for those affected by the Eaton Fire and others in Northeast Los Angeles County. Call 800-927-4357 to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a Department of Insurance expert.

Commissioner Lara has taken several other actions to protect Angelenos:

Protecting Access to Health Care and Medication: Issued a Notice directing companies to submit emergency plans detailing how they will ensure continued access to medically necessary health care services for the duration of the declared State of Emergency due to the Palisades, Eaton, and other fires.

Cracking Down on Fraud: Commissioner Lara is sending the Department’s enforcement team to safeguard Angelenos from fraudsters who are targeting wildfire survivors.

Ensuring Fair Risk Assessment: Newly enacted reforms are now in effect to ensure insurance companies accurately assess risk and set premiums fairly for consumers.

Alerting Residents to Evacuation Benefits: Many consumers are unaware that they may have coverage under their homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies to help them with evacuation and recovery expenses.

Commissioner Lara reminds residents in Los Angeles County who have been ordered to evacuate due to the wildfires that their homeowners’ or renters’ insurance may help with evacuation and relocation costs under Additional Living Expenses coverage, known as ALE. ALE coverage typically includes food and housing costs, furniture rental, relocation and storage, and extra transportation expenses, among other costs.

If you have any questions or need assistance, the California Department of Insurance is here to help. Please call: 1-800-927-4357 or visit www.insurance.ca.gov.

Here are some additional tips for consumers:

Keep all receipts during your evacuation.

Policy provisions, including deductibles, vary by company, and residents should check with their insurance company or agent as soon as possible to confirm coverage, limits, and any other limitations and documentation requirements. Most renter’s policies also typically include ALE coverage.

Document the date, time, and names of any insurance company employees you speak to regarding your coverage.

Consumers should make sure any insurance agent or public adjuster offering their services has a valid license by checking online with the Department of Insurance.

Download the Department’s Top 10 Tips for Wildfire Claimants (also available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese), which includes information about claiming ALE benefits.

Under existing law, public adjusters cannot solicit business for seven calendar days after a disaster.

Don’t forget copies of insurance policies, important papers, and a photo or video inventory of your possessions. An inventory can be completed quickly and easily on your smart phone and safely stored in the Cloud.

California — Commissioner Lara hosts two-day insurance support workshops for Los Angeles wildfire survivors: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is hosting free two-day workshops designed to assist Los Angeles residents affected by the recent wildfires. These workshops will be in Santa Monica and Pasadena and aim to help survivors understand their insurance policies and the claims process, while also providing information about available resources for rebuilding and recovery.

“The devastation caused by these wildfires is heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected,” said Commissioner Lara. “Our top priority is to stand with Californians during this challenging time, ensuring you have access to the support and services you need. We are committed to holding insurance companies accountable so they fulfill their obligations to policyholders. To further assist survivors, we are organizing multiple insurance workshops across affected areas, providing essential tools and resources to aid in recovery and rebuilding. We will continue to be here for all wildfire survivors, working together to help our communities heal and emerge stronger.”

Experts from the Department of Insurance will be available for one-on-one consultations with residents at both locations to address their specific and confidential insurance needs. Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their insurance policy, declaration page, and any relevant correspondence related to their concerns.

WHAT:          California Department of Insurance free workshops for wildfire survivors

WHO:            California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara

                       Wildfire survivors

WHEN/WHERE:       

Saturday, January 18th, 10AM- 5PM

Sunday, January 19th, 10AM-1PM

Santa Monica College

Performing Arts Center East Wing 1310 11th Street

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Saturday, January 25th, 10AM-5PM

Sunday, January 26th, 10AM-1PM 

Pasadena City College

1570 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91106

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Montana — Montana considers upping status of physical therapists in comp: The Montana Senate is looking at a bill to give licensed physical therapists the same rights as treating physicians in the workers compensation system in Montana.

If passed in the Senate and the House, S.B. 109 will amend state law and will define a treating physician as a person who is “primarily responsible for delivery and coordination of the worker’s medical services.”

Currently just physicians, chiropractors and physician assistants meet that designation.

Source link: Business Insurance — https://bit.ly/3Pzc5LO

Nevada — Nevada Division of Insurance Recovered $9.4M in 2024: Nevada’s Division of Insurance Consumer Division released information on its successes for 2024. The division said it recovered $9.4 million for consumers and successfully closed 4,194 complaint cases.

Source link: Insurance Journal — https://bit.ly/3PDAj7L

Oregon — All entities offering health benefit plans in Oregon: The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) proposes to issue a bulletin regarding health benefit plan coverage of gender-affirming treatment under ORS 743A.325 and OAR 836-053-0441. 

Purpose:

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide supplemental guidance for health benefit plans regarding coverage of gender-affirming treatment under ORS 743A.325 and OAR 836-053-0441 to ensure consistent and uniform implementation of these requirements across the health insurance market. This bulletin supersedes Bulletin DFR 2024-2, which is repealed as of the effective date of OAR 836-053-0441 (January 1, 2025).

Public comments requested:

Public comment will be accepted for 30 days. Please submit public comment to DFR.Bulletin@dcbs.oregon.gov.

Last day for public comment: Monday, February 10, 2025. Comments must be received by ​5 ​p.m.

Click here to review proposed bulletin: https://bit.ly/4ajefJ4

Oregon — Oregon joins other states in levying $20 million penalty against nation’s largest nonbank mortgage servicing company: Oregon was one of the financial regulatory agencies from 53 states and territories to take coordinated action against mortgage company Bayview Asset Management LLC, and three of its affiliates – Lakeview Loan Servicing, Community Loan Servicing, and Pingora Holdings (collectively the Bayview Companies). The agencies took action against the companies for cybersecurity deficiencies and failure to cooperate fully with state regulators following a data breach that impacted 5.8 million customers nationwide, including more than 95,000 Oregonians.

The $20 million penalty and required corrective actions highlight the critical need to comply with state regulations protecting consumer data and addressing state supervisory requirements.

“State collaboration is crucial when addressing data breaches of this scale,” said TK Keen, Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) administrator. “Thank you to the states that led this action. Oregon will continue to help in any way possible to protect consumers’ important information.”

State regulators in California, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington state led the multistate effort, which found that Bayview Companies’ information technology and cybersecurity practices did not meet federal or state requirements. Furthermore, the Bayview Companies delayed the supervisory process by failing to comply with state requests in a timely and complete manner in the early stages of the examination.

In addition to the monetary penalty, the Bayview Companies have agreed to take specified corrective actions, improve cybersecurity programs, undergo independent assessments, and provide additional reporting to the states over the next three years.

State financial regulators license and supervise more than 33,000 nonbank financial services companies through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), including mortgage companies, money services businesses, consumer finance providers, and debt collectors.

People can also visit NMLS Consumer Access to verify that a company is licensed to do business in Oregon or to review any past enforcement actions.

Washington — R 2024-07 Premium Change Transparency Rule Survey: To inform potential rulemaking, the OIC requests all authorized property & casualty companies transacting the business of personal insurance for private passenger automobile or homeowner’s coverage to complete a survey regarding experience relating to implementation of the Premium Change Transparency rule (chapter 284-30A of the Washington Administrative Code).

The OIC requests that companies complete the survey by April 1, 2025. The survey asks about companies’ experience between June 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025.

More information about the survey, including a cover letter with instructions, a copy of the survey questions, and a link to the survey, is available on the OIC's website.