State Farm requests significant insurance rate hikes in California, citing wildfire risks and financial instability, threatening to exit the state if denied.
California, Bollywood Fever: State Farm General has issued an ultimatum to the state of California, requesting substantial residential insurance rate increases or threatening to pull out entirely. The insurer asked the state’s Department of Insurance on Thursday to approve a 30% rate hike for homeowners, a 36% increase for condo owners, and a 52% hike for renters.
The move signals financial stress for State Farm, which covers homes affected by wildfires. The company’s spokesperson stated that the turbulence in the insurance market necessitated these rate adjustments to maintain financial stability.
“This has the potential to affect millions of California consumers and the integrity of our residential property insurance market,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. He emphasized the need to thoroughly investigate the company’s financial status before making a decision.
The Department of Insurance, known to take up to 180 days for rate reviews, has already approved two rate increases for State Farm in the past year, including a 6.9% hike early last year and a 20% rise in March.
Despite these increases, State Farm is now seeking further hikes, claiming the need to restore its financial health. In its filings, the company warned of anticipated financial deterioration if the rate hikes are denied.
State Farm, with an estimated net worth of $143.2 billion as of 2021 and generating $87.6 billion in yearly revenue, reported a net income of $1.2 billion last year, up from $588 million the previous year. Nevertheless, the company insists that current conditions necessitate the proposed rate increases.
In March, State Farm dropped 72,000 customers in California, citing a crisis in the state’s insurance market due to wildfire risks and climate change. Lara introduced new policies to allow insurers to use forward-looking models for pricing, which was initially welcomed but did not result in companies committing to return to the state.
State Farm is the first to challenge the concept of automatic coverage in California, which saw 7,127 fires in 2023. This was a slight decrease from the previous year but still highlighted the ongoing wildfire threat.
“Rate changes are driven by increased costs and risk and are necessary for State Farm General to deliver on the promises the company makes every day to its customers,” State Farm said in a statement. The company cited wildfires, inflation, and outdated state regulations as factors driving the need for higher rates.
Consumer advocates have disputed these claims, setting the stage for an extensive review by the state’s insurance department over the coming months.
Source: DailyMail
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