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What to do after a nonrenewal: Department of Insurance offers step-by-step guidance
Summary
At a community presentation, the California Department of Insurance representative urged consumers to contact the department if they receive nonrenewal notices, explained how to shop admitted carriers, and detailed differences between the FAIR Plan and surplus lines coverage.
Brenda, a representative of the California Department of Insurance, told attendees that the first step after receiving a nonrenewal notice is to contact the department so staff can review whether the notice complied with regulation.
"Contact the California Department of Insurance," she said. "Worst thing that can happen is you waste your time. It's okay, but take that adequate step to ensure that you're getting what you need." She described the department's process for reviewing notices and for asking carriers to reinstate policies if an error was found.
Brenda walked the room through practical steps for finding replacement coverage: use the department's consumer web page to search among "over a hundred carriers" admitted to do business in California, call companies directly (starting with carriers with smaller market shares who may be open to writing new policies), and be persistent when shopping. She also described the California FAIR Plan as an insurer of last resort that is regulated by the department but not run by it, and warned that surplus lines carriers are not admitted and are not covered by the California Insurance Guarantee Association if they become insolvent.
She noted available consumer supports: a home-inventory guide, a low-cost auto insurance program (liability-only), and upcoming home-hardening grant opportunities the department will announce via consumer alerts. Brenda encouraged attendees to save inventories digitally, keep contact information current, and submit complaints or requests for assistance through the department.
What was not specified: Brenda described the department's guidance and resources but did not provide individual case outcomes or specific carrier names to contact beyond the general admitted-carrier lists. The department also did not announce an immediate enrollment window for grants; she said application timing will be posted through consumer alerts.
