Insurers have also paid out $73 million in auto claims. (Credit: kangwan nirach/Shutterstock)
Insurers have so far paid out $6.94 billion to policyholders for residential and commercial claims related to the LA wildfires, according to new data from the California Department of Insurance.
The department says 19,854 claims have been partially paid as of Feb. 5. So far, 33,717 claims have been filed for home, business, living expenses and other needs.
The department also said 5,597 auto insurance claims have been filed, and $73 million has been paid out to auto insurance policyholders so far.
The numbers include data from admitted residential and commercial property insurers, surplus lines writers and the state’s FAIR Plan. They were released as an update to a public consumer claims tracking system set up by Ricardo Lara, the state’s insurance commissioner.
“With so much misinformation and speculation surrounding our insurance market after the Southern California wildfires, it is crucial for the public to track claims and monitor payouts,” Lara said in a statement. “I want consumers to know that we are closely overseeing the entire claims process to ensure their protection. I expect insurance companies, including the FAIR Plan, to continue providing essential advance payments to help survivors recover as quickly as possible.”
The department says it has helped more than 5,000 people file claims in the aftermath of the wildfires. That includes 2,300 people at in-person workshops and disaster recovery centers and more than 1,100 people through the department’s help hotline.
Denni Ritter, department vice president for state government relations with the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said insurers have been on the ground helping too, and they’ll remain there for the foreseeable future.
“From the onset of the wildfires, insurers have been on the frontlines assisting customers with disaster recovery — proactively reaching out to impacted customers, setting up help centers and deploying catastrophe teams to help residents process claims and secure emergency housing, food, clothing and other resources in their time of need,” Ritter said in a statement. “This is just a start. We understand the road to recovery will be long, and insurers are committed to working alongside residents and businesses every step of the way to help Southern Californians rebuild.”
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