Home Insurance in California - A Short Survey

Background: The California FAIR Plan is California's insurer of last resort, offering basic fire insurance to homeowners who cannot obtain coverage from traditional insurers, often due to wildfire risk. As private insurers have scaled back coverage in parts of the state, more and more homeowners have turned to the FAIR Plan for protection.

My thesis looks at how the cost of this system is shared across California homeowners: who ends up relying on the FAIR Plan, what coverage costs people, and who ultimately pays for it. Your real experiences will help me build that picture.

The survey is anonymous, and every question is optional. Thank you!

What kind of home insurance do you currently have?

A

A standard insurance company (Allstate, Farmers, State Farm...)

B

The California FAIR Plan

C

I currently have no home insurance

D

A specialty or non-standard insurer (private policy bought through a broker, often called "surplus lines" or E&S)

Have you ever been dropped, non-renewed, or refused coverage by a home insurer?

A

Yes

B

No

How well do you feel your insurance actually covers your home?

In the past few years, has wildfire risk led to any of these for you?

A large jump in my premium

Being non-renewed, dropped or refused coverage

Having to move to the Fair Plan or a surplus-lines policy

A separate, higher "wildfire" deductible item on my policy

Being required to clear brush or harden my home to keep coverage

Have you made wildfire-safety improvements (defensible space, fire-resistant roof/vents)?

A

Yes, and it lowered my cost or helped me keep coverage

B

Yes, but it made no difference

C

No

Part 2: Opinions

Who do you think actually ends up paying for the FAIR Plan today?

A

Mostly people who live in high risk areas

B

Mostly all homeowners statewide, through their premiums

C

Mostly the insurance companies

D

Mostly Taxpayers

E

I don't really know how it's funded

Do you think it's fair for homeowners in lower-risk areas to help cover the cost of insuring homes in high fire-risk areas?

A

Yes, that's fair

B

It depends

C

No, not fair

Do you feel the price you pay for home insurance reflects your home's actual risk?

A

Yes, it's about right

B

I pay more than my risk justifies

C

I pay less than my risk justifies