Department of Insurance Issues Cease and Desist Orders to Protect Consumers from Illegal Extended Warranty Contracts

By Jennifer Wilczynski Between April and October of 2020, the California Department of Insurance (DOI) issued multiple cease and desist orders preventing unlicensed businesses from illegally selling Vehicle Service Contracts (VSCs), or extended warranties. VSCs typically provide extra coverage for Continue reading

Senate Bill 872, Sponsored by Department of Insurance, Changes Insurance Regulations During States of Emergency

By Hannah Ohman SB 872 (Dodd), as amended August 12, 2020, amends sections 2051.5 and 2060 of, and adds sections 2061 and 2062 to, the Insurance Code, regarding insurance coverage during states of emergency, such as wildfires. Previous law required Continue reading

Department of Insurance Responds to Impacts from Another Devastating Wildfire Season

By Hannah Ohman Starting in August 2020, the Department of Insurance (DOI) took the following actions to address consumer issues resulting from the 2020 wildfire season: In an August 20, 2020 press release, DOI urged residents to keep all receipts Continue reading

California Department of Insurance Issues a Series of Notices to Insurance Companies Pertaining to Continued Health Care Coverage During the COVID-19 Outbreak

By Brittany Hodgson On March 18, 2020, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a public notice requesting that all insurance companies operating in California provide their insureds with at least a 60-day grace period to pay premiums so that policies are Continue reading

Department of Insurance Issues Cease and Desist Order to Health Care Sharing Ministries Aliera Healthcare, Inc. and Trinity Healthshares, Inc. for Misleading Consumers and Operating Without Authorization

By Marie McDonald Hulen On March 8, 2020, the California Department of Insurance issued a Cease and Desist Order against Aliera Healthcare, Inc. and Trinity Healthshares, Inc. for violating California law by misleading California consumers regarding their products and transacting Continue reading

California Department of Insurance is Potentially Impacted by Package of Bills Which Propose Additional Medical Insurance Coverage Requirements for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

By Brittany Hodgson On January 14, 2020, California Senators introduced two bills, both sponsored by the Kennedy Forum and Steinberg Institute, aimed at improving patient access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment: SB 854 (Beall), as introduced, would Continue reading

Senator Gonzalez Introduces Equal Insurance HIV Act

By Marie McDonald Hulen SB 961 (Gonzalez), as introduced on February 10, 2020, known as the Equal Insurance HIV Act, would repeal and add sections 799.01 and 799.02, and add sections 799.03–799.10 to the Insurance Code. The California Department of Continue reading

Department of Insurance Coordinates with Law Enforcement to Arrest Suspects in Organized Auto Fraud Ring in $500,000 Operation Dealer’s Choice

By Brittany Hodgson In December 2019, investigators from the San Diego County Organized Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force, which includes investigators from the California Department of Insurance, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and California Highway Patrol, arrested several suspects Continue reading

Department of Insurance Holds Pre-Notice Public Workshop on Proposed Regulations Regarding Auto Insurance Discounts

By Marie McDonald Hulen On January 28, 2020, the California Department of Insurance (the Department) held a pre-notice workshop in Los Angeles to hear public feedback on a proposed regulation that would change the way auto insurers offer discounts to Continue reading