Coronavirus Insurance Relief

Posted on April 17, 2020January 12, 2021 by Seth Arruda

California Department of Insurance Orders All Insurance Companies to Offer Relief Refunds

In these rapidly changing times one thing remains constant, protecting your lifestyle. Taking care of our clients, our employees and our community is our top priority. I am proud to see that our industry is taking the necessary steps to provide financial relief to consumers and business owners throughout California. Since the shelter in place order many consumers and businesses have been doing their part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Now, the insurance companies are providing a little more relief from paying insurance premiums for specific lines of business. We’ll breakdown the latest bulletins from the Department of Insurance highlighting which types of policies are getting relief refunds. It’s important to contact your agent or insurance company and inquire about the steps each company is taking to implement their refunds to policyholders.

According to the Department of Insurance’s Bulletin 2020-3, to protect consumers and to provide consistent direction to the insurance industry regarding misclassifications of risk resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and to address certain issues raised in CFC’s petition, Commissioner Lara hereby orders insurers to make an initial premium refund for the months of March and April to all adversely impacted
California policyholders in the following lines of insurance, as quickly as practicable, but in any event no later than 120 days after the date of this Bulletin:

Private passenger automobile insurance
Commercial automobile insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance
Commercial multiple peril insurance
Commercial liability insurance
Medical malpractice insurance
Any other line of coverage where the measures of risk have become substantially
overstated as a result of the pandemic.

Commissioner Lara grants each insurer reasonable flexibility in determining how best to quickly and fairly accomplish the refund of premium to policyholders. Insurers may comply with the premium refund order by providing a premium credit, reduction, return of premium, or other appropriate premium adjustment.

It’s important to check with your individual insurance company to inquire about their method of premium adjustment.

Read the full bulletin from The CA Department of Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara

CA Dept of Insurance Bulletin 2020-3

California Department of Insurance Requirement to Accept, Forward, Acknowledge, and Fairly Investigate All Business Interruption Insurance Claims Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Business Interruption insurance is an optional coverage that may be purchased as part of a comprehensive multi-peril commercial policy, business owners’ policy, or on a stand-alone basis. Many small and large California businesses purchase Business Interruption insurance to protect against the loss of income and other losses caused by an interruption to the normal operations of the business.

The California Department of Insurance (Department) continues to encourage businesses to review their policies, including policy exclusions, coverage limits, and applicable deductibles, and contact their insurance companies to determine what their policies cover as each insurance policy is different and the coverage varies. However, despite the Department’s on-going guidance to businesses statewide during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has received numerous complaints from businesses, public officials, and other stakeholders asserting that certain insurers, agents, brokers, and insurance company representatives are attempting to dissuade policyholders from filing a notice of claim under its Business Interruption insurance coverage, or refusing to open and investigate these claims upon receipt of a notice of claim.

Therefore, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara finds it necessary to issue this Notice to ensure that all agents, brokers, insurance companies, and other licensees accept, forward, acknowledge, and fairly investigate all business interruption insurance claims submitted by businesses.

After conducting a thorough, fair, and objective investigation of the claim, the insurer must accept or deny the claim, in whole or in part, immediately, but in no event more than 40 days after receipt of the proof of claim. The amount of the claim accepted or denied by the insurer must be clearly documented in the claim file unless the claim has been denied in its entirety. (Regulations, section 2695.7(b).)

If you’re a business owner that has been physically impacted by COVID-19, we highly recommend reviewing your policy along with any exclusions, coverage limits, deductibles and endorsements and contact your insurance company to determine if there is appropriate coverage provided.

Business Interruption Insurance Claims Caused by the COVID-19

We’ve compiled a list of our insurance companies we represent and their claims department information. If you do not see your insurance company listed, refer to your current insurance policy.

Liberty Mutual

Small Business Claims 844-325-2467
Mid/Large Business 800-362-0000

CIG 800-986-9974

Travelers 800-238-6225

Mercury 888- 313-6372

Nationwide 800-421-3535

Progressive 800-274-4499

Safeco 800-332-3226

Encompass 800-588-7400

Kemper 888-252-2799

Chubb 800-682-4822

American Modern 800-375-2075

First American Property and Casualty 800-348-3782

Mapfre 877-627-3735

Stay healthy and safe. Practice social distancing, wear a mask when entering retail establishments, and wash your hands. Everyone is doing their part to flatten the curve. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to assists families, local businesses, and their communities. Thank you for being a part of Alta Vista Insurance.

California Wine Country, WATCH OUT!

Posted on April 13, 2018January 12, 2021 by admin

Earthquakes in California aren’t a big surprise to anyone. Recently, studies have shown a more daunting side to this well known occurrence. San Francisco’s recent quake has shook up geologists everywhere. There are four major faults in this area that could greatly affect the farming world.

Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and San Francisco State University believe Central and Northern California should be preparing for earthquakes anywhere from 6.8-7.1 magnitudes.
Southern California and the farmland of Central Valley rely on the man-made water system that connects to the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, commented James Lienkaemper, the U.S. Geological Survey geologist who was the lead on the story.
All four of these fault segments are extremely vulnerable. Each belonging to the San Andreas fault system, this geological dividing line marks where California’s western and and northwestern shift away from the rest of North America at about 2 inches a year.

With this threat of an earthquake, we can’t predict when the next might occur, but we can do our best to avoid financial disaster. Here are 3 ways to be prepared as a winery or vineyard:

1. Locate your vineyard to a close, reliable water source.

2.Location, location, location! Make sure you do your Geography homework! Research where faults are in the area you are looking to buy/cultivate in. you can NEVER be too careful!

3. Climate control! Make sure to have some sort of back up source of energy in case the power goes out.

4.Don’t store your wine up to high! Storing your wine low can help prevent breakage and will help keep your inventory full!

Crop Insurance

Posted on September 4, 2017January 12, 2021 by admin

Your crops are just as important an investment as your home or farm. In stands to reason that you should be able to purchase the protection you need to hedge against natural disasters or the fluctuations of commodity prices.

Whether you need crop-yield or crop-revenue insurance, we can help you find an affordable balance.

Learn more about Crop Insurance solutions – the costs, coverages, and exclusions – by speaking with an Alta Vista Insurance agent today.

Contact Alta Vista Insurance now for further details.

Farm and Ranch Insurance

Posted on September 4, 2017January 12, 2021 by George Francis

Our Farm & Ranch coverage is one the most comprehensive and affordable coverage plans in the industry. It starts with the basics – your home, your farm or ranch, and your assets – and can extend to cover your personal and work vehicles, your crops, and even your livestock. You can even pick and choose the niche coverage you need, including natural disasters, identity fraud, animal collision and more.

Each year there are an average of 22 deaths per 100,000 farmers and ranchers nationwide. Accordingly, the National Safety Council lists farming as the second highest hazardous occupation in the United States, second only to mining.

At Alta Vista Insurance, we can even help you with liability coverage as well. Our flexible Farm & Ranch liability coverage can cover personal and farm liability, when you need it and as you need it. This extends to family farm partnerships, corporations, and trusts and can cover everything from your home to your heavy machinery to your livestock.

We can fold all of your coverage into one, all-encompassing policy, saving you time and money. In fact, with our Common Loss of Deductible clause you only pay one deductible if the same unfortunate event damages multiple pieces of property covered by separate policies. That’s our level of commitment to your protection – and your prosperity.

Winery Insurance

Posted on September 4, 2017January 12, 2021 by George Francis

Alta Vista Insurance – your trusted source for winery insurance.

Alta Vista Insurance has a unique knowledge and passion for the wine-making industry. Insuring wineries is complex and if your insurance agent doesn’t understand the process of making wine, how are you going to be completely protected?

Our personal service and commercial insurance experience, combined with our knowledge and understanding of the wine-making industry, allows us to offer comprehensive winery insurance and vineyard insurance coverage.

Vineyard and Winery Insurance may cover the following:

Outdoor vines, growing grapes and trellises
Harvested grapes
Packaging materials and containers
Damage to in-process and aging wine goods
Wine leakage
Wine contamination
Loss or damage to outdoor trees, plants, shrubs

If you already have a winery insurance policy, we can help you identify gaps that may exist in your current coverage and help you take the proper steps towards better securing your winery.