Tom Fudge: The firefighters who battled the flames in San Diego County two weeks ago are taking a rest. Now a new cast of characters are stepping into the limelight, whether they want their work on display or not. The new players are insurance adjusters, state and federal officials, homeowners and other property owners who lost structures in the fires.
Four years ago, underinsurance was a big problem for those who had to rebuild. It probably remains a problem. Even if you have adequate coverage, protecting your rights and getting the kind of payout you need to rebuild can be a real challenge. During this hour of These Days , we look back on the fires and look forward to what it will cost to rebuild. We'll also ask whose responsibility it is to be sure that fire insurance is adequate: the homeowner or the insurance company?
For questions or comments, you can contact the California Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-927-HELP (4357).
Guests
- Steve Poizner , insurance commissioner for California Department of Insurance .
- Matt Rodriguez, large-loss team manager in the homeowner claims department of the Automobile Club of Southern California .
- Karen Reimus, consumer insurance advocate who lost her home in the 2003 Cedar fire. She does volunteer work for United Policyholders , a non-profit charity that helps consumers. And she is currently working with victims of the recent San Diego wildfires.
- Lynn Buchholz, a certified financial planner who teaches the "Fundamentals of Insurance" at San Diego State’s Executive Financial Planner program.
