This action ensures Los Angeles County debris removal program will not impact insurance benefits owed to policyholders
LOS ANGELES — As Los Angeles County announced the start of cleanup from the recent devastating wildfires, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today informed wildfire survivors that the program will not impose out-of-pocket costs on policyholders. The California Department of Insurance worked closely with local, state, and federal leaders to ensure that the program’s costs are not deducted from insurance benefits. Commissioner Lara has issued a Consumer Alert and Notice detailing how the program will interact with insurance — a benefit available to all who choose to participate in the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires Debris Removal Program.
“My goal is to help people maximize their insurance payouts to assist survivors in rebuilding and recovering quickly. If the debris removal program is genuinely available at no cost to all Los Angeles County residents, it should not affect their insurance claims,” said Commissioner Lara. “Take the time to learn about this important benefit before deciding to go it alone, or call my Department to speak with experts who can answer your questions.”
The County’s debris removal program requests that property owners sign a “Right of Entry Form” to begin the process. According to the Department’s Consumer Alert, “If you agree to participate in the Program and sign the County’s Right of Entry (ROE) form, you will have no out-of-pocket costs.”
Property owners who decide not to use the County’s debris removal program could still use their insurance to cover the cost of private debris removal, but those costs could be deducted from the total coverage limits available in their policy — leaving survivors with less money to rebuild. In recent wildfires, the average cost of debris removal was more than $100,000 per property for those who did not utilize the free program.
Commissioner Lara has taken a series of actions to speed the recovery process for consumers. Last week, he issued a Bulletin to all California insurance companies requiring that insurance companies issue advance payments to policyholders who suffered a total loss in the Southern California wildfire emergency. Many people have already received these upfront payments for personal contents and additional living expenses, with some companies paying more than the law requires.
The Department’s insurance experts have given one-on-one assistance to nearly 3,500 individuals — 2,300 through in-person workshops that the Department hosted in Santa Monica and Pasadena and at disaster recovery centers, and 1,200 through the Department’s 800-927-4357 hotline. The Department has extended its hotline hours to Monday through Friday, 9AM to 7PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9AM to 1PM.
The Department also issued a guide to avoid scams after a disaster as there are often unscrupulous individuals who try and take advantage of disaster survivors who can be vulnerable during these challenging times. Consumers who have questions on their insurance or wish to file a complaint against a public adjuster, insurance company, or contractor can do so on the Department’s website or by calling 800-927-4357.
