New Legislation Requiring “Know Your Rights” Insurance Disclosures

Recent wildfires cause the California State Legislature to look closely at how they might help mobile home owners in such disasters. Newly adopted Senate Bill 508 will ensure mobile home owners receive critical insurance information.

The bill goes into effect January 1, 2020 and will require insurers to provide timely disclosures and information to mobile home owners regarding their residential property insurance policies and their rights associated with their policy.

However, the most important thing is that every mobile home owner has an insurance policy for the cost of replacing their mobile home should it be destroyed by fire, earthquake or other disaster. “Replacement Cost” is NOT the price you paid for your mobile home. It is what it will cost to replace it with a new mobile home of the same size. This is critical and very important.

SB 508 will equip mobile home owners with critical information before the insurer issues or renews their insurance policies and provide them with the same information as other homeowners when it comes to knowing their rights under California law. For more information on this legislation visit: http://bit.ly/30gSaWG

ALERT! Public Safety Power Shutoff

According to the California electric power companies, in order to keep communities safe, they may need to turn off power during extreme weather or wildfire conditions. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff. A public awareness program is underway with specific detailed information available at: https://prepareforpowerdown.com.

During a public safety power shutoff, ALL customers serviced by an affected power line will have their power shut off. If you rely on electric or battery dependent medical technologies such as breathing machines, a power wheelchair or scooter, a home oxygen or dialysis, it is critical that you have a plan in place for an extended power outage. Your plan should include:

The website discusses in detail how to prepare, what to expect, when a shutoff will occur, how long it will last and specific information for people who use electricity and battery dependent assistive technology and medical devices.

• Keep emergency phone numbers handy.

• Have a backup location where you can go.

It is important to prepare an emergency plan in advance in the event your family is affected by a power shutoff – or any other emergency.

• Make sure your energy company is aware of your medical device.

• Consider having a safe backup power source, such as a generator or uninterruptible power supply.

• Have a personal safety plan in place for every member of your household including pets.

• Establish multiple people you can contact for help who know how to operate your equipment and back-up systems.

• Plan for any medical needs like medications that need to be refrigerated or devices that require power.

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides detailed Emergency Power Planning Information for People Who Use Electricity and Battery Dependent Assistive Technology and Medication Devises.

• Build or restock your emergency supply kit, including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash.

• Identify backup charging methods for phones.

What to expect if a Public Safety Power Shutoff is needed due to extreme weather conditions:

• Learn how to manually open your garage door.

• Early Warning Notification – Your energy company will aim to send customer alerts before shutting off power.

• Ongoing Updates – Your energy company will provide ongoing updates through social media, local news outlets and their website.

• Safety Inspections – After extreme weather has passed, your energy company will inspect the lines in affected areas before power is safely restored.

• Power Restoration – Power outages could last multiple days depending on the severity of the weather and other factors. It is important that you and your family have an emergency preparedness plan in place.

When will a Public Safety Power Shutoff occur? Every situation is unique.

Your energy company makes the decision to turn off power by monitoring local fire danger conditions across California and taking into consideration a combination of weather and environmental factors. These may include, but are not limited to:

HIGH WINDS AND HIGH WIND GUSTS LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS DRY VEGETATION that could serve as fuel for a wildfire FIRE THREAT to electric infrastructure REAL-TIME OBSERVATIONS by on-the-ground field experts

RED FLAG WARNING declared by the National Weather Service

How long will it take before power is restored? Power will remain out for as long as extreme and dangerous weather conditions pose a potential fire risk. After a Public Safety Power Shutoff event, your energy company will inspect and repair power lines and equipment so that power can be safely restored.

Depending on the severity of the weather and other factors, power outages could last several hours or multiple days – so it’s important you and your family have an emergency plan in place.

New Medicare cards to protect your identity

The government started sending out new Medicare cards, launching a massive, yearlong effort to alter how 59 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance program are identified. Historically, Medicare ID cards have been stamped with the Social Security numbers of members. But that has been problematic: If a wallet or purse is stolen, a thief can use that information, along with an address or birthdate on a driver’s license, to steal someone’s identity.

The new cards address such concerns by removing each member’s Social Security number and replacing it with a new, randomly generated, 11-digit “Medicare number” (some capital letters are included). It will be used to verify eligibility for services and for billing purposes going forward.

Source: Orange County Register and www.medicare.gov

Another Mobile Home Burns! Will Your Insurance will Cover your Home?

On March 15, 2018 a mobile home was destroyed completely by fire in the City of Cypress, Orange County. The photos show the devastation. The man inside the home suffered burns. According to a March 15 Orange County Register report the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Officers escorted the subject away from the residence seconds before an explosion occurred.

When a fire like this happens the first questions or comment is, “We sure hope the owner of the home was insured.” Unfortunately, the answer to this question is frequently that the home owner is either uninsured or under insured.

Fires happen. It could be your home damaged by a fire in a neighbor’s home or a huge disaster like wild fires where embers land on your roof and there is no stopping the damage and devastation that follows.

The pictures of this disaster tell the story. Don’t be caught without insurance. It is recommended that you consult with a professional who specializes in insuring mobile and manufactured homes for your insurance coverage.

The key is to have the home insured for replacement value. If you have a loan on the home and it is completely destroyed by a fire, you still owe the loan amount, plus you need to now replace the home.

The insurance coverage needed will need to cover the removal of the old, destroyed home, the preparation of the lot for the placement of a new home, payment of the mortgage and the purchase of a replacement home. This could be a considerable sum, but far better to be insured for the total loss.