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Current wildfires in California have already destroyed 8,000 homes, and another 50,000 are still at risk. This has left thousands of residents filing claims and trying to recover from the disaster. Commissioner Dave Jones has outlined a series of emergency expedited claims handling guidelines that he requests all insurers implement in order to speed claims handling and help those affected by the fires. The guidelines are as follows.

 ·Issue advanced Additional Living Expense funds of at least four months for a total loss upon request. Insurers should make additional funds available upon proper documentation received after the advance period.

 ·Provide standard contents advance payment of at least 25% of policy limits for a total loss of a primary residence due to a wildfire disaster. Additional contents to be paid upon receipt of proper proof and upon request.

 ·Insurers should expedite vehicles claims for property damage due to wildfires under comprehensive coverage. No timeframe is given.

 ·Thirty days leniency regarding billing for any type of coverage, including home, auto, life, and health should be provided to customers living in designated wildfire disaster areas.

 ·Debris removal is to be handled rapidly; insurers should cooperate with city, county and state agencies with master debris removal contracts unless the insurer can provide faster removal outside of government coordinated efforts. Insurers should provide payment and policy information to the county responsible in order for the county to fulfill its requirements. It is not required that the insurer disclose personal information of the insureds without the insureds permission.

 ·The insurers should accept home inventory software or paper documents that are available to the public through IINC (Insurance Information Network of California), CDI (California Department of Insurance) or other reasonable forms without requiring insureds to use company-specific forms. Insurers are not required to waive the right to request additional information upon receipt of inventory forms.

 ·The insurers should agree to accept reduced itemization of contents from insureds total losses due to wildfires. In some cases grouping of categories should be allowed, such as “100 CDs” instead of individually listing each title.

 These measures will help insureds get back on their feet and have some time to cope with the severe losses that have occurred.

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