||| FROM BEN LUNA for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE |||
On Monday, July 7 th at 3:30 pm at the Eastsound Fire Station David Forte will discuss property insurance rates and how they have been affected by the Washington State Rating Bureau’s recent changes and rate increases for Orcas Island.
David Forte is the Senior Policy Advisor for the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Forte’s presentation will be included with the Board of Fire Commissioner’s regular meeting.
All are invited to attend. Note that David Forte’s presentation will be recorded on Zoom and available on the OIFR website for those not able to attend.
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My homeowner’s insurance went from $2367 to $3462 in ONE YEAR. And what changed in that year? NOTHING! It is patently ABSURD that we pay through the nose for taxes to the Fire Department AND we get outrageous premium increases at the same time. The million dollar fire palace in Deer Harbor hasn’t moved an inch and neither has my house so you tell me why the insurance industry thinks it needs $1100 extra dollars from me this year? My insurance was far less 20 years ago when the DH firehouse was a just a cinderblock garage with a truck in it! What do we have an Insurance Commissioner FOR if not to protect us from this kind of outrageous rate increase?
Re: Ken Wood comment: What did your insurance company say when you requested an explanation of your rate increase as is now the law (WAC 284-30A) as of 1 June 2024?
Likely all insurance policies increased because of exactly what is in Mr. Forte’s presentation. It’s a known that building replacement costs are increasing faster than the rates of inflation, and add to that the increasing major disasters caused by fires, storms and global warming.
My homeowners insurance (USAA) increased $10.32 a month ($123.82 for the year) for July 1 2025-June 30 2026, so your rant about the state Insurance Commission and Orcas Island Fire and Rescue lacking your insurance company statement on why your rate increased seems quite inappropriate.