Talking Carts 7: The Insurance Crisis Is Real

Main theme: For those who can manage to hold on to their homeowners insurance policies, the price of premiums is crushing budgets. The reasons are many: from the rising price of building materials and construction labor to the growing frequency of extreme weather events.

In this episode, hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines get an up-close glimpse at what happens after disaster strikes—and insurance fails—from a resident of Altadena, Calif., whose home was destroyed last year by the devastating Eaton Canyon Fire. The conversation chronicles the current state of the insurance industry and features Consumer Reports investigative reporter Lisa Gill, who details the proposed Homeowners Insurance Bill of Rights drafted by CR and other consumer and industry organizations with the aim of establishing a standard set of basic requirements for all policies.

Before disaster strikes, listen and learn practical advice for protecting your home, including how to determine how much insurance you need versus how much you actually have. We also offer some practical steps for bringing down your homeowners insurance premiums and actionable guidance on what to do if your insurance company drops your policy.