Climate change impacts insurance availability in high-risk areas

Increasing natural disasters driven by climate change are making insurance unaffordable or unavailable for many homeowners, especially in states like California, Florida, and Louisiana.

Alex Brown reports for Stateline.

In short:

• Homeowners in high-risk areas struggle to find affordable insurance as companies withdraw or hike premiums.
• States offer insurers more flexibility, but risk becoming the insurers of last resort.
• Rising disaster costs and population growth in risky areas exacerbate the problem.

Key quote:

“Insurance companies have basically become our land-use officials.”

— Doug Heller, director of insurance with the Consumer Federation of America

Why this matters:

Without affordable insurance, homeowners may be forced to relocate, which could lead to broader economic and social impacts. The increasing financial strain on homeowners is just one of many symptoms of a planet under stress. For families, this isn't just about rising costs—it's about the stability and security of their homes and lives.