Idaho insurance dept. issues wildfire data call

The Idaho Department of Insurance issued a data call to providers of wildfire coverage for homes and other dwellings.

Through the mandatory call, detailed in the department's Bulletin No. 25-02, the department is "collecting detailed policy and claims information to conduct an analysis of the property insurance market within Idaho, specifically as it relates to wildfire," the bulletin reads, in part. The data will "enhance the department's understanding of affordability, availability, market dynamics and insurer exposures, enabling the DOI to fulfill its statutory obligations to regulate the insurance industry and protect consumers."

The state in 2023 had 91 property insurers, and "today, roughly 22-25 of those companies have non-renewed some or all of their policies, partially due to wildfire concerns, and leaving some homeowners without property insurance," department director Dean Cameron said in a news release.

State insurance officials receive calls regularly from consumers who are concerned about their coverage, "and we believe this data call will offer insight to our department on how best to address the hardening personal property market in order to protect consumers and encourage carriers to stay in Idaho," he said.

The data analysis will inform the department's efforts to ensure Idahoans can secure the coverage they need to protect their homes and financial wellbeing, while also working to maintain a healthy insurance market for insurers, according to the release.

Completed data submissions are due May 20, according to the bulletin. Requested data pertain to Idaho-specific exposures, premiums, claims and related information from the start of 2018 through the end of 2024, including claims reported as of March 31, 2025.

A busy 2024 peak wildfire season in Idaho started earlier and ended later than usual, and impacted communities.

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