Beyond The Damage: The Insurance Catastrophe

The Dr. Phil Podcast

Dr. Phil McGraw

Mental Health, Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As wildfires, hurricanes, and floods repeatedly devastate areas of the U.S. a focus on the nationwide insurance crisis as premiums skyrocket and companies abandon entire communities leaving homeowners forced to choose between coverage and survival.

The Los Angeles wildfires decimated tens of thousands of acres, killed at least 10, and forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 people Dr. Phil focuses on a devastating crisis that’s hitting close to home. Homeowners in California and across the nation are left helpless and vulnerable as insurance premiums skyrocket, leaving many with a heartbreaking choice: pay for coverage or put food on the table. First, a woman whose parents nearly lost everything in the Los Angeles wildfires, she says it’s a miracle that they didn’t because no insurance company would cover them, and they were without insurance. Then, Dr. Phil speaks with Kristy and Michael, who know this reality all too well after losing two homes in the last six years to California wildfires. Now, they’re trying to rebuild for the second time. Plus, Dr. Phil talks to Macie and Caleb, who couldn’t afford flood insurance due to rising costs. When Hurricane Helene hit, they watched helplessly as floodwaters destroyed their forever home. Macie says it felt like a thief came in the night and stole everything. Dr. Phil also hears from Jamie, who was shocked when her home insurance was unexpectedly canceled due to wildfire risks. Now, her family lives in constant fear of losing everything. Dr. Phil will also speak with attorney at law Steven Bush who says that insurance companies are in it for the profit and offer tips for homeowners seeking coverage in these uncertain times.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The Pacific Palisades fire.
0:03.0	Tonight we're exposing a devastating crisis that's hitting close to home, and I mean literally.
0:08.0	It's unimaginable, yet still very real to us.
0:12.0	It's something we never imagined could happen.
0:15.0	Replacement estimates are being reduced by as much as 90% across the board to prevent payment. Can I tell you how many times I have policyholders call me and say I've called my
0:24.1	insurance company 10, 15, 20 times. I've sent 30 emails. Nobody's answering.
0:28.6	We are following breaking news right here on Dr. Phil's Merritt TV.
0:43.6	I'm Chris Gutierrez, along with Lonnie Coombs, as we continue to follow the raging wildfires
0:48.1	that are roaring across Los Angeles County.
0:50.8	The Pacific Palisades Fire was just declared the most destructive fire in
0:56.7	Los Angeles city history. Can you imagine? The flames are being fueled by those powerful Santa Ana
1:01.7	winds up to a hundred miles per hour. There are now five separate fires, the Palisades fire,
1:07.5	the Hurst fire, the Woodley fire, Olivia's Fire, and Eaton fires.
1:11.6	Lynn Levin-Gusman is a lifelong resident of Pasadena.
1:16.6	She was protecting her parents' house from these flames.
1:19.6	She joins us now to talk about this.
1:21.6	Lynn, please know that we are very sorry for what's happening in your community.
1:25.6	Yes, I try not to get emotional, but thank you very
1:29.1	much. I went to help my parents because unfortunately they're 90 years old, so got them out of the
1:38.2	house. Only one truck fire truck available to fight like six houses on fire that my brother and I got to watch across the
1:47.5	street burn completely to the ground. I have pictures of those from today. It's the saddest thing
1:55.2	in the world. But my brother and I were determined and stayed at that house and used garden hoses to water down the front yard, the backyard, the roof.
	...

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