[Evans, Marv]

I live in a "fire prone" area. Lots of people around here have to go through the State Exchange to get home owner's/fire insurance - which is actually substandard coverage. I was insured with State Farm for 30 years. When I moved to where I live now, they flat told me they didn't insure in that area. Farmers did, so I went with them. This last year, the were going to hike my premium by 38%, so I wrote them a letter to Fuch off and looked for other coverage - which was scarce. I designed my place to be as fire resistant as possible - no eves, stucco exterior, sprinkler systems inside & out, large defensible area. I ended up with another company for about the same premium I formerly had, but who knows what it will be like if I have to make a claim. The insurance coverage situation is another one of those where large companies can pick & choose what they will do and not. I interpreted the 38% increase as an attempt to squeeze out those the company actually didn't want to insure. Letters to the company and the State insurance department got responses saying the company's increase was well within guidelines. What a crock. Another example of government being in bed with big companies & not serving its citizens.