Idaho Department of Insurance – December 2024 Newsletter

DOI and SFM logo

December 2024

A monthly newsletter brought to you by
the Idaho Department of Insurance

Bill Deal

The Idaho Department of Insurance mourns the passing of former
DOI Director William W. “Bill” Deal.

Director Deal was first appointed to the DOI by Gov. Butch Otter on January 2, 2007. He was reappointed in 2011 and retired from the position December 31, 2014.

Before becoming director, he served eight terms in the Idaho House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007, where he worked closely with current DOI Director Dean Cameron. They co-sponsored many of the successful insurance approaches used today.

Director Deal served as the chairman of the board for the Idaho State Insurance Fund and a member of the Idaho Endowment Investment Board. He had many years of experience in the insurance industry; for much of that time, he was owner and managing partner of the W.W. Deal Insurance Agency in Nampa, ID.

“Idaho will miss a statesman like Bill Deal. He was a wonderful man and leader. Idahoans, as insurance consumers, were benefited by his leadership,” said Director Dean Cameron

The DOI extends our deepest condolences to Joan, his wife of 66 years, their family, and friends. Messages can be sent to Joan Deal, PO Box 1869, Boise, ID 83701.

Director Deal's obituary

WGA

WGA Panel: Insuring Homes Against the Wildfire Crisis

At the Western Governors Association winter meeting on December 10, Director Cameron spoke about Idaho's efforts to reduce homeowners’ insurance costs during a panel discussion with policy experts and governors.

Idaho has had a particularly difficult fire season this year, with nearly a million acres of land burned. While the state doesn’t normally lose any structures to wildfires, 200 buildings were destroyed this year. About a quarter of the structures were homes.

Now, insurance companies are “tightening their underwriting” and non-renewing their previous policies with Idaho residents, Cameron said during the panel.

Unlike other catastrophes, wildfire risks are preventable and manageable. There are several strategies that can be used to reduce risks and retain a competitive market, Cameron shared.

The DOI is pursuing a two-pronged approach to help lower insurance costs that includes helping homeowners pay for mitigation efforts to prevent loss and creating a stabilization pool for insurers covering high-risk areas.

The latter is “intended to act as a mechanism to encourage carriers to come into the state and stay in the state,” Cameron said.

Photo by Robert Tann/Vail Daily

pipe

Will my homeowners insurance policy cover water damage from a burst pipe?

Freezing temperatures not only make us reach for our sweaters and jackets, but they can also lead to plumbing issues in homes. Insurance policies often cover the resulting water damage if frozen pipes burst, if the homeowner has taken reasonable steps to maintain the pipes and keep them from freezing.

Here's how your homeowners policy can help!

Have more questions? Contact the Consumer Affairs team by calling (208) 334-4319 or completing an online form.

battery

Lithium-ion batteries supply power to many kinds of devices including smart phones, laptops, e-scooters and e-bikes, e-cigarettes, smoke alarms, toys, and even cars.

If not used correctly, or if damaged, these batteries can catch on fire or explode.

The problem

  • These batteries store a large amount of energy in a small amount of space.
  • Sometimes batteries are not used the right way; batteries not designed for a specific use can be dangerous.
  • Like any product, a small number of these batteries are defective. They can overheat, catch fire, or explode.

Safety tips

  • Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
  • Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
  • Put batteries in the device the right way.
  • Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
  • Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
  • Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
  • Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C).
  • Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire.

Signs of a problem

Stop using the battery if you notice these problems: odor, change in color,
too much heat, change in shape, leaking, or odd noises. If it is safe to do so, move
the device away from anything that can catch fire. Call 9-1-1.

Battery disposal

  • Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash.
  • Recycling is always the best option.
  • Take them to a battery recycling location or contact your community
    for disposal instructions.
  • Do not put discarded batteries in piles.
annual report

DOI 2023 Annual Report

Per Idaho Code 41-216, the Director annually shall transmit to the governor a report of his official transactions containing with respect to the prior calendar year with pertinent information and matters as prescribed by code or determined by the Director.

The DOI 2023 Annual report (for calendar year 2023 / fiscal year 2024) is now available online for public review.

One minute of insurance

CO poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas sometimes called an "invisible killer." Learn about carbon monoxide safety:

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Intoxicación por monóxido de carbono (español)

happy holiday