Lawmakers press companies to extend ALE coverage from 12 to 24 months
WASHINGTON — As the one year anniversary of the Marshall Fire nears, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse sent a letter to over 65 insurance providers urging them to extend additional living expenses (ALE) coverage for survivors of the fire, who continue to recover and rebuild their homes. The Marshall Fire began on December 30, 2021, claimed over 1,000 homes, and caused an estimated $2 billion in total damages, making it the most devastating and costliest fire in Colorado history.
“Now, a year after the disaster, Colorado families still need assistance as they begin to rebuild their homes and recover from the fire, the most devastating in Colorado state history,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter. “Infrastructure repairs and debris removal are incomplete and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic have hampered reconstruction efforts. As a result, many families have only recently started the rebuilding process.”
Affected homeowners with 12 months of ALE coverage are at risk of losing the essential benefits of rental and mortgage assistance before they complete the recovery efforts on their homes. The lawmakers urge the insurance providers to extend ALE coverage from 12 months to 24 months to provide more certainty to survivors as they continue to rebuild.
“[W]e request you extend ALE coverage from 12 months to 24 months for survivors of the MarshallFire suffering a total loss of their owner-occupied home. Extending ALE will give survivors the additional support they need to recover from the devastating effects of the Marshall Fire,” continued the lawmakers.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Insurance Provider,
We write on behalf of the survivors of the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado, who are requesting an extension of the additional living expenses (ALE) coverage. Now, a year after the disaster, Colorado families still need assistance as they begin to rebuild their homes and recover from the fire, the most devastating in Colorado state history.
The Marshall Fire claimed over 1,000 homes, decimating entire neighborhoods, and causing an estimated $2 billion in total damages. Infrastructure repairs and debris removal are incomplete and economic disruptions caused by the pandemic have hampered reconstruction efforts. As a result, many families have only recently started the rebuilding process.
Homeowners with 12 months of ALE coverage will soon lose the benefit of rental and mortgage assistance, well before their homes are rebuilt. Therefore, we request you extend ALE coverage from 12 months to 24 months for survivors of the Marshall Fire suffering a total loss of their owner-occupied home. Extending ALE will give survivors the additional support they need to recover from the devastating effects of the Marshall Fire.
We greatly appreciate the urgency with which you responded to the Marshall Fire. We ask that you bring that same urgency to the looming crisis caused by the potential expiration of additional living expenses benefits.
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