To put it simply, judges like paperwork, unlike everyone else. You have to file and serve a brief at least 9 court days before the hearing that opposes the demurrer, if you want to keep your case going. If it's late, file it anyway, and provide a reason in a declaration for its delay. If you're in the process of hiring a lawyer, you might file with the court an opposition that includes a request for more time because you're working on obtaining an attorney.
A demurrer tests the sufficiency of the complaint, and is not a trial. The defendant is saying that the way you wrote your complaint doesn't amount to a viable lawsuit, legally, and therefore it should be thrown out. It doesn't mean that you don't necessarily have the facts on your side. You must plead in your complaint that there was an insurance agreement (attach a copy of the declaration page and the policy as an exhibit), that you paid all the premiums as you were required to do, and the carrier did not do whatever it was that you wanted them -- and they were legally obligated -- to do. As a result of that, you suffered damages, usually loss of money or out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, people often plead that what the insurance carrier did was in bad faith for some extraordinary reason -- racial bias, horrendously bad decision-making processes, a calculated policy to deprive all similar insureds of their right to policy benefits, etc. If you think you'll be able to do this, you could ask the court for leave to file an amended complaint, and then get an attorney.
I hope this helps. Truly, Mr. Hoffman's advice should be taken to heart. If you have a good case, a lawyer might would be willing to work with you on the fees.
