Viewpoint: Hats Off to Citizens, But Reform Needed

Opinion – Steve Pociask What a difference a few years can make. Recent changes to insurance public policies have left homeowners better protected and given the state greater financial stability. Yet, there is still room for improvements, including changes that could dramatically reduce premiums for consumers. Over a decade ago, Florida property insurance market could…

Jeff Brandes Targets No-Fault Auto Insurance

State Sen. Jeff Brandes, wants to get rid of a car insurance requirement he says makes driving more expensive in Florida. On Tuesday, the St. Petersburg Republican filed legislation (SB 156) to repeal personal injury protection, or PIP, which covers minor accident claims, regardless of who was at fault. Required under state law since 1972, drivers…

Water Claims Could Lead To More Citizens Policies

CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Increases in water-damage claims — primarily in South Florida — will likely reverse years of downsizing by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, board members were advised Wednesday as they approved a hike in the corporation’s operating budget. Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said efforts to shed policies have already slowed…

Jeff Brandes to File Flood Mitigation Bill

State Sen. Jeff Brandes says he will file legislation for the 2017 Legislative Session to fund flood mitigation in affected communities. The idea is to lower the cost of flood insurance by decreasing flood severity in areas covered by the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System. The legislation will create a matching grant program, in…

Water Claims Could Lead to More Citizens Policies

By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Increases in water-damage claims — primarily in South Florida — will likely reverse years of downsizing by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, board members were advised Wednesday as they approved a hike in the corporation’s operating budget. Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said…

Litigated Water Claims, ‘Assignment of Benefits’ (AOB) to Top Citizens 2017 Challenges

Florida Trend – News Release Rising water claims and “out of control” litigation threaten the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s long-term financial stability and will stifle efforts by Citizens to offer premium breaks to policyholders in 2017, Citizens leaders stressed during a governing board meeting on Wednesday. Barring significant changes, including possible legislative action on assignment…

Insurer Citizens Expects to Grow in 2017, Entering ‘Different Stage’

Palm Beach Post – Charles Elmore After years of jettisoning customers, Florida’s last-resort insurer expects to get bigger in 2017 — returning to more than half a million policies. “We’ve entered a different stage,” Citizens Property Insurance Corp. president Barry Gilway told the company’s board in a meeting Wednesday. “There’s very little interest in depopulation.”…