WFSU By NICK EVANS • JUN 15, 2017 Florida’s insurance officials are considering moves to rein in assignments after the Legislature again failed to take action. The procedure allows service providers to work directly with an insurer, but some say they’re taking advantage of the system. Insurance companies are complaining that a procedure called assignment of benefits is…
Palm Beach Post By Jim Saunders – News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Readying to leave the state Cabinet at the end of the month, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said Wednesday that lawmakers need to address an insurance practice that critics argue is driving up homeowners’ rates. Lawmakers this spring could not agree…
WINK News May 31, 2017 FORT MYERS, Fla. Fraud could be behind a recent surge in auto insurance rates. Rates are up 21.4 percent since 2015, according to Florida Office of Insurance Regulation data. Insurance agent Cindy Palmquist of The Thompson Agency puts the blame squarely on staged crashes, a practice in which drivers maneuver other motorists…
LARGO, Fla., May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Allstate Insurance Company today announced a boost to its sales force in Florida to keep pace with growing consumer demand for insurance and financial products and services in the state. “We are seeing increased consumer demand for auto and home insurance as well as financial advice and planning,” says Allstate’s Jim Uschelbec, Regional…
Florida Politics. Staff Reports May 30, 2017 The Florida Retail Federation has issued a reminder that the new disaster preparedness sales-tax holiday begins this week. Right in time for hurricane season, the state will waive sales taxes on purchases of emergency supplies starting at 12:01 p.m. Friday, ending at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. “Thanks to our…
SaintPetersBlog Staff Reports May 30, 2017 Hurricane season begins Thursday. Are you covered? Are you sure? Better take a look at your policy, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater advised Tuesday. “For a better chance of a complication-free claims process, Floridians should carefully review all insurance policies to ensure that proper coverage is in place for their home,…
Laura Layden, Naples Daily News May 30, 2017 Although a major hurricane hasn’t unleashed its full fury on Florida in more than a decade, property insurance rates are climbing statewide because of another kind of storm — claims abuse. Insurers continue to face major challenges due to abuse, shrinking their profits and driving up their rates.…
Tampa Bay Times Friday, May 26, 2017 5:37pm Florida’s badly broken system for filing and settling insurance claims, which is wreaking havoc in the property insurance market, is creeping into auto policies with Tampa Bay at ground zero. Assignment of benefits, which can lead to costly court battles, is driving up rates for thousands of…
“Mixed Bag– Insurance industry — Nothing majorly good, but given what the predictions for trial bar valor were, coupled with rumors of the repeal of a tax credit for hiring Floridians, not as bad as expected. Plus, hearing the industry got a few base hits on smaller issues.” Read more about the impacts of the…
weartv.com by Jackalyn Kovac Wednesday, May 3rd 2017 PENSACOLA, Fla. (WEAR) — Some beach homeowners believe an increase to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) damage threshold that could mean the end of coastal living for a lot of people in Northwest Florida. The agency wants states to pick up a bigger share of the damage costs…