florida insurance agents News

Florida Extends Continuing Education Deadline for Insurance Professionals

Licensed insurance professionals working in the Florida Panhandle have been granted an extension of continuing education deadlines in an effort to help accelerate Hurricane Michael recovery efforts in the region, according to a statement from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. …

Update: Insurance Industry Preparation for Hurricane Irma in Full Swing in Florida

Insurers are taking no chances in preparing for Hurricane Irma as the powerful category 5 storm slogs its way through the Caribbean, devastating the communities left in its wake on its potential path towards the U.S. Insurers made a full …

Top Florida Stories of 2016: The End of Florida’s Hurricane Drought

In September, Hurricane Hermine broke Florida’s hurricane drought that had lasted since 2005. The category 1 storm hit the Florida Panhandle, bringing significant storm surge to the Tampa Bay area before slowly traveling up the Eastern Seaboard. The storm weakened …

Top Florida Stories of 2016: The AOB ‘Insurance Crisis’

Assignment of benefits abuse has become such a well-known problem in the state of Florida this year that it now just goes by the nickname “AOB.” The issue with AOB comes from when a policyholder suffers a loss, such as …

Florida’s First Hurricane in 11 Years ‘Could Have Been a Lot Worse’ for Industry

The 11-year hurricane drought in Florida is officially over. While preliminary damage estimates and claims are still trickling in from Hurricane Hermine, Florida’s first named hurricane since 2005, the consensus from the insurance industry is it could have been a …

Heritage Revokes 14.9% Rate Increase Filing for Florida Homeowners

After review by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and much criticism from Florida stakeholders, Florida-based Heritage Property & Casualty Company has withdrawn its request for an overall 14.9 percent increase of homeowners insurance rates in the state. The …

Florida’s Citizens Says AOB Abuse to Blame for Statewide Rate Increase of 6.8%

Citizens Board of Governors has approved recommended rates for 2017 that equal an average rate increase of nearly 7 percent statewide. The company said the increase is a necessary response to rising non-weather water losses and assignment of benefit (AOB) …

Citizens Implements Contract Changes to Address Florida Water Losses

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is alerting policyholders to important policy changes beginning July 1 as part of the state-backed insurer’s efforts to improve communication and protect customers early in the claims process while controlling costs that it has said threaten …

Special Report: Execs Warn of Impending Florida Market Crisis Over Water Loss Claims

Abuse of assignment of benefits (AOB) from water loss claims has become a full-blown Florida insurance crisis that will mean higher insurance rates next year and for the foreseeable future for every Florida policyholder, according to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. …