Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) News

Fla. Regulators’ Effort to Remove Insurer Execs May Not Pass Constitutional Muster

Current and former leaders with Florida property insurers have had some strong reactions to state regulators’ recent efforts to oust company executives who previously helmed now-insolvent carriers. Some have called the unprecedented regulatory action unfair, misguided and impossible to substantiate, …

Florida OIR Says Enhanced Data Reporting on Hurricane Ian Claims is Due April 17

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is reminding carriers that additional data is due April 17 on Hurricane Ian claims. All property insurers are required by law to submit the enhanced catastrophe reports, including additional claims and other data gathered …

Castle Key Defends 53.5% Condo Rate Hike, Blames Reinsurance, Ian, Rapid Growth

When Allstate’s Florida unit, Castle Key Indemnity Co., entered the surging condominium insurance market in 2020, it looked like it had made a smart bet: Within two years, the carrier had added no fewer than 123,000 policies. Then came reinsurance …

Deadline for More Enhanced Hurricane Idalia Claims Data is Nov. 16

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation wants property insurers to remember that another deadline for enhanced catastrophe reporting on Hurricane Idalia claims is Nov. 16. The OIR is required by law to collect a range of data on hurricane claims. …

Florida OIR Tells Citizens to Rethink Maximum Rate Increase on HO Policies

When Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in June filed for the maximum rate increases allowed by its statutory glidepath, many in the Florida insurance industry saw it as a good thing, needed to help steer policyholders back toward the beleagured primary …

Florida Commissioner Names Two to Top Regulatory Spots

Florida’s insurance commissioner has appointed two longtime veterans of the department to high-level regulatory positions. Virginia Christy’s name will be familiar to anyone who has read Florida Office of Insurance Regulation consent orders when property insurers are deemed insolvent. Since …

Florida Regulators Now Reviewing Rate Hikes of 14%, 62% and 103%

Three Florida insurance carriers, one large and two small, are seeking approval for major rate increases, with one condominium policy increase as high as 103%. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s board of governors this week voted to file for a 14.2% …

Governor Names Yaworsky New Florida Insurance Commissioner

Florida’s governor has named the insurance department’s former chief of staff as new insurance commissioner, filling a position that has been vacant since the former commissioner resigned in late December. Michael Yaworsky, now vice chair of the Florida Gaming Control …

Florida Regulators Unveil Ratings Crisis Solution: Let Citizens Reinsure Carriers

Florida’s insurance commissioner announced today that his office has found an “unprecedented solution” to the looming property insurer rating crisis – let Citizens Property Insurance Corp. provide a level of reinsurance to companies in case they are downgraded, at least …

Florida OIR: $3B Spent on Claims Defense in 2021; 27 Insurers Now on Watch List

In 2021, Florida’s domestic property insurers spent more than $3 billion on legal defense costs and containment – double the figure reported in 2016. That’s one jaw-dropping but not surprising takeaway from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s recently posted …