News
PIP System Needs to be Overhauled
Florida’s leaders showed tremendous vision by enacting the first-in-the-nation motor vehicle no-fault laws, which became effective in 1972. Commonly referred to as personal injury protection, the goal was to help accident victims by reducing legal delays, streamline the payment process and provide an automatic pot of money for injured drivers to take care of immediate …
Read More »
Committee OKs bill to whack doctors fees
Saying now is the “right time to do the right thing,” Sen. Alan Hays successfully maneuvered a bill that would limit how much doctors can charge or repackaged drugs in the workers compensation system.
Florida insurance agents protest ‘medical loss ratio’ provision in health care law
TALLAHASSEE — Naples insurance agent Mark Fiacable says a part of the federal health care act destroyed his business and caused him to lose his home.
Saying Goodbye to 2011
December 31 marks the end of another calendar year, and with that we close the books on another active year in the Florida insurance market. Florida’s diverse population, large base of potential policyholders and unique political and market issues tend to mean that insurance-related topics are prevalent in each year’s headlines. We began this year …
Read More »
Guest Opinion: Federal regulators could disrupt health insurance market
Federal regulators have refused to temporarily waive the requirement that Florida health insurance providers meet rigid minimum requirements on health care spending, and that is unfortunate.
Fla. request in health care overhaul denied
Florida’s long-running feud with the federal government over the health care overhaul took another twist Thursday as federal officials turned down a request to waive a key requirement.
Feds delay Florida insurance request
TALLAHASSEE — A state request to free Florida health insurance companies from spending at least 80 percent of premiums on medical costs has been delayed by the federal government. The U.S. Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight extended its own deadline by 30 days.
Drug dispensing latest debate in workers comp
A debate about doctors dispensing drugs to workers compensation patients is growing increasingly noisy, as business groups contend the practice drives up insurance costs.
Florida and Georgia Departments Enter Into Catastrophe Response Agreement
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens have renewed an agreement between the states to ensure continuity of operations of mission critical functions in the event of a catastrophe that causes significant disruption to either state’s operations. Under the agreement, members of an affected state will use temporary workspace designated by …
Read More »
Commissioner McCarty Wraps Up Big Week
The last week has brought good news to Commissioner Kevin McCarty and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Governor Risk Scott recently commented that he is saitisfied with the job Commissioner McCarty has been doing and expects the OIR to be part of the solution as he pushes toward reducing the size of Citizens Property …
Read More »
Lawbreakers taking Florida for a ride
Crime pays, but increasingly it’s Tampa Bay’s law-abiding drivers who are footing the bill. Enterprising criminals are taking Florida’s no-fault auto insurance law for a ride, fueling soaring insurance rates for everyone else.
Fla. seeks delay for insurers
WASHINGTON – Florida is asking the federal government to delay a requirement that health insurers use at least 80 cents of every dollar in premium money to pay for medical treatment, a move that could deny customers more than $170 million in rebates.
New Life and Health Deputy Commissioner Starts Today
Michelle Robleto begins her new job as the Office of Insurance Regulation’s new Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Life and Health Insurance today. “Michelle Robleto is a consummate professional with an outstanding reputation in the health insurance industry, and as a public servant for the State of Florida,” remarked Commissioner Kevin McCarty. “I am confident she will …
Read More »
OIR Hears NCCI Request for Rate Increase
NCCI filed a request for a statewide average rate increase of 8.9% and the OIR held a public hearing to gather testimony and evidence regarding the request. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty chaired the panel listening to the presentation of the NCCI. He was joined on the panel by Belinda Miller (General Counsel), Richard Koon (Deputy …
Read More »
OIR Names New Deputy Commissioner for Life and Health Insurance
The Office of Insurance Regulation has named Michelle Robleto as its new Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Life and Health Insurance. “Michelle Robleto is a consummate professional with an outstanding reputation in the health insurance industry, and as a public servant for the State of Florida,” remarked Commissioner Kevin McCarty. “I am confident she will be a …
Read More »
