Robin Westcott Named Insurance Consumer Advocate
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has named Robin Westcott as Florida’s next Insurance Consumer Advocate. CFO Atwater chose Ms. Westcott based on her long career in insurance regulation and her knowledge of issues that affect the insurance-buying public.
“Robin will be an ardent, outspoken and persistent advocate for Florida’s insurance consumers,” said CFO Atwater. “She is committed to holding insurance companies accountable and to ensuring consumers get exactly what they pay for and are protected from fraud and abuse. She has seen firsthand the tactics used to game the system and simply won’t stand for it.”
“I’m honored that CFO Atwater has given me the opportunity to continue to advocate for Florida’s insurance consumers—a passion I have dedicated my career to,” said Westcott. “I am excited and committed to ensuring Florida’s consumers have the best products at the most competitive prices.”
Ms. Westcott stated that one of her priorities will be to continue addressing cost drivers hurting Florida’s consumers who are paying escalating auto and property insurance rates. The legislature addressed some of the cost-drivers in teh recent SB 408, but the legislative staff has already announced that it will be monitoring those reforms to determine whether they have their intended effects. In addition, the legislature discussed sensitive PIP fraud issues in the 2011 session but was not able to agree on a reform proposal.
Ms. Westcott began her career in 1993 with the Florida Department of Insurance, Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation. She served with the department until 2001 and returned again 2004, when she served in several capacities including Director of Property & Casualty Financial Oversight and Acting Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty Insurance. She left OIR earlier in 2011 to serve as the Executive Director of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force, a position she will continue to hold as she also becomes the Insurance Consumer Advocate.