News & Updates

Insurance

Supreme Court Finds PIP Insurers Must Disclose Use of Medicare Schedule

Supreme Court Finds PIP Insurers Must Disclose Use of Medicare Schedule

On July 3, 2013, the Florida Supreme Court answered the following certified question relating to insurers’ efforts to limit medical reimbursements in Personal Injury Protection policies based on the Medicare fee schedules: WITH RESPECT TO PIP POLICIES ISSUED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2008, MAY AN INSURER LIMIT REIMBURSEMENTS BASED ON THE MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULES IDENTIFIED IN […]

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Ambiguity Expands Coverage in Home Health Policy

Ambiguity Expands Coverage in Home Health Policy

In its third insurance-related opinion of July 3, the Florida Supreme Court in Washington National Insurance Corporation v. Ruderman answered the following questions certified to it by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit: IN THIS CASE, DOES THE POLICY’S “AUTOMATIC BENEFIT INCREASE PERCENTAGE” APPLY TO THE DOLLAR VALUES OF THE “LIFETIME […]

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Fifth DCA Finds Coverage Under Auto Policy for Modified Golf Cart

Fifth DCA Finds Coverage Under Auto Policy for Modified Golf Cart

On July 5, 2013, the Fifth District Court of Appeal issued its opinion in Angelotta v. Security National Insurance Company.  The case involved an insured who was operating a leased modified golf cart on a public road when he sideswiped a car and ran into a lawfully parked golf cart operated by the injured party.  […]

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Personal Lines Forms Certification Available Through December 31

Personal Lines Forms Certification Available Through December 31

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has issued a new administrative order extending the opportunity to certify personal lines property and casualty insurance forms through December 31, 2013.  The OIR previously issued orders allowing insurers to certify both commercial lines and personal lines forms, except for workers’ compensation forms.  A newly enacted statute (section 627.4102) takes effect for […]

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Personal Lines Forms Certifications Face Uncertain Future

Personal Lines Forms Certifications Face Uncertain Future

Under orders issued by the Office of Insurance Regulation last year, property and casualty insurers may certify their product forms’ compliance with the insurance code as an alternative to submitting them to the OIR for prior review and approval.  The OIR’s most recent order, issued in December 2012 and numbered 130176-12, covers both commercial and […]

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Statute Allowing Commercial P&C Forms Certifications Takes Effect July 1

Statute Allowing Commercial P&C Forms Certifications Takes Effect July 1

The Florida legislature in Senate Bill 468 created a new section 627.4102, Florida Statutes, relating to the informational filing of property and casualty product forms.  The bill was approved by Governor Scott and became Chapter Law 2013-66. The new statute takes effect July 1, 2013.  It allows insurers to certify the compliance of their property […]

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PPACA Conformity Bill Signed Into Law

PPACA Conformity Bill Signed Into Law

Governor Rick Scott has signed SB 1842 pertaining to health insurance into law.  The law makes changes to the Florida Insurance Code necessary to allow the state’s regulations to conform to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  Among its provisions, the new law will allow the Office of Insurance Regulation to review health […]

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Senate President Discusses Return of Salary Tax Credit Repeal Effort

Senate President Discusses Return of Salary Tax Credit Repeal Effort

Senate President Don Gaetz recently discussed the possibility that the legislature could renew efforts in 2014 to repeal the salary tax credit available to insurers for employees hired within Florida.  The Senate tried to repeal the salary tax credit this year and use the increased revenues to reduce motor vehicle registration fees by $12 per registration.  Gaetz […]

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Governor Signs Property Bill

Governor Signs Property Bill

Governor Rick Scott has signed SB 1770 into law.  At the outset of the 2013 legislative session, SB 1770 contained an ambitious set of reforms designed to reduce the size of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and reduce the degree to which it competes with the admitted market.  The final package, however, contained a milder set of compromise […]

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NCCI Prepares Filing to Implement Legislation

NCCI Prepares Filing to Implement Legislation

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has announced that it intends to submit a rate filing to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) in early June to reflect the rate reduction associated with SB 662. The bill has not yet been acted upon by Governor Scott. If it becomes law, the effective date […]

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