For a variety of reasons, an agent operating an insurance agency might find it necessary to close the agency’s operations. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently identified three key steps that agents might overlook when closing an agency in Florida. Surrender the agency license. First, DFS points out that the agent will need to […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently advised in its Insurance Insights publication that it has seen an increase in the number of potentially misleading agency names following the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. Under Florida law, an agency cannot have a name that would be potentially misleading or deceptive. For example, agency […]
Floridians received some good news Saturday morning as Erika began to dissipate. Even so, storm paths and storm strengths can be difficult to predict, so many us will keep watching the Weather Channel this weekend. It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since Florida saw the unprecedented series of hurricanes in 2004 and […]
The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) recently commented on the rate filing it received from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) proposing a statewide average premium decrease of 2.2%. The OIR pointed out that the filing includes a statewide average rate decrease of 1.9% and a reduction of the fixed expense cost applicable to […]
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation held a workshop at its office in Tallahassee to discuss potential amendments to key administrative rules governing insurance holding company systems and transactions between insurers and their affiliates. The workshop is the first step in the administrative rule making process, which ultimately leads to formal revisions to regulations governing […]
The Office of Insurance Regulation has scheduled a public hearing for the following pending rate filings submitted by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Citizens submits rate filings for all of its programs each year. In connection with the OIR’s review, the OIR holds a public hearing at which Citizens presents information regarding the filings and the […]
OIR has issued a new Informational Memorandum #OIR-15-06M, entitled “Medicare Supplement Policies in Florida.” In the Memorandum, OIR reviews the filing requirements for a Medicare Supplement policy, but also informs insurers of additional options available for products in this marketplace. Under section 627.672, F.S., a “Medicare supplement policy” is defined as “a health insurance policy […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services reminds adjusting firms that the primary adjuster law requires each person operating an adjusting firm, and each location of a multiple location adjusting firm, to designate a primary adjuster for each such firm or location. The law defines a primary adjuster as the licensed adjuster who is responsible for the hiring […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services has issued guidance to agents regarding unlawful or unauthorized charges. The department advises that it has received an increasing number of inquiries from Florida agents asking if they can charge fees for services ancillary to placing insurance, such as issuing certificates of coverage. The department responds that charging these types […]
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has named Sha’Ron James as the state’s Insurance Consumer Advocate effective August 3. Ms. James most recently has been the Director of the Division of Rehabilitation & Liquidation within the Department of Financial Services. “Sha’Ron’s experience holding insurance companies accountable and her in-depth understanding of the insurance industry raises […]