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Citizens Board Opposes Cat Fund Reduction

Citizens Board Opposes Cat Fund Reduction

The Board of Governors of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation voted 5-3 to oppose legislation designed to reduce the size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.  The FHCF is Citizens’ primary source of reinsurance.  The FHCF has been promoting a plan to reduce its size through a combination of decreasing its maximum liability, increasing the co-participation requirement, and increasing […]

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Citizens to Keep Assessment Level at 1%

Citizens to Keep Assessment Level at 1%

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has announced that the emergency assessment in effect to pay for 2004 and 2005 storm bonds will remain at 1%.  This follows an earlier reduction in the assessment from 1.4% to 1%.  Citizens revisits the assessment amount annually to ensure the assessments are generating enough money to retire the bonds.  If the […]

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Consumer Advocate Seeks PIP Data

Consumer Advocate Seeks PIP Data

Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott has requested information from insurers writing personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance.  The request for information, made through an open letter to the auto insurance industry, is designed to facilitate the Consumer Advocate’s analysis of problems with PIP and potential solutions.  As noted in her letter, the Consumer Advocate has […]

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Governor Scott Pushes for Answers on Citizens Property Insurance

Governor Scott Pushes for Answers on Citizens Property Insurance

Over the course of many years, there has been no shortage of discussion in Tallahassee about the status and role of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (and its predecessors).  Raise its rates or cap them?  Promote depopulation or getting rid of it, or use it as a safety valve for affordable coverage? After several years of […]

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Florida and Georgia Departments Enter Into Catastrophe Response Agreement

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 […]

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A.M. Best Insurance Law Podcast Discusses FHCF Reform

A.M. Best Insurance Law Podcast Discusses FHCF Reform

I recently recorded a podcast in the latest episode of A.M. Best’s Insurance Law Podcast, a series that examines timely and important legal issues affecting the insurance industry from an attorney’s point of view.  In this episode, I discussed the pending proposal by the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to shrink its size and increase its costs over a […]

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Commissioner McCarty Wraps Up Big Week

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 […]

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New Life and Health Deputy Commissioner Starts Today

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 […]

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Commissioner McCarty Issues Order Regarding NCCI Rate Request

Commissioner McCarty Issues Order Regarding NCCI Rate Request

The Office issued an order on October 24, 2011 advising NCCI that its request for an overall rate increase of 8.9% would be approved if the NCCI modified its methodology for factoring in dividends.  The increase is to become effective January 1, 2011.  NCCI – OIR Order on Rate Filing OIR press release

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FHCF Projects Shortfall

FHCF Projects Shortfall

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund has released the October update of its fund balance.  These projections take into account the FHCF’s cash on hand and its expected ability to issue bonds.  For the current FHCF contract year, the FHCF has $18.4 billion in aggregate potential reimbursement obligations.  However, the FHCF projects a $3.2 billion potential shortfall in […]

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