News & Updates

Citizens

Citizens Policies up to $1 Million Remain Eligible in Miami-Dade and Monroe

Citizens Policies up to $1 Million Remain Eligible in Miami-Dade and Monroe

The Office of Insurance Regulation has determined there is not a “reasonable degree of competition” in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties for homeowners with dwelling limits exceeding $900,000 or for condominium unit owners with combined dwelling and contents limits over $900,000.  As a result, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will continue to make coverage available to these […]

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2014 Saw Significant Property and Casualty Issues

2014 Saw Significant Property and Casualty Issues

As 2014 comes to a close, several of the issues that commanded considerable attention during the year reached their resolution and set the framework for 2015 ahead.  When we all return from the holidays, the legislative committee weeks will be upon us and the 2015 legislative session will begin before we know it.  However, before […]

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Storm Free Years and Stronger Private Market Improve Citizens’ Position

Storm Free Years and Stronger Private Market Improve Citizens’ Position

After the devastating series of storms in 2004 and 2005, Florida has enjoyed a run of essentially storm-free years.  This has led to improved conditions in the private insurance market, and consequently to reductions in the policy count of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.  Citizens therefore expects that it in 2015 it will be able to […]

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Depopulation Activity Reduces Citizens Policy Count

Depopulation Activity Reduces Citizens Policy Count

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation recently announced that it had 727,122 policies as of November 30, 2014.  This is about half of Citizens’ policy count a few years ago when it reached a high of about 1.4 million policies. The Citizens portfolio consists predominantly of personal residential policies, although it continues to have significant commercial exposure […]

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Citizens Projects Continued Reduction in Policy Count

Citizens Projects Continued Reduction in Policy Count

The policy count at Citizens Property Insurance Corporation continues to decline, with further reductions projected over the next few months.  Citizens had more than 1.4 million policies just two years ago.  As of July 31 of this year, it had fewer than 950,000 policies.  Citizens president Barry Gilway recent said he expects Citizens to have […]

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Citizens to End Assessment Early

Citizens to End Assessment Early

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation announced that a surcharge on Florida homeowners insurance premiums will end about two years earlier than originally planned.  The assessment has been in place to pay off bonds from the 2005 hurricane season. The surcharge will end as of July 1, 2015.   Inital projections would have extended  the surcharge until June 30, 2017.  Citizens is able to take this […]

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Citizens Proposes Small Personal Residential Rate Decrease

Citizens Proposes Small Personal Residential Rate Decrease

Over the last few years, we have grown accustomed to talking about Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s rates being inadequate and serving as an impediment to policies finding coverage in the admitted market. However, as the rate glide path in 2010 has continued to take effect each year, an increasing number of insurers have been assuming […]

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Citizens to Postpone Adding Renewal Policies to Clearinghouse

Citizens to Postpone Adding Renewal Policies to Clearinghouse

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has announced that it will not add renewal policies to its clearinghouse until closer to November 1 rather than August or September as previously planned.  Currently, new business entering Citizens goes through the clearinghouse process, which allows participating insurers to identify policies meeting their desired underwriting criteria and make offers of coverage […]

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SB 1672 Makes Minor Adjustments to Citizens

SB 1672 Makes Minor Adjustments to Citizens

As with prior legislative sessions, the 2014 session began with a variety of competing proposals affecting Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, many of which were intended to continue efforts to significantly reduce the size of the residual market. However, by the end of the session, the more ambitious proposals such as allowing surplus lines insurers to […]

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Trial Bar Opposes Citizens Sinkhole Repair Program

Trial Bar Opposes Citizens Sinkhole Repair Program

A proposal that would facilitate the repair of homes insured by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is gaining support but is opposed by the trial bar.  The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee advanced a bill that would adopt a form of “managed repair” program for Citizens’ sinkhole claims.   Citizens president Barry Gilway favors the proposal as a way […]

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