News & Updates

Citizens

Rate Hearing Provides Forum for Discussion of Citizens Rates

Rate Hearing Provides Forum for Discussion of Citizens Rates

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation held a public hearing today in Miami to seek additional information about Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s recommended rate filings and to allow interested parties to comment.  Florida law specifies that Citizens will submit actuarially sound rates, provided that no policyholders’ rates will go up by more than 10% (with […]

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Public Hearing on Citizens Rate Filings Today

Public Hearing on Citizens Rate Filings Today

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation  holds a public hearing today to discuss and receive input on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s proposed rate changs for its Coastal Account and Personal Lines Account (PLA).  The proposed statewide average rate increase for homeowners’ policies, including sinkhole coverage, are 11.1 percent for the Coastal Account and 12 percent for the Personal Lines Account. Sinkhole prone […]

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Citizens Eyeing Builders Risk

Citizens Eyeing Builders Risk

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will take a look at the merits  of writing builders risk insurance certain coastal areas.  However,  advisors recommend that if Citizens resumes writing business risk, it should do so only where the coverage is unavailable from the private market “at any price.”  As a competing consideration, Citizens recognizes that if it is the only market for […]

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Citizens Weighs Important Decisions

Citizens Weighs Important Decisions

The coming weeks will be important ones for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation as it receives public feedback and considers both its 2013 rate levels and ideas for reducing its size.  This week the Office of Insurance Regulation will hold a public forum in Miami to allow interested parties to comment on Citizens’ recommended rates for […]

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OIR to Hold Hearing on Citizens Rates

OIR to Hold Hearing on Citizens Rates

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will hold a public hearing September 20 to discuss and receive input on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s proposed rate changs for its Coastal Account and Personal Lines Account (PLA).  These accounts include policies for personal residential insurance policies such as homeowners and mobile home owners’ policies. The proposed statewide average rate increase for homeowners’ policies, […]

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Citizens Advances Surplus Note Proposal

Citizens Advances Surplus Note Proposal

The Board of Governors of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has approved a surplus note proposal for further refinement and review.  The board’s decision followed review and recommended approval by Citizens’ depopulation committee. The proposal calls for Citizens to loan up to $350 million to participating insurers in the form of surplus notes (subordinated debt).  The […]

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Consumer Advocate Questions Citizens Mitigation Program

Consumer Advocate Questions Citizens Mitigation Program

Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott raised concerns about Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s mitigation reinspection program at its recent board and committee meetings.  Ms. Westcott also issued a press release saying that the inspection process is confusing, has inequitable results, and serves as a threat to Florida’s already vulnerable economy. “The current inspection process is working against the very […]

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Citizens Rate Discussion Resumes

Citizens Rate Discussion Resumes

Rate levels for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation once again will be in the spotlight this week.  The board of governors will hold a workshop to discuss Citizens’ rate levels for the upcoming year.  Under Florida law, Citizens submits recommended rates to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which then is responsible for approving Citizens’ final […]

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Citizens Reduces Blackout Window

Citizens Reduces Blackout Window

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is implementing a reduced blackout window for insurer assumptions.  The blackout window recognizes that Citizens must process and mail nonrenewal notices in connection with the assumptions, so insurers can choose only those policies with expiration dates far enough in the future to allow proper notice. Senate Bill 408 allows Citizens to reduce […]

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Citizens Seeking Reduction of PLA Account

Citizens Seeking Reduction of PLA Account

After 30 days on the job, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s CEO Barry Gilway has identified reduction of the Personal Lines Account (PLA) as step one in restoring Citizens’ role as a residual market.  By concentrating efforts on reducing the PLA by 500,000 policies, Citizens’ policy count would drop below 1 million policies.  Gilway and Citizens hope to […]

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