Lawbreakers taking Florida for a ride
Kevin McCarty, Florida Legislature, PIP, Insurance Regulation News, Insurance Consumer Advocate
News & Updates
Insurance Consumer Advocate
OIR Hears NCCI Request for Rate Increase
NCCI filed a request for a statewide average rate increase of 8.9% and the OIR held a public hearing to gather testimony and evidence regarding the request. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty chaired the panel listening to the presentation of the NCCI. He was joined on the panel by Belinda Miller (General Counsel), Richard Koon (Deputy […]
PIP Working Group Resumes Analysis
The PIP Working Group convened by Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott resumes its consideration of the complex issues affecting the Florida market at an October 10, 2011 workshop. This workshop is part of a series of meetings scheduled by the Consumer Advocate to bring PIP stakeholders together. She intends for the process to culminate in […]
PIP’s cap set in 1979 is far below 2011 realities, insurance industry says
Consumer Advocate to Convene PIP Group
Robin Westcott, Florida’s recently named Insurance Consumer Advocate, has indicated she will create a working group to develop policy recommendations to address concerns in the Personal Injury Protection market. PIP fraud has received considerable attention over the last year, but efforts to address problems in this area stalled in the 2011 legislative session. In announcing […]
Consumer advocate wants lawmakers, ’stakeholders’ to combat soaring PIP costs
Officials Urge Phase-In of Citizens Sinkhole Rate Change
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation got the insurance world talking recently when it announced that rates for sinkhole coverage would increase by an average of 400 percent, and by much higher amounts in certain areas. Citizens’ rate increases are capped at 10 percent per policyholder per year, but the 2011 legislature removed sinkhole coverage from the […]
Robin Westcott Named Insurance Consumer Advocate
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has named Robin Westcott as Florida’s next Insurance Consumer Advocate. CFO Atwater chose Ms. Westcott based on her long career in insurance regulation and her knowledge of issues that affect the insurance-buying public. “Robin will be an ardent, outspoken and persistent advocate for Florida’s insurance consumers,” said CFO Atwater. “She is committed to […]
Insurer Report Card Rule on Hold
The insurer report card rule reportedly must go through the rulemaking process again if it is to move forward. The rule originally was scheduled to be presented for final adoption at a November Cabinet meeting, but it was deferred until the December 7 meeting. However, it was then withdrawn because the rulemaking process would have exceeding the […]
Terry Butler Named Interim Consumer Advocate
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has announced that Terry Butler will serve as the interim Interim Insurance Consumer Advocate. Terry has worked as an attorney in various insurance regulatory capacities throughout his career, including as the Senior Attorney in the Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate since August 2007. “Terry’s legal experience and expertise in standing up for Florida’s […]