Insurance has been a big discussion point on our SE Sem Hts. Email list. Most recently:
"If Citizens is now the number one insurance co. in Fl., and keeps adding all these customers, how come those of us forced to get our insurance from them keep having their rates go up? Shouldn't more customers lower the rates, as the burden is then spread over a broader base? The rate quoted to me by Citizen's went up $500.00 between the time I first asked in March, and the time I needed to actually buy, in May! "
Well, according to the St. Pete Times, citizens are fed up with Citizens and are organizing.
"They don't take over government offices or wave banners on street corners, and there are no plans to publicly burn their Citizens Property Insurance policies. But that may be next.
For the first time since Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992, homeowners are banding together around the state, either through Web sites or through condo/homeowners associations, and protesting the soaring cost of property insurance.
Public Enemy No. 1 appears to be Citizens Property, the state-run insurer of last resort, which has swelled with high-cost policies dumped by private insurers who are cutting back or fleeing the market entirely.
People who have never before been involved in any kind of organized protests are finding themselves collecting petitions and joining groups whose sole aim is to present a united front to government leaders."
A website has been started Homeowners Against Citizens Insurance
Contact your legislators. Don't know who they are ? Look them up here or here
A bit off topic, but speaking of politics, yesterday's Trib had an article regarding a collaborative effort website designed to keep voters more informed. The article is Here The website is www.forthepublic.net
ReplyDeleteCitizens rates keep going up because by law they are the insurer of last resort and their rates are higher that what one may obtain private coverage for. Of course that rules us out because we have houses over 50 years old and no one will touch thoses. Because State Farm ask for a 71% increase to their rates and got it then the law requires Citizens to raise their rates even higher to be the highest and the insurer of last resort as the state is not really in the game to run insurance coverage but are now by default.
ReplyDeleteIt is a law that was not throughly thought out and neds to be readdressed.
Of course, the historic homes don't qualify for reasonably priced insurance. Heaven help us if Florida maintained something older than 10 years old. My insurance has gone from about $950 to almost $3,000 in the last 18 months. I was pulled out of Citizens and now I read that my insurance company is teetering on financial problems. Oh, goody!
ReplyDeleteCitizens is raping me for $3800 yearly for my house on Central Ave.
ReplyDeleteJust remember who has been the state insurance commisioner during all this. He is running for governer - Gallager. spread the word...
ReplyDeleteBungalowlady, we are with Gulfstream which is also having some financial difficulties. We got pulled out of Citizen's a year ago. Gulfstream is asking for a 55% increase in rates now, too.
ReplyDeleteLovely.
Yeah, I'm with Gulfstream. 55%? Yikes, I may have to leave the state at that rate. Thuis is awful. Isn't Gallagher the Ins. commissioner? Guess what will happen to the everything else in the state if he gets elected to take Jeb's place. UGH!
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of buying a home in Kenwood and my insurance quotes are in the $3800 range with the underwriter being Citizen's. How can it be that if you are not related to somebody in he army...you can not get decent insurance rates! This is my first home and I may not be able to go forward with the contract!
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ReplyDeleteI was so inspired by the whole insurance debacle especially when my agent checked the wrong box, that ended up costing me $500, that I set up my own web site about Homeowners Insurance in Florida
ReplyDelete