Fla. Agents Want to Keep Personal Injury Protection

June 28, 2007

Insurance agents in Florida are gearing up for a special legislative session on whether to keep the state's no-fault personal injury protection auto insurance law.

Professional Insurance Agents of Florida Government Affairs Director Ron Villella noted that Gov. Charlie Crist wants to hold a special legislative session sometime before October 1, the sunset date for PIP, but that the governor announced no specific dates for the session.

PIA has joined forces with The Latin American Agents Insurance Association and the Specialty Agents Association in legislative efforts to maintain PIP, and enact anti-fraud measures to keep premiums in check.

According to Villella, Crist is siding with health industry and thinks the main issue for the session should be keeping PIP, quoting Crist as saying, "It's important for health care."

Without PIP, many worry that several million of the more than 12 million drivers in Florida will go uninsured, according to Villella. An increase in uninsured drivers could cause an increase in health insurance premiums and premiums for those drivers who carry uninsured motorist coverage, he said.

Source: Professional Insurance Agents of Florida