Florida Farm Bureau’s Proposed Rate Hike Meets Disapproval

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said the Office of Insurance Regulation issued a notice of intent to disapprove the June 20 rate filing submitted by Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies – Farm Bureau General and Farm Bureau Casualty.

Farm Bureau sought a double-digit state-wide average increase of 28.4 percent for its homeowners insurance product. Some Farm Bureau policyholders could have seen increases of as much as 96 percent in Dade County. On the other end, the smallest requested change was a decrease of 1 percent in Citrus County.

“The notice of intent is based on a thorough review of the information provided by Farm Bureau in its recent rate filing and the testimony it provided at the July 30 public hearing,” said Deputy Commissioner Belinda Miller. “Farm Bureau failed to provide necessary support for the rate increase it requested.”

Farm Bureau now has 21 days, if they choose, to petition the OIR for an administrative hearing. In the meantime, the company cannot implement the proposed rate increases. The 24.9 percent rate reduction that became effective in June 2007 remains in effect.

The decision to deny the rate increase followed a public hearing in which a panel of representatives from the OIR questioned various aspects of the rate filing.

Florida law requires the Office to hold a public hearing for property insurance rate increase filings if they exceed a statewide average of 15 percent and if they are based on a computer model.

Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Latest Comments

• August 13, 2008 at 4:30 am

  PJ says:

  And again Bill, if they weren't making money they wouldn't be here. Are you telling me that they've been losing money for all the years they've been in existence but now if th... read more
• August 13, 2008 at 3:24 am

  AD says:

  For those who are not in the industry or don't know much about Farm Bureau..... The Florida Farm Bureau is a domestic carrier. That means...they only write business in the sta... read more
• August 6, 2008 at 9:25 am

  Bill says:

  making money, profit, is a bad thing? You obviously don't own a business since you are against capitalism. When did making a profit become a bad thing. Am I suppose to give my... read more