Latest Florida Headlines

All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.

GuideWell Insurance Agency in Florida to Offer StormPeace Hurricane Coverage

Apr 26 2018 // GuideWell Insurance Agency, an exclusive property and casualty agency for Florida Blue health plan members, will offer StormPeace, a supplemental hurricane policy from Assured Risk Cover that provides coverage of losses...

Florida Legislature Will Regret Failing to Tackle AOB Abuse

Apr 25 2018 // For the sixth time in six years, the Florida Legislature adjourned its annual session having tried, and failed, to address the assignment-of-benefits (AOB) crisis that is driving up homeowners insurance rates across the...

NWS: Alabama, Florida Storms Spawned At Least 3 Tornadoes

Apr 25 2018 // The National Weather Service confirms at least three tornadoes in Alabama from Sunday storms, and is surveying other parts of southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. A storm with estimated winds of 80 mph (130 kph)...

Brightway Insurance Opens New Agencies in Florida, South Carolina

Apr 25 2018 // Brightway Insurance is continuing its expansion across the country with the opening of two new stores in Florida and South Carolina: Jeff Howard has opened Brightway, The Howard Agency in Charleston, S.C. Troy Novotny has...

Why Coastal Living Is Becoming Affordable for Only the Rich

Apr 24 2018 // When Hurricane Irma reached Florida’s Big Pine Key in September, it caused the floor of Terry and Sharon Baron’s cream-colored mobile home to collapse. On Marathon Key, twenty miles north, the winds lifted...

AssuredPartners Acquires The Elan Group of Florida

Apr 23 2018 // AssuredPartners, Inc. has acquired The Elan Group of Tampa, Fla., an employee benefits firm specializing in the design, enrollment and service of employee benefits plans. The company’s staff of 21 will remain under...

A.M. Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Florida-Based MedMal Direct Insurance

Apr 23 2018 // A.M. Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B- (Fair) from B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “bb-” from “bbb” of MedMal Direct Insurance Co., headquartered in...

Florida Lawyer Gets Prison for $23M Auto Insurance Fraud Scheme

Apr 20 2018 // A Florida man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison for his role in a $23 million auto insurance fraud involving chiropractors’ clinics. The SunSentinel reports 55-year-old Jason Dalley wept in court April...

6 Students Injured in Florida School Bus, Semi Collision

Apr 20 2018 // A school bus and a semitractor-trailer collided in Florida, slightly injuring six high school students. News outlets report the bus was carrying about 18 students when it crashed Wednesday in Brooksville, about 50 miles...

AssuredPartners in Florida Promotes Deal, Lowe

Apr 19 2018 // AssuredPartners, Inc. has announced two promotions at its company headquarters in Lake Mary, Fla. Steve Deal has been promoted to president of Eastern Regions, reporting to President and COO Tom Riley. Deal will work...

Florida Agency Owner Arrested Over $62K Premium Fraud Scheme

Apr 19 2018 // An insurance agency owner in Florida has been arrested after he admitted to stealing more than $60,000 in insurance premiums, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS). Michael...

The Reason You Only Need One Auto Policy

Apr 18 2018 // This weekend was really good one for one of my sons. He got the all-too-rare opportunity to go see his girlfriend (who lives almost 350 miles from us). They both work and go to school, so their time is super tight. Before...

Florida CFO Releases List of Top 10 Most Wanted Insurance Fraudsters

Apr 18 2018 // Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis has released a top 10 list of most wanted insurance fraud criminals and called on local communities to help with finding the individuals. According to a statement from the...

Florida’s Citizens Reopens More Than 25K Hurricane Irma Claims

Apr 17 2018 // Citizens Property Insurance Corp. says it has reopened about 37 percent of its Hurricane Irma claims, according to a statement from the Florida insurer of last resort. The insurer says the reopening of claims is part of...

Demotech Affirms ‘A’ Ratings of Florida Insurers

Apr 16 2018 // Demotech will not downgrade any of the 16 Florida homeowners insurers that it said earlier this year could face financial stability ratings (FSRs) adjustments because of hurricane losses and assignment of benefits...

Florida AOB Reform Efforts Fail Again as Parkland Tragedy Derails Legislative Session

Apr 16 2018 // With over 900 items on the Florida legislative docket and only 60 days to consider them, it’s not surprising that many bills simply die in committee or are never seriously considered. Add to that a tragic event right...

People

Apr 16 2018 // Risk Strategies, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has appointed Scott Stamper as managing director to run day-to-day operations and help guide the growth of Atlass Insurance Group,...

2 Tornadoes Knock Out Power in Florida City, Delay Flights

Apr 13 2018 // Weather officials say two tornadoes hit a Florida city on Tuesday, causing mostly minor damage. The National Weather Service confirmed that one tornado touched down shortly after 3:30 p.m. in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Fort...

Florida’s Citizens Approves Changes to Managed Repair Program to Stem AOB Abuse

Apr 12 2018 // Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has approved a slate of policy language changes designed to protect consumers while addressing rising costs of nonweather water loss claims and related litigation that continue to drive...

FEMA Criticized for Suppliers Not Delivering Hurricane Aid as Promised

Apr 11 2018 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded contracts for hurricane supplies without adequately researching whether winning bidders could deliver what they promised, according to a new investigation by Democrats on a...