Latest Florida Headlines
All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.
A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Lakeview Insurance Co
Nov 17 2009 // Ratings firm A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and an issuer credit rating of “bbb” to both Florida-based Lakeview Insurance Co., and its affiliate, Florida Family Insurance...
Sipe Named Head of Summit in Florida
Nov 17 2009 // Liberty Mutual Agency Markets has appointed Carol Sipe as president and chief executive officer of Summit, which provides monoline workers’ compensation coverage in 10 southeastern states. Sipe succeeds Rick T....
Business Moves
Nov 15 2009 // BB&T, Oswald Trippe Raleigh, North Carolina-based BB&T Insurance Services, the nation’s seventh largest insurance broker, said it has expanded its southwest Florida operation with the acquisition of Oswald...
Florida Property Rate Changes Approved
Nov 15 2009 // The average rate increases approved for Florida’s Citizens: Personal Lines Homeowners: 5.4 percent Dwelling Fire: 8.8 percent Mobile Homeowners: 1.7 percent Mobile Home Physical Damage: 2.1 percent Commercial...
Florida Approves 5.4% Citizens Homeowners Rate Hike for 2010
Nov 15 2009 // Florida’s state-backed and largest property insurer will be allowed to raise its rates for homeowners an average 5.4 percent in 2010. The increase is the first one allowed since lawmakers froze the rates of Citizens...
Florida Weighs Citizens’ Rate Hikes for High-Risk Accounts
Nov 10 2009 // Owners of nearly 420,000 high risk properties in Florida could see their insurance premiums rise next year. State-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has requested an average 7.5 percent hike for homeowners with...
Tropical Storm Ida Pounds Gulf States with High Winds, Heavy Rains
Nov 10 2009 // A weakening Tropical Storm Ida lashed the U.S. Gulf Coast with drenching rain and high surf Tuesday as it moved ashore after shutting down almost 30 percent of Gulf of Mexico energy production. Ida, once a Category 2...
Florida Consumer Advocate Seeks Ban on Balance Billing
Nov 5 2009 // Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate said he is trying to find a lawmaker to help him ban a practice that sticks patients with big bills their health plans won’t cover. Sean Shaw, Florida’s Insurance...
Florida Girl Seduced By Teacher Sues School
Nov 3 2009 // A former student who had sex with her Hillsborough county teacher is suing the school district for failing to protect her. The lawsuit alleges the school didn’t properly investigate Jaymee Wallace before her hiring...
BB&T Insurance Acquires Florida’s Oswald Trippe Agency
Nov 3 2009 // Raleigh, North Carolina-based BB&T Insurance Services, the nation’s seventh largest insurance broker, said it has expanded its southwest Florida operation with the acquisition of Oswald Trippe and Co. Inc. of...
Wood Joins Florida’s VanDyke Norman Agency
Nov 2 2009 // Trish Wood has joined VanDyke Norman Insurance in St. Augustine, Fla., as an account executive. Wood brings 29 years of insurance experience in St. Augustine to VanDyke Norman Insurance. The addition of Wood to the team at...
Florida State Senator Wants Clinical Trial Claims Covered
Nov 2 2009 // A powerful Florida state senator wants insurance companies and HMOs to stop denying coverage of routine medical treatment, such as doctor’s visits and X-rays, for Florida cancer patients participating in clinical...
Florida Approves 6.8% Workers’ Compensation Rate Cut
Nov 1 2009 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has given the green light to an overall statewide average workers’ compensation rate decrease of 6.8 percent. The decrease, which was proposed by the industry’s...
Florida’s Citizens Reconsiders, Renews House With Chinese Drywall
Nov 1 2009 // Florida’s state-backed property insurer has taken a second look at a home with corrosion from defective Chinese drywall and decided to renew its homeowners’ insurance policy on the house after all. Citizens...
Florida’s American Keystone Faces Liquidation
Nov 1 2009 // Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper has granted a request by state insurance officials to place American Keystone Insurance Co. in Ponte Vedra Beach into state receivership to be liquidated. American Keystone...
Florida’s Homeowners Choice Has Eye on Merger with 21st Century Holding
Nov 1 2009 // Homeowners Choice, Inc., a Florida-only homeowners insurance company founded in 2006, has sent a letter to the board of directors of 21st Century Holding Co. proposing a merger between the two companies. In an Oct. 12...
21st Century Holding Targeted by Florida Insurer
Nov 1 2009 // Homeowners Choice, Inc., a Florida-only homeowners insurance company founded in 2006, has sent a letter to the board of directors of 21st Century Holding Co. proposing a merger between the two companies. In an Oct. 12...
Agents’ E&O Marked By Stability, Satisfaction
Nov 1 2009 // As Agency Revenues Fell, At Least E&O Previums Didn’t Rise Independent insurance agents have had plenty to fret about the past year, including falling revenues. Thus stability in the market and pricing for their...
Homeowners Choice to Pick Up American Keystone Business in Florida
Oct 30 2009 // Homeowners Choice, Inc. reports it has been selected as the replacement home insurer for policyholders of American Keystone Insurance Co., which was placed into receivership earlier this month. All of American...
Florida Approves 5.4% Citizens Homeowners Rate Hike
Oct 30 2009 // Florida’s state-backed and largest property insurer will be allowed to raise its rates for homeowners an average 5.4 percent in 2010. The increase is the first one allowed since lawmakers froze the rates of Citizens...
