Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) News

How the Florida Insurance Industry Hopes to Rein In AOB Crisis

“I think the number one thing the insurance industry can do is link AOB (assignment of benefits) to the impact that it’s having on the individual consumer and the huge impact it’s having on the premiums that the consumer’s paying,” …

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

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 premiums higher, according to a statement from the …

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

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 in the …

Attorney, Vendor AOB Lawsuits Top Insurance Litigation in 2017: FJRI Report

Litigation from the abuse of assignment of benefits by third parties represented more than half of all Florida insurance litigation in 2017, and without a legislative fix those fueling the abuse will continue to get rich at the expense of …

Florida Agents March on State Capitol in Lawmaker Push to Reform AOB

Insurance agents from across Florida marched together on the state’s capitol Wednesday to deliver a message to Florida lawmakers: It’s time for assignment of benefits (AOB) reform. Carrying signs that read “STOP AOB ABUSE,” about 125 members of the Florida …

Report Shows Florida AOB Abuse Worsening as Lawmakers Consider Reforms

The 2018 Florida Legislative Session is underway, and lawmakers have wasted no time taking up legislation to address the assignment of benefits crisis plaguing the state. While they debate which reform option to back, stakeholders say the Florida Legislature must …

Florida’s Citizens Expects Policy Count Increase in 2018, Plans Claims System Upgrade

Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the Florida state-run insurer of last resort, is anticipating its policyholder count will increase in 2018 for the first time since its efforts to shed policies through depopulation began several years ago. As it moves on …

Florida Approves 6.6% Statewide Homeowners Rate Increase for Citizens

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved statewide rate increases on 2018 personal and commercial property insurance rates for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. OIR approved a statewide increase of 6.6 percent for homeowners multi-peril policies, but held rates …

Florida Puts Workers’ Comp Carrier Guarantee Insurance In Receivership

Florida insurance regulators have placed workers’ compensation carrier Guarantee Insurance Co. in receivership due to inadequate reserves. According to documents from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), the company was materially under-reserved at year end 2016 and consented to …

Florida Approves Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease of Nearly 10%

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has issued a final order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall rate level decrease of 9.5 percent and premium level decrease of 9.8 percent. This applies to …