Florida property insurance crisis News

Greater Chance of Major Hurricane on East Coast This Year, Less in Gulf, Scientist Says

Multiple computer models from forecasting organizations across the globe have predicted a very active hurricane season starting next month, spelling trouble for Florida and much of the Eastern United States. The models aren’t wrong, said Phil Klotzbach, a senior research …

Florida OIR Fines Heritage P&C $1M for Ian Claims Issues

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in recent weeks has fined five property and casualty insurers, including Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co., which was hit with a $1 million penalty for failing to properly handle hundreds of claims after …

Florida’s HCI Group Reports Another Healthy Quarter

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — HCI Group Inc. (HCI) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $47.6 million, which follows a $38 million profit for Q4 2023. The Tampa-based company said it had profit of $3.81 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring …

Fla. Regulators’ Effort to Remove Insurer Execs May Not Pass Constitutional Muster

Current and former leaders with Florida property insurers have had some strong reactions to state regulators’ recent efforts to oust company executives who previously helmed now-insolvent carriers. Some have called the unprecedented regulatory action unfair, misguided and impossible to substantiate, …

Survey Shows Majority of Florida, California Homeowners Seeing Higher Insurance Costs

Few people in Florida and California will be surprises to hear that the majority of homeowners in those states have been affected by rising property insurance costs. A survey by Redfin, a U.S. real estate broker, found that just over …

Harvard Study Again Stirs the Pot on Demotech Ratings of Florida Carriers

A study by researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities and at the Federal Reserve has reopened the debate about the financial fortitude and the financial rating system for dozens of Florida property insurance companies. The president of Demotech, the firm …

Florida Peninsula Says Reforms Have Had an Impact, Announces 2% Rate Cut

After the Florida Legislature in 2022 and 2023 passed sweeping reforms designed to limit excessive claims litigation, some in the insurance industry predicted that the new rules would prevent further rate increases – but would not lead to actual decreases …

More Data Show All Trends Pointing in Right Direction for Florida Insurers

Policyholder surplus increased significantly, direct premium written jumped, and combined ratio has fallen for Florida-focused property insurance carriers in 2023, according to a Gallagher Re report released this week. The analysis echoes some of the good news in an S&P …

Former Florida Insurance Commissioner, Agent and FAIA Chair Gunter Dies

Former Florida insurance commissioner, treasurer and Congressman Bill Gunter died Monday at his Tallahassee home. He was 89. “He was a strong, thoughtful public servant and pioneer in insurance regulation as commissioner of insurance, paving the way for future CFOs …

Viewpoint: Florida Insurance Market on the Mend

Almost one year ago, on May 31, 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed sweeping insurance reform legislation into law. At that time, the Florida insurance market was on life support. Homeowners’ insurance companies, stung by massive losses, were leaving the …