Citizens Property Insurance rate increase struck down by Florida’s Insurance Commissioner

Florida’s Insurance Commissioner has taken a bold stand against the state-run insurance company Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The insurer has been facing staunch opposition lately for a rate increase that will raise the rates of sinkhole coverage throughout the state by an average of 400%. Commissioner Kevin McCarty has ruled against the rate increase and now demands that the insurer make dramatic changes to their rate proposal. McCarty is keen to see the insurer propose new rates that are friendlier toward consumers. The insurer’s rate increase has been under investigation…

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Florida to host a series of meetings of insurance and consumer representatives to solve problems with PIP system

The Florida state government will be facilitating a series of meetings to resolve an issue with the state’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurance law. Insurers, medical professionals, state officials and representatives from a number of consumer advocacy groups will be attending the meetings and working together to find some resolution to the issue. Currently, PIP insurance is required throughout Florida, which has spurred rampant fraud in the state. Through the meetings, the groups will conclude whether the PIP system should be reformed or abolished altogether. Fraud has plagues Florida’s PIP…

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Florida takes aim at insurance fraud and staged accidents

State leaders, such as those in Florida, are working with insurers to make a move to form legislation that will combat auto insurance fraud so that it will be ready for the January start of the next session of lawmaking. Proposed bills in 2011 to fight fraudulent claims on personal injury protection insurance did not receive their approval from the state Legislature this year due to worries over the struggles it may create for policyholders that are making legitimate claims, as well as their doctors and attorneys. That said, two…

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Auto insurance fraud on the rise – a call for serious change in Florida insurance system

Florida continues to combat auto insurance fraud despite new measures introduced to combat the problem. While the number of accidents in the state is on the decline, the occurrence of fraud continues to grow. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty claims that widespread fraud has led to premiums for auto insurance to soar by $900 million since 2008. The mounting problem has lit a fire beneath Governor Rick Scott, who is now petitioning the state Legislature to make changes to both the insurance industry and its regulations to put an end to…

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Castle Key Insurance submits proposals to Florida regulators asking for a rate increase of 30%

Florida insurance regulators are facing down a new rate proposal from property insurers Castle Key Insurance Company and Castle Key Indemnity Company. Representatives of the companies appeared before regulators on Tuesday to testify on the necessity of their proposals. Florida has recently been inundated with proposals to increase insurance rates due to the fact that hurricane season is sending several tropical storms toward the state. Given toll that natural disasters have taken on the industry earlier in the year, insurers are keen to recover their losses by hiking up premiums.…

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