The intention is to bring stability to the crumbling market, but whether it will work has yet to be seen. Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has signed a new Florida insurance bill into law with the hopes of bringing considerably greater stability to a market that has been experiencing a downward spiral, particularly this year. How much it will work and, if so, when it will have an impact, will be interesting to watch. Among the primary goals of the bill was to help deter Florida insurance claims from ending up…
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Florida insurance bills take steps nearer to becoming law
Two bills meant to overcome the challenges to the industry in the state have moved ahead. Two Florida insurance bills taking aim at the rapidly rising homeowners and property rates have moved a step closer to becoming law in the state, having passed a key Senate subcommittee. Senate Bill 1728 was sponsored by Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton). SB 1728 received overwhelming support in a vote by the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill aims to make a string of changes. The largest…
Read MoreHomeowners insurance rate cap dodges from Citizens targeted by South Florida legislators
New legislation is taking aim at efforts the insurer has made to get around the limit. Lawmakers in South Florida have just filed new legislation with the goal of stopping Citizens Property Insurance from being able to get around the homeowners insurance rate increase cap of 10 percent, by charging the higher rates only to new customers. This largest property insurer in Florida was tinkering with the idea throughout the last half of 2012. The state backed homeowners insurance company of last resort has a rate increase cap applied against…
Read MoreAuto insurance reform injunction in Florida halted
A federal judge has denied the progress of the process that could have blocked the PIP changes. A federal judge has just ruled to stop an injunction designed to impede the personal injury protection (PIP) reforms to the auto insurance law in Florida, which had only just been enacted last year. Supporters of the reform feel that this decision was an important victory for vehicle coverage in the state. As a part of U.S. District Court Judge Richard Lazzara’s ruling, he refused to grant requests for an injunction that were…
Read MoreFlorida legislators back new bill that will reform the state’s no-fault auto insurance laws
As auto insurance fraud is thrusted into the limelight by the actions of federal and state regulators this week in New York, the eleven other states that host no-fault insurance laws are taking a hard look at what can be done to make fraud a less serious issue. Florida is currently the leader in terms of auto insurance fraud, much of which is spurred by the state’s no-fault laws. These laws require insurers to pay benefits to victims of car accidents no matter who may be at fault. Like in…
Read MoreUniversity of Miami summit highlights the increasing cost of auto insurance
A summit held at the University of Miami on the topic of insurance fraud provided those in attendance with the opportunity to exchange stories, request assistance, and talk about litigation that is directed at this rising issue. One of the favorite examples, which was shared by Mary Lathrop, a Florida Highway Patrol Captain, involved a fender bender in the south end of the state. One of the drivers noticed that there was one fewer people in the car when the accident occurred than there were when the police arrived on…
Read MoreFlorida 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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