Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Rep. Grall filed the House PIP repeal bill on October 10, 2017. She also filed the 2017 House PIP repeal bill. The 2017 bill did not pass. The 2018 House PIP repeal bill is different from the 2018 Senate PIP repeal bill. The House bill, HB 19, repeals…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Banking and Insurance held a committee meeting on October 10, 2017 where the committee was provided updates on Hurricane Irma from various stakeholders as follows: Update from Commissioner AltmaierSteps the OIR took ahead of the storm to prepare for the event: consumer outreach, outreach to insurers, liaison…
By: Greenberg Traurig Following is a summary of the workers’ compensation discussion held in the House Commerce Committee on October 10, 2017. The summary is provided by Greenberg Traurig. Chairman Burgess: The following persons will be providing an update regarding Workers’ Compensation: Jeff Eddinger, Senior Division Executive National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) …
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On October 4, 2017, Sen. Farmer filed another attack on the auto insurance industry. The bill filed, SB 414, prohibits insurers from using credit reports and scores for underwriting and rating for personal lines motor vehicle insurance. Sen. Farmer, a trial lawyer, has also filed bills for consideration…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On October 3, 2017, Sen. Farmer, a trial lawyer, filed SB 410 which repeals current law allowing zip code rating for auto insurance under specified conditions and as long as the rate is not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. The bill also prohibits insurers from using a single zip…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Sen. Hukill, a strong proponent of assignment of benefit reform in the property insurance area, filed an auto glass bill on October 3, 2017. The bill, SB 396, allows comprehensive auto policies to require an inspection of a damaged windshield before windshield repair or replacement is authorized by the…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Rep. Hager, former chair of the House Insurance Committee, filed the House retroactive denial of claims bill for 2018 (HB 217). He also sponsored the 2017 bill that passed one House committee last session. Retroactive denial of claims bills have been filed each session for the past few…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Telehealth Advisory Council (Council) met for the eleventh time on September 19, 2017 to review and revise its report to the Governor and Legislature. A copy of the meeting materials that include the Council’s revised draft report with recommendations can be found here. The initial draft report…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel DFS has updated the list of insurers participating in insurance villages being held in hurricane impacted communities this week. Insurance villages are coordinated by DFS and give consumers a place to meet face to face with a representative from their insurer to get information and help with the claims…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Rep. Masullo, a physician, filed the “any willing provider” bill for health insurance again for the 2018 Session. He filed the same bill in 2017. Last year’s bill was never heard in any committee. The 2018 bill, HB 143, requires most commercial health insurers and HMOs to accept any…