Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
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: 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 The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) held a rule workshop on September 13, 2017 to discuss proposed changes to the 2018-2019 reimbursement contract and the administrative rule relating to the contract, Rule 19-8.010. A red line version of the rule and contract and a summary of the changes are…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Anne Bert, Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF), provided an update on Hurricane Irma claims to the FHCF Advisory Council during their meeting on September 13, 2017. Ms. Bert stated the FHCF has not yet received any requests for reimbursement/Proof of Loss Reports from insurers,…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A second and unfriendly AOB bill emerged in the Senate this week. This bill, SB 256, is not the bill drafted by the OIR and Citizens Property Insurance (Citizens) which is supported by the industry. The OIR and Citizens bill is SB 62. AOB reform is the top, and…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The OIR will likely implement their catastrophe data reporting for Hurricane Irma. In order to prepare for the data call, insurers may want to review the Catastrophe Reporting Form template on the OIR website (http://www.floir.com/Sections/PandC/ProductReview/CatastropheReporting.aspx) to become familiar with it. According to the OIR, it is very similar to…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Last week, Rep. Santiago, vice chair of the House Insurance Committee, filed HB 97 which restructures part of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF). The 2018 bill proposes fewer changes to the FHCF than the 2017 FHCF restructuring bill (which did not pass). Following are some of the highlights…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel During the August 16th Cabinet meeting, Insurance Commissioner Altmaier presented the OIR’s 2018 legislative agenda to the Florida Cabinet. The only issue on the agenda was assignment of benefits (AOB) reform indicating the regulator believes that AOB reform is the most critical issue facing Florida’s insurers. In fact, Commissioner…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Senate Bill 62, dealing with assignment of benefits (AOB) in property insurance was filed by Sen. Hukill on August 9, 2017. Sen. Hukill has been a tireless advocate for AOB reform the past few sessions. She was also the sponsor of the 2017 AOB bill that the OIR, Citizens…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel During its June 20th Board meeting, the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors adopted rate and policy changes to be submitted to the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) for 2018. Despite lower reinsurance costs and lower rates for wind coverage and primarily because of rising water claim costs,…