News & Resources

Last week, our blog reported on how recent reform efforts by the Florida Legislature targeting fraud present in the state’s no-fault insurance system and, by extension, rising auto insurance premiums have largely failed. Indeed, we discussed how reports have found that Personal Injury Protection rates have increased considerably since January 2015, while the Office of Insurance Regulation determined that Florida drivers now pay some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the nation.

In our last post, we started discussing how a local television station recently conducted an experiment in which it sought online auto insurance quotes from two large insurance companies for two imaginary men, whose information was identical save for their occupations. Indeed, one was a surgeon and the other was a custodian.

Every six months, most of us are faced with the loathsome task of either logging into our bank accounts or retrieving our checkbooks so that we can cover the cost of our auto insurance premium. Indeed, part of this loathing comes from the fact that this is seldom a cheap proposition here in Florida, something we discussed in our previous post.

Four years ago, state lawmakers were confronted with growing outrage on the part of their constituents over skyrocketing auto insurance premiums. In response, they passed a series of reform bills, ultimately signed by Governor Rick Scott, that were designed to both lower the cost of insurance and help combat the unbridled fraud present in the state’s no-fault coverage, otherwise known as Personal Injury Protection.

One of the primary advantages of living in Florida, apart from the countless sunny days, lush greenery and ecological diversity, is the seemingly endless water access. Indeed, those looking to swim, kayak or take a boat out on the water can pick from any spot along the miles of sandy coastline, or spend their time out on one of the state’s many rivers or lakes.

Given this reality, you’ll find that many people in the Sunshine State have everything from canoes and sail boats to powerboats and jet skis parked in their driveways or down at the local marina.

For most homeowners, it will come as no surprise to learn that there are certain features or amenities of their domicile that will serve to complicate the process of securing insurance.

Most of us are well aware that insurance companies will consider a multitude of factors when determining premiums for everything from homeowners’ policies to auto policies. Furthermore, most of us are well aware that these factors taken can range from the obvious to the obscure.

If you happened to watch the television news program 60 Minutes this past weekend, there’s a good chance you caught the eye-opening segment detailing how many insurance companies are wrongfully failing to pay out life insurance benefits to beneficiaries and how Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is leading the national charge to rectify this.

From auto and health to home and life, one of the unspoken benefits of insurance coverage is the peace of mind it grants the policyholder. Indeed, people rest a bit easier believing that even though the premiums they are paying are by no means cheap, they will nevertheless be okay from a financial perspective when it really matters.

It may seem hard to believe, but we are now less than two months away from the start of the 2016 hurricane season. While everyone is naturally keeping their fingers crossed for another quiet year here in the Sunshine State, they will nevertheless want to ensure that they are ready in the event the now decade-long streak of good luck runs out.