As much as people can take comfort in the fact knowing that their home — their most important asset — is covered by a comprehensive insurance policy, there’s no denying that this comfort comes at price. In fact, all indications are that this price is going to become even steeper in the coming months — if it hasn’t already.
Once the initial shock and sorrow of losing a parent subsides, the real work typically begins for surviving children. That’s because in addition to coping with their lingering grief, they must also ensure that friends and family members are notified, funeral arrangements are made and, of course, estate administration matters are properly addressed.
It’s no secret that both state lawmakers and policyholders have always had a somewhat tenuous relationship with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the nonprofit government entity created back in 2002 as a means of providing property insurance to the owners of homes, condominiums and businesses here in the Sunshine State who cannot secure the necessary coverage on the private market.
Thanks to the power of the internet, those people looking to put a few extra dollars in their pocket have seemingly innumerable options. Indeed, they could sell some personal property gathering dust on eBay, become a driver for a ride-sharing company like Uber or Lyft, or even rent out their home when they’re away through Airbnb or HomeAway.
Without a doubt, two of the best things about living here in Florida are our weather, which is almost always warm and sunny, and our diverse landscapes, which include coastal vistas, lush forests and, of course, verdant wetlands.
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.
The unfortunate reality for hundreds of thousands of Floridians who reside in those areas designated as high-risk flood zones is that their flood insurance premiums are increasing by as much as 18 percent per year.
The number of sinkholes here in Florida has risen to altogether alarming levels over the last decade, particularly in places like Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties, which have earned the unfortunate nickname “sinkhole alley.”
No one, it seems, has a longer memory than a homeowners insurance company. Florida has not suffered a hurricane since 2005, but insurance companies, particularly Citizens Property Insurance Corp., continue to increase premiums as if Dennis, Katrina and Wilma were planning a comeback. “For the first time on the same stage, ladies and gentlemen ….”
Last week, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced that another 66,500 policies with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will be eligible for take-out in April. If the same depopulation process we have been talking about has not changed, those 65,000 homeowners and 1,500 commercial property owners will receive “encouragement letters” from Citizens notifying them that they have the option to purchase coverage from private insurance companies.
