The insurance industry needs some attention in Florida.
Floridians are subject to the arbitrary behavior of Citizens, the state company, and a few new companies that are hand picked by Citizens. Citizens informs us about the new company that will assume our policy without information about premiums, and the new companies refuse to give quotes until the renewal date.
The change to a new company comes with a 23 percent increase as opposed to the previous Citizens policy. To return to Citizens, the increase is almost 44 percent. To change agencies one must file a new application for insurance, with new inspections of the roof, plumbing, electric and A/C unit, the cost of which the homeowner has to pay .
To reduce the premium is to reduce coverage significantly, which makes questionable the need to buy insurance. The credits for wind mitigation, alarm system, smoke detectors and security of gated communities should be established clearly. Each company has a different approach depending on what deductible (for non-wind damage) you choose.
Another issue is that many companies that abandoned the home insurance market in Florida continue to insure cars, boats and other less risky assets. These companies should be banned from insuring any asset.
The office of the governor must publish the financial statements of Citizens for 2012, the salaries of the executives and form a commission of concerned citizens to oversee what they do with our money. The state Legislature is insensitive to our needs.
Julio Vitale, Miami















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