Tis the night before Christmas and all through the capitol, political creatures are stirring… especially in the Senate where Senator Mike Fasano handed the media a letter requesting the Chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee (B&I) to summon the president of Citizens to be grilled on camera (my words) about “…coverage changes and homeowner policy practices that will take effect on January 1.” [Read more…] about Tis the political season…
Citizens
CITIZENS BUILDERS RISK… Stop the Madness!
Recently a room of industry lobbyists was asked what they thought the source of Florida’s insurance problems might be. “The real source”, they were cautioned, not just the ill-advised 2007 legislation we were all known to despise. [Read more…] about CITIZENS BUILDERS RISK… Stop the Madness!
Citizens RCV…A Good Job!
Suddenly there’s a cluster of articles, formal complaints, and political hay about Citizens replacement cost (RCV) calculation methodology. There are four reasons for this:
1) Citizens is finally getting serious about making sure it’s policyholders are insured to value.
2) Way too many Citizens policyholders are underinsured.
3) Those who are underinsured want to continue to pay even less than their subsidized, rate-capped, Citizens policy should cost.
4) Those complaining and writing about it don’t have the vaguest idea of what they’re talking about.
Sound Familiar? [Read more…] about Citizens RCV…A Good Job!
SHAW SAYS… “Just Stop!”
It’s hard to imagine a more transparent epistle than the one Sean Shaw sent to the Tallahassee Democrat. He was attempting to recast an op-ed from Steve Pociask with the American Consumer Institute which pointed to Shaw as being, well…transparent. [Read more…] about SHAW SAYS… “Just Stop!”
Citizens…The Case for Consumer Choice!
The last meeting of Citizens was both painful and profitable. Board members followed Governor Scott’s directive to discuss various ideas that could reduce Citizens policy count and exposure and report their findings to the Cabinet on December 6th. [Read more…] about Citizens…The Case for Consumer Choice!
OCCUPY CITIZENS…A Letter to the Editor
I was taken recently by a letter to the editor of the Florida Times Union. It was signed by Tom Smith of St. Augustine and titled; “A Botched Deal”. Not only did its use of sarcasm capture my fancy, but…it focused on the irony of Citizens “assessments” and how they stick in the craw of those assessed; which, in the case of Citizens, is a lot of craws.
I thought you’d like to see what Tom Smith had to say, and how I would respond had his letter been sent to me. Enjoy! [Read more…] about OCCUPY CITIZENS…A Letter to the Editor
LAWYERS & MONEY….More Than Meets the Eye!
In my last blog, “A License to Steal”, I referenced some rarely seen public documents that prove there’s much more to Florida’s sinkhole equation than meets the eye. Sure, we see the rampant opportunism spawned by an ill-advised, poorly legislated mandate–residents of sinkhole alley, terrified by landsliding home values, filing claims for settlement cracks or, as often, for no damage at all. [Read more…] about LAWYERS & MONEY….More Than Meets the Eye!
CITIZENS PA’s…According to a Government Study!
Before publishing comments on any blog, especially mine, it’s usually a good idea to check previous postings to make sure that what you say hasn’t already been refuted. Public Adjuster Martyn Belben didn’t do this when he took umbrage with my post on public adjuster promotions, called; “PA Advertorials”. [Read more…] about CITIZENS PA’s…According to a Government Study!
Bill Newton…Facts are Stubborn Things!
In response to my last blog on actions Citizens board could take to curtail the influx of new policies, I received comments from the president of the Florida Consumer Action Network, Bill Newton. Bill and I have had some productive exchanges in the past. I believe there’s mutual respect and we’ve even seen eye-to-eye on a few depopulation issues. However, even if his heart is in the right place, his facts and reasoning are not. [Read more…] about Bill Newton…Facts are Stubborn Things!
Citizens–New Board, New Direction!
Last session’s singular focus on SB-408 ignored the fact that even massive reform is moot when facing a state run mega-competitor like Citizens. It continues to win “all” the good business, pulling in over 1,000 policies every day. Citizens CFO, Sharon Binnun testified during last week’s Senate Banking and Insurance Committee that the majority of new policies are full multi-peril homeowners which now total over 946,000. Just two years ago, Citizens had only 607,000 such policies. [Read more…] about Citizens–New Board, New Direction!