Yesterday, July 24, 2012, the head of one of Florida’s top sinkhole law firms, Chip Merlin, accused the board of Citizens of breaking the law.
The accusation was false! [Read more…] about Citizens Falsely Accused of Breaking the Law!
CITIZENS COVERAGE…Cadillacs & KIAs?
In my last post I opined that Citizens could (should) employ a more consumer friendly and politically expedient approach to reducing its exposure and policy count.
I was flattered by comments on the cogency of my suggestions; especially regarding the three questions I used to demonstrate it was imminently possible for Citizens to do as I suggested.
Other comments, however, reflected a misunderstanding of one of the points I was trying to make. [Read more…] about CITIZENS COVERAGE…Cadillacs & KIAs?
Citizen’s Approach… Painful & Unnecessary!
Yesterday’s public workshop and board meeting must have been painful for Citizens new president to watch.
Barry Gilway’s new board holds a public meeting in Miami, in the heart of its policyholder base. Staff and board members talk to the media and hundreds of consumers in a language they don’t understand. Then, they politely listen while the public, consumer advocates and some lawmakers make presentations about things they don’t understand. [Read more…] about Citizen’s Approach… Painful & Unnecessary!
Agents vs. the $1-Billion Lizard
With last month’s news that GEICO is now spending nearly $1 billion on advertising, I’m reminded of the regulatory emphasis previously placed on how much Florida domestic property writers were spending to acquire policyholders and thus…the relationship between advertising expense and agents’ commissions. [Read more…] about Agents vs. the $1-Billion Lizard
ObamaCare–A LEGAL TAX!
As you likely know, a majority of the states, including Florida, and numerous organizations and individual persons, had filed actions in federal court challenging the constitutionality of some or all of the elements of Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This morning the U.S Supreme Court made clear that the individual mandate in the law and thus the law itself, is a constitutional TAX. (See NOTE #1 Below) [Read more…] about ObamaCare–A LEGAL TAX!
A Statewide Wind Pool…the game of Whack-a-mole!
Like a game of Whack-a-mole, every time the ugly head of a statewide wind pool rears, it gets “whacked” back in its hole.
Rejection comes in several forms, usually that the state of Florida (and thus Floridians) should not be on the hook for “all” wind exposure. None the less…
…as policymakers and others attempt to address persistent problems with Citizens and the even more persistent political challenges to fixing those problems, the concept of a statewide wind pool has proven buoyant enough to surface again and again!
I swear I had nothing to do with the recent move and offer what’s here for educational purposes only. [Read more…] about A Statewide Wind Pool…the game of Whack-a-mole!
“A” or “F”…Where Would You Put Your Money?
One hears a lot of talk about bringing “needed capital” to the sunshine state. Such talk usually includes broad agreement on why some carriers left in the first place and even what’s needed to bring some of them back.
There’s also agreement that Florida cannot internalize its huge coastal exposure while at the same time quenching the political thirst to keep premiums in check. [Read more…] about “A” or “F”…Where Would You Put Your Money?
CITIZENS… Taxation Without Representation & FOUITFWCR!
After the recent Citizens Depopulation Summit an industry lobbyist asked me, “Where’s the other side? Why aren’t we hearing from the majority of Florida’s 15 million residents paying higher taxes so that a mere 1.5 million can pay less than they should for insurance?”
A serious question that deserves a serious response, which I will now give! [Read more…] about CITIZENS… Taxation Without Representation & FOUITFWCR!
Citizens Depopulation & “Churning”!
No telling what idea’s might bob to the surface during this Friday’s depopulation summit in Tampa. (See NOTE #1 below for details).
Sponsored by Citizens Depopulation Committee and open to all comers, it’s a wide open idea exchange likely to produce some real “doozies”, which is fine, but…it’s also likely to feature a disproportionate emphasis on takeout ideas both new and old, and..that’s not so fine! [Read more…] about Citizens Depopulation & “Churning”!
Citizens Rates–One Good Punt Deserves Another!
The statutes are replete with opportunities for the Citizens board to reduce policy count and exposure.
One presumes this to be intentional since lawmakers would not even take up recent Citizens bills. Essentially, along with existing statutes that allow them to be made, the legislature “punted” unpopular decisions to the Citizens board of governors–some privately admit as much. [Read more…] about Citizens Rates–One Good Punt Deserves Another!