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Four days before lawmakers begin a Special Session to address Florida’s troubled property insurance market, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a Democratic candidate for Governor, released a seven-point plan Thursday to prevent the large rate hikes and canceled policies homeowners have experienced this year.
It calls for a new Insurance Commissioner, eliminating charges that fund the state-backed reinsurance fund and requiring companies that offer auto insurance to offer homeowners coverage as well.
In a released statement, Crist touted his record as Governor, when as a Republican he clashed repeatedly with insurance companies. Crist took office in 2007, when the fallout of the 2004-05 storm seasons, which saw several hurricanes strike the state, was still rippling throughout the market.
State Farm at one point threatened to leave the state entirely because of Crist’s efforts to thwart rate increases.
“Florida’s property insurance market is in crisis,” Crist said. “When I was in Tallahassee, I took on the big insurance companies, I got them to fall in line, and I lowered rates for Floridians. Period. It’s time for Gov. DeSantis and his GOP allies to step up and fight for Floridians.”
The seven planks of Crist’s plan include:
— Enacting the Fueling Affordable Insurance for Homeowners Act, or FAITH Act, a proposal originally released by Crist on May 5. It calls for the creation of a federal fund to loan states money as a way to reduce reinsurance costs.
— Eliminating the 25% surcharge homeowners pay into the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, or CAT Fund, which acts as a reinsurance fund to help insurers pay claims in the event of a large hurricane.
— Lowering the threshold for the CAT Fund, so homeowners could save money. Crist’s plan calls for reducing the attachment point for the CAT Fund from $8.2 billion to $4.5 billion, meaning insurance companies could draw from the CAT Fund for a storm that caused $4.5 billion in damage, instead of one that caused $8.2 billion. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, pushed for a similar provision during the Regular Session, but it never gained traction. Brandes said it could save homeowners $150 per year on premiums, but CAT Fund officials worried it would increase the risk of draining the CAT Fund of resources and requiring it to borrow money to pay claims, adding expenses for all policyholders in the event of an active, damaging storm season.
— Installing a new Insurance Commissioner who will “hold the line on rate increases.” Current Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has approved numerous rate increases for insurers, who say they have been hit with skyrocketing litigation expenses and roof claims, in recent years, and inflation is pushing repair costs even higher. But Crist couldn’t appoint a new Commissioner on his own. He’d have to get the approval of the Cabinet too.
— Pushing companies who sell auto insurance in the state to sell homeowners insurance as well. Some companies, such as USAA, have stopped offering new policies in Florida, although they continue to service legacy policies.
— Creating an insurance fraud task force to crack down on fraudulent claims.
— Providing free wind inspections and incentives for homeowners to harden their homes against damage during hurricanes. Crist wants to resurrect the “My Safe Florida Homes” program he oversaw as Governor.
5 comments
Jake Peters
May 19, 2022 at 9:08 pm
The problem is runaway, frivolous litigation.
Stevie Imes
May 21, 2022 at 12:35 am
Halt the building along both coasts. Do away with Citizens and let the idiots who want to live on the beach pay their own insurance. No more 30-story beachfront condos eroded by saltwater. No more beach replenishment at public cost. Let nature and free markets take their course.
Sandy
May 22, 2022 at 5:27 am
Self insure @ your own price if you live on the water
Arthro
May 23, 2022 at 12:27 pm
Charlie is just making noise for political purposes. No real solutions here.
Federal fund for loans? Won’t happen, other states don’t feel obligated to solve Florida hurricane exposure. By the way, does that address the roof scam business in any way? No. In fact, nothing he proposes here will address rampant litigation and roof scams. He just regurgitated his platform from 2006 when the property insurance crisis was caused by something else…him.
Holding the line on insurance rate increases??? What a fool. They will just stop doing business here and leave, like many of the large insurers have. Again, does not address roof scams or excessive litigation. Also, is he going to force Geico to write homeowners insurance? Doubt it. How can you force a business to sell something they don’t want to sell.
Charlie is completely clueless. DeSantis will eat him for lunch.
Allison
May 24, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Did USAA just stop writing homeowner policies? Because I got one earlier this year.
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