Citizens Property Insurance leaders grouse over rate decision, eye next Legislative Session

beruff, carlos
'The other thing this company does that is foolish is we’re forced to take over failed policies, failed companies.'

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Chairman Carlos Beruff isn’t pleased with some aspects of regulators’ decision to grant the company a partial rate increase, and he wants the Legislature to change the law to allow it to charge some homeowners more next year.

“One of the things that makes no sense that we approached (the Office of Insurance Regulation) about was the ability to not go below zero,” Beruff said during a Citizens board meeting Wednesday.

He was referring to OIR’s decision on Citizens’ rates, which allowed for a statewide average 6.4% increase on a typical homeowner policy, but also required a reduction in premiums for about 55,000 homeowners because costs related to lawsuits have fallen since the start of the year. Citizens had asked for a statewide rate increase of 10.7%.

Beruff also bemoaned the practice of taking over the policies of failed companies and being required to charge a lower premium.

“The other thing this company does that is foolish is we’re forced to take over failed policies, failed companies,” Beruff said. “We have to lower the premium from $4,000 to $2,500 … only a government restricted agency would be so foolish to operate that way.”

Beruff ordered staffers to petition the Legislature to change the law next year to prevent the rate decreases on some homeowners and allow Citizens to charge more on policies it takes over from failed companies.

Citizens is a state-run company started by lawmakers in 2002 to act as an “insurer of last resort” for homeowners who couldn’t find affordable coverage in the private market.

A surge in roof and water claims in recent years, combined with an increase in lawsuits, led to operational losses. Although the total number of lawsuits has started to drop, the failure of four property insurers this year means the growth in policies at Citizens has skyrocketed.

In June 2020, Citizens’ policy count stood at less than 475,000. Now it is above 900,000 and is projected to hit 1 million before the end of the year.

The increase in policies means an increase in risk, and therefore an increase in the likelihood a large hurricane could wipe out Citizens’ ability to pay claims and trigger assessments on all homeowners.

Citizens president and CEO Barry Gilway told the board Citizens would have $900 million more in revenue if their rates were “adequate.” Still, Citizens is in a stable position, even if a large hurricane were to hit, he said, because of its reinsurance coverage in the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, or Cat Fund, and the private market.

“When you take a look at the claims paying capacity of $6.7 billion in surplus, $4 billion in the Cat Fund, $2 billion-plus in traditional placement — Citizens is in a phenomenal financial position,” Gilway said. “And frankly, we’re prepared for whatever comes.”

Gray Rohrer


4 comments

  • Just a comment

    July 13, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    I guess they getting in the way of property taxes.

  • FL Homeowner

    July 13, 2022 at 8:45 pm

    So he says they have access to $12 billion and they are in “phenomenal financial position” and prepared to take on any disaster or disasters, BUT he still wants to increase rates. What does he think Floridians are flush with money and can afford to pay more for insurance which covers less? Citizens is the force that keeps rates down and stabilizes our insurance market. Apparently, Gilway is opposed to both of those concepts. Luckily, legislators running for re-election don’t like to campaign on massive rate increases.

    • just sayin

      July 14, 2022 at 7:28 am

      They’re not in “phenomenal financial position. Hurricane Andrew caused $57 billion in damage, adjusted for inflation. Granted, not anywhere near all of that $57 billion would be paid out to customers of Citizens, but it would still have an extreme impact, and likely bankrupt the fund.

  • Pancho Villar

    July 14, 2022 at 1:37 pm

    The state legislature could actually do work toward fixing a broken system that allows unscrupulous contractors, attorneys, public adjusters, and other interested parties to continue bilking the system at the consumers’ expense. Those same actors will continue donating to those same legislators to keep them docile on this matter. The action this past special session was a joke and possibly a band-aid on something that requires serious intervention.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, William March, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Jesse Scheckner, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704