A.G. Gancarski
The increasingly fraught issue of homeowners insurance is a hot topic in the Governor’s race even on Labor Day.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist contends Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as “unfit to lead” the state’s increasingly wobbly property insurance market, challenging the Governor to reverse price hikes rolled out by Citizens Insurance.
Citizens is the state insurer of last resort that has absorbed policies in the wake of private companies abandoning the state of late.
“Ron DeSantis is unfit to lead our state during the property insurance crisis he created,” Crist said in a release. “After DeSantis doubled property insurance rates, hundreds of thousands of Floridians have nowhere else to turn but Citizens. Now, he’s raising those rates, too!”
An email from Crist’s press shop spotlighted reporting from WPTV that noted an average rate hike for Citizens customers of 6.4%, with yearly hikes scheduled through 2026.
Crist lambasted current policy as a logical consequence of long-term neglect, a “head-in-the-sand” strategy that threatens the property market writ large.
“For years, DeSantis and his allies followed the same playbook with Citizens – raise rates, reduce coverage, and pray the private market will fill the gap. This governor’s head-in-the-sand approach is failing the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who are seeing their rates rise astronomically, or losing their coverage altogether,” Crist decried.
“Only Ron DeSantis could double your rates and think they’re still not high enough. The market is teetering, and people are hurting. Stop these rate hikes and expand the coverage limit, Ron. Before Floridians start losing their homes.”
Coverage limits with Citizens are capped at $700,000, which in many parts of the state is below market value for much housing inventory.
Citizens now holds over one million policies, as private insurers increasingly bail on the market or fail outright. Five insurance companies failed in the first eight months of the year: St. Johns Insurance Company, Avatar Property and Casualty, Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation, Southern Fidelity Insurance Company and Weston Property and Casualty Insurance Company.
The issues come despite attempts to fix the market, including a Special Session setting up a taxpayer-backed $2 billion reinsurance fund in an attempt to stabilize the market.
Demotech, an Ohio based ratings agency, threatened to downgrade or withdraw ratings for 19 companies in July. In response, regulators allowed companies to use the surplus of Citizens as a reinsurance fund for any company that goes bust.
___
Florida Politics’ Gray Rohrer contributed reporting.
43 comments
Paul Passarelli
September 5, 2022 at 10:46 am
While I’m new to Florida, I spent an awful lot of time researching homeowners insurance when we were shopping the state.
The Citizens Insurance crisis has its roots going back a long time. So long the former governor “Sorry Charlie” clearly failed to address the problem when it was his prerogative 2007-2011.
Coming from CT I had grown accustomed to being hit with 40%-60% rate hikes whenever the Democrats *FUCKED* with the insurance companies.
Given the risks associated with *SEVERE* tropical weather in Florida vs Connecticut, it came as a welcome surprise that my Florida policy was only going to cost me *slightly* more than my Connecticut policy for a home that is on five times the land, and 2.5 times larger.
The problem with insurance rates is very easy to identify. It’s based largely on fraudulent insurance claims. Given the Democrat’s propensity to pander and make it easier for “the little guy” to go after the ‘big bad insurance companies’, which party was responsible for creating the loopholes that allowed false claims? What’s that Charlie. I can’t hear you?
#DemocratFail
Joe Corsin
September 5, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Passa the greasy Pizzarelli there buddy. You people are driving up prices here, you’re crude, you’re rude, you’re azzholes. You get ran out of the cities up there for being neo nazis and come here to roost and grift.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 5:22 pm
You piece of manure corsin, decrepit bastard. Just filth, go screw Elliot.
So disrespectful, good reasoning by Paul.
Joe Corsin
September 5, 2022 at 5:43 pm
^ Neanderthal gibberish…
Paul Passarelli
September 5, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Hey Tom,
Serious question. Do you think that all these aliases are actually real people. or really just one whackjob with multiple personality disorder?
I swear that this is the same nutjob I used to encounter back in CT when the Daily Voice allowed essentially unregulated postings. Eventually the DV got tires of ir and shut it down, because the advertisers were complaining. No such luck here.
I’m not even going to bother engaging this thread. The opposition is clearly psychotic.
I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend.
Babs
September 5, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Your so correct in that comment Charlie crist said about our insurance and our Governor DeSantis he has done more then anyone. He has had hands full of racticle activist in our schools. The pandemic was another thing he handle better then other states. So quit complaining Mr crist.
gus
September 6, 2022 at 10:45 am
100% correct
James Madison
September 6, 2022 at 1:35 pm
100% incorrect
Paul Passarelli
September 6, 2022 at 5:13 pm
This is the best that the Leftist trolls can muster. Simple contradiction — which is not an argument.
Cleese: “Yes it is.”
Chapman: “No it isn’t”
Man: Thank you. (Walks down the hall. Opens door.)
Angry man: WHADDAYOU WANT?
Man: Well, Well, I was told outside that…
Angry man: DON’T GIVE ME THAT, YOU SNOTTY-FACED HEAP OF PARROT DROPPINGS!
Man: What?
A: SHUT YOUR FESTERING GOB, YOU TIT! YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE! YOU VACUOUS TOFFEE-NOSED MALODOROUS PERVERT!!!
M: Yes, but I came here for an argument!!
A: OH! Oh! I’m sorry! This is abuse!
M: Oh! Oh I see!
A: Aha! No, you want room 12A, next door.
M: Oh…Sorry…
A: Not at all!
A: (under his breath) stupid git.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 10:48 am
Citizens demand that chameleon hypocrite leave state. Pathetic liar! Just go.
America’s Gov the best ever!
Ask Newsoms in-laws! LMAO
Elliott Offen
September 5, 2022 at 11:19 am
^ This is what conservative Republicanism creates. Just a silly mutant with sub human levels of intelligence. Yeah a dog is smarter than this guy…by A LOT.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 11:26 am
Busting you and your rectum s buddy Joey corsin balls!
Chameleon the worst, so 90’s
Pummeling coming, ask newsoms in laws moron ass wipe.
Elliott Offen
September 5, 2022 at 11:29 am
Childish nonsense…can’t even understand all of it because it’s gibberish. People not entertained by this stupidity..
Avy115
September 5, 2022 at 3:02 pm
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Ashley Smith
September 5, 2022 at 3:24 pm
Hey Tom. Get a grip on reality bud. And please seek help for your mental illness.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Ashley, Go join Mary who the abortionist as a midnight pool girl.
Mind your own business.
Elliott Offen
September 5, 2022 at 4:54 pm
You are intellectually disabled and sick. Many have noticed. Don’t kill the messengers. Go get help. You’re an asshole.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 5:09 pm
You are a piece of manure, incest is your number one. Poisoned your brain. You idiot elliot and and Joey corsin.
Elliott Offen
September 5, 2022 at 5:44 pm
^ 12 years of age or intellectually disabled? Hard to tell…
Ashley Smith
September 6, 2022 at 1:43 pm
Suck it clown
marylou
September 5, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Maybe losing their homes IS what Desantis wants (after Nov, of course). Remember his mentor Hair Hitler bragging about his property steals for $.60 on the $
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Two idiots!
Newsoms in laws gave to America’s Gov, you pathetic igant ass wipe.
They bought a house in Naples, fled Calis lockdown. Florida freedom. You both are dum pieces of manure, include corsin and his fake minister.
You idiot Elliot. Mary who, midnight pool girl.
Joe Corsin
September 5, 2022 at 1:05 pm
Headed to jail Tom. Seen assholes like you bite the dust time and time again.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 2:45 pm
Kiss my ass degenerate corsin.
LMAO, for what? busting your pathetic balls.
You pathetic piece of scrotum.
Incest has poisoned your brain. Go clean Elliots rectum, after the fake moniker minister back fired on you.
You can’t stand up to me, I kick your ass all over.Come on tough guy.
Waiting for you to meet me you Pussy!
Show up you piece of manure.
Bring it on. LMAO
Arnold Schwarzenegger
September 5, 2022 at 4:57 pm
I’ll put you in a rose garden you piece of shit. However, from the looks of it you aren’t worth the powder it would take to blow your head off. Just a silly bastard.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 5:12 pm
How’s the dog maid? Bastard son?
Come on try piece of shit Joe and idiot Elliot.
Joe Corsin
September 5, 2022 at 5:46 pm
You make little sense Tom. You need hard smack in the back of the head.
Morgan Morgan Morgan and. . . more Morgan
September 5, 2022 at 1:31 pm
This problem with insurance is a long standing one, and all goes to the fact that civil trial lawyers rake off the royal-size share of the money. Please remember that Charlie is a civil trial lawyer, and that megalopolis Morgan & Morgan either employed him or still does. He is not interested in anything more than a cosmetic change in property insurance liability rules because it will hurt too many of his professional colleagues. But he can gumflap about it all day, as is his wont.
marylou
September 5, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Well, Desantis’s handling of the crisis is giving Crist a lot to talk about. Hopefully, the situation begins to resolve way before Nov, so that Floridians don’t have to worry about losing their homes. Especially a problem if Rubio succeeds at dismantling Social Security and Medicare. Too many problems going on at one time!
M MM...and more M
September 5, 2022 at 2:17 pm
Governors have little more than oversight capacity in this case; the legislature is the one to act, and it is acting, albeit slowly. In its defense, we have to admit that because of individual contracts, and reinsurance issues, and the incremental change in levels of risk, it is almost impossible for the legislature to act quickly, or we would have chaos. And then there is the number of interested lawyers who sit in our legislature. But something is being done, just like in the case of the environmental issues. Absent–For the MOMENT–a dictator in Washington whose world is final and who owns all the growing apparatus of the federal government to make it final, we will have to bide our time as the wheels slowly turn.Charlie knows this.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 5:16 pm
Thanks MM and M.
Appreciate your thoughtfulness, as the legislature and Gov placed $2 billion in the insurance fund this spring.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 3:16 pm
You are mental, seriously.
No one is dismantling SS or other.
Please stop these lies.
Ashley Smith
September 5, 2022 at 3:26 pm
You are the mental one here dipshit. Fucking clown. Ronnie boy won’t pick you.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Hey midnight pool girl, shove it!
No pickings, just truth!
Facts are funny things.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 5:31 pm
You’d love to F me.
U can’t!
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 3:16 pm
You are mental, seriously.
No one is dismantling SS or other.
Please stop these lies.
Joe Corsin
September 5, 2022 at 5:47 pm
You couldn’t get laid by another man…much less a woman. Not with such crippled mind. You need serious help.
Tom
September 5, 2022 at 6:53 pm
My record with ladies, like a. legend, which lives on.
Joe Corsin
September 5, 2022 at 8:16 pm
Hopefully you used protection for humanity sake. Also this woman or man was most likely traumatized for life.
CaptnBill
September 6, 2022 at 12:57 pm
WELL, TOM, I THINK YOU AND JOE NEED TO GO TO DAYTONA PIER AND JUMP OFF JUST TO COOL YOUR “LITTLE BOYS”, THIS IS WHY NOTHING GETS DONE IN EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE IT IS ASSENINE.
Tom
September 6, 2022 at 9:01 am
Flip Flop Charlie started the Citizens and insurance mess in motion when he was Governor.
Daniela Patterson
September 6, 2022 at 11:22 am
Where is an Administrator on here? Vile, disgusting comments!
Paul Passarelli
September 6, 2022 at 12:16 pm
Unfortunately, the antics & attitudes of the Leftists brings out the worst in people.
Comments are closed.