Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorSeptember 4, 2018

Nearly two-thirds of Florida residents say they have taken precautions in advance of the 2018 Hurricane Season, according to a poll by SurveyMonkey on behalf of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). A year ago, Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys, inflicting major damage and leaving more than 15 million residents […]

Michael MolineJune 13, 2018

Hurricane Irma-related lawsuits surged at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. early this year, representing a nearly 50 percent increase in the company’s litigation load compared to the same period in 2017. More than 90 percent of those lawsuits originated in South Florida. The state’s insurer of last resort fielded 4,287 legal claims in January through April, […]

Staff ReportsMay 1, 2018

Florida employers will see another workers’ compensation insurance rate decrease on June 1. The Office of Insurance Regulation approved a 1.8 percent decrease Tuesday. The move had been sought by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, which proposes workers’ compensation rates in the state. NCCI lowered insurers’ profit and contingency factor — essentially, their cut […]

Michael MolineApril 30, 2018

An appellate court has rejected a community group’s challenge to premium levels for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers in Monroe County. State law provides no avenue for the formal administrative challenge sought by Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe Inc., a unanimous three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee concluded on Monday. The […]

Michael MolineNovember 14, 2017

A ‘clean’ workers’ compensation bill is headed to the House floor after the Commerce Committee rejected a series of amendments pitched as worker-friendly Tuesday. The bill (PCB COM 18-01) cleared the panel on a vote of 18-8. It closely follows legislation the full House approved during the spring Legislative Session, in that it encourages injured […]

Staff ReportsNovember 10, 2017

The cost to buy worker’s compensation insurance is going down in the Sunshine State. Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier on Thursday issued a final order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall rate level decrease of 9.5 percent and premium level decrease of 9.8 percent, according to a press release. […]

Staff ReportsOctober 6, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee‘s office announced he had again filed legislation to add financial protections for residents of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The Thonotosassa Republican, a former Senate president, filed the 70-page bill (SB 438) on Thursday; he filed similar legislation last session. “Part independent living, part assisted living and part skilled nursing home, CCRCs […]

Guest AuthorAugust 31, 2017

According to a study conducted by the risk assessment group Karen Clark & Co., if Hurricane Andrew hit today, it would cause nearly $50 billion of insured losses, compared to its $15.1 billion in 1992. Indeed, Florida enjoys a relatively stable insurance market with more companies writing more policies. However, there are concerns that new, untested […]

Michael MolineMay 18, 2017

Belinda Miller, a stalwart of Florida’s insurance regulation efforts since 1985, will retire on July 2, but plans to keep her hand in the industry via consulting work. ”I’m going to retire from the state,” Miller said during a telephone interview Thursday. “It’s just time. I’ve been there a long time, so I’m going to […]

Michael MolineApril 3, 2017

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee voted 7-1 Monday to approve legislation that would require workers’ compensation carriers to compete on price rather than propose premium levels through a common ratings agency, and that would allow workers to pay attorneys hourly rates if they take insurers to court. The ‘No” vote was by Sen. George Gainer, […]

Tag: Office of Insurance Regulation
Joel Rudman with wife Sophie. Photo via Rudman.

Logan McFaddin: To weather future storms, now is time to prepare, plan

Hurricane Irma produced a litigation wave at Citizens Insurance, committee told

Workers’ comp premiums going down again

Court rejects Keys residents’ challenge to Citizens rates

House pressing on with workers’ comp reform

Workers’ comp costs going down

Tom Lee files bill to protect seniors

Christian Cámara: In Florida insurance market, all is not equal

Office of Insurance Regulation veteran Belinda Miller announces retirement

Senate panel OKs workers’ comp bill opposed by insurance industry