Can't Say Du'ers Didn't Warn People! Take A Look At What Is Being Said

[ChiciB1]

about insurance coverage here in Florida!! This is even WORSE than I ever thought it would be!! Citizens is the ONLY insurance that will cover my mother-in-law's place! No other insurance in the state will cover mobile homes and she lives with us because she has Alzheimer's! This was in the local Sarasota paper here! Thank you CHOWLLIE!! I knew it ALL along! You should see what one blogger wrote in reply!!!! And I have 5 acres of land up for sale right now! Guess that's out for now!

There is more to this, but I think this says it all!
November 17. 2006 12:53PM


New law could push up rates for Citizens Property Insurance


By JOHN HIELSCHER



[e-mail]


SOUTHWEST FLORIDA – Customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. are facing some big rate hikes next year.

The state-run insurer of last resort wants to raise its wind-only residential rates by 55.8 percent and its commercial coverage by an average 610 percent.

Businesses in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties that get wind insurance from Citizens could see rate increases from 767 percent to 1,263 percent.

Those rates are only a recommendation at this point. Citizens’ board of governors and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation must approve them.

Citizens says the homeowners increase is required by state legislation passed in May. The commercial increase will put Citizens’ rates in line with the newly formed Property & Casualty Joint Underwriting Association.

If approved, the higher rates would take effect March 1.

Under a previously approved rate hike, the company’s homeowners rates will rise 25.9 percent in January.

[Virginia Dare]

1. Here is an interesting little tidbit....

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) appointed Benjamin J. McKay III, former chief of staff for U.S. Representative Katherine Harris (R-Fla.), as the new director of federal affairs in its Washington D.C. office. Before working for Rep. Harris, McKay served for over a decade as senior staff in both the Florida House and Senate. His tenure included service to legislators on the insurance committees of both chambers, including the vice chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee in the Senate and a member of the Property and Casualty Subcommittee in the House. He also served as deputy secretary for International and Legislative Affairs at the Florida Department of State under the Harris Administration and was promoted to chief of staff for the agency where he presided during the 2000 election.

Is there ever any doubt as to who these people are actually working for?

http://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/southcentral/2004/09/06/people/46157.htm

[ChiciB1]

5. Yeah, She Was My Representative For 4 Long Years!!

And now, we still have no outcome on the election either!

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Do you mean big business would turn their backs on the little guy?

How insensitive of you. *sarcasm*

Really, it is just awful, isn't it?

[Vinca]

3. Just as a frame of reference, could you tell us dollar-wise

what this means to your mother-in-law's mobile home? What's it insured for and how much does it cost?

[ChiciB1]

4. Yep... She Has An Older Mobile Home From 1971.... But My Husband

takes care of it and repairs anything that needs to be fixed. We also live in Florida, but her place is further up north, near Inverness.

Last year the price was $1,494.00! And they MADE us insure it for more than we wanted to because they won't insure for less than $30,000! She has a brother and my husband's older brother who still live in the town, and we take her up there about every six weeks, so it won't be sold. Her SS income pays for it right now, but if it goes up 1000% I think it will be un insurable! We have a security system there, but that doesn't help much. She's now 94, but has no medical problems other than the Alzheimer's! Hard to communicate with her, but still...

I will have to renew this coming February and my insurance company already sent us letters saying they are leaving Florida! They did say they have a company to replace them, but NO DETAILS! I'm really freaking here! Both places have flood insurance included. I am required to carry it because the Gulf is less than a mile from my house and her place in on a lake!

If I have ONE wish for Christmas.... I want my land to sell. It's further south from my home, but I don't think it looks promising now! WE are looking at some serious pay out here! At least i don't have to insure my acreage!

[Vinca]

6. Wow - that is expensive for the amount of coverage.

Since she can't live there, I think you really need to consider selling it. What a difficult situation you're in. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease to contend with and to have the insurance stress on top of that is almost too much.

[ChiciB1]

7. We Can't Sell It... She Has A Living Will That States That...

Plus my husband's brother who lives in the same town is entitled to half and it has to be a mutual decision.

Then there is the problem of actually getting it sold!

[magellan]

8. Have you tried an insurance broker?

We've used J Meyers Insurance Group in Orlando since we moved to FL. They currently have us with Foremost Insurance out of Michigan. We're in an 1800 ft double-wide, year 2000, tied down, and pay $980, coverage on the house is $82,000 plus personal property, other structures and living expenses, and also a hurricane deductible of $500. Flood insurance is separate, ours is about $260 I think. Your mom's home doesn't have to be insured in FL, does it?

I know the age of the house and its proximity to the Gulf is a factor in what your mom is paying, but remember we were hit bad here in C FL in '04 so our insurance has increased.

J Meyers is [phone], I'm sure they'd crunch some numbers for you, or look for a broker closer to you in the phone book.