Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, July 20, 2015.
Jul 20, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
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There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Citizens to Hold Off on 2016 Sinkhole Rate Increases, For Now
In Citizens’ 2016 rate proposal, approved last month by the Citizens Board of Directors and awaiting approval by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the insurer of last resort did not recommend any sinkhole rate increases for 2016 for most of the state, including in the sinkhole prone areas known as “Sinkhole Alley.” The Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Florida consumers need legislative fix to home repair scam
For three years, state lawmakers have received mounting evidence about a scam in which frazzled homeowners are unknowingly signing away their insurance benefits to shady vendors during home repair emergencies, explains Personal Insurance Federation of Florida Executive Director Michael Carlson in this Miami Herald editorial opinion.
Uber, Florida regulators fight over legality, philosophy
The battle between technology and established rules came to a Tampa courtroom Friday as Uber and the Public Transportation Commission argued over whether the ride-sharing company could continue to operate in Hillsborough County. Denver Pratt reports for the Tampa Tribune.
South Florida among most expensive areas for auto insurance
If you live in Broward and Palm Beach counties, chances are you’re paying more for auto insurance than most Floridians, according to an analysis by consumer website insuranceQuotes.com. Amanda Rabines reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Revamped Florida Driving Test Resulting in High Number of Failures
Officials for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles are re-examining some test questions as more Floridians are failing the revamped written driver’s license test, the Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Health care pricing in Florida remains murky
A report published this month gave Florida an F for failing to adopt more thorough transparency laws and regulations, the Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory reports for “The Buzz” blog.
Florida says privatizing Medicaid cut costs, but insurers say they’re underpaid by state
In less than a year, Florida’s switch to privately managed health care for more than 3 million poor, disabled and elderly residents has achieved one of its primary goals: cutting costs for Medicaid, the public health insurance program for low-income people that accounted for roughly one-fifth or about $9.5 billion of state spending last year. But the savings may be short-lived, the Miami Herald’s Dan Chang reports.
No time for public hearings on redrawing congressional maps
Florida’s redistricting dilemma got more complicated Friday as members of the state’s congressional delegation asked for statewide hearings and a top state senator warned that the court ruling that invalidated the congressional map had led to legislative “paralysis.” The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the Tampa Bay Times.
Delay of vote for Senate president could be political payback
Senate President Andy Gardiner, when asked, told the media there is no rush to hold a vote for his successor, since the next Senate president wouldn’t take office until after the November 2016 election, Tia Mitchell reports for the Florida Times-Union.
Scott Bolsters Protection for Florida National Guard in Wake of Tennessee Marines’ Murders
In an executive order this weekend, Florida Governor Rick Scott directed Adjutant General Michael Calhoun to temporarily move National Guard members from six “storefront” recruitment centers to armories, FlaglerLive.com reports.
Lawmakers Consider Police Fees for Cities
Bills being proposed in the House and Senate would give cities the option to create a separate fee for funding police and require cities that adopt a police fee to lower their property taxes accordingly. Daniel Figueroa IV reports for the Lakeland Ledger.
Water, water everywhere in Florida, but whose is it?
Who owns water in Florida? From the time rain falls on the landscape until it either reaches the oceans or trickles into below-ground aquifers, who can lay claim to it? And who or what should be given priority to fresh water as the state continues to grow? Chad Gillis reports for the Ft. Myers News-Press.
Merger and takeover activity is likely to continue in the coming months as (re)insurers increasingly seek ways to deploy capital and create scale against a backdrop of ongoing soft market conditions and weak investment returns, A.M. Best reports.
Arizona Supreme Court Ruling May Expose Agents to Lawsuits
An Arizona Supreme Court ruling may expose agents who write auto policies to malpractice lawsuits if they are accused of failing to inform their customers about uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage – even with a signed waiver acknowledging the customer is rejecting UM and UIM coverage. Insurance Journal’s Don Jergler reports.
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney Speaks on Campaign Trail
Mike Chaney spoke to supporters and state representatives last week, WTOK reports with video.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program is Dying. What Happens Next?
For a while, the open secret around Washington has been that the Children’s Health Insurance Program might not be around for much longer. Republicans have always been somewhat ambivalent about the program, created in 1997. The National Journal’s Dylan Scott reports.
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