Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Wednesday, November 08, 2017
Nov 8, 2017
Heritage takes over policies from troubled Sawgrass Mutual
Heritage said it believes the acquisition will increase the company’s operating income and make its book of business more attractive to reinsurers, the Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise reports.
Gulfstream Property & Casualty Insurance Company (Gulfstream) is pleased to announce that Jeff Garretson, Vice President of Claims, has been elected Secretary/Treasurer of the South Carolina Insurance Association (SCIA), a trade group representing many of the leading insurers in South Carolina.
PIP repeal: House panel votes to overturn no-fault plan in Florida
The 18-7 vote offers hope to drivers who are fed up with the current system, the Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports for the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.
- Florida PIP Auto Insurance Repeal Speeds Toward House Floor
- House PIP repeal legislation clears its only committee
Attorneys agree to plead guilty in auto insurance fraud
The deal would also require restitution payments to 11 insurance companies, Samantha Joseph reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
Stop balance billing by ambulances, state board says
The message to legislators from a state health advisory board is simple: Stop ambulance services from billing consumers for whatever is left over after insurance pays, a practice known as “balance billing.” The Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports for the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.
Insurance Work Casts Spell on Job Crews
The siren song of higher per-hour wages on insurance-financed restoration and repair work among skilled workers and trades who tend toward transient opportunity–namely, roofers and dry wall installers–has begun casting a powerful spell across job sites in Florida, BuilderOnline.com reports.
Senator Nelson, Florida tangle over Irma disaster jobless benefits
Nelson said constituents have been unable to use a Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website to apply for disaster unemployment assistance, despite the extension of an application deadline to November 14. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via the Palm Beach Post.
OSHA resumes enforcement in Irma-affected areas
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has resumed normal enforcement throughout Florida and Georgia after ceasing most programmed enforcement actions following Hurricane Irma. Gloria Gonzalez reports for Business Insurance.
Florida rising to occasion on flood insurance crisis?
Florida rarely leads the nation in anything good. With flood insurance, however, the state could be a contender, says Randy Schultz in the Sun-Sentinel.
Miami gets $200 million to spend on sea level rise as voters pass Miami Forever bond
Miami residents have voted to tax themselves to fund nearly a half-billion dollars in government spending to help quell flooding, fund affordable housing, and pay for other public projects. The Associated Press reports via FOX.
Florida Senate moves again on health insurance changes
Physicians would have greater leeway in prescribing medications to patients, and insurance companies would have less time to approve prior-authorization, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via FloridaPolitics.com.
Payday lenders, with major business before Trump, to hold conference at Trump Doral
The Community Financial Services Association of America, an interest group that represents the payday loan industry, is hosting its four-day annual conference in April 2018, the Miami Herald’s Alex Daugherty reports.
Florida to sue drug company over stock losses
Acting on its own, Florida will take on an international pharmaceutical company, alleging the state’s pension fund lost more than $62 million in stock value because of federal securities violations by the company. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via the Gainesville Sun.
Florida couple shot themselves, faked home invasion for insurance payout, police say
Police discovered their story was an elaborate scam to collect fraudulent insurance payouts, FOX News reports.
Florida House Reignites Fight to Ban Sanctuary Cities
A bill banning “sanctuary cities” in Florida passed its first and only legislative committee stop on Tuesday and will now head to the Florida House of Representatives during the 2018 legislative session. Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Daisy Baez pleads guilty to perjury after falsifying address to establish residency
Former state lawmaker from South Florida resigned as part of plea deal, Peter Burke reports for WPLG.com.
Congress Prepares to Address Flood Insurance Overhaul Again
The latest attempt to overhaul the U.S. federal flood insurance program hit a stumbling block, but a coalition of business and environmental groups renewed its push on Wednesday for lawmakers to enact an overhaul before the program expires on December 8. Reuters’ Ginger Gibson reports via Insurance Journal.
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