Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, August 19
Aug 19, 2008
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Fay unlikely to cause havoc with insurance
It’s all about the trigger.
How much storm damage can Florida take before the state has to start tacking additional charges to everyone’s insurance bill? It happened twice before, after eight hurricanes raked the state in 2004-05, and we’re still paying for those.
Insurers are ready – just in case
Insurance companies are urging homeowners to report any damage from Tropical Storm Fay as soon as possible.
In Florida, Turning a Blind Eye to Hurricanes
The hurricanes are coming. Carlos Alvarez, mayor of Miami-Dade County, cannot say when or how severe they will be, but every public speech he gives now includes a warning.
McCain: No to storm fund; yes to NASA money
With Florida bracing for a potential hurricane, Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday that he sympathizes with homeowners battered by soaring insurance costs, but he was not prepared to endorse a national risk pool as a way to bring those prices down.
Fay deals one more blow to battered Keys economy
The Keys’ economy, starting to recover from the 2005 season of four hurricanes, took another hit when tourists were evacuated for Fay.
More sandwiches are going uneaten at the Quiznos Subs at Mile Marker 100 owned by Frank Navarro.
COLUMN: Property isn’t only thing at risk in storm season
Let’s see: A-B-C-D-E . . . Fay.
Fay doesn’t concern me. That we already have gotten to Fay does.
Bob Lotane: Rates vs. reality–Has our over-correction created a threat?
Property insurance in Florida is not cheap — that is no revelation. What also is not a revelation is the reason: Florida has more than 1,100 miles of coastline on two very different bodies of water, which makes us the hurricane and lightning capital of the world.
State Regulator Tackles Excessive Rate Hike Request
The drubbing of Allstate Corp. courtesy of Florida’s insurance regulators is evidence that the state Legislature is on the right track when it comes to reforms to address the property-insurance crisis.
Brown & Brown expands in Pennsylvania
Brown & Brown Inc. has acquired the assets of Advanced Insurance Concepts Inc.
Crist’s health insurance plan draws low-cost bid
Uninsured adult Floridians could buy health coverage for an average $50 a month from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida under a plan the insurer submitted to the state Tuesday.
WellCare to pay $35.2M as part of Medicaid inquiry
WellCare Health Plans Inc. said it will pay $35.2-million as part of an agreement with U.S. prosecutors in a Medicaid fraud investigation, the company said in a regulatory filing Monday.
Bad check bounces candidate from state Senate race
Ed Heeney got his wish: He’s been disqualified from the District 27 state Senate race.
The controversial Boynton Beach Republican, who planned to run against incumbent Democrat Dave Aronberg in the November general election, announced this summer he was backing out after state Republican leaders supported 26-year-old Matt Caldwell of Lehigh Acres in Lee County.
Third lawsuit filed against Buchanan
A third complaint has been filed by a former employee of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s car dealership, Sarasota Ford, claiming the company employed at least eight illegal immigrants.
Democrats’ choice in U.S. House District 5: Carol Castagnero, John Russell, David Werder
A grandmother who taught school, a nurse and a former truck driver who once sat on a flagpole for weeks to protest the high cost of gasoline are the three Democratic candidates vying to challenge U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville.
Amendment 5 off the ballot, but…
With colored blocks and a stuffed toy ostrich, an influential legislative money manager wound up his 10-city campaign against the tax-swap constitutional amendment Monday. Although a circuit judge threw Amendment 5 off the ballot last week, state Sen. Mike Haridopolos said his ‘Protect Florida’s Future’ campaign will not stop.
Florida Supreme Court to review tax swap plan
The fate of the Amendment 5 tax swap is in the hands of the Florida Supreme Court.
The First District Court of Appeal in the state capitol today agreed to forego its review of a state judge’s decision to strip from the ballot the plan that would eliminate most school property taxes, sending the case to the Supreme Court. The seven-justice body must agree to accept the case and hear arguments.
Drivers make their cars pay them
A handful of companies are seeking Tampa Bay drivers willing to use their cars as moving billboards in exchange for cash or gas cards.
Predator Contractors Roam Disaster Zones – Don’t Become Their Prey
Each year victims of natural disasters receive millions of dollars from their insurance companies to help them rebuild their homes and businesses.
Video: The Shifting Landscape of Health Care Fraud and Regulatory Compliance
As health care costs continue to accelerate and consume an ever-higher percentage of GDP, federal and state regulators are ratcheting up efforts to find fraud. According to the Deloitte Forensic Center, criminal investigations, civil investigations, civil penalties and criminal convictions are all on the rise. The threat of treble damages, higher rewards for whistleblowers and more sophisticated ‘data mining’ techniques give regulators more weapons in their fraud-fighting arsenal.
Iowa Insurance Division Rescinds Rebate Bulletin
A national insurance trade group is praising the Iowa Insurance Division over its decision to rescind a bulletin that would restrict gifts and other small items under the heading of charities or advertising.
Underwriter Reinsurance Co. Ordered to Stop Selling Insurance in Okla.
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland has ordered Underwriter Reinsurance Co., also known as The Underwriter Group, to refrain from selling unlicensed, unauthorized insurance in her state.
TEXAS: Allstate, State Farm raising auto policy rates
Two of the state’s largest auto insurers Allstate and State Farm are boosting their rates to offset the rising number of claims.
What to do after the water goes down
Here are tips on how to restore property damaged by flooding from the storm:
House flooded? Act before mold sets in
The winds finally ebb, rain stops and the water stops rising. But it’s too late. You already have half a foot of water in your house. What do you do?
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