Citizens Property Insurance Launches Web-Based Calculator for Potential Storm Assessments
Mar 25, 2013
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) announced today, March 25, 2013, that it has released a Web-based True Cost Calculator that is designed to illustrate how assessments in the wake of a catastrophic storm can affect both Citizens and non-Citizens premiums, with the goal of encouraging homeowners to consider private market coverage options more seriously.
To go directly to the Calculator, click here.
Citizens policyholders can be assessed up to 45 percent of their total premium following a storm, while non-Citizens policyholders can be assessed up to 2 percent. A survey conducted last year revealed that at least eight out of 10 policyholders are unaware of this fact.
Citizens’ news release about the True Cost Calculator is reprinted below.
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CITIZENS LAUNCHES NEW TRUE COST CALCULATOR
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Cost plays an important role in every homeowner’s insurance decision. Yet a survey conducted last summer revealed that most policyholders are unaware of the true cost of their insurance.
At least eight out of 10 policyholders don’t know that Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers can be assessed up to 45 percent of their total premium if Citizens needs additional funds to pay claims following a major hurricane. Non-Citizens policyholders also can be assessed, but at a much lower (2 percent) rate.
To help consumers determine the true cost of their coverage, Citizens has created the True Cost Calculator, a web-based tool that shows how assessments can affect both Citizens and non-Citizens premiums following a catastrophic storm or series of storms.
Using the Calculator, homeowners can enter side-by-side premium quotes from Citizens and private-market insurance companies and receive an instant calculation that shows how the premiums would be affected by Citizens Policyholder Surcharges and non-Citizens policyholder Regular Assessments following a major catastrophe.
“By educating consumers about the true cost of their insurance coverage, Citizens can increase consumer awareness about the very real risk of Citizens assessments,” said Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway. “It is my hope that this knowledge will empower homeowners to strongly consider private-market carriers when they are available.”
In addition to posting the True Cost Calculator on www.citizensfla.com, Citizens plans to work with its agents to encourage them to use the True Cost Calculator when informing consumers about their assessment potential before writing a new Citizens policy. A policyholder’s signed acknowledgement that they have been informed of their increased assessment potential now is mandatory for all new Citizens policies.
The True Cost Calculator is available on Citizens’ website at www.citizensfla.com/about/calculator.
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