Florida Office of Insurance Regulation To Schedule Additional Public Hearing On Citizens Rate Filings; Consumer Comments Directly Solicited
Aug 4, 2011
In a statement issued today, August 4, 2011, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) announced that it will conduct a public hearing due to the potential market impact of Citizens’ rate filings. No scheduled date or other information about the hearing was given.
Meanwhile, the OIR has posted a button on its Web site home page (www.floir.com) to enable consumers to comment on Citizens’ filings via e-mail.
Today’s OIR statement is reprinted below.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.
Office Statement on Citizens’ Rate Filing
August 4, 2011
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has received the first of several annual rate filings from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) – most notably the Homeowners filings related to the Coastal Account formally known as the High Risk Account (HRA), and the Personal Lines Account (PLA).
Pursuant to Section 627.351(6)(n)6-7, Florida Statutes, Citizens is limited to a 10% annual rate increase excluding the cash build up factor, coverage changes, surcharges and sinkhole coverage which explains why some of these percentages may exceed 10%.
The average statewide rate requests for the Coastal Account (HO) are:
|
Policy Type |
Percent Requested |
|
HO-3 (Homeowners) |
12.2% |
|
HO-4 (Tenants) |
10.5% |
|
HO-6 (Condominium Unit Owners) |
11.1% |
|
Total |
12.1% |
The Coastal Account provides coverage for the peril of wind.
The average statewide rate requests for the Personal Lines Accounts (PLA) are:
|
Policy Type |
Total Percent Requested (including sinkhole) |
Sinkhole Coverage Percent Requested |
|
HO-3 (Homeowners) |
26.6% |
447% |
|
HO-4 (Tenants) |
3.6% |
N/A |
|
HO-6 (Condominium Unit Owners) |
8.5% |
N/A |
|
Total |
25.4% |
|
Note: The HO-4 and HO-6 charges for sinkhole coverage are not separately identified in the filing. They are included in the all other perils rates therefore, at this time it is not possible to determine the percent changes in the charges for sinkhole coverage.
The Personal Lines Account provides comprehensive, multiperil coverage.
The rate filings were received the morning of August 3, 2011, and are available on the Office’s Filing Search page on our website:
Coastal Account – Filing # 11-12402
Personal Lines Account – Filing # 11-12403
Note: Once there, the search criteria will be displayed on the left side of the page. The most commonly used search criteria are the “file log #” and the “company name.” To view a filing type file log number (example 11-07034) into the file log # field and the filing will be displayed.
The Office will carefully review the filings to ensure they are complete prior to beginning the rate review process. The rate review process will evaluate whether the rates are actuarially justified and that they are consistent with Florida law. Rate filings cannot seek rate increases to recoup past losses, but must reflect actuarially predicated future losses. Due to the potential impact of this filing, the Office will conduct a public hearing and will provide such details when available.
The Office has created several tools to enable consumers to send comments to the Office regarding the Citizens’ filing. Consumers may e-mail: RateHearings@floir.com, or visit the Office’s website (www.floir.com) and click on the box that reads “Click here to share comments about Citizens Property Insurance Rates.” Please be sure to include “Citizens” in the subject line of the email.
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