Citizens Property Insurance

A Leon County judge says the Legislature in 2023 gave authority for Citizens, which was created as the state’s insurer of last resort, to resolve disputes through arbitration.

Monday’s petition said a past ruling has “indefinitely” put on hold all pending Citizens arbitration cases. It said 390 Citizens policyholders are awaiting resolution of disputes.

Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky last week signed orders that would allow five private insurers to assume up to 87,925 policies from Citizens in November and December.

A Hillsborough County circuit judge issued a temporary injunction to block Citizens from sending disputes to the arbitration process at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings.

The drop coincided with eight private insurers last week being able to assume Citizens policies under what is known as a “depopulation” program.

Insurance companies are refusing to pay out for storm-damaged homes and even canceling policies.

The average premium will increase by 6.6% for most homeowners across the state, while Gov. Ron DeSantis says residents in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will see a decrease.

At a state Senate Banking and Insurance Committee meeting, the Office of Insurance Regulation director said regulators are still making a decision.

Lawmakers in 2022 and 2023 passed a series of measures aimed at stabilizing the state’s insurance market as insurance companies fled the state and policyholders saw premiums skyrocket.

State insurance officials have issued orders to protect policyholders impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation says it's strong financially, can handle hurricane claims

The home insurance market in every other state seems to be headed down the road that Florida has paved. We dove into this issue through a partnership with NPR station WWNO in New Orleans for their podcast, "Sea Change."