Posted by  William T. McVey, 4360 Outrigger lane, Tampa, Fl 33615 on 08/15  at  02:44 PM

When you consider the losses by the Insurance Industry since 1900 including all National Disasters, the percentage of profit gains against total paid out losses is negligable! They have made billions for years and are just using the last few years losses to pad their pockets and take advantage of the consumer!

Posted by  Dean Doyle, Ft Meade on 08/14  at  09:42 PM

Hurricane Insurance in the state is simply a disgrace.  I went through Andrew and it wasn’t fun.  However, do we have to continue to suffer the consequences.  Middle income, poor and retired folks continue to pay for the “GREED” of others.  As I read in a previous e-mail, if you can live on the water, then you pay the increases, instead of us paying for the rebuilding each and every year.

Posted by  loretta brown, lakeland, florida on 08/14  at  07:17 PM

Hi,

can you tell me how this insurance situation affects someone who is about to purchase/build a home in hillsborough county????

in advance, thanks fo r your reply.

loretta

Posted by  Elvira Niles, Lithia on 08/14  at  06:07 PM

Most people pay as much for car insurance as they do for home owner’s insurance. If their car is totalled, they are not presented with the latest model car to replace it. 

A house is worth 10 times more than a car, yet they demand the total restoration of their property rebuilt to the latest building code regardless of condition.

The probability of wrecking the car is greater than losing the house, but considering the amount of return in the event of loss, I think we’ve all been paying a very reasonable sum of money over the years. No one is complaining that their home has increased 100% in value in the last couple of years.

I have lived in Hillsborough County, been a homeowner for 38 years, and never suffered a loss. I have paid homeowner’s insurance for all of those years--starting with a $12,000 home in 1968. I doubt if I have paid $38,000 in homeowner’s insurance premiums.  Believe me, that would certainly not replace my home today.

Posted by  Melody Roberts, Lakeland on 08/14  at  06:00 PM

We had damage from the storms in 2004. We choice to pay for the damage out of our pocket,to keep our insurance from going up. Boy were we wrong. We understand the feeling of selling and moving out of Florida. We are now insurance poor.Something needs to be done. Somebody somewhere is making good money on us and it needs to stop.

Posted by  Din Tine, St Petersburg on 08/14  at  05:59 PM

The chart on this page listing estimated insured losses puts last year’s storms in perspective, however it is unfair to show these rising payouts by insurance companies unless the premium income they earned for each of these years is also displayed.
Our rates have tripled or more for what may have been a once-in-a hunderd year phenomenon. No one can say for sure.
Let TBO show how much profit these companies have earned (oh, and how much they donate to FL politicians).
Thanks

Posted by  Michael McRae, Tampa on 08/14  at  03:24 PM

Why can’t we separate out wind damage from a home owners policy?  In California, you purchase earthquake damage separately along with flood insurance.  Why can’t Florida do this for wind damage. 

1. Insurance industry to insure homes for fire, personel stuff, etc.. deregulate the industry.

2. Federal goverment to continue flood coverage.

3. Have the state set up a self insurance program for wind damage with a maximum set at $250k or some aggreable number.

Posted by  Joe Rigby, New Port Richey on 08/13  at  07:41 PM

Susan M N McEliece, Of St. Petersburg, FL
Susan I couldn’t agree with you more. I would like to know how we the people can get the insurance companies and goverment to undestand that. I also entered into my mortgage with the agreement that the house would be covered for what the mortgage is. I don’t think a hericane will destroy 100% of my home.
Joe

Posted by  Susan M N McEliece, St. Petersburg, FL on 08/13  at  12:55 PM

Aren’t insurance companies, including Citizens, investing our premiums to allow for dividends & to cover claims?  Insurance is like gambling.  The company is gambling that they won’t have to pay out.  I am willing to pay insurance to pay off my mortgage, but now Citizens (the only insurance I can get) is blackmailing me for more.  I received a letter telling me to have my house reappraised.  I know the market value has increased to almost double, but that doesn’t mean that my house is worth that much.  So far, I don’t know what my new premium will be but I am stealing myself for the increase.  Why can’t I gamble? If my house gets demolished the mortgage will be paid & I will be able to sell the land or get a new mortgage to build.  I should be able to decide, not the government or the insurers.  We are forced by government policies to pander to the insurance companies in all aspects of our life.  When did this all begin?

Posted by  David Brass, Lutz on 08/11  at  06:13 PM

Whiners beware you are not going to like these comments; get rich and self insure. First of all, The Constitution is fundamentally flawed, all men are not created equal, and governments should not attempt to require that anyone be treated in exactly the same manner! Some are better than others in one/multiple/all ways. If you can’t pay for your item in cash your lender will require the assest be protected. Insurance is a business just like medical care; I have no desire to participate in (any more) socialized medicine. Government does not solve as many problems as it creates. Require those that are within certain high risk areas (coastlines, sinkholes, crime, etc.) pay what the actuarial calculations determine and stop spreading that across other areas. Just because I want something doesn’t mean I will get it (I learned that lesson when I was about 2, I guess Dad was too strict and miserly). Learn to live within your means ... you must pay to stay, or get into the grove to move!

Posted by  Julie Roberts, Sarasota, Florida 34234 on 08/11  at  06:08 PM

We all see the on the news daily concerning local problems. And it’s the same ole same ole. Politicians, Oil companies and insurance companies.  And I see one problem that they all have in common. GREED. It is all about the ole mighty dollar. The old saying...the rich get richer and the poor get poorer......has been around forever and will probably never change. The one thing that has always puzzled me. How come no one ever taught them how to budget living on a $100,000-$200,000 a year? Yet they expect us to live on minimum wage, and keep filling there pockets.

Posted by  Ric Aldrich, Sarasota on 08/11  at  06:04 PM

Everyone that lives in Florida knows the risk of hurricanes yet they choose to live on waterfront property and complain about the price of insurance. My insurance reasonably priced and I do not want to carry the load of all the waterfront property. In short if you can afford waterfront property you can afford the insurance if you can’t afford the insurance yaou can’t afford the property
Ric

Posted by  John Manzione, port richey on 08/11  at  05:43 PM

I had car insurance with allstate for 25 years,after moving to florida two years ago and buying a house they would not give me insurance on my house.But I just recived a letter that they want to sell me flood insurance I don’t live in a flood zone.

Posted by  Jerry LaBruno, Land O' Lakes, FL on 08/11  at  12:49 PM

If politicians would quit taking campaign contributions from Insurance Companies and siding with them (gee I wonder why they do...)then they might get off their duffs and do something for the citizens of this state!

Posted by  DUTCH WEIGEL, TAMPA on 08/11  at  08:02 AM

THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER SHOULD BE HUNG…

Posted by  Axis Mann, Brandon, FL on 08/10  at  09:22 PM

I thought my quote of $400 a month for an ins. premium was high but now I see that I’m one of the lucky.

I say lets cut out the middle man for structure insurance.  The state already has a mechanism in place for collecting premiums.  It’s called home owners taxes.

We need a Department of the Insurance that covers the structure only so that we can afford our mortgages.

An annual premium of $1000 from each home owner is 3 billion a year if there are just 3 million homes in Florida.  I’m betting there’s more and we can add to that all the businesses as well.

It’s time to restore the status quo by making home owners insurance a non-profit state run organization that has to return, by law, any excess premium collected on the homeowner’s behalf.

I’m tired of those scam artists that are fleecing us now with premiums for replacement cost far in excess of our property values.

That’s my suggestion to solve this mess!

Posted by  Tammy Swartz, Lithia, Florida on 08/09  at  09:12 AM

I am a single mother of two boys. I own my home in Eastern Hillsboroguh County.  Recently I received a statement from Citizens (only one whom I can get insurance with).  My house is a 35 year old wood frame house.  I have lived there 13 years now.  Previously I had good insurance with Auto Owners, Tower Hil etc. when each cancelled and finally I enned up with Citizens four years ago.  Originally started at $800 - went to $1100 just last year.  Now - I received a bill last week (8/06) bill for $3,308 RETROACTIVE - how can that be????
I received a bill today for 9/06 thru 9/07 for $5000!! Stating the coverage is for $200,700 - my house is no where near worth that much!!!  I know people who own homes that are worth $800K and pay $2000 - how does that seem justifiable????????????  Can’t sell - who in their right mind would buy my house - when they can buy a much nicer house with cheaper insurance.  I gusess the bank can enjoy because at this rate they will have it before much longer.

Posted by  Debbie Anderson, Port Richey, Fl on 08/08  at  11:43 PM

I purchased my home 5 yrs ago at a $488.00 yearly premium. This year it s $3245.00. With that comes a 250.00 a month increase to my mortgage. That is my food budget that your are cutting in to for my family. Being a single parent, the rate of my mortgage has increased faster than my pay rate. I am now (attempting) to sell my home and has been on the market for over 4 months with only 5 interested lookers.  I am one of the victims of Citizens Ins. and will be leaving the state once my house sells. I was at one time a proud homeowner, but not anymore. Now I am ashamed to say I own a home in Pasco County because people pitty me, and say “you poor thing” and “you’re not alone”. But that does not pay the bills. Having 2 teen age sons, a full time job, and the rising cost of insurance, I’m done, I give up. Citizen has won.
I am curious as to what is going to happen to the economy when the banks are overrun with forclosed homes? Where are we to live?  I now know--- Ohio.!!!

Posted by  Michelle Grosschedl, Land O'Lakes, FL on 08/08  at  11:19 PM

Someone please help me, help us all.  I am supposed to close on a house in Pasco County on August 22nd, and cannot find insurance!!!  This is an 1800 sq. ft. house on a small lake (so we also need flood insurance).  To insure the $224,000 that Citizens estimated it would cost to rebuild would be $4472 a year!!!  We just moved here from Ohio, where we paid under $400 for the entire year.  I realize that there’s a big difference between the states, but this is ridiculous.  I’m absolutely terrified that Citizens will be the only insurer we can get - and we definitely cannot afford them!  I’m at a loss.

Signed,
Desperate in Pasco County

Posted by  Linda Poli, Bradenton, FL on 08/08  at  06:23 PM

Last Oct. (2005) we were forced to go with Citizens because our house is 50+ years old and Sunshine State Insurance through Allstate wouldn’t renew.  Actually, no one else would write either.  We are 10 miles inland and not in a flood zone.  We have had only one claim with Sunshine on 9/14/01 when the tropical storm came ashore and blew down a very large tree in our yard and we put a claim in for partial replacement of our fence.  Yes, we have been fortunate and we know that is isn’t “IF” but “WHEN” it could happen in our area, however, we now paying over twice as much in premiums as we were before.  I feel the insurance companies need to adjust rates or give discounts if no claims each year instead of penalizing those who haven’t used their policies in years.

Posted by  Bob Guerin, Seminole on 08/08  at  05:46 PM

It seems that the insurance companies who want to raise their rates also sell other types of insurance besides homeowners policies.  If they are reporting record or at least higher profits perhaps Florida should tell them to remove all their business from the state if they cannot hold the line on homeowners rates.  I know of many home owners who have or are concidering leaving Fl. due to out of control insurance and tax rates.  Maybe fl. has given up on atracting retirees. retirees.

Posted by  Mary Lou Wagstaff, Clearwater, Florida on 08/04  at  11:30 AM

My house was built in 1922 and is in excellent condition.  It has withstood countless storms and major hurricanes.  However, it is no longer insurable by anyone except Citizens.  My homeowners premium went from $2,800 to $7,452in 1 year.  Last week I got three envelopes in the mail. The first had my policy.  The second had an additional premium notice of $822.00 and the third one canceled my insurance effective in 2 weeks because Citizens read the information about my house incorrectly and assumed I am an apartment building.  Numerous phone calls and emails to Citizens to correct their error has gone unacknowledged.  So they have my money, and I have no insurance! But neither our Governor nor our legislators think there is an insurance crisis that warrants their attention. Who is contributing to their campaign funds?  The insurance industry with its record profits no doubt.  Do our elected representatives not realize how angry the citizens of this state are about being ignored?

Posted by  R. Smith, Tampa on 08/04  at  10:01 AM

Has anyone seen the data which shows the average cost of Citizen’s premiums, by county, for the new bills that started going out on June 1?

No? Why not? Maybe because the state doesn’t want to publish this data.

From articles on the subject across the state, it seems that people in the Keys are getting bills for $15K for a nothing-special 1500 sq ft ‘older’ (pre 2001) home. In South Florida they are getting bills for $8K to $10K for that same house, depending on the proximity to the coast. And in Pasco and Hernando, the bill seems to be around $5K.

Why are none of the news organizations tracking this and publishing the data?

Posted by  N. Rodenbach, Tampa on 08/04  at  09:34 AM

My homeowners insurance has gone up more than twice the original amount in 4 years. I feel the private insurance companies are like the gasoline companies. It’s just gotten ridiculous and we as citizens need to do something about it.

Posted by  Barb Bailey, Tampa, FL on 08/03  at  03:47 PM

While a special session might help, I wonder why it has taken this long to resolve what is, and has been for quite some time, a crisis?

I will use my power, as a registered voter, to show my opinion of how this continues to be handled.

Respectfully ...