Posted by  V. Whitman, Pinellas Park, FL on 08/03  at  09:40 AM

This article was in the Key West News! Just gives me more reason to believe that something crooked is going on.
TALLAHASSEE

State insurer reports fiscal health

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Thursday announced it was in excellent financial shape, with $5 billion in reserves to deal with this year’s hurricane season.

The company earlier this month sold revenue bonds, which augmented its $2 billion cash on hand.

The state-created wind insurer of last resort still intends to proceed with a 2-percent assessment on all insurance polices, including private insurers, to pay off damages from the 2005 storm season. The assessment was going to be 10 percent, until a one-time legislative bailout of $715 million allowed Citizens to decrease it.

Posted by  Kay Giampa, New Port RIchey on 08/02  at  06:40 PM

This article is on this web site check it out!

State To Back Business Insurance

By JEROME R. STOCKFISCH

TALLAHASSEE - Cornered by what they call a crisis in Florida’s business climate, state officials on Tuesday accepted the prickly proposition of increasing the government’s role in the battered property insurance market.

The state Cabinet has given its blessing to the formation of a companion to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to provide coverage to commercial enterprises. This comes despite an oft-repeated goal of the Legislature and Cabinet to reduce the size of state-run Citizens, now Florida’s largest homeowners insurer, and spur participation by private carriers.

“Nobody wants to get deeper into it, but we have businesses who are going to leave if they don’t get coverage,” said Belinda Miller.
The article goes on, please read it would be nice if they helped their residents also!  They won’t need business if they don’t have residents to shop!

Posted by  Jean West, Bradenton FL on 08/02  at  05:24 PM

All private insurance companies should be prohibited from selling residential homeowners’ insurance in Florida.  Citizens’ Insurance Company, which is subsidized by the Florida government should be responsibe for all homeowners’ insurance in the state.

Posted by  Joyce Coffey, Seminole, Fl on 08/02  at  03:46 PM

I stood outside the Post Office today in Seminole, getting signatures for the Petition that the Homeowners Against Citizens has on their web site. The Postal staff wouldn’t let me stand inside because of the heat, I thought that property was paid for by the Tax Payers, and I should have been aloud to stand inside. I am gratefull to those who would sign the petition today and those that said NO I just don’t understand why they don’t care. Some said it wasn’t going to help. I hope that everyone who complains about their home owners insurance does something to fight to reduce the cost and call for a special session in the government.
We need everyone’s voice. GET OUT AND HELP

Posted by  Jeff Elzey, Port Richey Florida on 08/01  at  09:17 PM

I hope that someone can help.  I have been wanting to move to Florida for 20 years and got my chance last year.  I live on the west side of US # 19, no wind, no flood, and in the last to be evacuated zone and my Homeowners policy with citizens has gone up another $ 566.00 dollars and I can’t afford the increase.  Trying to find someone else to insure, but it’s not looking good..Now the taxes will be going up as well, where is it all going to end??  I have a middel class income and there is not enough money to go around.  Hope someone can help or I fear I will have to leave the state..

Posted by  Brandi Rogers, Tampa, FL on 08/01  at  01:01 PM

Stop allowing the isurance companies to pick and choose what they want to write. Quite allowing Citizens to sneak around the goverment and raise their replacement cost estimators which also raises the premiums without approval. If we deduct the money out of the goverments paycheck, then maybe we will start seeing a decrease. We are now having to pay out more money in taxes to pay the goverments salary so that they can afford their own insurance. I recently bought a house last year, and of course with Citizens because the pitch of my roof, and just get a letter from the mortgage company saying that our monthly payment will increase $300 because of insurance and tax increases. There is going to be alot of foreclosures. Where did all the money go that has been paid out over the past 100 years? Stop giving money to other country’s when it is our own country that is in real trouble!!

Posted by  Dale Piskie, Tarpon Springs, Florida on 08/01  at  11:05 AM

To Ann Fuller
I agree. A couple of months ago I was told that First Florida Travelers was not going to renew my Homeowners and my Auto and a renters policy that I have.  I was told by the agent that they were pulling out of the state.
A couple of days ago I finally received a notice stateing that they
were not going to insure my condo.

Two days later I get a quote from the same company First Florida Travelers
on my auto insurance. 
If they can’t sell me homeowners insurace then I won’t renew my auto with them.  I have already found someone else for that and it is $130 a year cheaper

This cherry picking needs to be stopped now.

Posted by  Ann Fuller, Tampa on 08/01  at  09:36 AM

I don’t think that insurance companies should be able to cherry pick insurance coverages in florida.  If they want to insure in Florida they shouldn’t be able to say that they will only insure automobiles, or boats.  Insurance companies doing business in Florida should be required to insure for all, homeowners, cars, boats, RV’s.  cherry picking should not be allowed.

Posted by  lee graden, hudson,fl on 07/31  at  05:25 PM

homeowner’s insurance prices are
discusting I paid $800 2 years ago through allstate & they would not renew

it defaulted to citizens which jumped to $1300 in 2004. then last year @ renewal if jumpped to $2500

i saved 500 by going to usf&g in the fall of 2005. this year it trippled to
$7800 whats with that??  citizens is
quoting $4800 but i have to wait until 08/30/06 30 days prior to renewal but
no one is writing policies

what is a homeowner to do - its a monopoly & it stinks

Posted by  Thomas Topa, Miami on 07/30  at  02:47 PM

The insurance crisis has affected me personally, like most, with skyrocketing insurance premiums. I live in Miami and currently insured with Federated National Insurance.  In the past year, my homeowner’s insurance premium more than doubled. My premium jumped from $3,380 to $7,036. I expected to have an increase, but more than 100% is an outrage.  What will happen next year? Can the residents of this community afford another double digit increase? If this happening, how is this community going to survive?  What will happen to our local economy and how are people going to make ends meet? I’m concerned that if we continue to have skyrocketing insurance premiums I will be forced to rent or move out of Florida. We all need to take a stand and our lawmakers and leaders must realize that there is a crisis looming among every resident in South Florida.  Where are our government leaders and lawmakers in this time in need?

Posted by  Kay Giampa, New Port RIchey on 07/30  at  09:39 AM

Published: Jul 30, 2006
Gov. Jeb Bush may be warming to the idea of calling a special session of the Legislature to consider Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis. Several candidates in both parties are pressing the issue on the campaign trail, and Bush acknowledged the level of concern.

“I don’t have to look at a poll. I can promise you it’s the No. 1 issue in the state,” Bush said Wednesday.

Bush named 15 members to a new property and casualty reform committee last week.

If a consensus can be reached, “we can have a special session prior to Nov. 15,” Bush said. “The election to me is not a relevant factor in this.”

Let’s send a message it is a relevant factor NO VOTE ON SEPT 5

Posted by  Kay Giampa, New Port RIchey on 07/29  at  09:11 PM

We are being ignored by every political figure running for Govenor.  We need to take a stance to get their attention and to let them know we mean business.  We can’t wait till 2007 we need results NOW!  We can’t pay our mortgage or insurance with their promises.  On September 5th stay home, don’t vote, save the price of gas and put it towards your homeowners insurance bill.  Maybe if no one goes out to vote, it will send them a message, we need and want action NOW!

Posted by  Sandra Lee Wiese, 7051 Lenox Drive; New Port Richey, Fl on 07/29  at  01:35 PM

Help!
I moved to Florida in 1984,A teenager burned down our house, and almost killed my husband.  We did not have enough insurance on the house to rebuild.  Sold the property with a ingound swimming pool to a friend of our lawyers for $10.  My husband was on SSI and since we could not live in the house it now was considered an asset and his SSI cancelled until we sold the property.
In August of 1985 we moved to New Port Richey.  My husband died in December, 1985 I was granted my SSD disability.  My only source of income is SSD, under $1000 a month.  My mortgage is $400, and power bill is $175 a month.  I get $10 worth of food stamps.
I was 1 day late in paying my homeowers insurance, so NationWide cancelled it.  2006 Pasco County paided for my house to be brought up to code ($40,000). Citizens Insurance Company wants $3,300 a year for homeowerns insurance.  I was paying NationWide $1000 a year.
I am 60 years old, on SSD, how am I going to live?  What am I doing to do?

Posted by  Elsa Robinson, St. Petersburg, Florida on 07/29  at  11:31 AM

I have a very common scenario. I am on Social Security Disability which would place me in the same ballpark as anyone on Social Security or a fixed income.

Last year Bush removed medications that were almost free under Medicare and now cost several of hundreds of dollars.

This year my Citzens insurance increased 4,000 K.

If I did not buy food or gas, I still cannot pay for insurance and medication.
But I do have to buy food as well. We know we cant sell our homes. And where would I move anyway.

The current crisis should have most disabled people and social security recipients in foreclosure within the year.

The insurance crisis will turn into a homeless crisis without a hurricane ever hitting Florida for this to happen.

What will a hurricane do to us that government isnt doing to us already. We are going to lose everything either way.

How can the Bush Brothers be so insulated from the voices of the people?

Posted by  JACK R. ROTH, NEW PORT RICHEY on 07/29  at  10:14 AM

HEY JEB! 
WHEN YOU TRY TO RUN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE THE ONLY THING THE PROPLE OF FLORIDA WILL REMEMBER IS THE COST OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.

Posted by  irene entwistle, new port richey on 07/28  at  02:51 PM

Its crazy my son owns housein holiday
went from 950 to 2500 he is single
he is going to have to sell been using
credit card to pay mortage it went up
so much.
next year you will see left homes
empty all across pasco county unless
something is done, eldly will leave
there homes too, rental is now your
best bet,i predict that will be shortage
of apartments as people leave their homes. some american dream (nightmare)

Posted by  JACK R. ROTH, NEW PORT RICHEY on 07/28  at  11:56 AM

I JUST SPOKE WITH MY STATE FARM AGENT ABOUT MY HOMEOWNERS POLICY FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.  MY CURENT POLICY IS $5,000.00 NEXT YEAR WILL BE BE $10,000.00.  I DO NOT WANT TO MOVE, BUT....

Posted by  Ralph Fisher, Lutz, FL on 07/28  at  08:50 AM

Dear TBO:

I have two suggestions to mitigate the homeowners insurance crisis in Florida:

1) The legislature should make mandatory insurance clauses in mortgages unenforceable.

2) We should close Citizens and let the free market decide insurance pricing.

Sincerely,
Ralph Fisher

Posted by  Mr. Chuck Schroeder, St Petersburg, FL - USA on 07/27  at  07:48 PM

Now’s the time to wrtie up your laws at http://www.100ideas.org/

to give our law makers something to come up with - about insurance etc., BEFORE Gov. Bush allows a special session this year.

Did I fail to say, watch for the made for tv mini movie, “The Exorcism of Andrea Yates” - that made her whole again. I am sure that to is in the works.

Posted by  Kaye Nicks, Brandon, Fl on 07/27  at  11:51 AM

If insurance companies are going to go up in rates, then they should not charge the 2% deductible for hurricane losses.  Also, state should regulate all inurance companies and rates should be same no matter what company you are with.  Only alow a certain % increase annually.  This is the way they do it in other states.

Posted by  JOHN SENTE, SPRING HILL on 07/27  at  11:42 AM

Homeowners Insurance soultion?
SLOT MACHINES ARE NOW ALLOWED IN BROWARD COUNTY. THE STATE IS GETTING 50% OF THE PROFITS.
THE INDIAN CASINOS MADE 1.3 BILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR AND THE STATE GOT NOTHING. WHY NOT ENTER IN A TRIBAL COMPACT AND ALLOW THE INDIANS TO GET FULL CASIONS. THE PROFIT GOING TO THE STATE CAN BE USED TO REDUCE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.
GO TO MISSISSIPPI OR ATLANTIC CITY AND SEE HOW MANY OF THE PATRONS ARE FROM FLORIDA.

Posted by  R. Smith, Tampa on 07/26  at  07:32 PM

The question begging to be answered is: why isn’t the majority of our legislature worried about the impact of this issue at the polls?

The latest Citizens Insurance renewals have only been going out for a couple months now, which means most Florida homeowners have not yet received theirs. The ‘crisis’ is bound to build toward a revolution as each month passes.

What people are discovering is - you can’t even move out of the state in response to the problem, as you can’t sell a home that is only insurable by Citizens. The value of their property is now equal to the value of their land. Their home is worthless.

Who ultimately benefits from this? Developers who will knock down the uninsurable home and build a new one.

Posted by  frank Pereira, Port Richey Fl. 34668 on 07/26  at  09:05 AM

Suggestions for the Insurance crisis.
We must change the insurance policy, such us, let the property owners insure their personal property off the insurance package,The appropriate value and not 5o per cent from the total insurance.
reduce fraud and costs by having county inspectors inspect the sink holes.
Reduce insurance costs for the properties with fire/burglar alarm, shutters, and garage doors up to the state code.
WE MUST HAVE A STATE WIDE insurance fair rate, and not specific areas.
All Insurance companies must accept insurance in the whole state and not selective areas.
Allow insurance companies to have a fair increase and we all will benefit th their competition.
A portion of the lottery money for the Citizens insurance recovery, by having the lottery join a better system -such as, Mega millions or Power ball.
Have less taxes to attract turism; and revive the states’ economy.
and Pray that God Bless us All.
frank.P

Posted by  RICHARD KENDLER, Dunedin on 07/25  at  11:34 AM

10 POINT PLAN FOR FLORIDA INSURANCE COST RELIEF

1. Tourist tolls come into Florida on all major roads
2. Re-arrange the homeowners exemption to the second $25,000 tier to insure all residents are paying for services and use those new tax dollars towards insurance costs.
3. Add tax on all hotels, car rentals, and liquor; smoke items, gambling revenues, etc.
4. Re-arrange the lottery revenue.
5. Start a new insurance lottery game.
6. Additional sale tax of ¼%
7. State plan for low cost loans or credits to improve older homes to modernize up to hurricane codes.
8. Put additional pressure on insurance companies to keep costs down. They should average costs on all their product lines vs. expenses.
9. Sell secondary insurance policies to private insurance companies backed up by revenues collected from above suggestions.
10. State owned casinos.

Posted by  Penny James, St. Pete Beach on 07/25  at  09:26 AM

My homeowners’ insurance has just been cancelled. I expected it. It’s been months & our state government hasn’t even thought of helping residents with the insurance crisis.
It’s my firm belief that if Florida will tell insurance companies that if they want to sell insurance in our state (health, car, life) they must provide affordable homwowner’s insurance. At this time the insurance companies are dictating to us what they want. It’s gotten out of hand. Either they provide all types of insurance in our state or none at all.
Florida is a large state & the insurance are making plenty of gravy with the easy policies.
We need help immediately!!