Florida’s property insurance is in crisis. The solution is simple. | Opinion
They say, the more complex the problem, the simpler it is to find a solution.
Florida's homeowner insurance crisis has become a nightmare for many homeowners, driving them out of the state. Home insurance premiums continue to increase, with limited competition in the market.
Despite promises of reform, no significant change has been made. It's time for Florida to take action and make several changes to its homeowner insurance program.
The solution?
For Florida to end "Citizen's Insurance" as a company of last resort and establish competition for existing and new insurance companies coming into the state.
Remove all hurricane claims and losses from homeowner insurance contracts and move hurricane claims to the state for processing and payment, if a supplemental insurance policy has been purchased from the state-funded insurance program for hurricane claims. Claims will be processed by the state program, and the state will source approved contractors and repair programs to reduce fraud and consumer complaints.
More on the insurance crisis: Editorial: We asked the experts when property insurance bills will drop. The answer's bad.
The program would function much like the national flood insurance program, and the state program can be funded by a special premium to homeowners, a slight raise in the overall state tax program, and other sources of revenue.
This plan offers the ability to bring in competition to the Florida insurance marketplace while reducing the burden of high premiums and potential cancellations on Florida residences. The state can attract mainline insurance companies from around the country, set annual cap rates not to exceed the national average for homeowners insurance, and continue to flourish as one of the top destinations for people relocating from other parts of the United States.
Editorial: 'Hope' won't fix Florida's property insurance crisis
It's time for the legislature and the governor to make real changes to Florida's homeowner insurance program to slow or stop the mass exodus of homeowners leaving the state because of runaway homeowner insurance policies.
Scott Schneider is a resident of Delray Beach.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida home insurance is costly. Separate hurricane claims to fix it.
