Advisory panel warns that Florida may not be able to handle an active hurricane season

Florida Homeowners Insurance

Florida’s Cat Fund facing financial woes This year’s Atlantic hurricane season is scheduled to begin on June 1. The season has yet to begin but has been the subject of speculation throughout the insurance industry. The past two years have played host to turbulent seasons, one of which caused significant damage in the eastern U.S. Some predictions hold that this year’s season may be mild, but Florida may not be able to withstand a hit from a strong storm. The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund), a state-run service that…

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Insurers blast Florida lawmakers for inaction on Catastrophe Fund and Citizens Insurance

The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) have begun criticizing Florida lawmakers over their inaction on the state’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Legislators are also coming under fire from ABIR over their failure to take action on the troubled Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state run insurance organization that accounts for the majority of coverage in the state. Both the Catastrophe Fund and Citizens Insurance are being crippled by financial problems, which could put the state in a very dangerous position once this year’s hurricane season kicks off. Insurers had…

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State requires fast action to strengthen the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund

The 2012 Florida Legislature is rapidly approaching the end of its session, and the lawmakers there have yet to decide on a path for the reform of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (nicknamed the “Cat Fund”), without which, the state will be left at a high degree of risk. Without arranging the Cat Fund before the end of session, all it would take is one sizeable hurricane to rip a tremendous chunk out of the state finances, as hundreds of thousands, if not millions of legitimate claims are made, but…

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Chief of the Florida hurricane fund voices concerns regarding cash shortage

The chief operating officer of the hurricane fund in Florida, Jack Nicholson, has expressed serious concerns about the fund’s ability to assist insurance companies in paying for claims that have been made following major storms. Florida has been using the hurricane fund for almost two decades, since the time when the southern part of the state was devastated by Hurricane Andrew. Money from the fund is provided to insurance companies in order to assist them in paying off claims made by homeowners in the event of a hurricane – or…

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Fllorida lawmakers concerned over insurer’s estimates of possible deficit

Florida officials are voicing their concern over assessments of a possible coverage shortfall made by the state’s homeowner’s insurance provider, Citizens Property Insurance. The insurer has enough financial resources to cover $15 billion in property damage, or what they consider a one-in-50 year hurricane event. Damages beyond that point, however, would require the insurer to levy the accounts of policyholders to offset the deficit. Considering the frequency and severity of natural disasters of late, this news has lawmakers worried over what troubles the hurricane season has in store. Citizen’s estimates…

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