Alabama continues to struggle with the impact of Hurricane Katrina
Many homeowners in Alabama are still struggling to recover from the impact of Hurricane Katrina, some 10 years after the disaster struck. These consumers are facing higher homeowners insurance premiums, as insurers have had to raise rates in order to recover from financial losses associated with Hurricane Katrina. In order to resolve this issue, a new organization has been formed that will seek out a solution to costly homeowners insurance coverage for those living in coastal communities.
New work group has been formed to resolve the problems of the state’s coastal insurance space
The Coastal Insurance Work Group is comprised of elected state officials, representatives from the insurance industry, and coastal homeowners. The group is meant to solve the coastal insurance crisis , which primarily involves the cost of coverage. An estimated 15,000 homeowners have abandoned their coverage because they cannot afford the premiums, while another 15,000 do not have enough money to pay their deductibles. This would place homeowners in a very problematic situation in the event of another major disaster.
Some lawmakers are indifferent concerning the high cost of homeowners insurance coverage
Little has been done to address the problem as state lawmakers have shown relative indifference to the issue. Some lawmakers suggest that their colleagues simply advise homeowners to move elsewhere if they want to pay less for their homeowners insurance coverage. For many of these homeowners, however, moving may not be an option, as the costs associated with such an act may be prohibitive. While some lawmakers may be indifferent to the issue, the state did pass a law that requires insurance companies to provide information concerning the data they use to price homeowners insurance coverage.
The work group will be examine the state of the coastal insurance market, determining what can be done to reduce the cost of coverage. The state may embrace a system that is similar to Florida’s self-insured wind pool. The work group is also considering the benefits of spreading the risks associated with coastal insurance by partnering with other states.
