[SusanStCatherine]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

I believe that what the insurance industry really wants is the ability to require mandatory mediation for claims without letting policy holders go to court. Lawsuits in court cost insurance companies billions of dollars. Lawyers advertise on billboards and television that they can get you big money for your pain and suffering, so people sign up. Sometimes insurance companies fight the suit, but often they decide that it’s cheaper to settle, even for a lot of money. With the roof replacements, what happened is that lawyers threatened to sue if the replacement wasn’t covered, and insurance companies decided replacing the roof might cost $15,000, and fighting in court might cost the company $25,000 and take a year per case. They did what was cheaper and just raised our prices. A mediator might deny most of those roof claims.

Of course, lawyers in Florida have a lot of lobbyists talking to legislators, who know where their bread is buttered. The result is that they get to keep suing insurance companies, a few people get jackpots, and the rest of us pay more and more to insurance companies. Chances are (wild guess), if you weren’t allowed to sue insurance companies, your insurance would drop by a third.

Also, the cost to insurance companies for hurricanes is spread nationwide. It’s not just Florida insurance companies. And then the insurance companies also buy into re-insurance pools that are nationwide and help them cover the cost.

This seems to work for The Villages - you can't sue - you are forced to binding arbitration where they select the arbitrator and you have to pay for half of it. Read your purchase agreement and warranty addendum and the info on 2-10 Homebuyers Warranty.

[Jhrath7@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

People are complaining about insurance costs going up. However, insurance is merely spreading the risk of losses over a large number of people. The chance of a single home burning down in a year is quite slim so insurance companies can sell home insurance to everyone in a city and use the premiums from those whose homes are not burned down to compensate the few policy holders whose homes are burned down. That is how it works in theory.

However, I am not sure if that works in the case of catastrophic losses such as hurricanes that hit thousands of homes and businesses. Hurricane Ian caused about $100 billion in damages in Florida. The population in Florida is about 21 million people and the average household is about 2.5 people. If you divide $100 billion by 21 million, that is about $4700 a person. If you multiply that by the number of households, each household would have to pay $11,750 just to pay for Ian.

Ian is a bit of an exception since Florida doesn't get an Ian every year. However, Florida gets hit with a hurricane about once every two years and seems to get hit with a major hurricane at least once a decade. Irma cost about $30 billion in 2017.

I am not an underwriter or an actuary but I don't see how people in Florida can pay enough insurance to cover their losses. Hopefully, there are some insurance people on this board that may have solutions.

Florida is one of 4 states in the nation that has the biggest problem with insurance. Write your representatives and let them know you are not happy

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Jhrath7@gmail.com

Florida is one of 4 states in the nation that has the biggest problem with insurance. Write your representatives and let them know you are not happy

Most people agree that there is a problem. What do I tell my representatives is the solution?

Limit premium increases to the rate of inflation?
Ban private insurance and have the state run the insurance program?
Require arbitration or mediation?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Most people agree that there is a problem. What do I tell my representatives is the solution?

Limit premium increases to the rate of inflation?
Ban private insurance and have the state run the insurance program?
Require arbitration or mediation?

Set up a panel of legislatures, insurance companies and people who understand completely how insurance works and let them come up with solutions.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by JRcorvette

38 years in Insurance Claims…. The largest cost to insurance companies is law suites many of which are unwarranted. We need tort reform!

Most of the legislators in congress (state and federal) are lawyers. They probably aren't going to do anything that harms the business of their colleagues. Also, the Trail Lawyers' Association is one of the most powerful lobbies. So in summary, don't hold your breath waiting for tort reform.

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

Most of the legislators in congress (state and federal) are lawyers. They probably aren't going to do anything that harms the business of their colleagues. Also, the Trail Lawyers' Association is one of the most powerful lobbies. So in summary, don't hold your breath waiting for tort reform.

Insurance companies fleeing the state has way of breaking the grip that trial lawyers had on legislators.

Can Lawmakers Save the Collapsing Florida Home Insurance Market? | Bankrate

There will be new insurance companies selling insurance after the hurricane season is over. I don't know how many will leave despite the new laws.

[Flyers999]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

Most of the legislators in congress (state and federal) are lawyers. They probably aren't going to do anything that harms the business of their colleagues. Also, the Trail Lawyers' Association is one of the most powerful lobbies. So in summary, don't hold your breath waiting for tort reform.

Trial lawyers are big campaign contributors too.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by Jhrath7@gmail.com

Florida is one of 4 states in the nation that has the biggest problem with insurance. Write your representatives and let them know you are not happy

Or else just elect new representatives who might actually DO something.....

[Fltpkr]

Insurance availability and affordability is one issue that probably unites most Floridians regardless of how they feel about other news-catching issues. Why is this not getting more serious and on-going attention in Tallahassee?

[JRcorvette]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Most people agree that there is a problem. What do I tell my representatives is the solution?

Limit premium increases to the rate of inflation?
Ban private insurance and have the state run the insurance program?
Require arbitration or mediation?

Your first two suggestions would be very bad.
1. If a Carrier can’t make a profit they simply will not sell insurance in the State making it even harder on us.
2. You do not want a Government (State) run insurance program. We already have Citizens Insurance and the claims process is not very popular with them. Government programs are very inefficient.
3. Mediation would help some but I still say the policy coverages need to be changed in some ways.