CITIZENS - FL State Run Ins. Co. RAISING RATES... Out Of This World!!!

[ChiciB1]

More information on this rate hike was published today in the local paper. This is OUTRAGEOUS, because SOME people can not get insurance here in Florida from ANYONE else but this company! My mother-in-law is one of them! He insurance for a mobile home went from around $300.00 to $1500.00 last year!! And there is nothing ANYONE can do about it! Because she has an older mobile home, not only were we REQUIRED to insure it for more than we wanted, the cost went through the roof! After calling any agency I could, I was told to "call my Congressman" by the state authorities! Ha, Ha, Ha! My representative was Cruella herself!!! Plus she lives with us but her home can not be sold until she passes away as per her living will.

They say they are going to hold meetings about this, but you can read the rest of the article, and it's pretty long at the local paper's web site. We have already been hit with hefty hikes in the past two years and this is almost UNBELIEVABLE!

Article published Nov 21, 2006
HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO HURT?

More than 1,400 small businesses in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties that get their wind coverage from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. are facing rate increases from 767 percent to 1,263 percent.

Florida's biggest insurer said it needs to raise its commercial premiums that much to bring them in line with a new state-backed business insurer.

The proposed commercial rate hikes would average 767 percent in Manatee, 795 percent in Charlotte and from 775 percent to 1,263 percent in Sarasota.

Citizens also is hitting its 700,000 wind-only homeowners customers, including more than 58,000 in the three local counties.

The company will raise rates 25.9 percent in January and wants another 55.8 percent boost in March, which if approved would nearly double premiums for those homeowners this year.


BUSINESS

Businesses brace for Citizens rate hike
By JOHN HIELSCHER



[e-mail]


More than 1,400 small businesses in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties that get their wind coverage from Citizens are facing rate increases from 767 percent to 1,263 percent.

Citizens says it needs to raise its commercial premiums that much to bring them in line with a new state-backed business insurer.

[BushOut06]

1. You can thank newly elected Gov. Crist for that

They have to pay for all those campaign contributions somehow!

[ChiciB1]

2. I Am Well Aware Of This.... I TRIED To Keep This Front & Center

before the election.... but did anyone listen?? I guess not! but funny thing is.... Davis won Sarasota county by 53%! Another reason why Jennings is contesting and going to court over the 18,000 "funny" missing votes!!!

THESE PEOPLE!!!!!

[Maraya1969]

6. Is there any way this could cause Davis to contest also? I have a very

hard time believing that people actually vote for Crist when they knew that Davis was all for fixing this problem.

BTW my house insurance tripled last year and when I called the company to tell them that I had installed hurricane window and doors the woman told me that it did not matter!

Maybe the hurricane shutter companies should start making a fuss because they can't say now that their product will pay for itself because of tax breaks.

[ChiciB1]

13. Well, I Can Tell You Many Businesses Around Here Are Really

not very happy about this. And I'm with you... I don't see HOW Crist won either! I never could understand it, but then.... THIS IS FLORIDA! And It Had A Bush at the TOP!!

I know what you mean about the windows, etc. Even a security system doesn't help!

[seafan]

7. I really wonder how many *undervotes* happened in the FL's Gov's race statewide.

I sure as hell wonder, ChiciB1.

..When there was record early voting turnout in Palm Beach County; there were articles documenting that Hispanics broke BIG for Davis.. that Broward Co. votes for Dems were http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=145x8333">registering for Republicans.

Until late into the evening, local newspapers reported that Davis led among moderates, Independents, African-Americans, Hispanics, and also in heavily populated South FL.


It defies logic.

I hope people are examining the undervotes statewide for the Governor's and Attorney General's races. Especially since Broward and Miami-Dade Counties use the SAME type of touchscreen machine that Sarasota County used. *ES&S*.

[ChiciB1]

15. I'm Sure You Know What Is Happening Here In Sarasota!

And we aren't going away! Jennings was not my first choice, a former (R) but she ran as a (D) and THIS WAS HER COUNTY! She won the county by over 53%, and GEEEE 18,000 votes went.... Where???? For me it's about FAIR elections, which I don't think we saw it in any way, shape or form! Even different ballot design in this county! Gee, anyone remember the "chads" and the "butterfly" ballot?

Kathy Dent NEEDS to be Impeached!

[jackster]

3. Florida...

where business is business and government is business

[bunny planet]

4. This is just awful.

I can just barely afford to pay my Citizen's policy now, and if it doubles I don't know what I'll do. People will not be able to sell their homes with that high an insurance premium being a factor expensed in by potential buyers. I'm afraid that people who can't afford to sell their homes will just forgo having insurance altogether because they can no longer make the payments. Florida is definitely now only going to be an 'ownership' society for rich people. They will buy people's land and homes for cheap, and tear down homes and build, only they can afford to pay the insurance premiums and property taxes. Its what is being done in New Orleans, and it will happen in Florida too at this rate.

[Bryn]

5. That's Why I left South Florida

I had to sell my beautiful double-wide mobile home that was in a very lovely tropical gated community close to the Keys because of CITIZENS. When I first bought my new house, insurance was only around $349 per year...lasted for 5 years until two years ago then rate went up to $1,449, then went up to $2,128 last September. There was no way I could afford it so I sold it and left, moved to Arkansas 4 months ago. I feel so sorry for people down there having to deal with State Run CITIZENS insurance which is OUTRAGEOUS! You'd think my home was a oceanfront mansion when in reality, the community for mobile homes is 10 miles away west of the ocean in Homestead/Florida City.

[OzarkDem]

8. Last year it was gasoline and utility rate gouging

It was the pharma companies theft in 2005.

It must be the insurance industry's turn this year.

Smash & grab GOP. They have to steal all they can from taxpayers before Bush leaves office.

[RebelOne]

9. I live in a mobile home here in North Georgia.

Insurance is not required where I live, but I have it anyway because I live in "Tornado Alley." My rates are less than $300 a year.

[ChiciB1]

11. Hers Were Too.... All Of This Is Because Of Hurricanes!!

We didn't have ONE THIS PAST SEASON, and yet they just keep gouging us. I COULD understand some rate hikes for those who actually got paid from insurance companies because of damage. I live less than mile from the Gulf and in my 22 years here have NEVER once used my insurance coverage for ANYTHING!! Even with ALL the hurricanes right down below me, we sustained no damage. Only outside debris and big messes to clean up!

My mother-in-law's place is further north in Hernando, near Ocala, but she hasn't used hers either! They are MAKING all of us pay for other damage. But the REAL KICKER here is that insurance companies all over actually recorded profits of 50% or more all over. And that includes the Katrina area too!

If I could move I would, but right now I can't. We have 5 acres for sale further south, and this will make it harder to sell, we have our home here, and we can't sell her place until she passes. Plus we care for her and have been doing so for over 7 years. She has severe Alzheimer's and needs COMPLETE care. I think I want to see some SNOW!! I wonder IF anyone is going to want to buy in this area. My taxes on my 5 acres went from $3,100.00 last year to $4,600.00 this year! I'm getting taxes out too! We ARE NOT wealthy, we bought that land in '89 for an investment and for a lot less than it's worth now. I just need to sell it NOW!

The "snow" comment is the truth, but only for a visit though. If I could get my husband to move away... I'd do it in a heartbeat.... he's a native Floridian and his family is here! But N.C. or Georgia would be nice! I realize they are "red" states, but this was Cruella's District so I UNDERSTAND how that goes! I think it's changing to more of a purple shade though!

[sandnsea]

10. State run?

Would this be something like a state run medical insurance, in the future??

I don't know what the problem is there, but we deregulated our 'state run' workmen's comp program and now people pay and get no benefits at all.

Caution.

[ChiciB1]

12. Yes, The State Passed Legislation For This Insurance....

because so many companies wanted to drop people here in Florida after Andrew... many years ago. I've had four different insurance companies since then. And my "now" insurance company is leaving and in February I will get yet another one! They have said something about Bankers, but they have NOT told me what the premiums will be.

My mother-in-law on the other hand... has NO CHOICE! It's Citizens or NOTHING!

[sandnsea]

14. Oregon has pre-existing insurance

Through the state. It's for people who can't get insurance anywhere else. It's very expensive, but for many it's an option to give them insurance to cover even bigger medical expenses. It isn't a matter of no other choice, it's a matter of providing people a benefit they can't get anywhere else. I suspect the same is true for mobile homes in Florida.

[ChiciB1]

16. Not An Option... This Is the ONLY Company That Will Insure

her place. Believe me, I spent one whole day on the phone, internet or any place I could. This is it, and you can go screw yourself otherwise. That was almost the reaction I got trying to find something else!

I even tried to get her help as an "elderly" senior citizen who has Alzheimers and was told... well, then maybe YOU will just have to pay for her insurance! Nice people I talked to, huh???

[sandnsea]

17. Yes, I understand

Just like people with pre-existing conditions who can't get medical insurance anyplace except with the state program, offered as a benefit to people who would otherwise have nothing.

[NotGivingUp]

18. they are totally destroying florida with these insurance rates

and then screwing us over again with taxes. asshole bush has been working us over, and now we get crist. unbelievable.

[Vinca]

19. This won't help the getting screwed by the insurance company problem,

but can you rent the mobile home to offset the cost of not being able to sell it? Just a thought.

[ChiciB1]

20. We Could IF We Didn't Take Her Back Up To Her Home Every

6 weeks. She has her older son who lives in the same town, and one remaining brother. Plus we take care of the upkeep and if we rented the place we wouldn't have a place to stay when we went up there. His brother's wife doesn't want to deal with her, so we can't stay with him. It's almost a 2 hour drive from our home here.

For now, her SS is taking care of the bills, I'm just worried about what will happen when she passes. We jokingly call her the Energizer Battery... you know "the bunny" as she is now 94 years old. She takes no medication for any ailments, but her mind is pretty well gone. She's doesn't communicate much any more, but she seems to enjoy going up there, so we will just play it by ear.

Then, one more HUGE problem... my husband DOES NOT want to sell the place... she lives on a huge lake and he likes his fishing! It took me up until this past May to get him to put the 5 acres up for sale. I told him his name isn't ROCKEFELLER!!

But with this situation now, I don't know HOW he expects to keep the place after she passes! I'm not moving there, that's for sure! Her taxes are still low because she's not being taxed on what the property is worth right now, only on 3% above last year's taxes. We will have to make some decision once she's gone! My husband retired early to help care for her, and I am on Disability because of an accident.

Oh well... time will tell. I have thought about the same thing myself though! Hubby will just have to build himself a small utility room after she passes if he wants to keep it! I don't, I can't deal with fishing myself. Don't like killing anything! I know... it's weird, but I can't help it.

[Opusnone]

21. Insurance is a SCAM

It always has been, always will be. I'd rather pay the Mob "protection" money; at least I could keep it local and watch my hard-earned cash enriching the community.

South Florida is getting screwed hard, and unless you own your note you must carry windstorm coverage which is prohibitively expensive and abstract in its protections.

Our family is getting pretty sick of being screwed and with a new republic governor and an overwhelmingly republic state legislature we see no relief on the horizon.