For years now, the media has been reporting on the precarious state of Florida’s residential insurance system, and the need for bold new solutions. In fact, some of this discussion centers on what the Shield Our State Coalition is proposing today.
Read about the key issues here.
Featured News: Opinion: Bold solutions to hurricane exposure - Daytona News-Journal – 03/29/2009
Featured News: Hurricane Debate on Florida's Horizon - The Bond Buyer - 03/05/2009
Our Opinion: Insurance queasiness
Tallahassee.com – 09/17/2009
Insurance Queasiness.pdf
Ugly truth on Insurance
Sen. J.D. Alexander, Special to the Times – 10/7/2009
Truth ugly on insurance.pdf
Insurance costs dropped after Christ-led reforms
Lloyd Dunkelberger, Herald Tribune – 10/4/2009
Insurance costs dropped.pdf
Insurance Market is in for Changes
Mike Vogel – 10/1/2009
Insurance market changes.pdf
Prepare to pay more for Florida home insurance
Julie Patel, South Florida Sun-Sentinel – 10/1/2009
Homeowner Insurance.pdf
Florida home insurer asks to boost rates
Julie Patel, South Florida Sun-Sentinel – 09/29/2009
boost rates.pdf
What the heck, we can just borrow it
Howard Troxler, Times Columnist – 09/16/2009
We can just borrow it.pdf
True measure of Florida finance includes storm scenario
John Kennedy, The Capaital – 09/15/2009
True Measure.pdf
Tower Hill downgraded, disputes rating criteria
David Royse, News Service of Florida – 08/27/2009
Tower Hill Downgraded.pdf
Insurers push return of de-reg bill, eye special session opportunity
David Royse, News Service of Florida – 08/26/2009
Return of de-reg bill.pdf
Florida insurance numbers deceive
St. Petersburg Times – 08/14/2009
insurance numbers deceive.pdf
Florida Senators bring "Six-Pack" to Congress
Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center, August-September 2009 Bulletin – 08/2009 - 09/2009
Florida Senators bring Six-Pack to Congress.pdf
For Florida insurance woes, no shortage of suspects to blame
Brandon Larrabe, Jacksonville News – 08/09/2009
Florida insurance woes.pdf
State Farm plans its strategy to exit Florida
Paul Flemming, News Journal capital bureau – 08/02/2009
State Farm strategy.pdf
Bill seeking financial recovery after catastrophe gets Clinton economist's support
Bob Graham, Insurance Financial Journal – 07/21/2009
Seaeking Financial Recovery.pdf
New Insurers Not Much Help To Typical Floridian
Shannon Colavecchio and Jeff Harrington, St. Pete Times – 06/30/2009
New insurers not much help to typical Floridian.pdf
Congressman Says New Hurricane Center Coming To Florida
Bill Thompson, Starr-Banner – 06/27/2009
Congressman says new hurricane center coming to Florida.pdf
Florida Badly Needs Solution to Homeowners' Insurance Woes
Anthony Westbury, TC Palm – 06/27/2009
Florida badly needs solution to homeowners insurance woes.pdf
Crist Vetoes Property Insurance Bill
Catherine Dolinski, Tampa Bay Online – 06/25/2009
Crist_vetoes_property_insurance_bill.pdf
State insurance industry gets an F-
Grace Gagliano, Bradenton Herald – 06/17/2009
State insurance industry gets and F-.pdf
Insurance Bill Test Gov. Christ
Lloyd Dunkelberger, Sarasota Herald Tribune – 06/13/2009
Insurance bill tests Gov.Christ.pdf
Property Insuance
Jacksonville, Florida Times-Union
05/28/2009 – Disaster in Waiting Property insurance_ Disaster in waiting.pdf
05/29/2009 – Florida Stands Alone Property insurance_ Florida stands alone.pdf
05/30/2009 – Use Competition Property insurance_ Use competition.pdf
McCarty is Wrong In His Analysis of HB 1171
Eli Lehrer, Competitive Enterprise Institute – 05/22/2009
McCarty letter re HB1171 05_14_09 CEI Critique.pdf
Florida Senate OKs changes for Hurricane Catastrophe Fund
Brandon Larrabee, Florida Times-Union – 04/29/2009
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-04-29/story/florida_senate_oks_changes_for_hurricane_catastrophe_fund
Home Insurance Rates to Rse
South Florida Sun Sentinel – 04/27/2009
pdf/home_ins_rates_rise.pdf
Bill seeks federal guarantee for Florida catastrophe fund
The Miami Herald – 04/23/2009
pdf/fed_bill_for_cat_fund.pdf
Reason to Worry
The Suncoast News – 04/18/2009
http://suncoastpasco.tbo.com/content/2009/apr/18/pi-reason-to-worry/
New plan calls for public-private partnership to solve Florida’s insurance conundrum
Anthony Westbury, TC Palm – 04/18/2009
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/apr/18/anthony-westbury-new-plan-calls-public-private-par/
Studies support Florida property insurance bills
Julie Patel, Florida Sun-Sentinel – 04/17/2009
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/housekeys/blog/2009/04/florida_property_insurance_bil.html
Is Florida ready for a real free market in homeowners insurance?
Howard Troxler, St. Pete Times – 04/16/2009
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article992527.ece
Study leads credence to insurance plan
Brian Neill, Bradenton Herald – 04/16/2009
http://www.bradenton.com/business/story/1371735.html
Grassroots effort touts solution to property insurance problems
Jeff Harrington, St. Pete Times – 04/16/2009
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article992771.ece
Guest commentary: Returning insurance pricing to the marketplace is best for Florida
Garrett Richter, member of the Florida Senate, GOP for district 27, Naples Daily News – 04/15/2009
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/15/guest-commentary-senate-committee-banking-and-insu/
Florida seeks U.S. help to back up hurricane catastrophe fund
Beatrice Garcia, Miami Herald – 04/10/2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/993245.html
Feds won't bail out Crist's property insurance mess
Mike Thomas, Orlando Sentinel – 04/09/2009
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_columnist_mikethomas/2009/04/feds-wont-bail-out-cristss-property-insurance-mess.html
Fla. lawmakers 'waking up' to insurance failures
Evan Lehmann, ClimateWire/New York Times – 04/09/2009
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/04/09/09climatewire-fla-lawmakers-waking-up-to-failures-10491.html
Florida plays ostrich in insurance crisis
Don Crane, Tallahassee Democrat – 04/08/2009
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090408/OPINION05/904080303/1006/OPINION
Insurance Issues Unsettled
Gary Fineout, Florida Underwriter – April 2009
http://www.floridaunderwriter.com/cms/fl/Website/Home.htm
Reforming Property Insurance
Whitney Ray, Capitol News Service – 04/03/2009
http://www.flanews.com/?p=5166
Property Insurance Rates May Increase
MLloyd Dunkelberger, Lakeland Ledger – 03/31/2009
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090331/NEWS/903315037/1410?Title=Property-Insurance-Rates-May-Increase
Republican plan would hike homeowner insurance rates 23% on coast
Michael Bender, Palm Beach Post – 03/30/2009
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/state/epaper/2009/03/30/insure_0331.html
Florida insurance plan for hurricane damage could save property owners money
Property Wire – 03/28/2009
http://www.propertywire.com/news/north-america/florida-insurance-plan-200903282857.html
Florida hurricane catastrophe fund under scrutiny
Beatrice E. Garcia, Miami Herald – 03/28/2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/971735.html
Group seeks fix to insurance dilemma
Brandon Neill, Bradenton Herald – 03/26/2009
http://www.bradenton.com/business/story/1320340.html
Property insurance: Reforms needed more than ever
Barney Bishop, Associated Industries of Florida – 03/24/2009
http://www.jacksonville.com/opinion/letters_from_readers/2009-03-24/story/property_insurance_reforms_needed_more_than_ever
Citizens' reassessments hit some homeowners hard
Jeff Ostrowski, Palm Beach Post – 03/16/2009
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/business/epaper/2009/03/16/a1a_citizens_0317.html
CFO Sink Urges Action on Insurance
Brent Kallestad of The Associated Press, Sarasota Herald Tribune – 03/13/2009
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090313/ARTICLE/903131048
Legislators to address Citizens rates
Brian Neill, Bradenton Herald – 03/12/2009
http://www.bradenton.com/business/story/1287933.html
Florida’s Citizens Gets OK for $2.5B Debt
Shelly Sigo, The Bond Buyer – 03/11/2009
Florida Citzens Get OK for 2.5 B$ Debt.pdf
'State Readies For Hurricanes' Financial Hits
Catherine Dolinski, Tampa Tribune – 03/11/2009
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/11/na-state-readies-for-hurricanes-financial-hits/
'Big one' could pose bigger problems
Jim Saunders, Daytona News-Journal – 03/08/2009
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02030809.htm
Cat Fund Shortfall Grows: Florida's Reinsurance Fund $18 Billon Short
The Florida Underwriter – March 2009
http://www.floridaunderwriter.com/cms/fl/Monthly%20Issues/Issues/2009/03/Index/Features/FeatureI
Gradual rate hikes sought amid concerns for Citizens
Miami Herald – 03/01/2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/925826.html
A tough task: Legislators seek to fix Florida's property insurance problems during session
South Florida Sun-Sentinel – 02/28/2009
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/home/sfl-flzinsurance0228sbfeb28,0,6376820.story
Lawmakers Still Searching For Insurance Fix
The Associated Press - 02/22/2009
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/22/na-lawmakers-still-searching-for-insurance-fix/news-metro/
Confronting the state's insurance crisis
Ocala Star-Banner – 02/21/2009
http://www.ocala.com/article/20090221/OPINION/902211010/1357/obiz?Title=Confronting-the-state-s-insurance-crisis
Give insurers incentives to operate in Florida
Sarasota Herald Tribune Op-Ed - 02/11/2009
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090211/COLUMNIST/902110312/2258/OPINION?Title=Give_insurers_incentives_to_operate_in_Florida
State needs to repair relationship with insurers
Palm Beach Post letter to editor - 02/10/2009
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2009/02/11/wednesdaywebletters.html
False Bravado
Gainesville Sun Editorial - 02/10/2009
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090210/OPINION01/902101000/1076/OPINION?Title=Editorial__False_bravado
Cat Fund: Get Real
Panama City News-Herald Editorial - 02/10/2009
http://www.newsherald.com/articles/cat_71714___article.html/editorial_fund.htm
Time to return Citizens in its proper place
Charlotte Sun Herald - 01/29/2009
http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/edStory.aspx?articleID=430725
Property insurance overhaul is overdue
St. Petersburg Times Editorial – 01/28/2009
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article971386.ece
Orlando Sentinel/Mike Thomas – 01/25/2009
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-miket2509jan25,0,3208731.column
New Ideas Could Bring Sound Hurricane Coverage
The Tampa Tribune – 01/12/2009
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/12/na-new-ideas-could-bring-sound-hurricane-coverage/
Property insurance: Create public-private partners
Florida Times-Union - 01/12/2009
http://www.jacksonville.com/opinion/letters_from_readers/2009-01-12/property_insurance_create_public_private_partners
Ominous Parallels: The National Financial Crisis and Hurricane Insurance
By Donald D. Brown, Dennis A. Ross and Leonard Schulte
James Madison Institute Winter 2009
http://www.jamesmadison.org/pdf/materials/654.pdf
Property insurance: Create public-private partners
Letter to the Editor, Craig Duncan, Chairman, Government Relations, Florida Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
Florida Times-Union - 01/12/2009
http://www.jacksonville.com/opinion/letters_from_readers/2009-01-12/property_insurance_create_public_private_partners
My View: State Farm's exit leaves Florida on the brink of a crisis
By Eli Lehrer to the Tallahassee Democrat – January 2009
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090131/OPINION05/901310308/1006/OPINION
Group Pushes Its Hurricane Solution. Should a State-Owned Entity Take on Hurricane Risk?
Florida Underwriter – November 2008
http://www.floridaunderwriter.com/cms/fl/Monthly%20Issues/Issues/2008/11/Index/Features/hurricanez
New companies encouraged to insure in Florida
St. Petersburg Times - 11/23/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article913703.ece
Past suggests Florida insurer may be bit of a risk
St. Petersburg Times - 11/23/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article913701.ece
Citizens Insurance 'opt-out,' 'takeout' system nettlesome
St. Petersburg Times - 11/14/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article902756.ece
Property insurers face low funding
Gainesville Sun – 11/11/2008
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20081111/NEWS
/811111006/1003/NEWS?Title=Property_insurers_face_low_funding
Consumers cry foul over Citizens' shift to low-rated firms
St. Petersburg Times - 11/07/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article893545.ece
Seven Florida insurers under ratings agency scrutiny
St. Petersburg Times - 11/5/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article889843.ece
Citizens policies shift to low-rated firms
St. Petersburg Times -11/01/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article884928.ece
Guest commentary: Florida’s Fannie Mae
By Jeff Grady - President and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents
Naples Daily News – 10/16/2008
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/16/guest-commentary-floridas-fannie-mae/
Spread Risk with National Disaster Fund
Barack Obama, St Petersburg Times – 09/07/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/essays/article798581.ece
Could Florida Survive the Big One?
Time Magazine – September 2008
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1839219,00.html?xid=rss-nation
Can the Insurance Market Weather Crist's Reforms?
Dr. Wayne Brough to the Orlando Sentinel – 08/29/2008
http://www.freedomworks.org/news/can-the-insurance-market-weather-crists-reforms
Paying $224 Million for an Omaha Stake Won’t Protect Florida from Fiscal Disaster
By Eli Lehrer
James Madison Institute - August 2008
http://www.jamesmadison.org/pdf/materials/644.pdf
St. Petersburg Times - 06/08/2008
http://www.tampabay.com/news/article610865.ece
A Game of Risk for Small Insurers
Florida Trend - 06/01/2008
http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=68664398.1491968.637286.2493511.2911122.576&aID2=49013
How a Minor Storm Could Bankrupt Florida
By Eli Lehrer
James Madison Institute - April 2008
http://www.jamesmadison.org/pdf/materials/637.pdf
Fitch comments on Florida Homeowners’ Insurance Market
Fitch Ratings – 03/24/2008
http://www.cftnews.com/uploads/1964_fflo0324.pdf
First Steps toward Restoring Florida’s Insurance Market
By Eli Lehrer
James Madison Institute - March 2008
http://www.jamesmadison.org/pdf/materials/625.pdf
Key Lawmakers and Premier Think Tanks Unveil “F” Grade on National Insurance Report Card, Study Outlining Florida’s Insurance Ills
The Florida House, Press Release February 2008
http://www.jamesmadison.org/pdf/materials/621.pdf
Evacuation Disaster: Insurers Fleeing Florida
By Eli Lehrer
James Madison Institute - January 2008
http://www.jamesmadison.org/pdf/materials/615.pdf
Re-Reforming Insurance
Florida Trend - 11/01/2007
http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=47805
