ORLANDO, Fla. – If your property insurance was canceled or not renewed in the last month or so, or is scheduled to be canceled soon, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation wants to hear from you.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky says that because of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, emergency orders prevent insurance companies from canceling or nonrenewing a policy between Sept. 26 and Dec. 10, even if notices have already been sent out.
The emergency orders affect all insurance and policyholders in more than 50 counties, including the following Central Florida counties:
- Brevard
- Flagler
- Lake
- Marion
- Orange
- Osceola
- Polk
- Seminole
- Sumter
- Volusia
The orders also prevent the cancelation or nonrenewal of a property insurance policy covering damage caused by hurricanes Helene or Milton, for 90 days after the damage is repaired.
Full details about the orders are on the Office of Insurance Regulation website.
The agency says it has not had any reports of insurance companies not abiding by the emergency orders. A spokesman says the office wants to make sure people are aware in case an issue comes up.
Thom Cotton, an insurance specialist with Assured Partners, told News 6 that although some insurance companies are canceling policies, new regulations that have decreased lawsuits against them are increasing their bottom line.
“The insurance environment in Florida has never been better than it is right now,” said Cotton. “As recently as last week, I think there were a quarter of a million policies taken out of Citizens by the private market.”
Citizens is a state company, and their goal is to have as few policies as possible. They are sending some cancellation notices with the belief that people will be able to get private homeowners insurance. Check the dates carefully to ensure it is not during the time period stated in the emergency order.
If your insurance policy was canceled or not renewed, the OIR says you should email copies of the documents to HU-PCMR@FLOIR.com.
You can also call the Department of Financial Services' Consumer Services Assistance Line at 1-877-693-5236.
The line is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We also want to hear from you. If your property insurance was canceled or not renewed, despite the emergency orders for hurricanes Helene or Milton, please fill out the form below.
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