Seniors and veterans deserve strong protection, especially during moments of crisis.
After a fire, storm, or significant property loss, insured policyholders often face the worst financial emergency of their lives, compounded by the stress and confusion of the claims process.
In those moments, understanding what your insurance policy actually provides can mean the difference between financial safety and long-term hardship. That reality is why consumer protections must be applied fairly, grounded in how the insurance system really works.
Public insurance adjusters work for policyholders, not insurance companies. We are often the only licensed professionals in the claims process whose legal duty is solely to the homeowner. We sit at the kitchen table and translate the complicated insurance jargon in policies to help families understand what coverage they actually have versus what they think they have.
Without this guidance, vulnerable populations, like seniors and veterans, are often left overwhelmed and alone to interpret language that has become more complex as insurers quietly reduce coverage and increase deductibles.
SB 266’s broad language suggests that consumers’ only licensed insurance advocates are somehow a threat to seniors and veterans. As president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA), I respectfully disagree with the bill as it is currently written. This narrative not only threatens the critical role we play in protecting policyholders, but it also ignores existing Florida Supreme Court precedent that already prevents abuse across all insurance-related industries.
For more than a century, Florida courts have applied the same standard across all industries: if an individual is unable to understand the nature and consequences of a transaction reasonably, that contract may be set aside. This protection already applies to every contractual relationship in Florida, from home repairs and insurance policies to real estate and financial agreements.
SB 266 does not close a gap in consumer protection; it selectively duplicates an existing safeguard while singling out one profession for different treatment. If the concern is whether vulnerable Floridians understand what they are signing, that concern should extend across the entire insurance ecosystem, not be narrowly applied to one group of crucial consumer advocates.
FAPIA supports strong ethical standards and meaningful consumer safeguards. The state rigorously regulates our industry through licensing requirements, contract disclosures, cancellation rights and oversight by the Department of Financial Services. Bad actors have no place in our industry, and we support enforcement against them.
If lawmakers are concerned about contract comprehension during times of crisis, that concern should apply consistently. In some instances, seniors and veterans are required to sign agreements with insurer-selected vendors that manage and perform repairs, often with little explanation or independent guidance. Consumers are asked to sign releases or waive their rights without professional guidance.
Singling out public adjusters only raises questions about why one form of advocacy — the one specifically designed to protect consumer rights — is treated differently from all others.
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Frank Altieri is a licensed public adjuster and president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters.