Gulf Coast residents face insurance non-renewals and rising premiums in Florida
NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Citizens Insurance has sent 45,000 letters to policy holders and many letters were sent to Gulf Coast residents notifying them that their policies will not be renewed, leaving many facing skyrocketing premiums and limited options for coverage.
“It’s terrible we’re put in that position,” said Carol Rock, who lives in New York but is caring for her ailing mother in the North Fort Myers neighborhood of Lake Arrowhead. “I have a big home, a really nice big home, and my insurance is probably half of what my mother’s insurance is here in Lake Arrowhead,” she said.
The letters warn that rates could rise to nearly $5,000 a month, creating financial strain for many residents. “Everybody’s doubling and tripling, where do they think this money is going to come from? It’s sad,” said Maryann Almeida of Lake Arrowhead. She added, “It’s scary! It’s bad. You don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring.”
Many homeowners are finding that their insurance coverage does not match the value of their homes. “I’m paying $3,200 and I get $75,000 coverage for my house, which buying it was close to the $150,000 range,” said James Hembree of North Fort Myers.
Citizens Insurance is working to reduce its policy count, which peaked at 1.4 million and now stands at 270,000. “Last week we sent out about 45,000 letters to folks from private companies that would like to take their policies,” said Michael Peltier, spokesperson for Citizens Insurance.
However, Peltier acknowledged that premiums from private companies are often higher. “I think this is the latest indication that the market is getting healthier. There’s more competition out there,” he said.
While the insurance market may be improving, residents are still facing higher premiums, which present significant financial challenges. “It’s no secret to anyone that insurance in Florida is expensive. We live in a hurricane-prone state with water on three sides,” Peltier said.
Florida now has the highest insurance rates in the country, leaving residents like Hembree questioning their future. “I retired for a reason, and I don’t want to keep working. I want to enjoy the state of Florida,” he said.
Insurance experts say the best advice is to shop around and try to find alternatives, as many residents have about a year to figure out their next steps.
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