Homeowners in Florida are navigating a new landscape as the 2026 hurricane season approaches, facing a more competitive insurance market but also new laws affecting how quickly they must file claims. For many, the key to survival is being proactive.<\/p>\n
Homeowner Cari D’Angelo has installed accordion shutters on her windows and back door, but stresses that physical protection complements, and does not replace, a solid hurricane insurance policy.<\/p>\n
“Protection and prevention from damage are key. Rather than be reactive, you be proactive?” D’Angelo said.<\/p>\n
D’Angelo kept the same insurance carrier but switched to a local broker, Nicole Marcus, in the last year, citing the broker’s ability to stay current with changes in the law.<\/p>\n
Marcus notes that Florida now has about 25 quality home insurers, which signals a more competitive market than in recent years.<\/p>\n
“There was a point when you’d get a renewal, and you were getting 50, 60, 70 percent increases, sometimes a 100 percent rate, and there was nowhere to go,” Marcus said.<\/p>\n
The competitive market offers an opportunity for the estimated 15 to 20 percent of Florida homeowners who currently have no insurance to reconsider coverage.<\/p>\n
“Are you willing to spend $700,000 out of pocket to make the repairs, or is it better to risk it and get a premium of $7,000 to $8,000 a year?” Marcus asked.<\/p>\n
Marcus also warned that homeowners who enroll just before hurricane season starts could face higher premiums or be denied coverage, as most insurers place a block on starting new policies if severe weather is threatening.<\/p>\n
For those who do file a claim, insurance lawyer Dairon Montes de-Oca says new state laws have created a more corporate-friendly environment, which has attracted more insurers back to Florida.<\/p>\n
Homeowners now have one year to file a claim, down from two years. Insurers must also decide whether to pay or deny a claim within 60 days, shortened from the previous 90-day period.<\/p>\n
“So while you’re filing faster, they have to respond faster when you do file,” de-Oca said.<\/p>\n