One of my TWIA slab case clients was very happy about the proposed resolution of her claim. Her tone changed when she mentioned that TWIA raising rates five percent. I have often felt that our elected leaders are in a no-win situation when the people electing them to office hold a noose over their neck when it comes to government sponsored insurance. Voters want lower rates, even if that means the government charges absurdly low rates and unfairly competes with private enterprise.
Citizens Mission Review Task Force
An Insurance Risk Manager Gives Fantastic Advice to Policyholders Getting Ready for a Potential Hurricane Claim
By Chip Merlin on
At the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Hurricane Seminar this morning, Brent Winans of the Plastridge Agency gave a fantastic presentation, "10 Ways to Get Ready for a Hurricane Claim in 10 Minutes." Winans holds the coveted CPCU designation and is Vice President of Risk Management Services.…
State Farm Small Competitors
By Chip Merlin on
Americans love to root for underdogs. It is part of our value system that anybody can become successful in this Country through hard, honest work and perseverance. Floridians are rooting for the small competitors of State Farm since State Farm’s announcement that it is leaving Florida’s property insurance market.
The St Petersburg Times noted that…
Fair And Balanced
By Chip Merlin on
Nobody calls my office telling me what a great job their adjuster has done to fairly maximize their recovery in a prompt manner. Why should they? Risk managers, property managers, insurance agents, attorneys, public adjusters and policyholders, generally call our firm because they need help with claim delay or a denial. Their stories usually have derogatory, but colorful, language describing the insurance company representatives.…
Late Reported Claims, Public Adjuster Fee Caps, And Sinkhole Coverage
By Chip Merlin on
I really suck at politics. It is why I have not one, but two, lobbyists help me. Jon Moyle and Chris Floyd stick out in Tallahassee because they are two of the few lobbyists who are trying to help consumers. Most lobbyists are the "bad guys" from the consumer’s standpoint, although insurance lobbyists create propaganda to convince consumers and politicians otherwise. I guess insurance company lobbyists are "sneaky bad guys" with a lot of money.…
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Why Causes Of Loss Are Important To You
The probability of a ruinous event happening may change behavior or cause you to insure to reduce the misery. The greater the financial misery, the more likely you are to insure yourself when it strikes. The greater the chance of the event happening, the more likely you will take measures to avoid the misery.
The American Association of Insurance Services recently published its Homeowners Cause of Loss Report. It details the cause of reported losses from 2005 through 2007 for property and liability payments on Homeowners policies. While the expanded version which lists the cause of loss by state is not available to the public, the property loss statistics are informative:…
Citizens, Secrets, and Make Believe
By Chip Merlin on
Posted in Citizens Mission Review Task Force, Insurance
My last meeting as a member of the Citizens Mission Review Task Force is today. There is already dissatisfaction with the Task Force and our Report is not complete.…
Responding to the Media About The Insurance Financial Crisis
The Tampa Tribune ran an editorial on January 12th regarding the Citizens Mission Review Task Force. As usual, I had something to say about their opinion, and wrote the the following reply, which was published in Sunday’s paper:
Florida Dangerously Vulnerable
This is in response to the Jan. 12 editorial, "New Ideas Could Bring
…
Headlines And Reality
By Chip Merlin on
The Citizens Mission Review Task Force made a significant recommendation at its meeting on Tuesday. Prior testimony was that the average Florida rate hike, which would be approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation, would almost certainly be higher than 30%. We recommended to the Florida Legislature that they to pass a statute to cap that rate increase at 10%. Without this law, the rate would probably go up over 30% on a statewide basis.…
Actuaries Are Underwriters With No Personality
By Chip Merlin on
My Tuesday morning last week started with an early interview with a Tampa radio station, WFLA, regarding the Citizens Mission Review Task Force. Insurance rates, caps to rate increases, bankruptcy of the state, and hurricanes could only make the morning radio news in Florida. What happened to the debate about Sarah Palin’s sexiness? Anything is more exciting than topics discussed by actuaries. …
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