Science & Environment

Yet Another Major Insurance Company Drops Florida Policies Due To Storms

AAA has introduced that it’s scaling again a few of its home-owner’s insurance coverage protection in Florida, with the choice aligning with a number of different main insurance coverage suppliers amid an increase in pure disasters.

“Unfortunately, Florida’s insurance market has become challenging in recent years,” the corporate mentioned in a press release Tuesday.

“Last year’s catastrophic hurricane season contributed to an unprecedented rise in reinsurance rates, making it more costly for insurance companies to operate. Prior to that, the market was already strained by increased claims costs due to inflation and excessive litigation,” the assertion continued.

Only “a very small percentage” of upper publicity home-owner’s insurance policies are affected by the change, and people policyholders have been notified that their plan is not going to renew, the corporate mentioned. A spokesperson declined to specify the variety of insurance policies or the place within the state they’re positioned.

A collapsed house is seen in Naples, Florida, following Hurricane Ian in 2022. The Category 5 Atlantic hurricane was the third-costliest climate catastrophe on document.

Peter Dazeley by way of Getty Images

The announcement got here per week after Farmers Insurance Group introduced that it could not write any new insurance policies or renew current home-owner, auto and umbrella insurance policies for individuals in Florida. Last yr Bankers Insurance and Lexington Insurance, a subsidiary of AIG, additionally pulled out of the Florida owners market.

“This business decision was necessary to effectively manage risk exposure,” Farmers mentioned in a press release launched to the Tampa Bay Times.

Farmers in May equally mentioned it could not provide new dwelling insurance coverage insurance policies in California resulting from extra frequent and intense wildfires. The insurance coverage firm blamed its resolution, in a beforehand launched assertion, on “historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market.”

A skeleton in sunglasses sits beside a sign reading "Just waiting for the insurance check," on Florida's Sanibel Island in May. The area was hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
A skeleton in sun shades sits beside an indication studying “Just waiting for the insurance check,” on Florida’s Sanibel Island in May. The space was hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

It’s getting more durable to dwell within the Sunshine State, with Floridians paying on common about $6,000 for his or her yearly dwelling insurance coverage premium, a 42% improve in comparison with final yr, Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, not too long ago told USA Today. The common annual premium within the U.S., as compared, prices $1,700.

Floridians have additionally needed to cope with exceptionally high inflation rates and housing prices amid an ongoing flood of latest residents from different elements of the nation.

Forecasters have in the meantime given combined predictions on this yr’s hurricane season within the Atlantic, which started final month and can final by November.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted a near-normal hurricane activity season with 12 to 17 complete named storms — one to 4 of which it mentioned might develop into main hurricanes.

Colorado State University has meanwhile predicted that the season will likely be “above average, with 18 named storms — four of which they predict will become major hurricanes. CSU previously estimated that the season would be “near average” however up to date its prediction resulting from document heat sea floor temperatures in many of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic.




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