Gov. Scott requests additional 90 days for policyholders to supply Irma info to insurance companies; establishes helpline

Gov. scott requests additional 90 days for policyholders to supply irma info to insurance companies; establishes helpline

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Governor Rick Scott directed Florida Insurance Commissioner Commissioner David Altmaier to take the following action to provide additional protections pursuant to Executive Order 17-235 for Florida policyholders :

  1. Provide an additional 90 days to policyholders to supply required information to their insurance company. Many Floridians were displaced during this dangerous storm, and providing additional time to submit information to insurance companies gives them needed flexibility.
  2. Require all non-renewal or cancellations issued to policyholders in the days leading up to Hurricane Irma be rescinded for 90 days. This gives policyholders 90 days to either renew their insurance policy, or find a new policy; and
  3. Freeze any and all efforts to increase rates on policyholders for 90 days. Due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma, Floridians should be focused on getting back to their normal lives without their insurance premiums being increased.

CFO Patronis’ toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-877-693-5236) can answer business and consumer-oriented insurance-related questions. CFO Patronis has launched a Hurricane Irma Insurance Resources webpage to provide comprehensive insurance information. Access the webpage by clicking on the “Hurricane Irma” button on www.myfloridacfo.com.

Governor Scott said,“Throughout the preparation and response to Hurricane Irma, we have been in constant contact with the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to find ways to help our state recover. I know that CFO Patronis and his team will quickly respond to the needs of Florida families, prevent fraud and quickly assess claims so families can get the service they deserve.”

“Hurricane Irma was a storm unlike anything we have seen before, and as residents across the state travel home to assess damages to their homes and businesses, we stand ready to help with any insurance issues that arise,” added CFO Jimmy Patronis.  “Insurance can be complicated, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect policyholders throughout the entire recovery process.  Our team of insurance experts are standing by to take Floridians’ calls at 1-877-693-5236.”

Governor Scott also directed his staff to work closely with OIR, DFS and the entire insurance industry prior to landfall to ensure Florida’s policyholders are the top priority. This includes pre-staging assets to quickly assess claims and ensuring each insurance company has the resources they need to expedite the claims process.

The Office of Insurance Regulation also has additional storm-related materials at: www.floir.com/Office/HurricaneSeason/hurricaneresourcepage.aspx.

 

Picture of Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in content marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from the University of Florida and a Content Manager Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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