Whereas Jimmy Patronis and Governor DeSantis trumpet their newest emergency rule as shopper safety following the CBS 60 Minutes Expose famous in CBS 60 Minutes Exposes Alleged Insurance coverage Firm Fraud: Adjusters Reveal Altered Hurricane Injury Estimates by Claims Administration, the fact reveals a unique story. Governor DeSantis’s response to the CBS 60 Minutes exposé on insurance coverage fraud has been tellingly insufficient, demonstrating a transparent sample of prioritizing insurance coverage {industry} pursuits over policyholder safety. Somewhat than recommend concern for Florida policyholders and confronting the scandal head-on, DeSantis has centered on touting catastrophe fund distributions and celebrating his “reforms” that truly stripped policyholder rights. This superficial try at reform comes solely after CBS 60 Minutes uncovered widespread insurance coverage firm fraud, exhibiting how insurers systematically altered harm estimates to shortchange Florida policyholders.
Because the 2024 Presidential election concludes, one factor is for certain: Donald Trump appropriately famous how Florida’s Republican politicians are in mattress with the insurance coverage {industry} and its lobbyists by noting:
‘[T]he worst Insurance coverage Rip-off in your complete Nation!…the largest insurance coverage firm BAILOUT to Globalist Insurance coverage Corporations, IN HISTORY.’ Trump famous that the Insurance coverage Commissioner ‘does NOTHING, whereas Florida’s lives are ruined.’
Does DeSantis or Jimmy Patronis name out Trump for being unsuitable or inaccurate? No! Trump has precisely mirrored what DeSantis and Patronis have been—pawns of the insurance coverage {industry}.
In a world the place Floridian policyholders need to know whom to belief, pay attention rigorously to what Trump is saying and observe the insurance coverage cash.
Following the Cash Path
The comfortable relationship between Florida’s management and the insurance coverage {industry} is unattainable to disregard. Insurance coverage {industry} staff contributed a staggering $3.9 million to DeSantis’s gubernatorial marketing campaign and political committee between 2018 and 2022. This monetary backing preceded laws that made it considerably more durable for policyholders to sue insurance coverage corporations for wrongful practices, calling out insurance coverage claims executives who intentionally underpay or deny claims.
The Actual Impression on Policyholders
The December 2022 insurance coverage code rewrite, championed by DeSantis and Patronis, has devastated policyholder rights. As Amy Bach from United Policyholders notes, “It’s now economically absurdly dangerous for a shopper to file a lawsuit, and it’s going to be extremely arduous to discover a good lawyer.” As an alternative, the brand new laws handed by DeSantis and Patronis appears to have the fox guarding the henhouse in Florida’s insurance coverage regulation. Somewhat than permitting the victims to pursue civil treatments, the brand new legal guidelines have authorities bureaucrats making an attempt to do the identical. Need to guess how profitable that will probably be? DeSantis, Patronis and the insurance coverage foyer know that reply.
A Name for Actual Reform
Florida’s policyholders deserve real advocates, not political theater designed to appease public outrage whereas sustaining insurance coverage firm earnings. The emergency rule represents too little, too late, and fails to handle the basic imbalance of energy between insurance coverage corporations and their policyholders. Till Florida’s management prioritizes policyholder rights over insurance coverage {industry} earnings, owners will proceed to undergo below a system rigged towards them.
Patronis’ Harmful “No Contract” Rhetoric
In a very troubling growth, CFO Jimmy Patronis’s latest recommendation telling policyholders to “signal no contracts” demonstrates both a elementary misunderstanding of the claims course of or, extra doubtless, a deliberate try to drawback policyholders in favor of insurance coverage corporations. Skilled help is commonly essential for policyholders dealing with advanced insurance coverage claims. By discouraging contracts with licensed public adjusters and restoration contractors, Patronis successfully leaves susceptible owners to face refined insurance coverage corporations alone. This creates an inherently unbalanced scenario the place insurance coverage corporations maintain all of the playing cards.
Patronis’ recommendation is irresponsible and clearly sides with insurance coverage firm pursuits, maintaining policyholders uninformed and ignorant about their rights. There are various respected insurance coverage restoration contractors and licensed Florida public adjusters who may also help and make it possible for policyholders have their companies and houses shortly rebuilt and the total quantities of cash paid — cash that will probably be wrongly delayed if folks observe Patronis’ ignorant and insurance coverage industry-sponsored recommendation.
Patronis’s stance aligns completely with insurance coverage {industry} pursuits. By discouraging policyholders from securing skilled illustration, insurance coverage corporations face much less scrutiny and resistance when undervaluing claims. This “useful recommendation” serves to keep up the ability imbalance that enables insurers to reduce payouts whereas maximizing earnings.
The Actual Value to Owners
With out skilled illustration secured by means of correct contracts, many policyholders lack the experience to establish all lined damages. They’ll miss essential documentation necessities. They’ll settle for lowball settlements out of desperation. They’ll don’t have any refined advocate when claims are denied or delayed.
This misguided steerage from Florida’s CFO represents yet one more instance of state management prioritizing insurance coverage firm pursuits over the rights and wishes of Florida’s property homeowners.
Be a part of the Battle In opposition to Insurance coverage Business Abuse
The time has come for policyholders to take a united stand towards the systematic exploitation by insurance coverage corporations and their allies within the Florida authorities. The latest emergency rule in Florida, whereas masquerading as shopper safety, fails to handle the basic concern: Insurance coverage corporations are systematically underpaying claims and getting away with it.
The Battle Traces Are Drawn
On one facet stand the insurance coverage corporations, backed by thousands and thousands in marketing campaign contributions and guarded by politicians who serve their pursuits. On the opposite facet are owners, households, and companies preventing for truthful remedy and full compensation for his or her losses. The insurance coverage {industry} continues to control harm estimates, delay legit claims, disguise behind advanced coverage language authorized by insurance coverage regulators, and use political affect to keep away from accountability.
Be a part of us on this essential battle for policyholder rights. We will expose the reality, demand justice, and be certain that insurance coverage corporations fulfill their guarantees to policyholders. The time for motion is now. Look ahead to seeing these in particular person towards the insurance coverage foyer in Tallahassee on these points subsequent Monday.
Thought For The Day
We aren’t sticking up for small companies and people within the state of Florida, who’re being taken benefit of by numerous these insurance coverage corporations who aren’t doing proper by them.
—Senator Erin Grall
