Palm Beach Post readers speak out on Florida's ongoing property insurance crisis | Letters

Editor's Note: Soaring property insurance premiums plague many of our readers, who in recent months have made their feelings known in letters to the editor. We are republishing several of those letters in an effort to keep the issue front and center for our state and federal officials, who must address this growing crisis.

Oversight needed for insurance

Can anyone explain this business model: Provide a service at top dollar that you have very little intention of providing. Then when you don't or delay that service and are taken to court, complain that you can't do business because too many people are suing you. This seems to be the model for the homeowners insurance industry. If you own your home outright, better to put those premiums into a bank account. How is that any worse than paying for a policy that doesn't pay out in a timely fashion, or not at all? Our Governor and those in Tallahassee need to focus on a real issue in Florida, not book bans and anti-woke agendas.

Mike Hundley, West Palm Beach

Our View: Editorial: We asked the experts when property insurance bills will drop. The answer's bad.

Why should America bail out Florida?

Re Sen. Rick Scott's op-ed on the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act: I remember when a Republican believed in self-reliance, personal responsibility, states rights and a small federal government. Florida has swollen to over 20 million people, and a state that by an act of God is hurricane central and also lightning and tornado alley should weigh heavily on anyone's decision to migrate to Florida. With natural disasters being a yearly occurrence, maybe it's time for the other 49 states to say the price tag for maintaining and sustaining Florida is unacceptable.

This bill is nothing more than a federal handout or welfare. Floridians, accept responsibility for your decisions and pay your own way. The fact that insurance companies are fleeing a state that is constantly declaring a federal disaster response, should be a wake-up call. Federal intervention is encouraging more homes to be built, inflating property values and essentially placing more life and property in harms way. At the very least rename the Bill the Federal Disaster Irresponsibility Act.

Willam Damato, Boynton Beach

More on the insurance crisis: Florida officials too slow to overhaul homeowners insurance system | Opinion

Prepaid wind policies should stay covered

I have a wind policy that renews in December every year. I have been paying exorbitant rates to maintain this policy and have never filed a claim. I have just received a notice from my wind insurer, Maison Insurance Company, that my policy will be canceled on June 29. This is so even though all premiums have been paid in full since December, 2021. The company accepted huge, inflated premiums when virtually no risk existed and cancelled the policy exactly at the time when the covered risk becomes a viable reality. The letter I received indicates the company is canceling 3,300 policies to maintain “the financial ability of the company.” In my opinion, an insurance company should not be allowed to terminate its contractual obligations during the pre-paid term of the policy unless the company declares bankruptcy.

Paul Stark, Jupiter

More on the insurance crisis: Editorial: Don't let insurers off the legal hook

Insurance article missed some facts

I did not see any discussion in the article regarding the problems homeowners have with their insurers. Many insurers deny coverage automatically requiring the homeowner to hire an attorney to protect their rights under the policy. Furthermore, I paid for mitigation measures to my home (e.g. new roof, garage door) and subsequently was informed that the insurer no longer offers a premium discount for these measures.

Michael Schiff, Delray Beach

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Beef between Florida homeowners' and insurance companies intensifies.