Florida-Backed Citizens Insurance Eyes Rate Hikes

Insurance Policy (Source: TFP File Photo)

The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Governors on Wednesday will consider a proposal that would lead to an average 13.5 percent rate increase in 2025 for homeowners with the most-common type of policy and an average 14.2 percent increase for condominium-unit owners.

Citizens released information Tuesday evening that said the proposal would lead to an average 14 percent increase for all “personal lines” policies, which include such things as homeowners, condo-unit owners, renters and mobile-home owners.

If the Board of Governors signs off on the proposal, the hikes also would need approval from the state Office of Insurance Regulation.

Read: Florida Guide To Winning The War Against Mosquitoes

Also Tuesday, the state insurer posted online that it had 1,202,696 policies as of Friday, up from 1,198,265 policies a week earlier and 1,193,484 policies two weeks earlier.

Citizens, which was created as an insurer of last resort, has become the state’s largest carrier in recent years as private companies dropped policies and raised rates because of financial problems.

Citizens reached as many as 1.412 million policies in fall 2023 before seeing reductions because of what is known as a “depopulation” program designed to shift policies into the private market.

__Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.__

Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter.Sign up for our free newsletter.