Insurers told: All or none [Homeowners Insurance in FL]

The St. Petersburg Times ^ | 1/18/2007 | Jennifer Liberto and Joni James

[DreamsofPolycarp]

Even after trying to make it personal, you still didn't answer the question.

Actually, I did. You just didn't like the answer or ignored it (answer, again: allow small insurance collectives, allow different deductibles for wind/fire, allow companies to tier more dramatically, allow companies to operate with less cash reserves on a temporary basis to try and get more competition in). Even then, I have not made some underhanded slap at your abilities to understand by being a jerk about your intelligence level as a preface to a question. You can thank me later. Is that what you call "trying to make it personal." or was there something else I missed?

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

we might have to do what we did when living in Beaumont TX when the oil boom busted.

Oh, My God. I get it now. You got caught in that? I am from that area, and my visits home to my parents in the late 80's were heartbreaking. Their house lost half its value overnight. Whole neighborhoods were abandon, thousands of lives ripped up. It was hard to see. I am really sorry that you went through it. It must have been tragic. Beaumont's population shrunk by almost 15% by 1988, and home prices there took a decade to recover.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

Thanks, but not even when a man has an abundance does his life consist in his stuff (aka "riches" if you know the story). We recovered, and were stronger for it. Economies swell, they bust. People do well, and they lose. Life is more than posessions, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. (weird juxatposition if you know the two sources for that last sentence).

It was also during that period of time that my youngest child was born mentally retarded. The finances, the job, the child....., all of them were a grief and a crushing burden....., and all of them were the best things that could have happened to me. They taught me what a lie and a slutty cheat the dreams of security, comfort and "success" are. Like the story of Bohnhoeffer blessing the prison..

Now that things are good, we don't put our hopes in them. If they come, great! If not, that is not AS good(!), but it is good. I guess I can say that "losing it all" doesnt scare me as bad. It is not life destroying (but the humiliation sucks), and you can get over it. Hope things work out for you in Florida.

[orlop9]

First, how've ya been? Second, I have a very simple question that I haven't been able to get a satisfactory answer to...

After the hurricanes, the Florida State govt. made it a point to say they would go after "price gougers", and there are laws concerning price gouging. Why do they not apply to the ridiculous increases to homeowners insurance? Not being a lawyer, I have to fall back to the dreaded "common sense approach".
I guess I'm lucky, didn't file a claim (dammit), my homeowners only doubled.

[Eagle Eye]

Doing well. Dealing with a layoff. And doubled homeowners! LOL

The insurers couldn't increase the rates but they can increase the premiums by reclassing everyone.

Some want to blame the state government and I'm sure they had a hand in it, but after working for at least three insurance companies of different types, I know that they will balk at paying claims when they can. I also have heard an insurance exec direct someone to interpret a rule in their favor because even a non compliance sanction from the state would be cheaper than following the rule as he knew it was intended to be.