LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. – In less than two weeks, Florida lawmakers will be in Tallahassee for a special session.
It’s expected to last three days next month and will cover topics like hurricane relief and lowering the cost of homeowners insurance.
Maria Caballero is one of hundreds of homeowners who’ve been hit with increased homeowners insurance premiums – and she hopes lawmakers will take the time to discuss the insurance crisis during the special session in November.
The session is expected to last three days in November and will cover several topics, including lowering the cost of homeowners insurance.
Caballero applauds the efforts made so far to make property insurance more affordable, but says it’s not enough.
Since she bought her home three years ago, her insurance has gone from $4,000 to $7,000.
“You really trust the insurance company to do the right thing. But for me personally, they’re not,” says Caballero.
She’s not alone.
Public adjuster Nicolas Canino told the News that some of his clients are paying out of pocket for home repairs because some insurance companies are refusing to do so.
“They’re definitely worried that every time they file a claim, their premium will go up, and that’s something we have no control over. That’s up to the insurance companies, but it’s definitely a fear of every homeowner,” Canino said.
Earlier this year, Florida lawmakers overturned a century-old policy aimed at restoring the balance of power when it comes to legal fees and property insurance claims.
Homeowners like Caballero say more needs to be done – but Florida State Representative Randy Fine says Floridians need to be patient.
“Your insurance rates are based on your historical costs. Now we’ve done some things to change them going forward, and we need to let that take effect. The problem was built up over time, it can’t go away immediately,” said Rep. Fine.
Things are looking up, according to Fine, with at least five new private insurance companies coming to Florida.
“We’re trying to create a more robust market and we’re definitely moving in the right direction, whether we’re moving fast enough, whether we can do more, those are fair questions to ask,” Fine said.
