Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Issues Emergency Order

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, the Florida Office of Palm Tree Swaying in StormInsurance Regulation (OIR) entered an emergency order to protect policyholders from potential abuse by their insurance companies.

Most notably, the emergency order:

  • Provides an additional 90 days for policyholders to provide notice to their insurance companies that their property has been damaged;
  • Bans insurance companies from raising rates on policy holders for a period of 90 days;
  • Prohibits insurance companies from canceling or not renewing policies related to property damaged by Hurricane Irma for 90 days; and
  • Instructs insurance companies to streamline their claim payment process.

If you are planning on submitting an insurance claim for damage caused by Hurricane Irma, please keep these provisions in mind. A copy of the full Emergency Order can be found here.