© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Citizens Insurance Introduces Plans To Clarify Depopulation

Citizens Insurance VP of Consumer and Agent Services speaking December 9 at the insurance company's quarterly meeting.
Florida Channel
Citizens Insurance VP of Consumer and Agent Services speaking December 9 at the insurance company's quarterly meeting.
Citizens Insurance VP of Consumer and Agent Services speaking December 9 at the insurance company's quarterly meeting.
Credit Florida Channel
Citizens Insurance VP of Consumer and Agent Services speaking December 9 at the insurance company's quarterly meeting.

Citizens insurance is touting its efforts to move policies into the private market—a process known as depopulation.  Florida’s insurer of last resort is introducing new plans to make the move more transparent.

The state-backed insurer concluded its final meeting of the year Wednesday, highlighting its ability to shift 300,000 policies to the private sector since January.  Citizens official Steve Bitar says the company is making changes to improve the depopulation process for consumers.

“The first of which is the addition of premium estimates to the communications that are sent by the take out companies to the consumers,” Bitar says.  “The OIR is requiring that either a premium estimate or a phone number where a consumer can call to get that estimate is provided on that communication which helps immensely.”

The state Office of Insurance Regulation, or OIR, added the requirement so people can more easily see what they’ll pay with a private insurer.  Citizens will also begin sending an initial letter to policyholders who are candidates for depopulation, and it has made it easier to find opt out forms on its website.

Copyright 2020 WFSU. To see more, visit WFSU.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.
You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.