A multi-bill effort led by attorney lawmakers in the Florida House of Representatives would roll-back many property insurance litigation reforms passed in the 2022-2023 legislative session. Those reforms are reminiscent of the Workers’ Compensation insurance reforms passed in the early 2000’s that today has Florida boasting one of the lowest workers’ comp rates in the country. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with Jon Shebel, former President & CEO of Associated...
Apr 19, 2025•27 min•Ep. 57
A sensational newspaper article alleging bad deeds by Florida insurance companies is prompting the Florida House of Representatives to look into the relationship between companies and their Managing General Agents (MGAs) and affiliated companies. The Tampa Bay Times reported the companies diverted billions of dollars to affiliates while claiming to lose money from hurricanes, based on the newspaper’s reading of a regulator’s draft report. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller ...
Mar 10, 2025•32 min•Ep. 56
One of the elements credited in the evolving success of Florida’s recent property insurance reforms is data collection and reporting. Property insurance companies are required to provide regulators with specific data on litigated claims. The number of lawsuits decreased significantly in 2024 as a result and with it, upward pressure on homeowners insurance rates. Now there’s a push to implement a litigation data standard nationwide. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller sits do...
Jan 06, 2025•27 min•Ep. 55
Amid accusations that Florida’s property insurance companies, including state-backed Citizens Insurance, are deliberately paying only half their claims and “in a state of collapse,” comes new insight and fresh data that debunk the charges. The man behind the allegations is Martin Weiss of Weiss Ratings, who’s now the subject of an investigation by state insurance regulators. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller shares the new push-back from Citizens’ President & CEO on th...
Dec 09, 2024•32 min•Ep. 54
Why were some homes in Hurricanes Helene and Milton heavily damaged while others sustained little or no damage? Much of the answer lies with the building materials and techniques used in their construction. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with a building science researcher, a building products manufacturer, and a developer whose homes survived unscathed from the hurricanes about how resilient construction can save money and insurance costs for both new and existing...
Oct 27, 2024•40 min•Ep. 53
What’s going on with property insurance in Florida? Specifically rates, coverage, condominiums, automobile insurance, telematics, flood insurance, and the reinsurance costs that carriers pass along to consumers. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller gets to the heart of the issues with three experienced insurance agents in South, Central, and North Florida who share their insights and suggestions on improving Florida’s challenging property insurance market. Show Notes Host Lis...
Aug 30, 2024•34 min•Ep. 52
High-risk flood zones are expanding this year along significant stretches of Florida’s coastline. In Broward County, nearly 90,000 properties have been moved into a FEMA flood zone. But 80,000 of them were in such a zone prior to ten years ago, when FEMA moved them out – only to add them back in this year. Many will now have to purchase flood insurance. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with the county floodplain manager for an explanation, the reporter who broke the...
Jul 30, 2024•33 min•Ep. 51
A new working paper from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that for every dollar spent to elevate or buy-out a flooded home, $2.69 would be saved in future costs over the next 30 years. Of the 1.3 million projects the paper identifies, roughly 138,000 would see a greater savings of $6 dollars. Total savings would amount to $519 billion in future damage if governments and homeowners together would spend $193 billion today. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller sat down ...
Jun 19, 2024•30 min•Ep. 50
A new report claims that Florida's property insurance market is full of “low quality insurers,” especially those Florida-based companies that write the bulk of the 7.5 million homeowners and condo insurance policies. It casts aspersions on Demotech, the rating agency that reviews their financial stability. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller sat down with Demotech President Joe Petrelli to get the other side of the story that the report didn't. She also learned that it wasn'...
Apr 22, 2024•23 min•Ep. 49
How will the insurance bills that passed in the recently completed 2024 Florida legislative session compliment past marketplace reforms? Is a property insurance market marred by carrier insolvencies in recent years and ongoing double-digit rate increases starting to stabilize? Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with two legislators about the new laws expected to impact Florida’s property insurance and real estate markets, reinsurance prices, condominium affordability,...
Mar 12, 2024•38 min•Ep. 48
Ray Shelton, Ph.D. is a nationally-known expert on stress and the impacts it has on frontline personnel in disasters and other crises. He is a Fellow and the Director of Professional Development for The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, in Miller Place, New York. He’s seen tragedy first-hand over 35 years serving with the Nassau County, New York Police department, including the Twin Towers Collapse during 9/11. He’s also a former firefighter and paramedic. “The adjusters are no di...
Feb 28, 2024•22 min•Ep. 47
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are getting closer to providing insurance companies with a new underwriting tool to combat fraud: the ability to review meeting minutes and other public documents from homeowners and condominium associations, whose communities are home to nearly half of Florida’s 22.3 million residents. Several Florida associations have been accused of recent wrongdoing, including one where four former board members were arrested, accused of engaging ...
Nov 14, 2023•28 min•Ep. 46
Media coverage has intensified over an allegation by three independent insurance adjusters that Florida property insurance companies are cheating their policyholders out of rightful claim payouts. The three accuse the industry of altering their field adjuster reports and reducing claim payouts – all without their knowledge or approval. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller sat down with two independent field adjusters and an attorney who represents insurance companies to learn...
Jun 02, 2023•33 min•Ep. 45
An interim report submitted to the Florida Building Commission says that Southwest Florida coastal communities impacted by last September’s Hurricane Ian were “ill-prepared” for the storm surge and flooding, despite lessons on wind mitigation learned from Hurricane Charley 18 years earlier. Ian was the costliest storm in Florida history, killing 156 people and causing an estimated $109.5 billion in damage in Florida. Only an estimated half of that will be covered by insurance. Former Florida Dep...
May 15, 2023•38 min•Ep. 44
The December 2022 property insurance market reforms passed by the Florida Legislature are making a big difference already, with fewer and less severe non-hurricane claims and fewer daily lawsuits, according to a major Florida insurance company. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with Stacey Giulianti of Florida Peninsula Insurance Company on how the reforms have leveled the playing field in insurance litigation and together with innovative industry practices, will bri...
Feb 16, 2023•34 min•Ep. 43
Florida property insurance companies, their policyholders, and repair contractors are starting the New Year with a new law designed to reform an out-of-control marketplace. The Florida Legislature in December passed comprehensive measures to stem high insurance and reinsurance rates, carrier insolvencies, inflated claims, excessive litigation, and an overly-competitive residual market. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with Citizens Property Insurance President &...
Dec 30, 2022•43 min•Ep. 42
The Florida Legislature is meeting in special session the week of December 12 to address two issues vital to Florida’s economy: disaster relief for Hurricane Ian victims and further insurance consumer protections for homeowners across the state. Property insurance and reinsurance rates have grown by 100% or more in the past three years, yet insurance companies’ losses continue, with six carriers becoming insolvent this year, and 13 others withdrawing coverage, driven in part by a nearly 400% inc...
Dec 09, 2022•48 min•Ep. 41
Most damage from Hurricane Ian appears to be from flooding, rather than wind, and thus won’t be covered under most Florida homeowners insurance policies. Insurance adjusters face a challenging job now determining whether it was wind or water or both that damaged a home, and in some cases in what order, for hundreds of thousands of properties across Florida. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with a seasoned insurance defense lawyer on how coverage is determined, who w...
Oct 31, 2022•42 min•Ep. 40
Alternative dispute resolution – including appraisal – is playing an increasingly important role in settling homeowners property insurance claims. Florida’s 2019 Assignment of Benefits (AOB) law requires third party contractors to utilize these alternatives before filing a lawsuit against an insurance company, if required by the policy. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with a repair contractor and an insurance appraiser who share how today’s technology and methods c...
Sep 02, 2022•51 min•Ep. 39
The Florida Legislature in a May special session passed a series of reforms to help stabilize a property insurance market that has seen a growing number of carriers stop writing business or becoming insolvent. Homeowners rates keep growing by double-digits and coverage is increasingly difficult to obtain. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller talks with a lawmaker who was one of the handful of leaders behind the reforms and the head of a litigation analytics firm on whether th...
Jun 23, 2022•35 min•Ep. 38
The Florida Legislature will meet in a special session May 23-27 called by Governor Ron DeSantis to “bring some sanity and stabilize” Florida’s property insurance market. Homeowners are suffering big rate increases and some have lost their coverage, while a growing number of insurance companies are going insolvent or reducing or eliminating their policy-writing in the state. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller explores the problems in the marketplace with an insurance agency...
May 04, 2022•31 min•Ep. 37
Beside their direct impact on Florida homeowners, multiple double-digit rate increases in property insurance are impacting Florida’s real estate market as well. If rates continue to rise, there’s concern they will affect the availability and affordability of insurance for new homebuyers. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller explores the reasons for the increases, including increased insurance litigation, and how they’re now impacting the state’s economy. Show Notes In a recen...
Feb 11, 2022•26 min•Ep. 36
The Florida Legislature begins its 2022 session on January 11. Among the bills filed are those seeking enhanced insurance consumer protection, greater safety for high-rise condominium buildings following the Surfside collapse, COVID-19 relief, controls on prescription drug costs, and legislative redistricting. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller sat down with state capitol reporters Mike Vasilinda of Capitol News Service and Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida, to di...
Dec 22, 2021•27 min•Ep. 35
Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier told a legislative committee in late September that the state’s property insurance market is in “critical condition” with a growing number of insurance companies losing money and consumers facing continued double-digit rate increases. A new set of reforms designed to help is already being challenged in federal court by roofers and restoration companies. Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller sat down with Jose Pagan , a former fraud...
Oct 27, 2021•35 min•Ep. 34
In the wake of the Champlain Towers South condominium building collapse, insurance companies are looking to tighten their underwriting requirements on Florida condo association policies. Policy renewal premiums are expected to increase up to 25% for those that can’t show a good building maintenance record. While the commercial residential market tightens, Florida’s homeowners insurance market is going through an upheaval of its own. One insurance litigation reform measure passed into law is now ...
Aug 30, 2021•31 min•Ep. 33
Florida’s new property insurance reform law takes effect on July 1. While its intent is good, Florida policyholders are in desperate need for the law to have a significant impact on double-digit rate increases and questionable door-to-door solicitation practices. Will it deliver? Former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner Lisa Miller walks us through the details of Senate Bill 76 with two insurance defense lawyers who provide experienced analysis and perspective on each section of the new law,...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 1 min
The Florida Legislature has passed a property insurance reform bill designed to stem double-digit rate increases, costly claims practices, and excessive litigation. While the bill awaits the Governor’s expected signature into law, there are questions about just how effective it will really be. Host Lisa Miller, a former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner, talks with a leading state Senator and a veteran insurance defense attorney and legal strategist on what the measure does and doesn’t do – ...
May 24, 2021•30 min
Florida’s residential and commercial property insurance market is in a precarious state of flux, for both insurance companies and consumers. Old hurricane claims, litigation abuse, and fraudulent repair tactics have led to big underwriting losses and rising reinsurance rates. Those are being passed along to Florida residents in double-digit rate increases – some as high as 50%. Host Lisa Miller, a former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner, talks with two veteran insurance agents on the frontl...
Mar 26, 2021•32 min
Whether you’re an insurance consumer or professional, 2020 is providing lessons and insight into the changing Florida insurance market for 2021. How can you get the best priced coverage for your needs? And for insurance professionals, how can you better serve your customers now and in the long-run? Host Lisa Miller, a former Florida Deputy Insurance Commissioner, talks with Amy O’Connor of the Insurance Journal and Carol Williams , a strategy and risk consultant for insurance companies, on the q...
Dec 21, 2020•22 min
As hurricane season heats up, a growing number of properties located outside of FEMA-designated high-risk flood zones are actually flooding. The problem is especially bad in the urban areas of America’s cities. A national survey shows nearly 85% report experiencing urban flooding. Insurance claims are on the rise, too. Host Lisa Miller, a former deputy insurance commissioner, talks with Sam Brody of Texas A&M University about his latest research and fellow scientist and resiliency expert Ale...
Jul 26, 2020•24 min
