Insurance struggles remain for Florida residents

ROTONDA WEST — Don and Belinda Olsen spent a quiet 30 years of their life in Illinois, enjoying their home, free of concerns about things like homeowners insurance.

They moved to Rotonda West in Charlotte County a few years ago and, again, had no worries about insurance. But, things changed.

The Olsens are caught up in the insurance quagmire that has snared thousands of Floridians in the past couple of years.

And, after Hurricane Ian took out its fury on their home, their problems became a nightmare.

"We had insurance with Frontline, but they told us just before the hurricane they were dropping us," Don Olsen said. "I didn't look for another company right away because you're suppose to wait until about six weeks before the policy runs out."

Hurricane Ian didn't wait for the policy to run out.

Although Don said their damage wasn't that significant, his claim forced Frontline to give him another year on the policy. He was thankful. But the time is near for that extension to end and he can't find a policy anywhere near what he was paying with Frontline.

"Insurance rates are out of control," he said. "I was paying about $1,200 for Frontline and the quotes I'm getting are around $3,400. I can't afford that."

What makes the situation even more exasperating for the Olsens is that some of their neighbors are still on Frontline. They said they understood the problem was with their local agency, Arnold Insurance.

Arnold Insurance officials told The Daily Sun it was Frontline that was pulling out of Charlotte County.

"We have not had Frontline as a carrier for more than a year," said Kyle Arnold, owner of the agency. "Mr. Olsen was not renewed before the hurricane, but they extended it a year after he had a claim.

"Frontline is still in the state, but not writing in our county (as far as I know). We used to help our customers find other carriers but the rates change so often (and so fast), it's hard to do."

Olsen's neighbor and friend, Bob Haskins, is in the same sinking boat.

"I had Frontline too and they extended me because of (Ian damage)," he said. "I put something out on Facebook about the problem I was having after Frontline dropped me and got around 80 responses. We're all caught up in the same problem.

"I know (the Legislature) changed the laws so it's harder for insurance companies to get sued, but they're not supporting us — the individual homeowners," he said. "The best price I am getting is $3,600 and I have only until the end of October to get a new company."

The seemingly growing threat of hurricanes, and the soaring costs of repairs, have sent several insurance companies scampering out of Florida.

The Legislature, in a bid to stem the exodus, has passed laws making it more difficult to sue insurers. One of those laws focused on new roofs that were being billed to insurers, even if sometimes the homes were not in desperate need of one.

Lawmakers are pleading for homeowners to be patient and give the new laws a chance to work — bringing new insurance companies to the state and and lowering costs. There have been a handful of new companies set up shop in Florida in the past six months.

But, so far, homeowners are still feeling the sting of higher costs and some contend they can't even find a company to insure them.

The problems have forced thousands more to flee to Citizens Insurance, the state-backed company that's considered insurance of last resort. That has put pressure on the state to figure out ways to get those insurance-seekers to do business elsewhere out of fear of the big hit Citizens will take if a couple of Category 5 hurricanes hit Florida in the same year.

The Olsens said they have talked to people whose insurance only went up a few hundred dollars since Ian, but they have had no luck getting what they feel is a reasonable quote. Belinda Olsen believes Frontline could have at least referred them to companies that could insure them at a reasonable cost.

"I have talked to some people who still can get Frontline, but I have had no luck. They say we are (designated) as new customers … And, on top of all this, I am probably going to have a big flood insurance bill. We've never carried flood insurance, but I'm finding that most insurance companies won't write a new policy unless you carry it."