Insurance village to return

PUNTA GORDA — For those in Charlotte, Sarasota and DeSoto counties still battling non-responsive insurance companies or who need help with a lingering claim, another insurance village is planned in Punta Gorda.

The state Division of Consumer Services is sponsoring an insurance village from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 27 at the Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, and June 28-29 at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center, 75 Taylor St. in Punta Gorda.

Policyholders can speak to insurance agents representing 12 companies. The villages will serve as an opportunity to meet with a property insurer to resolve outstanding claims.

The insurance villages will exclusively focus on insurance-related issues; help with post-storm benefits such as Small Business Administration loans will not be available.

Policyholders should bring as much documentation as they can, including a driver's license or other form of identification (passport/state-issued ID); insurance cards and insurance policy information/documentation; pictures or documentation of the property being claimed as a loss resulting from Hurricane Ian and repair estimates. Policyholders should also bring any additional insurance-related information that is readily accessible.

At previous insurance villages, the Division of Consumer Services opened payment centers with 34 insurance carriers and assisted more than 40,000 policyholders with initial storm claims.

Since January, more than $11 million in insurance claims checks were cut by participating insurance companies at villages in Southwest Florida for more than 2,000 residents impacted by Hurricane Ian, according to a statement from Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis.

For those with questions about dealing with an insurance company before meeting with them at the insurance village, call the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate at 1-877-693-5236 or visit www.MyFloridaCFO.com/Division?ICA.