{"id":1559,"date":"2013-04-26T06:42:09","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T12:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/?p=1559"},"modified":"2013-04-25T10:42:53","modified_gmt":"2013-04-25T16:42:53","slug":"reprehensible-practice-sparks-call-for-insurance-commissioner-lawmakers-to-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/reprehensible-practice-sparks-call-for-insurance-commissioner-lawmakers-to-act\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Reprehensible\u2019 Practice Sparks Call for Insurance Commissioner, Lawmakers to Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charles Elmore – April 18, 2013<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s insurance consumer advocate is calling for the state\u2019s top regulator and legislators to send a clear message that property insurers should not be allowed to deny claims and cancel policies based on consumer credit information more than 90 days after taking a policy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis practice is reprehensible and should cease immediately,\u201d Robin Westcott said.<\/p>\n

As The Palm Beach Post reported last month, a growing number of customers say that is what is happening at the state\u2019s largest private insurer, Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Co. of Fort Lauderdale. They say the company took premiums for years but canceled policies when they filed claims.<\/p>\n

Delray Beach customer Michael Wyman described as \u201chorrible\u201d Universal\u2019s decision to void his policy after he reported more than $10,000 in water damage because he neglected to disclose a paid-off tax lien in another state from years before.<\/p>\n

One Gainesville woman lost her house to a fire that Universal wouldn\u2019t cover because her husband had, unknown to her, been considered responsible for debt long since resolved with an elderly family member, Westcott said.<\/p>\n

Universal is Florida\u2019s biggest insurer after state-run Citizens with 550,000 customers, with more in Palm Beach (66,373) than any other county, records show.<\/p>\n

In a letter this week, Westcott told Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty she believes the practice violates current law but seeks a clear statement \u2014 such as by amendment to pending legislation \u2014 to make \u201ccrystal clear\u201d such information should not be used to deny claims.<\/p>\n

Westcott has been trying to get the amendment added to legislation such as SB 1046, now in the appropriations committee.<\/p>\n

On Thursday a spokeswoman said McCarty\u2019s office supports the concept.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Office is well aware of the allegations of post-claim underwriting in the homeowners market and has thoroughly and comprehensively been inquiring into the matter,\u201d spokeswoman Amy Bogner said. \u201cThe Office supports the responsibility of companies to appropriately underwrite policies within the first 90 days of the policy period and for legislation that would provide stronger protections for consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Universal spokesman said Thursday, \u201cThe insurance underwriting process inherently depends on applicants providing accurate information in their insurance applications. This is the case in the substantial majority of applications received by Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, and the company believes its underwriting process allows it to serve its customers in a cost-effective manner for the benefit of all Floridians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Universal\u2019s parent company reported profits rose 50 percent to $30 million last year.<\/p>\n

Last November, Universal CEO Sean Downes wrote to regulators, \u201cWe are not insensitive to the adverse impact on consumers when inaccurate statements or omissions result in our decision to rescind coverage.\u201d The company has \u201cchosen to trust our applicants and react only when that trust is breached,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

A panelist at a Post insurance roundtable last month backed tougher action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need some stronger regulation, from the insurance commissioner and (Chief Financial Officer) Jeff Atwater \u2014 the Legislature needs to do something, \u201csaid William \u201cChip\u201d Merlin, president of Merlin Law Group, which represents policyholders against insurers and has offices in Tampa and West Palm Beach.<\/p>\n

Westcott said using information from credit reports or public records can be appropriate at sign-up, but unjust and \u201cheart-wrenching\u201d if used to deny claims later.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlorida consumers deserve protection from this unfair practice,\u201d Westcott said.<\/p>\n

via \u2018Reprehensible\u2019 practice sparks call for insurance… | www.mypalmbeachpost.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Charles Elmore – April 18, 2013 Florida\u2019s insurance consumer advocate is calling for the state\u2019s top regulator and legislators to send a clear message that property insurers should not be allowed to deny claims and cancel policies based on consumer credit information more than 90 days after taking a policy. \u201cThis practice is reprehensible and… Continue reading \u2018Reprehensible\u2019 Practice Sparks Call for Insurance Commissioner, Lawmakers to Act<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[337,3],"class_list":["post-1559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insurance-claims","tag-consumer-credit-information","tag-insurance-claims","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Reprehensible\u2019 Practice Sparks Call for Insurance Commissioner, Lawmakers to Act - 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