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Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky issues more than two million dollars in fines against eight insurers for claims-handling misconduct during Hurricanes Ian and Idalia

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Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky has announced penalties totaling $2,075,000 against eight insurers following market conduct examinations tied to Hurricanes Ian and Idalia. The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) said the fines address a range of claims-handling missteps, reflecting a commitment to enforce accountability without affecting policyholder insurance rates. Two additional company examinations remain pending and could result in further fines.

“These fines are proof positive that we are committed to holding [insurance companies] accountable,” said Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. “Floridians can rest assured that I am actively watching insurers, and I will not hesitate to enter the fight on behalf of consumers and policyholders. With peak hurricane season approaching, it is more important than ever to ensure that insurance companies are keeping their promises to their customers.”

The penalties were assessed after OIR’s Market Conduct Unit reviewed the practices of ten companies. Eight of them were found to have multiple violations related to their handling of claims from Hurricanes Ian and Idalia. Issues ranged from using adjusters who were not properly appointed, to failing to acknowledge claims communications promptly, omitting disclosure statements on damage estimates, neglecting to provide the Homeowners Claims Bill of Rights, and failing to pay interest when owed. In some cases, error rates were alarmingly high: over 60% for Hurricane Ian and over 80% for Hurricane Idalia for missing disclosure statements. Additionally, several companies failed to pay or deny claims within 90 days.

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Commissioner Yaworsky emphasized the importance of maintaining consumer trust in the insurance market. “Capital is pouring in, and the market is stabilizing, but our office holds insurers to high standards. It is important that consumers have confidence that they are getting what they pay for. Insurer accountability and consumer protection will always take priority—we want companies to thrive, but companies must also be worthy of doing business in our state.”

With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season in full swing, Yaworsky underscored that OIR’s Market Conduct Unit is ready to deploy during storms to ensure claims are handled properly. “We will be paying particularly close attention to any company who has had concerning performance behavior in the past,” he said.

The fines issued to the eight companies are as follows: American Coastal Insurance Company $400,000; American Mobile Insurance Exchange $400,000; Centauri Specialty Insurance Company $100,000; Clear Blue Insurance Company $400,000; Monarch National Insurance Company $325,000; Sutton National Insurance Company $50,000; Tower Hill Prime Insurance Company $250,000; and TypTap Insurance Company $150,000. Examination reports detailing these findings are publicly available on the OIR website.

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Historic insurance reforms in Florida have strengthened consumer protections and stabilized the market, giving the OIR greater regulatory authority. In fiscal year 2023-24, the Market Conduct Unit secured more than $8 million in consumer restitution and issued over $2.8 million in fines—nearly seven times the fines collected during two-thirds of 2023. The first quarter of 2025 has already seen more than $660,450 in restitution.

As the examinations continue, OIR has pledged to provide updates on findings and penalties, ensuring that Florida policyholders can have confidence that insurers are being held accountable for their actions. With hurricanes posing ongoing risks, the office is signaling that consumer protection remains at the forefront of its regulatory mission.

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