The media has learned that the state’s largest home insurance company is warning that it could be dropping some policyholders who were paid out for damages from Hurricane Ian.
Even those who thought they did everything right in building back could even be at risk of getting dropped.
The state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation paid out nearly $3 billion on 200,000 policies after Ian. Now, it wants to make sure that money is spent to repair homes. Anyone who doesn’t have receipts for their work could be dropped.
Hurricane Ian left a giant footprint in Southwest Florida, wiping out places like Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, and Matlacha, to name a few.
Insurance villages were set up to help people get paid faster so that they could begin their repairs.
Two years after the storm Citizens Insurance said there were thousands of policyholders who didn’t provide receipts for their repairs.
Insurance agent Doug Nellans with The Insurancenter said his company received a warning from Citizens that policyholders must prove they made the necessary repairs.
“They’ve started to say enough time has elapsed that reasonably you should have been able to make the repairs, provided you have been paid for those damages. We’d like to get proof of those repairs,” Nellans said.
He said he has quite a few who are on the list and at risk of getting dropped.
“We’ve received a letter from Citizens with approximately 160 names attached where they are essentially demanding proof of repairs,” Nellans said.
Citizens spokesman Michael Peltier confirmed the company’s demand.
“Citizens, like other insurance companies, we can request proof of repairs,” Peltier said.
Peltier realizes some people two years after the storm may be unable to locate their receipts.
“We’re very flexible in the information of what we’ll accept as far as proof of repairs. If you’ve taken photos of proof or repairs that have been made, that’s an option,” Peltier said.
With so much damage from Hurricane Helene, it’s a good reminder to save your receipts if you file a claim. Citizens has been working to shed policies since Ian and is expected to shed thousands more policies later this month.
Citizens has also asked for a 14% rate increase.