Saturday, April 18, 2020

INSURANCE UPDATES with Florida Best Quote COVID-19 and FEMA flood policies

April 15th, 2020 

INSURANCE UPDATES with Florida Best Quote
With Lindsey DeCollibus, 813-850-2222, Lindsey@floridabestquote.com


Diana Sames REMAX Preferred  REALTOR
We are Pleased to Partner several great Insurance agencies but especially
with FLORIDA BEST QUOTE





COVID-19 Responses from carriers
• Auto carriers
o Many are giving 15-20% rebates on monthly premiums for April and May
o Offering options for those struggling to make payments
• Home carriers
o Extending the time for payments, some carriers suspending any policy
cancels or non-renews for a period of time
o Allowing more time to make repairs required by underwriting
o Underwriting interior inspections suspended in many cases for the time being
▪ These inspections will eventually begin again so some notices will
be delayed
▪ Non-renewals will be issued instead of pending cancels if issues
are found
• FEMA flood policies
o Renewal and underpayment grace periods have been extended to 120
days for due dates between Feb 13-June 15th
• All companies are willing to work with insureds at this time, agents are urged
to call carriers to discuss for special circumstances
Updates on the fight for attorney fee multiplier reform
HB7071 passed on March 4th, saying that multipliers can only be used in rare
and exceptional circumstances
• SB914 did not even make it to the floor for a vote
• Reform needs to be addressed in the 2021 session to help stabilize home
premiums
FLOOD
Risk rating 2.0
• FEMA released that they plan to implement a new rating system, this has been
pushed back until October 1, 2021
o The new platform aims to better reflect a property’s flood risk
o FEMA will be pairing state-of-the-art industry technology with the NFIP’s
mapping data to establish a new risk-informed rating plan. Catastrophe models,
in combination with the ability to leverage the NFIP’s mapping data, will
provide a better and more comprehensive understanding of risk at both the
national and local level.
o New rating plan would take into account distance to the coast or another flooding
source, different types of flood risk and the cost to rebuild a home
▪ They’re hoping to deliver fairer rates for owners of lower-value homes
NFIP Reauthorization
• Congress has extended the NFIP authorization until September 30, 2020
o Reform is needed until it is passed the future of flood insurance is still
uncertain
Coastal Flood Risk Mapping
• FEMA released preliminary flood maps for coastal communities in 2018
o Maps have been through the Community appeals process
▪ Pinellas County appeals process began 05/02/2019
▪ It was a 90-day appeal period
▪ Preliminary map appeals and comments were then submitted to FEMA
for review
▪ We are currently still in the review period
▪ Once the review is complete FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination
(LFD) and maps will go into effect 6 months later
o First round of maps became effective in certain States in December 2019
o Pasco County LFD was issued 12/05/2019
o Pinellas County maps may take until late 2020 or early 2021 to be effective, we
will know once the LFD is issued
• Accessing preliminary flood map information
o https://msc.fema.gov/fmcv
o http://www.pinellascounty.org/flooding/maps.htm
FEMA Flood Rate Increases April 1, 2020
• Pre-FIRM primary residences: 7.5% increase
• Pre-FIRM nonprimary: 23-25% increase
• Post-FIRM V zone: 5.6%
• Post-FIRM A zone: 5%
• X Flood zone, PRP: 3.8-4.2%
• Private Market Rates are continuing to stabilize and be a better rate for many
homeowners facing FEMA rate increases

Lindsey DeCollibus
Senior Partner / Insurance Consultant
Direct Line: 813-850-2222
Main Branch: 727-584-9999
Fax: 813-435-2417
801 West Bay Dr., Ste 102
Largo, FL 33770
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