The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved changes to Citizens’ underwriting guidelines and application statements regarding possible assessment and surcharge amounts to support the merging of Citizens’ three accounts into a new Citizens Account, as authorized by Florida law. These changes are effective January 1, 2024. PolicyCenter® will be updated to coincide with these changes.

The form language and examples used on the forms will express the policyholder’s potential for surcharges and assessments at up to 25% of the premium upon consolidation of the three accounts by Citizens. The examples will only show two tiers as follows:

• Tier 1: Potential Citizens Policyholder Surcharge (one-time assessment up to 15% of premium)
• Tier 2: Potential Emergency Assessment (up to 10% of premium annually, may apply for multiple years)

Note: As a reminder of their potential liability, a page containing this information is also included in the policyholder’s renewal packet.

System Change

It is no longer required for a policy to be rewritten when removing wind coverage from a multi-peril policy in the wind-eligible area. This can still only be done at renewal but can be completed through a policy change.

How Assessments Work

Historically, we have had three financially independent accounts for claim-paying resources. Assessments were based on these three accounts, which equaled a potential assessment of 45% if a devastating storm or series of smaller storms could cause a deficit. If this happens, Florida law requires Citizens to charge a series of assessments until the deficit is paid.

Once the accounts are combined, if there is a deficit in the single Citizens Account, assessments will be charged in two tiers – the Citizens Policyholder Surcharge and the Emergency Assessment. The Regular Assessment will no longer apply.

Citizens Policyholder Surcharge

The Citizens Policyholder Surcharge is the first assessment tier applied in the event Citizens incurs a deficit. This surcharge can be up to 15% of premium and is in addition to the policyholder’s annual premium.

Overview

• One-time assessment
• Citizens’ policyholders only
• Up to 15% of annual premium

Emergency Assessment

The second tier of assessments – the Emergency Assessment – is levied if a deficit remains after levying the 15% Citizens Policyholder Surcharge. Emergency Assessments can be up to 10% of premium per year. It is levied on both Citizens and non-Citizens policyholders and will apply until the deficit is eliminated.

Overview

• Single or multiyear assessment
• Citizens and private-market policyholders
• Up to 10% of annual premium per year until any remaining deficit is eliminated

Resources

Resources will be updated soon.