Florida homeowners face new insurance rules during hurricane season

New state laws are altering insurance rules for Florida homeowners during hurricane season, affecting claim deadlines, premiums, and policy availability.

Maria Waldron, a North Fort Myers resident, said her insurance costs have risen despite never filing a claim. Under the new law, homeowners now have just one year to file a claim after a storm, down from the previous two years.

"I think they need longer because if they have a lot of damage, they need to figure out all the damage before they file a claim," Waldron said.

The law is designed to be more corporate-friendly, helping attract more insurers back to Florida.

"This is definitely a win-win for everybody," said Mark Nellans with The Insurancenter.

The state now requires insurance companies to pay or deny claims within 60 days, shortened from the previous 90-day window.

"A lot of clients, if they're displaced, they want to get damages. They want to get contractors. They want to get the money," Nellans said.

Homeowners who have delayed purchasing insurance are urged to act quickly, as companies often stop issuing new policies when severe weather is imminent.

"For example, the last storm we just had, Bertha, a lot of companies stopped writing business, saying we want to see what this storm does," Nellans said.

Despite the new laws and the arrival of more insurers in Florida, many homeowners, like Waldron, continue to face high premiums.

"The house I live in has never flooded. Not even in Ian. The insurance is just very high," Waldron said.