Insurance "hodgepodge" bill approved by House subcommittee, week 3 of 2012 session

Over a dozen miscellaneous changes to the Insurance Code were approved in the first committee hearing on HB 1101. On Tuesday, January 24, the House Insurance & Banking Committee voted favorably on HB 1101 which contains revisions to property insurance, motor vehicle insurance, travel insurance, adjuster and agent license exams, commercial surplus lines disclosure, and reinsurance summary statements. A committee hearing has not yet been scheduled on the Senate companion bill, SB 1620.

A summary of the current House bill is provided below. 

2012 Key Legislative Issues & Resources - Florida Insurance Law

Resources on key issues for the 2012 Florida legislative session are accumulated on a new page of TallyInsLaw.com.  Issues already receiving high attention are: (1) PIP; (2) property insurance; (3) bad faith and tort reform; and (4) workers compensation.  Updated - go to this link

This summary was prepared by Perry Cone and posted at www.TallyInsLaw.com/

Legal Notice and Disclaimer

Florida PIP anti-fraud website

An insurance industry website publicizing Florida PIP fraud - "Insurance Fraud: Uncovered" - has been launched at www.insurancefrauduncovered.com/  There are tabs for "Case Files" (which illustrate actual claims involving fraud), Florida "Fraud Facts," and Florida fraud "News."  The website is sponsored by Property Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI) "to expose and fight insurance fraud in the state of Florida."

From InsuranceFraudUncovered.com

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Posted by Perry Cone, at www.TallyInsLaw.com/

Legal Notice and Disclaimer

UM not payable if insured fails to attend CME

Benefits are not payable under uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if an insured violates a policy condition by failing to attend a compulsory medical exam.  That is the decision of Fifth District Court of Appeals in State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Curran (Fla. 5th DCA Jan. 28, 2011).

PIP beginning to get attention

Since its sunset and revival, personal injury protection auto insurance (PIP) has taken a way-back seat to property insurance issues.  Now PIP is beginning to get airtime.  The most recent developments are:

• Florida's new Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater, barely a week after taking office, posted on his web a “pledge[] to fight insurance fraud.”
• The Miami Herald published PIP: The insurance that crooks can't stop scamming (Jan. 15, 2011).
• The Orlando Sentinel published an article on PIP attorneys fees, Legal battles over tiny sums may be costing you big bucks (Jan. 24, 2011).
• The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee will take up PIP fraud at its meeting on Wednesday, January 26.
• The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has initiated a PIP data call, directed to the top 25 PIP writers.

2010 in quotes - Auto Insurance version

"The commercial's message is simple. It tempts viewers with $10,000 but never explains that the doctors and lawyers, not the patient, will get the money."  From an article appearing in the Miami New Times, Dec. 9, 2010.  Available at this link:  Crash Course: 411-PAIN network will line their pockets with your insurance money.

"It could be your car. It could be my car. Anybody’s car . . . If they feel they can go out to hit you and go to these clinics, that’s what they do.”  Lt. Jewel Cameron, an insurance fraud investigator for the Department of Financial Services, quoted in ClickOrlando.com, Oct. 28, 2010.  Available at this link:  Crash for Cash: Staged Accidents Target Drivers

Consumer Advocate Office Issues PIP Report

The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate has issued a report that outlines issues identified at a roundtable intented to tackle the fraudulent activities and other cost-drivers associated with PIP coverage under Florida's Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law.  The report, together with information on the roundtable, is available at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/ICA/PIPRoundtable.asp.

III Slides on Auto Fraud in Florida

The Insurance Information Institute (III) has released its informative slide presentation on Auto Insurance Fraud in Florida, Stats & Facts.  Lynne McChristian made this presentation at a Fraud Coalition Meeting in Tallahassee in October 2010.