Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate: How and Where I’ve Been Working for Florida’s Insurance Consumers …………..

By | January 7, 2020
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Released by the Florida Department of Financial Services   …

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate (ICA) Tasha Carter today released a list of accomplishments and consumer advocacy work completed since being appointed in August 2019 by Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis. Since her appointment, ICA Carter has been working diligently to determine the key insurance issues that consumers face and to develop solutions that protect and represent consumers’ interests.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “The mission of my department is to advocate on behalf of Florida insurance consumers and my appointment of Tasha Carter continues to support this work. I’m proud of our accomplishments this year and thank my ICA for her hard work in 2019. I look forward to continuing our mission of advocating for needed reforms to further protect Florida’s insurance consumers in 2020 and beyond. From day one, my top priority has been protecting Florida’s policyholders, especially in their time of need following a disaster. Navigating the insurance claims process can seem daunting, and it’s vital that Floridians understand the resources and support my office provides to help them recover quickly.”

“It’s important to me that insurance consumers know I am their representative and am advocating on their behalf. I take the responsibility of advocating for consumers seriously and I’ve been working to raise the awareness and visibility of my office so consumers know that they have an advocate in their corner who is fighting for their insurance rights,” said Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter. “I have been focused on helping to resolve Hurricane Michael claims; educating consumers; and contacting and meeting with consumer advocacy groups, consumer reporters, stakeholders and members of the Florida Legislature all in an effort to ensure consumers have a voice in the process.”

Below are several highlights from ICA Carter’s 2019 accomplishments and consumer advocacy work:

  1. Partnered with CFO Patronis in August to host an Insurance Village in Panama City. More than 400 consumers attended and nearly $2.5 million issued in claims payments.
  2. Mailed 80 Letters to insurance-related professional organizations and associations and consumer advocacy groups and emailed 50 consumer reporters in September to introduce herself as the Insurance Consumer Advocate, share background on the Office and encourage them to reach out to her regarding insurance-related concerns.
  3. In October, mailed letters to 22 insurance companies that represented approximately 75% of open Hurricane Michael claims requesting that the companies provide additional data to assist in determining why the claims were still open and to resolve the claims.
  4. Presented to the Senate Banking and Insurance Subcommittee in October as a member of the Hurricane Michael Insurance Claims Panel to discuss the open Hurricane Michael claims.
  5. Hosted a Hurricane Michael Insurance Consumer Townhall in November in Panama City to receive feedback directly from consumers regarding their Hurricane Michael claims experience.
  6. Provided presentation at the Florida Insurance Council Pre-Session Symposium in December to stress the importance of communication and education for consumers and ways stakeholders can work together to better assist consumers.
  7. Participated in the Edison Insurance Company Rate Hearing in December to determine the impact the requested rate change, if approved, would have on insurance consumers.

For a list of ICA Carter’s 2019 accomplishments and consumer advocacy work, please visit https://MyFloridaCFO.com/Division/ICA/Docs/2019-ICA-Accomplishments.pdf.

 

For more information on ICA Carter’s priorities, please visit www.MyFloridaCFO.com/Division/ICA/ and follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @YourFLVoice.

 

Tasha Carter was appointed by CFO Jimmy Patronis as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate in August 2019. The ICA is an independent leader with an effective and powerful voice for all Floridians. In this role, Carter is committed to increasing consumer awareness and education; assisting consumers with insurance-related matters; and engaging legislatively to represent Florida’s insurance consumers. The ICA serves the interests of Florida’s insurance consumers by representing the general public before the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR); examining rate and form filings submitted to OIR; recommending actions to DFS and OIR; and representing the general public on appointed boards and public forums.