Florida's insurance crisis: How do I file a complaint against my insurance carrier?

Kate Cimini, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·1 min read
Sara Alvarez and her husband have been living with plastic and brown paper covering most of their walls since Hurricane Ian. Some of their drywall had to be removed after the roof was damaged, and they haven't been able to make repairs since the roof is still not fixed.
Sara Alvarez and her husband have been living with plastic and brown paper covering most of their walls since Hurricane Ian. Some of their drywall had to be removed after the roof was damaged, and they haven't been able to make repairs since the roof is still not fixed.

If you have not been able to get ahold of your insurance company after filing a claim, seen an unusually long delay of claim payment or received a lowball claim, you may decide to file a complaint with the state against your insurance carrier.

While Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ office received more than 12,000 complaints against carriers since January, 4,173 cited Hurricane Ian as the source of damage to residential property. A little under two-thirds –– or 2,525 –– of these complaints cite delay of claim, underpayment or an unresponsive carrier.

Before picking up the phone or opening the web page, make sure to gather the following documents and information:

  • Full name of the insurance company involved

  • Your policy number

  • Claim number (if any)

  • Authorization to act on behalf of the insured, if needed

  • A detailed explanation of your concerns

You can file your complaint by calling the Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) or do so online at MyFloridaCFO.com.

After submitting your complaint, an email will be sent to you with your complaint number, and instructions for attaching supporting documentation.

According to Patronis' website, it may take up to 30 days for the office to process your complaint.

In depth: When will they pay? Floridians say state not holding insurance carriers accountable post-Ian

More: Which insurance carriers are Florida homeowners complaining about?

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How to file a complaint against your insurance company in Florida