Citizens Insurance and Non-Renewal in Florida

Take-Out Offers: Answer by the Date on the Form

As required by Florida law, Citizens' depopulation program matches policyholders with companies approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation that want to take over their policies. According to Citizens:

• If companies select your policy, you receive a packet listing the offers, and you must register your choice by the date on the Offer Form.
• A policy that receives an offer not more than 20 percent greater than Citizens' premium is ineligible to remain with Citizens.
• If no choice is registered by that date, Citizens assigns the policy to the company that offered the lowest premium, regardless of eligibility.
• Once an assumption happens, the transfer is final. There is no longer a 30-day window to return.

The statute adds that Citizens must give you written notice of every company asking to take out your policy, with the estimated premium, a description of the coverage, and a comparison with Citizens. Read the coverage comparison, not just the price.

Rate Caps and the Primary Residence Test

Citizens' annual rate increase for any single policy is capped at 15 percent for 2026 and later, excluding coverage changes, surcharges and sinkhole coverage. That cap does not apply to personal policies that do not cover a primary residence, which may not be charged more than 50 percent above the prior year's rate. The statute defines a primary residence as the home the policyholder, or a tenant, occupies for more than 9 months of each year. Seasonal owners, take note; see the second home page.

Flood Coverage Is Becoming a Condition

Citizens now requires flood coverage from many of its personal residential policyholders: already for homes in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, for policies effective on or after January 1, 2026 on structures with a dwelling replacement cost of $400,000 or more, and for policies effective on or after January 1, 2027 on all other Citizens personal residential property. Policies without wind coverage and condominium unit owners policies are exempt, and Citizens cannot sell flood insurance itself. The flood insurance page covers the options.

Assessments

Citizens notes that its policyholders can be required to pay an assessment if it does not have the resources to pay claims after a major hurricane or a series of storms. That is worth weighing when you compare it with a private offer.