Allstate To Answer Possible Collusion Charges
January 14th, 2008 by flanewsThe state�s offensive against the insurance industry continues tomorrow, with Allstate facing state regulators.� A year has passed since homeowners with high insurance bills were promised that help was on the way.� As Chris Casquejo explains, regulators hope the hearings will yield some answers.
Hear it here: Allstate To Answer Possible Collusion Charges
Early voting is underway, and while insurance isn�t on the ballot, voter Allen Joseph says high rates will definitely impact his choices come November.
�I think the way this legislation was put together, it�s just not quite the way it should be, Joseph said.� “It�s very complicated creating bills.� And this one doesn�t necessarily solve the problems.�
The state took on $28 billion worth of risk.� In turn, lawmakers believed insurers would drop rates an average of 24 percent.� In two out of three cases, just the opposite happened. Allstate asked for an average increase of 42 percent.� Now, state regulators will grill Allstate about possible collusion.
�We�re not accusing anyone of anything,” said Ed Domansky, with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.� “And if in fact, when all of this is said and done, there is no evidence of anything like that, that�s fine.�
Later this week, the Senate is expected to release a list of insurance companies it wants to hear from.� Executives from those companies will be asked to testify under oath.
If they refuse, the companies face subpoenas.� The insurance industry says it has nothing to hide.
�We�ve already sworn under oath, said Sam Miller, with the Florida Insurance Council.� “We�ll swear under oath again.� There is no magic way to roll rates back in the cycle that we�re in.�
Florida property insurers are projecting a $3.4 billion profit for 2007.
The Senate Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability will meet February 4th and 5th.
Posted in Insurance, Legislature, State News | No Comments »