10, July, 2023 | Peter Craig, Heidrick & Company Insurance

Citizens is responsible for paying hurricane and other covered claims to its policyholders. If Citizens funds are depleted after a catastrophic event, resulting in a deficit, assessments are levied according to Florida law. This ability to levy assessments provides Citizens with resources to pay claims after an event. 

A broad base of licensed Florida property and casualty insurance companies, including property and automobile insurers are assessed if a deficit remains. These companies are required to remit their share of the Regular Assessment to Citizens within 30 days of the levy and are permitted to recoup this amount by passing it on their policyholders at renewal. Insureds who purchase coverage from surplus lines insurers are also subject to the regular assessment. This assessment can be up to 6 percent per account of assessable premium. That means that assessable insurers, and thus their policyholders, could be assessed a maximum of 18 percent of assessable premium if there is a deficit in all 3 of Citizens’ accounts. This assessment is a one-time assessment. Citizens policyholders are not charged this assessment. If the Citizens Policyholder Surcharge and the Regular Assessment do not cure a deficit for any account, the Emergency Assessment is levied.

Emergency Assessments can be up to 10% per account per year for each of Citizens’ three accounts. It is levied on both Citizens and non-Citizens policyholders for as many years as necessary until the deficit is resolved.