Citizens Property Insurance argues for higher rates

Citizens Property Insurance made its pitch at a public hearing in Tallahassee on Tuesday to raise homeowners rates an average of 6 percent to 11 percent, depending on the line of business.

The state-run carrier, the largest property insurer in Florida with about 1.2 million policies, writes policies for those who cannot find coverage in the open market.

Despite the lack of extensive hurricane damage in recent years, Citizens maintains its premiums are still playing catch-up to its costs and that it is facing bigger payouts for non-hurricane damage and sinkhole claims.

Those unable to attend Tuesday's hearing are urged to send comments to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation at ratehearings@floir.com. The e-mail subject line should include "Citizens" and the words "rate hearings".

At issue are a half-dozen separate Citizens' filings in August and early September, including those covering homeowners, mobile homeowners, and high-risk accounts for both homes and mobile homes. State regulators have 45 days after the date of each filing to make a ruling, so the initial decisions are expected by late September.