We’ve insured more problems

Insurers slashing payouts | March 13

This article about homeowners’ insurers slashing claim payments is indicative of things to come in claims handling. Until recently, if a carrier wrongfully refused to pay a property insurance claim in full, the insured could collect fees if they prevailed in court. Florida now denies that right in homeowners’ insurance, which empowers carriers to commit the kind of chicanery referred to in this article. And now Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican leaders are preparing to spread those limits to other lines of insurance, such as automobile, life, liability and health. I’m a lawyer, and I’m afraid that as DeSantis recently put it in a different context: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Peter H. Dubbeld, St. Petersburg

Don’t expect help

Insurers slashing payouts | March 13

After last year’s legislative property insurance giveaway, I hope the victims of Hurricane Ian understand that the state of Florida is not going to be their advocate against the property insurance bad actors. Since I believe that our state government, including the governor’s office, already serve the insurance industry and its hefty political contributions, it’s only wishful thinking to expect these politicians to bite the hands that feed them money.

Brian Walkowiak, St. Petersburg

Things that matter

In hurricane-prone Florida, an idea to make property insurance more competitive | Editorial, March 12

I am sure the the residents of Fort Myers are so glad that the Republican Legislature is working so hard on real issues like pronouns, critical race theory and wokeness, and not wasting time on frivolous issues like property insurance.

Carlos J. DeCisneros, Tampa

The risk of failure

Bank failures: What to know | March 14

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank was totally avoidable. In 2018, Wall Street pushed a deregulation bill that allowed banks like SVB to take reckless risks. It passed, even as I and many others warned of the risks.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach

Demand honesty

Biden administration responds to COVID letter | March 11

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo was admonished by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for misinforming the public about the risks of mRNA vaccines. For too long, we have tolerated harmful misinformation, which has a huge influence on the naive and underinformed. Better brains than mine might know the process to stop the lies. We can demand a standard of honesty.

Lorraine Madison, St. Petersburg