FLORIDA (SNN TV) – A Deadline is approaching for new Citizens customers to add flood insurance.
A law passed by the Florida legislature in December to address the state’s property insurance crisis included a provision that would require customers of Citizens Insurance, the insurer of last resort, to have flood insurance.
In order to be eligible for a Citizens policy, new customers who are located in areas designated by FEMA as special flood hazard areas will need flood insurance by April 1.
Existing policyholders in those areas must obtain flood insurance at renewal, for policies renewing on or after July 1.
The new policy requirements will be phased in for new and existing customers over the next five years, split up by coverage amounts. According to WFLA, those amounts are:
- January 1, 2024, for policies insuring property to a limit of $600,000 or more.
- January 1, 2025, for policies insuring property to a limit of $500,000 or more.
- January 1, 2026, for policies insuring property to a limit of $400,000 or more.
- January 1, 2027, for all other policies.