INSURERS REQUEST RATE INCREASES

June 6, 2005

After the voluntary moratorium on rate increases ended three companies, St. John’s, USAA and Atlantic Mutual filed requests to increase their homeowner’s rates. Florida Office of Insurance Regulation records show 11 insurance companies have raised their homeowner’s rates an average of 15 percent since the last hurricane season.

The rate hike request for USAA, the state’s fifth largest insurer, ranges up to a 33.4 percent increase for Monroe County.

The state Office of Insurance Regulation has 90 days to approve or reject the rate hike requests.