Fla. Encourages Agents to Use Translated Policy Forms

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has issued a formal notice to all insurance companies licensed in Florida, reminding them that the use of approved translated policy forms is acceptable and encouraged.

Florida’s population is growing at record rates and the Hispanic component of that growth is significant. Spanish is spoken in 35 percent of the homes in Florida and recent figures estimate the state’s Hispanic population at over 3.3 million.

“We are reminding companies that it is acceptable to use policy forms translated into Spanish and approved by our office,” Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said. “With so many Floridians speaking Spanish as a primary language or exclusively, it is imperative that they fully understand the provisions of their insurance policy.”

The office will soon add to its website the names and contact information of insurers that currently offer policy forms in Spanish, so consumers can find companies that meet their needs.