"Harvard Study Reveals Troubling Truth About Florida's Insurance Market"

A recent study led by researchers at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the Federal Reserve Board warns that smaller, lower-quality insurers are replacing major private home insurers that have left Florida, leading to a crisis in the state's home insurance sector. These new insurers are found to be less financially stable and may not meet the minimum requirements set by government guidelines. The exodus of bigger private companies from high-risk areas in Florida has led to a reliance on approximately 50 small insurers, all rated by a single company, Demotech Inc., whose ratings differ significantly from those of other rating agencies. The situation has been exacerbated by factors such as excessive litigation, widespread fraud, and the increased risk of severe weather events due to climate change.