Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Review 2021
Review written by: Linda Santacruz
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Carrier Overview
Citizens Property Insurance is a government entity created for homeowners who cannot obtain insurance in the private market. The company is funded by policyholder premiums. If surplus is depleted as a result of a devastation, Florida law requires Citizens to levy assessments on most Florida property-casualty insurance policyholders to fill the gap.
Customer Service Number: 888-685-1555
- Dwelling
- Other structures
- Personal property
- Loss of use
- Personal liability
- Medical payments to others
How to Buy a Policy
Only appointed Citizens agents can help you purchase a Citizens policy, and only if your property meets one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Coverage is not available from a Florida-authorized insurance company
- Premiums for coverage from Florida-authorized insurance companies are more than 15 percent higher than the premiums for comparable coverage from Citizens
You may search for a Citizens agent by using the Agent Look-Up tool on the website.
Discounts offered
According to its website, Citizens offers several discounts to policyholders whose homes and businesses have features installed to help protect them from severe storms or other perils. In order to determine your eligibility for these discounts, you must first submit an inspection form completed by a qualified inspector.
- Wind mitigation
- Florida building code compliance
- Roof construction
- Centrally monitored fire alarms
- Centrally monitored burglar alarms
How to make payments
Citizens accepts payments online, over the phone or by mail using your US checking or savings account. The company does not accept debit card, credit card or electronic check payments at this time.
You may also authorize your agent to make a payment by completing the Single E-payment Authorization form and sending it to your agent. To pay over the phone, call 888-685-1555. This option is available for personal lines policies and is not available for new policies that have not yet been issued.
Before you call, have handy the following information:
- Valid 8-digit policy number, excluding letters and including zeroes
- Property address zip code
- Routing number
- US checking or savings account number
In order to make a payment by mail, you will need personal or cashier’s checks. You will need to include your payment stub, if possible, and write your policy number in the memo section of your check. Citizens does not hold post-dated checks. There will also be a $15 insufficient funds fee for each check not honored by the bank.
How to File a Claim
Citizens urges you to report your claim as soon as possible by calling 866-411-2742.
- Policy number
- Contact information, including any temporary addresses or phone numbers
- Damage description
- Mortgage company information, if applicable
Reinsurance program
According to news reports, Citizens is planning for a harder reinsurance program for 2018 that will see it increase its risk transfer spend by $7.3 million and aiming to increase the amount of coverage it buys to $1.45 billion.
In its 2018 budget, the insurer said there is a provision for $100 million of private-risk transfer within the Coastal Account. The insurer said: “Citizens will again seek to protect surplus through prudent and measured risk transfer efforts in 2018.”
Career Opportunities
Citizens says it needs dedicated people who want to help Floridians protect their most important assets – their homes and businesses. It is looking for people who want a job that offers the personal satisfaction of public service and the ability to help people in a real and concrete way. Citizens says it has 1,200 employees – located in offices in Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Tampa and in field locations throughout Florida – who are passionate about the work they do. Here are the latest job opportunities at Citizens.
How to Become an Agent
In order to apply for a Citizens appointment, agents must fill out an online application. The application must be completed by an agency principal.