Effective February 1, 2018 damage to homes insured by Citizens caused by accidental discharges or overflows of water from plumbing, heating, air conditioning, fire suppression sprinklers or household appliances will be capped at $10,000 for insureds who do not agree to use Citizens’ approved contractors under its managed repair program. Citizens expects that private insurance companies will follow Citizens lead and make similar changes to its insurance policies. Obviously, this move is intended to save Citizens money by paying out less on water damage claims, unfortunately, at the expense of consumers. Another concern is that managed repair programs deprive homeowners of the right to choose their contractors, and can often result in subpar work by companies motivated to save money for insurance companies. Of course, you would expect a corresponding premium reduction for Florida homeowners as a result of this severe restriction on water damage claims. But don't hold your breath.
You can reach Miami Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email Attorney Gonzalez-Sirgo directly at [email protected].
