JENSEN BEACH, Fla. — Some homes in the Ocean Breeze Resort in Jensen Beach sit high above the Intracoastal Waterway, far from any threat of flooding.
“My house isn’t going to flood,” Jane Tomlin said from her house on concrete stilts.
Eric Pasquarelli/WPTV
But yet, she said Citizens Property Insurance is forcing her to get flood insurance from the government’s national program.
“They classified this house as on the water and I had to have it,” she said.
The extra insurance is costing her $2,000 along with a lot of questions about why, since her living space is so high.
“Right now, it’s for all new business in a high-hazard zone no matter if you need it or not,” Robert Norberg of Arden Insurance in Lantana said.
WPTV
New rules for Citizens’ policyholders are requiring many to purchase flood coverage in Florida, as the state’s insurer of last resort continues to try to lower its policy numbers.
“Eventually every Citizens policyholder by 2027 will have to have flood even in low hazard,” Norberg said.
Tomlin said Citizens was the only one who would offer a policy on her manufactured stilt home and she has little choice.
“I knew the insurance in Florida was going up this year and that’s the way it is,” Timlin said. “But to add the flood insurance on top of it, we’re all on fixed income, that’s the bite.”
If you have any questions or issues with homeowners insurance, email WPTV reporter at matt.sczesny@wptv.com
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.