A former Florida House Speaker recently called out insurance companies for their handling of Hurricane Michael insurance claim problems.

According to former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense as reported by the Miami Herald, insurance companies in the state are the “No. 1 obstacle” when it comes to recovery from Hurricane Michael. Bense says that the companies have been “terribly unhelpful” throughout his own insurance claim process – causing him to go through seven insurance adjusters.

“Insurance companies, just frankly, try to beat you down,” Bense said in a recent news conference. “They’re trying to wear me out. I’m not the type of guy to pick that fight with. But still, it’s a problem.”

Although Bense and other lawmakers have blasted insurance claim policies, Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner David Altmaier has defended insurers. In a recent presentation to lawmakers, Altmaier reportedly stated that he had not seen “even an instance” of insurers violated state laws regarding insurance claim policies.

However, following Bense’s recent statements in the news conference, Altmaier responded in a statement – assuring consumers that his office hears these concerns “loud and clear.”

“The last thing survivors need is to feel left behind by their insurance company,” Altmaier said in a statement, although he noted that he is not legally able to talk about ongoing investigations.

“We continue to hear anecdotes and complaints from consumers, lawmakers, and others and there is clearly more going on with claims handling that needs further investigation. What Speaker Bense describes is a potential example of an insurance company mishandling its claims process, and no consumer should have to go through that.”

Hurricane Michael Insurance Claim Data

Hurricane Michael was a large category 5 hurricane which hit the Florida Panhandle in October 2018. It was the first Category 5 to hit the continental U.S. since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The highest winds caused by the hurricane were a shocking 160 mile per hour, leading to a variety of damages. Winds, rain, and flooding caused damage to structures, trees, vehicles, and more.

Hurricanes themselves can cause direct and indirect damage. These storms are characterized by a huge amount of rain and very high winds. The large amount of rain can cause direct water damage to as the storm dumps dozens of inches of rain over the course of only one or two days. This water can also cause indirect damage when the massive amounts of rain leads to flooding.

Winds are also a dangerous part of hurricane damage. High winds can rip the siding off of homes, roll over vehicles, knock down trees, and more. This also means that there is likely debris being blown around during a hurricane which can fly through windows and cause more damage. In areas near water, high winds can also lead to water damage from high tides.

According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR), Hurricane Michael caused almost $7 billion in insured losses. Unfortunately, as of this summer, over 10 percent of insurance claims from the hurricane have not been resolved with around 20,000 claims still open.